Riviera Drive

I’ve heard the term “fizzy” on several occasions, typically when someone is trying to describe an effervescent summer scent. I never really understood that - nor had I ever encountered anything that triggered me to think “fizzy” Until now Finally, I can be in the fizzy club. Let me start by saying, although these are all familiar notes, I am stunned with this fragrance. To me, it’s happiness bottled. I love a citrus scent with backbone - and that’s exactly what this is. Although I’m not particularly fond of any single note in this composition, the end result is something that captivates me. The high energy - beautifully bright lemon, combined with a heady dose of rosemary and cedar make for such an enjoyable experience. It smells like something you’d want to drink (please, don’t drink this.) - because of how realistically it plays out on skin. The fizziness could come from the lemon - maybe the absinth - maybe it’s the combination. One this is for sure, it’s there. While I appreciate the market for unisex scents - hell, even genderless scents, I’m a bit of a traditionalist - and I personally feel that the rosemary and cedar take this well into masculine territory. I only say this as I don’t want to mislead someone with a review. With that said, i certainly hope people wear whatever they want! I think I’m in my 8th or 9th year of hardcore collecting - so I’ve been around the block a few times and unfortunately, rarely am I ready to kiss my sister over a new fragrance - but this one... well, let’s just say there’s a baby on the way. Last thing: this isn’t a “difficult” niche to enjoy. I think this would be great for a “first summer niche” purchase - and even great for someone who has smelled it all. Good is good.

A cross between a lemon gourmand and a walk through a pine forest scent. According to the notes listed, you’d think it was a cedar forest but I’m picking up pine. I think that’s a combination of absinthe, herbs and cedar that’s giving me that feeling. I’m in the middle of my second wearing and I really like this one. Surprisingly. I think this brand is one of the most pretentious with the signature gold flakes inside each bottle—what you’d expect Kylie Jenner and her influencer friends would wear. Or a throwback to the Dynasty television show characters and their lavish lifestyle. Anyway, back to the scent. Opening is wonderful but so is the dry down, when the foodie gourmand vibe dissipates and the musky forest takes over. Clearly this is a warm weather scent, but I can’t think of another forest scent that works in the summer. I get decent performance of a few noticeable hours—I’m not someone who thinks a perfume needs to last 8 hours in order to call it great. A “gold flakes” thumbs up.

An interesting profile of citrus and some slight warmth from the aromatics. It's curious: I've smelled other warm citrus scents that really don't work (looking at you, Citron Boboli), but it works here. I suspect some will say it smells like lemon Pledge or something, but it doesn't read as a "cleaner" to me (though I do like citrus scents, so your mileage may vary on that). Not sure I get "absinthe", but it's a fun note to imagine here. I don't get much patchouli either. I can definitely smell every other note, but they work in harmony to my nose. It's just slightly effervescent. As you would expect, the citrus is stronger in the beginning and fades over time, leaving a simpler, warm cedar behind. I have been consistently impressed with the fragrances from Atelier des Ors I have gotten my nose on, and this was no exception. Some may argue about longevity, but no one can deny that the house has some well-conceived and well-structured offerings. 8/10.

This is one of my favourite niche lemon scents. It opens with a very creamy overdose of lemon, accompanied by aromatics of rosemary and marjoram. An absinthe note is listed, however to me it comes across more like vodka - if you’ve tried absinthe you’ll know it’s very reminiscent of liquorice, which this is nothing like. In the dry down this boozy lemon cocktail is joined by cedar and musk to create a truly stunning scent. To me this perfume smells like a cross between Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche, and Kilian Vodka on the Rocks. It’s got that beautiful creamy lemon, but with a crisp boozy take coming from the absinthe. If you’re looking for a summer fragrance that smells like a lemon vodka cocktail then this is the one - the notes are more interesting than your average summer scent without being too daring. Unfortunately the performance is not great though, so I wouldn’t advise paying full retail for this.

Very refreshing, like a nice spiked lemonade on the beach. In my experience this works much better in the heat; at room temperature this is just "okay". When wearing Riviera Drive out, it flourishes and provides that refreshment similar to a lemonade on a hot summer day. It has strong projection as well, you will be able to pick it up easily when out in the water catching waves. My most expensive purchase to date, while I wouldn't say it's worth the price (IMO most niche summer fragrances aren't), but it gets the job done and the bottle is very nice to look at it. A nice summer staple for me. 7.5/10

Now this is something different the lemon and rosemary pair beautifully with the absinthe and musk. There’s something evoking about this and for me it evokes a memory of something, I tried for an hour to think what this reminds me of but I can’t figure it out. Had a sample of this for a year for some reason last time I didn’t notice it I had a drop or so left barely enough to put on skin. I need this again to try but possibly 8.5/10

I have never smelt anything as captivating upon first smell as this. The absinthe is definitely there to play, but in a way that exudes elegance, rather than town drunk. It is a smell that sticks with you, long after it's gone from your skin. Do NOT spray on clothes as there are flecks of gold in the juice itself. Which, I may add, is a nice add to presentation.

Hands down the prettiest bottle I have in my collection. If only it had better longevity I'd call it a masterpiece. The smell is phenomenal and it will be one you gravitate to if not for the scent definitely for the beautiful presentation.

It is wonderful, light and realistic citrus, very similar note to that found in AdP fragrances. My only hesitation in making a fb purchase is concerning its lack of longevity. Really a lovely scent, though.

Most realistic Lemon I've smelled in a fragrance. Beautiful summer citrus. The problem is you will have to constantly reapply it throughout the day. It just does not last.

Smells like a fresher/summery take on Wonderwood by Comme des Garcons. Fantastic summer fragrance.

realistic lemon, creamy, slightly boozy with cedar in the dry down. Top tier

#1316 in my "Tour de Fragrance" Got this as a decant. A lot of people seem to smell a number of incense scents in this. I don't get that at all. But it is pretty green, which can trick the nose that way. This is my sixth Atelier Des Ors, and all have been winners, both with me and the women in my life. "Larmes du Desert" and "Lune Feline" in particular. I think this comes off more masculine, but without being aggressive at all. It reminds me of a long-gone Yves Saint Laurent "Pour Homme" EDT I wore in the seventies, when the more citric and herbal scents started to show up in the big mall stores. Seems like there are twenty versions of "L'Eau d'Issey" out there that lean this way but don't get there because of a really dry citric note they use in everything. If you do EDTs, O Boticario has an EDT that takes this sort of scent and dials it up to a ten called "Horizonte." This is a very nice, very versatile scent, but moderate performance. You can wear this anywhere, any time, but I think this is more one your intimate partner will appreciate than something anyone will notice when you're out and about. It's one of those passive scents where it doesn't really sit front of mind, but they'll just think you smell really nice, like walking through an herb garden on a breezy day. If I could have tried this out before it was released, I'd have told Marie Salamagne, "You left out the mint." But still, it's a nice brew. For the folks that rated this overpriced, Jomashop usually has this on offer at around $112. Not great, but not awful. The $225 on Twisted Lily is indeed ridiculous. I occasionally buy decants from them, but you might as well buy full bottles from Macy's.

Masculine, tart, aromatic citruses done in a very woody way. If Bois d'Hadrien had the edge with the pine-like coniferous notes merged with a masculine lime, this has the edge in sharp vitamin-infused unripe lemonish notes. The absinthe with the rosemary really add some intrigue to what might have been a sub-par woody citrus. They present some oomph in a semi-intellectual, cerebral fashion. As in, this smells like someone (who is more experienced with books than with the outdoors) trying to delve into the summer greenery. I personally have no issue with any perfume's longevity and projection, so RD works like a charm in the summer. However, the price is an absolute tragedy.

This is a beautifully blended and balanced fragrance that doesn't turn soapy on my skin; a hot weather fave. It smells like crushing or rubbing lime zest into a bunch of fresh herbs between your hands. Projection and sillage are high end of moderate, longevity on skin is good at ~6h

Herbal lemon, zesty, fresh, linear. The lemon sits back into a lemon essential oil, and the herbs wood and musk fade together. Lovely simple blend of notes, but no staying power whatsoever so I can't justify a full bottle.

Lemon hard candy with some fresh herbs in the background. It's pleasant, not groundbreaking.

This smells exactly like a lemon starburst.

I get lots of cedar, lemon, and rosemary the most in that order, then cashmeran to smooth it out and give it a fluffy and musky vibe while keeping it fresh. I’m not so familiar with absinthe honestly so don’t know if that comes through for me. It’s nice, good quality and pleasant, but nothing grabs me about it. It doesn’t speak to me, certainly not for the price. I agree with the review below that it’s like summery wonderwood (or royal oud)

Riviera Drive is alright, it's a refreshing herbal lemon scent for summer that is unisex, leaning a little mascuilne. The lemon is bright and realistic, I just don't think the scent profile or lasting power justifies the price tag. This kind of rosemary herbal freshie I feel like I've smelled before, and although it goes on super lemony strong, I really can't smell this fragrance after like an hour or so? Which is kind of unacceptable.