Rive Gauche pour Homme

YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme is popularly regarded as maybe Best of Genre ("barbershop" Aromatic Fougere). I can understand that, and I think it is very good. Iconic. It seems to replicate an amalgamation of actual products a barber would use. It even has, by name, in this Fragrantica note list, the very trilogy of notes that define the classic Fougere - lavender, coumarin, oakmoss. A few reviews have cited star anise as the "star of the show". I've read about the licorice facet of star anise but had never smelled it, so I bought some at my local grocery store. Total licorice, not a mere facet. And now I smell that star anise in Rive Gauche Pour Homme, but its blended. It's an important aromatic contribution to RGPH but I would say the star of the show, like most fougeres, is lavender. But the actual suite of accords that hit the nose lands its smell somewhere between other typical "barbershop" Aromatic Fougeres and the classic Oriental Spicy Old Spice! A "barbershop" fragrance does not have to be a Fougere, although most are. Some so designated are Spicy Orientals, like Old Spice, and still others may be closer to a citrus Aromatic. Both Rive Gauche Pour Homme and classic Old Spice (and its stronger analogue Paul Sebastian Fine Cologne) are powdery, spicy (both have anise, etc), and give off that slightly soapy barbershop vibe. "Powdery" probably should be a listed accord but isn't. It should be towards the bottom but above "patchouli" in my opinion. Rive Gauche Pour Homme veers closer to other typical barbershop fougeres, like Azzaro Pour Homme, but it does steer somewhat in the direction of Old Spice. I would even venture to say that Rive Gauche Pour Homme veers closer to classic Old Spice than it does to my favorite barbershop Aromatic Fougere, Tom Ford Beau de Jour! But all in all I think Rive Gauche Pour Homme is a fantastic, iconic barbershop Fougere. Also, as others here report, Dua's clone of RGPH, called River Fougere, is fantastic. Very close to the original, but stronger in performance. And I have just noticed my Fragram photo included above in the photos section. Thing is, at the time of that photo it included Dua River Fougere, not the actual Rive Gauche Pour Homme. I have since replaced the Dua clone in my Barbershop Fougere collection with the older can version of RGPH.

Rive Gauche represents everything that you can ask a court classic masculine fragrance that is characterized by the smell of soap perfect barbershop properly adjusted. It is one of the largest within the male perfumery, considered one of the best aromatic ferns that were never made, pure and classic lines as the David of Michelangelo. Undoubtedly represents an intelligent, successful man who appreciates the high quality of what used even if they are subtle differences: Costumes French pantsuit perfectly tailored, wear white shirts of the finest Egyptian cotton, buy Italian silk ties and lace-up shoes oxford with Prussian seams, makes daily underwear spun Scottish point is very well groomed and shaves all day to be impeccable. And even represent that kind of man, I believe that at a time without being fought is a very versatile fragrance that can put up with denim and T-shirt because what matters is the attitude to look. Rive Gauche is very French, stands out as a fragrance of clean lines, almost clear by the effect of bergamot, anise and lavender. Debugged and apparent simplicity draws a slender male silhouette by soft spices and excellent floral notes of geranium and followed the unmistakable and powerful aroma of vetiver, precious and complex trident notes typical fern lavender, patchouli and oak moss joining the whole structure, balance close to perfection and to top that background smell of soap barbershop high quality feels fine and elegant, as fresh from a cosmetics boutique in Place Vendome in Paris. In my skin behavior Rive Gauche is perfect, sorry clearly lasting more than 6 hours skin awesome thing to be an aromatic fern. Regarding the projection and although it is not quite excellent, is quite correct, I love it because I use it only during the day, also not harasses the aroma emanating pulse, ie, when it seems that will disappear back again, it is like the beating of a heart. Rive Gauche occupies an important pillar in my collection and I am very sorry that is already out of print. Rating: 9

"Rive Gauche" or "The Left Bank" referring to the southern bank of the Seine river in Paris. I don't know the exact inspiration behind that but I heard it is from the artists on that side of the river. This fragrance was one of the best pieces of art done when Tom Ford was the creative director at YSL.Also done by whom I consider a legendary nose who made and contributed in great classics like "M7" "Opium pour homme" "L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme" ..none other than Jacques Cavallier. Now ignoring the great presentation and diving directly into the juice: This can trick you at first by thinking it is just a classic barbershop fragrance that although very beautiful it might not have any development but you can't be more wrong. This opens up by a great well blended barbershop smell that is reminiscent of calssic shaving creams but once the opening settles down the florals and spices start to unfold until it drydowns after hours to clean manly musky accords. I think this has real Oakmoss extract (AS it is mentioned on the ingredients section on the box) free of the limitations of IFRA regarding the amount as this was designed and made before those stupid regulations became into action.I also agree with the reviewer guerlainfreak that although this has great performance it won't shine on you without applying liberally. Performance wise it is great on all fronts you won't have any problems. Sadly it is hard to find it in the original presentation right now without paying big numbers. It was relaunched with two diferent packagings that I didn't smell until the date of this review. IMHO this is the best barbershop fragrance and one of the best aromatic fougeres ever made untlil now. Although not very old but it can act as a memory time maschine to good old days of Gentlemen Dads.

Barbershop and Shaving Cream...in one terrific fragrance! I have been wearing Rive Gauche and Rive Gauche La Collection since blind buying them a few years ago. I enjoy wearing them to the office and find this scent to be perfect for a polished gentleman. However, it is also quite a versatile scent in that it's very lovable (you won't offend anyone) and appropriate for most settings. Offhand, I will admit that Rive Gauche is not the most "exciting" bad-boy fragrance out there. However, even the bad-boys know not to mess with the gentleman wearing this scent or they'll receive the biggest ass-kicking of their lives. If a Kingsman is issued a fragrance when picking up his bespoke suit and other assorted armaments...well, Rive Gauche would be that scent. I later came across the original Rive Gauche at a mall outlet and, although it wasn't on my radar, I pulled the trigger on a pair of 4.2 ounce bottles since they were a great price. Anyway, I thought Rive Guache Original and La Collection were very similar, but certainly not identical. To me, the original is a bit brighter/greener and projects slightly better. Moreover, La Collection seems to be woodier. Regardless, they both have that clean, fresh, familiar barbershop vibe. Overall, I prefer the original Rive Gauche over La Collection but found them to be very similar. However, if you're a Rive Gauche lover then I certainly understand why you may vehemently prefer the original. Regardless, Rive Gauche performs well on my skin: it lasts 8+ hours and projects average to above-average. Nice! It's a classic 90s style fragrance that it timeless and doesn't smell even one day dated. Just a classy gentleman's fragrance.

The finest of aromatic fougere that ever existed, that name could be fitted into Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, which is now discontinued by Yves Saint Laurent itself. Left us wondering what's actually going on with these houses currently, keep discontinuing the good fragrances and launches a horde of new fragrance that far from memorable, let alone became a masterpiece. Jacques Cavalier created this masterpiece that was launched at 2003, barely a decade it's ended up as a memory - The true Rive Gauche comes in a tin can It's opened with weird notes; mostly anise and bergamot and makes me think like 'The hell. Nothing special' but when the cloves and lavender start to appears and followed by the rest, I start to change my mind 180. Rive Gauche is neither clean or dirty, it's both, and that's what makes Rive Gauche interesting. It's like yin and yang, the two polar that united into a single harmony; I notice there's a bit of sweet and smoky character in Rive Gauche as well, which is form a single symphony - Nothing heavy, it's smooth and charming, doesn't need to scream to make other people know it's presence; stays long and have great projection without getting overwhelming, the key in Rive Gauche is simple, less is more. Personally this fragrance shocked me more than just when I wear it, but also the people reaction towards it. It's barbershop feelings never offend anyone, and they all give good compliments, even those who get offended by something as simple as YSL L'Homme give a compliments! Could it be that this fragrance is impossible to be hated? probably. Either way, he's now vanished and left a golden imprint in history. score : ★★★★★

Rive Gauche Pour Homme... Simply put one of the best fragrances I've ever smelled! Has a shaving cream vibe that made me steer clear of it for years but one day it just clicked and it's now among one of my most admired fragrances. This fragrance has it all! It's spicy, dirty, clean, fresh, serious, free spirited, casual, sexy. I count it amoung the top 5 fragrances I've ever smelled, and want to smell on myself. This fragrance is as close to perfection that you can get! Scent: 10/10 Sillage/Projection: 10/10 Pretty heavy for the first half hour, then stays strong for 3 hours then mellows out but it still very much apparent. 2-3 sprays reccomended Longevity: 10/10 10+ hours Versitility: 9.5/10 Only time I wouldn't wear this is in the hottest days of summer. It's suitable for any occasion, but excels as a work scent. Regarding the reformulation: The La Collection version is pretty true to this one but it takes away some of the creaminess and anise notes in favor of more green notes and woods. There is a sharp quality that I think is the increased ammount of guaiac wood, lavender and geranium. The newer La Collection is a more modern, sharp smelling variation. Overall I felt the La Collection version overpowering in it's sharpness at times where as the original is just superior. The older Tin Can version is more smooth, less synthetic and simply blended better. Bottles of this can (no pun intended) still be had for normal designer pricing, where as in 2013 this could be had for a mere $20-$40! Soon pricing will become ludicrous. Happy I've stocked up! One of the best from Yves Saint Laurent and a Classic.

A Classic, But Not a Myth Rive Gauche Pour Homme in the aluminum can is often spoken about like a lost treasure, something rare, untouchable, and impossible to replicate today. After owning and wearing it for years, I can say this: it’s a very good fragrance, but some of the hype around it is exaggerated. The scent itself is a classic barbershop composition. You get a fresh, aromatic opening with lavender and herbs, followed by a clean, slightly metallic, soapy character that feels sharp and masculine. There’s a crispness to it that gives that “just shaved” effect, and it carries a confident, traditional style. What stands out is its character, it’s more assertive and structured than many modern fragrances. It doesn’t try to be smooth or cozy. Instead, it leans into that classic masculine profile with a slightly edgy, almost industrial feel from the metallic nuances. That said, while it’s undeniably good, it’s not untouchable. Over time, fragrances like this have taken on an almost mythical status, as if nothing today can compare. In reality, there are modern fragrances that deliver a similar or even more refined experience. For me, something like Invasion Barbare offers a more polished and wearable take on the same barbershop idea. It keeps the elegance and freshness but smooths out the rough edges, making it easier to wear in today’s settings. Rive Gauche Pour Homme remains a classic and worth experiencing, but it’s important to separate appreciation from exaggeration. It’s a great fragrance, not a legend beyond comparison. Scent: 8.5/10 Longevity: 8/10 Projection: 7.5/10

Sadly, as my skin basically eats fragrance, this doesn't last on me too well at all. In saying this, it lasts better than I imagined it to. Having now tried / owned most of the YSL Homme renditions of original feminine scents (if they can be called as such), I think there is a very beautiful theme. This is the scent of a man on his own, but without an ounce of sadness for it. He doesn't need a woman, just as the woman who wore the original didn't need a man. They'd get along swimmingly at an office party held in a chilled cocktail bar. The theme doesn't follow in scent, but instead with a personality. Independence. I purchased this today in a chemist for a really good price, a 125mL 2008 bottle. I'd tried it before so didn't feel bad about it. It truly is remarkable. Barbershop is really the only way to describe this. Anise, like in Opium Pour Homme, makes this beautifully masculine. I'd love this on a partner as much as I love it on me. Truly, truly sexy. It reminds me a little of a hairdresser I visited when I was a kid. He had great hair and I think I crushed on him. Great memories of the late 90s, my best friend's dad's fast red car, attractive European men in music videos, trance tracks and all that. The inspiration obviously comes from much earlier, but the close on the milennium seems a truly perfect memory to me. Lavender has long been a favourite of mine. Its totally there, just so well blended that its not exactly a lavender fragrance that someone would pick out as such. A true fougere. A true masterpiece.

(Bottle c. 2004) What happened to YSL? They've given us some of the best perfumes of the last 50 years, though only a handful, and Rive Gauche Pour Homme has to be on that list (as does the original feminine-marketed version, Rive Gauche). This is the patchouli to benchmark all masculine patchoulis. At my bottle's current age, the bergamot has turned a bit vinegary and short-lived, but it is still there and giving you a great big kiss on the face with bitter anise and green rosemary. They give way quite quickly to exquisite lavender, geranium, and touches of clove that are so beautifully blended to their respective natural volumes that it's a damn-near perfect three-part harmony. The bass (base, pun intended) and rhythm section comes from light and powdery patchouli, oakmoss, guaiac and vetiver that sparkle with luminosity and swooning breathability. A hallmark sign of an expertly crafted masterpiece, being that it doesn't immediately dispense with top notes and heart notes to dullard base, is that the base evolves too. As time goes on RGPH's base is getting stronger, more earthy and mossy without losing that luminous and breathable character. Being an EdT of the classic men's fougere cologne variety, I doused myself and my clothes in it, knowing I would not offend or intrude on anyone - at least not for very long - and simply basked in its glory. Though it may smell dated to most noses under 30, it is a without a doubt a modern masterpiece that transcends time and trends. Long live Rive Gauche Pour Homme.

This is the most ideal way for a 30+ professional to smell. Maybe you wear a clean, freshly ironed button up shirt every day and you're in good shape, you brush and floss to keep your teeth looking perfect, you spend a bit extra on shampoo and conditioner and you use the more expensive hair product that you get when you get your $50 haircut. If you're that guy, Rive Gauche is what you want to smell like when you go to the office. It smells rich, but not spoiled because there's a certain blue collar work ethic sort of grit that radiates from this whereas it's cousin Gucci Envy is white collar to it's core. When people talk about fragrances that smell like "expensive shaving cream", this is exactly what they're referring to. Great fragrance, I was very fortunate and able to find a bottle for a pretty reasonable price but would I say that it's worth it? Well, I think you should try River Fougere first and then maybe also get Beau de Jour, Azzaro Pour Homme and Sartorial by Penhaligon's before getting this and if you really just want more of that and you can find this for under 200, then maybe consider getting it from a trusted seller. It's perfect for any time of year, any setting really, and it's just a fragrance that'll help you smell like a man who's got his shit together. Rive Gauche Pour Homme pays his fucking bills in advance if anything, he's responsible, he's going places and he's a keeper. 10/10, all time classic for a reason.

I finally got around to sampling YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme today, and I'm impressed as I expected. Certainly within the fougere realm, but quite a bit cleaner and less spicy than some of its counterparts (like Chanel Pour Monsieur and YSL Jazz, for example), Rive Gauche lives up to the hype of being an understated gentleman's fragrance that, like the others, emanates maturity and class while not smelling too much of old men, or causing a stink. Certainly the lavender plays in very significantly in Rive Gauche, as with most fougeres, but it's especially front-and-center to the effect of providing that cleanness into the dry down, following a bergamot/rosemary opening. I'm fortunate to not get too much of the star anise at the opening, as I'd be worried that it'd render it a bit too bitter for my liking. And it the dry down is the familiar mix of oakmoss and other woody/earthy notes--in this case, the soft, semi-sweet guaiac wood with the sharper, earthy patchouli. A very impressive blend, and one that performs pretty well on my skin, great on longevity, but a more modest projector, contra the reports of some that get a lot of projection from it. It definitely pales in comparison to YSL Jazz or Chanel Pour Monsieur EDP, but it's still solid. A welcome future addition to my collection, YSL Rive Gauche is yet another gentleman's staple I'm happy to have finally gotten around to trying. 8 out of 10

I remember when I tried Drakkar Noir for the first time and fell in love with that fougere/barbershop scent, I thought this is it, this is my scent... But boy I was wrong, this is whole another world, another level... Rive Gauche is like Lindt among chocolates, maybe there is better, but everyone knows Lindt's quality and amazing taste. Barbershop fragrances may not be a hit today and something that is considered sexy, but as I said, this is a completely different story, this was not old fashioned in 2003 when it came out, nor in 2013, nor is it today in 2024, and it won't be in 10 years., this perfume is so well made that it will be relevant now and forever. The only problem is that it is discontinued, it is really a tragedy and the person who decided to do it should be sent to prison, because it is criminal to remove such a fragrance from production. Unfortunately, it is very expensive to get, but if you love a perfume so much, then that love has no price, I always thought that I would pay max 100 usd for a perfume, but everything changed because of Rive Gauche.. That's love, and love has no price :) P.S. I've said everything except how it smells, if it has to be described simply then the most expensive and the most beautiful shaving foam you can imagine :) Masterpiece 10/10! 💯

I love this. It holds a truly special place for me because it's the first fragrance lovers fragrance I bought. I wanted "barber shop", and it's what came highly, highly recommended at the time. Now, here's what I know after having it many years now. It's still awesome and special to me, but I've learned some things about this fragrance. Honestly and Truly, it smells a lot, a whole lot, like Brut. It's not Brut, it's better, higher quality juice. It's Brut with garnish. It's crisper, more refined. The notes are a bit more distinguished and its graceful, but it's Brut baby. It's still classic to me and should be considered one of the top 5 of all time because it does the fougere better than anything else. It's perfect for jeans, boots, and a T shirt. Some will say suit and tie. Be a badass and rock this in a T shirt and boots and rock it like a hurricane. My family wasn't the most wealthy growing up and some of my cousins had to scrape to give us presents on Christmas, and I consistently got a bottle of Brut. When sports started in Jr. High and I had to shower after gym, yes, yes, I was just like all the other guys who over-applied his Brut. It's classic and nostalgic, Rive Gauche. If you ever were connected to Brut in any way, this is your nostalgic adult made way to re-connect.

One of the best barbershop scents ever made. Released in 2003 under Tom Ford’s creative direction at YSL, Rive Gauche Pour Homme was a love letter to the clean-shaven, fougère masculinity of the past. It channels the 1970s original’s spirit but reimagines it for the modern guy. Jacques Cavallier (also behind Opium PH and M7) pulls off that blend of classic and contemporary with ease: it’s nostalgic without being stuck in time. The opening is pure barbershop bliss—bergamot, rosemary, and star anise with a silky lavender heart and cool clove that nods to Old Spice, but with more polish and restraint. The drydown is fougère DNA done right: vetiver, patchouli, guaiac wood, and just enough moss and tonka to round it off without weighing it down. It’s clean, powdery, aromatic—and yes, it really does smell like the best shave of your life, all day long. This was one of the last great mainstream fougères before the style got pushed out to niche and wet-shaving circles. Penhaligon’s Sartorial tries, but this still reigns supreme in my book. Discontinued, of course—but the original metal can version is worth the hunt. If you’re into classic grooming scents that wear with tailored confidence, nothing beats this.

Update: I wrote this review in the warm weather, it seemed hollow to me. I thought this is such a fresh/ spicey fragrance it must be meant for the heat, but oh no... This fragrance comes alive in the cold, I don't know why, but when you want something classy, casual and super fresh/ spicy in cold months, this is great ! I'm wearing RG today and I like it. It's a great office scent, unique spicy fresh opening. I sprayed liberally today and found the drydown is one of the best I have experienced. The opening seems shallow all spicy top notes for an hour or two, then they diminish, and come into balance with the woody base notes and it becomes somewhat a substantial fragrance in the mid- drydown. One thing I have noticed of the great perfumer Jaque Cavallier, is that he masterfully designs his fragrances to have a unique and substantial drydown, only with his fragrance designs I have noticed the end stage drydowns are often better than the top- mid impression. I enjoy fine fragrances for myself, but if I'm going to be at the office or at church this is a pleasant safe fresh fragrance to wear around people. I found it is much better if you spray in on heavy. Rating: 8.75/10 God bless you. ( John 3:16 )

Now this one is just such a joy to wear.... There are few fragrances for men which can impart such wonderful confidence and put a 'spring in your step' in just the way of YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme. For a Winter work setting, this does precisely that and I can only compare it to one of my other Winter work cycle fragrances, Dunhill Edition, for doing just that. Moreover, Rive Gauche gives an altogether cleaner vibe that brightens up the darkest of days without resorting to overly obvious note combinations. The star anise and lavendar notes here are just stunning and a real pleasure to experience. Yes, Rive Gauche feels like a 'barbershop fragrance'. But for those of us who are keen DE shavers - cream, brush, the works - this is just perfect. And no, you won't smell like a million bucks with this, but you will smell like someone who wants to get on with the work that needs to be done. YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme is outstanding. It is no exaggeration to say that this is a fragrance for a man to live up to when he wears it.... Thank you, Jacques Cavallier, for this, the last installment of your great trinity of YSL fragrances for men.

@delancy "I can sense a lot of self projection and insecurity coming from you. Literally tell me where I said I was “any more of a man” for liking a discontinued fougere anywhere with what I wrote. It’s because I didn’t, you’re self projecting your own insecurities. Stop doing that, it’s not a good look." I can tell you're a tad bit angry for getting called out on being an elitist snob. It's hilarious how you try to hide the fact that you're an elitist by throwing out insults of insecurity when clearly you think you're above the likes of "kids who want to pretend they "like" barbershop fragrances and fougeres." Also, where did I show I am offended of your dislike of BDJ? I could not care less if you prefer a once on Marshal's clearance fragrance, I've never even smelt the damn thing. Hell, it could be even better than BDJ for all I know. Oh, and one more thing to note your hypocrisy. Here's an excerpt from your most recent review. "Perhaps people should confidently wear whatever they want to wear, at whatever age they want to wear it, instead of putting completely pointless "age labels" on perfumed water." - delancy 2025

This transcends being a barbershop fougere. It's very introspective, in a way. I smell something that invokes an enigmatic feeling, a feeling that I only get when I experience a dark, nostalgic yet slightly melancholic dream. Now imagine a scent with those qualities, for a man that's quiet, alone in his thoughts, yet confident and tries to be better each and everyday. The type of masculinity that doesn't shout for its presence to be known, or needs anything to confirm it. This needs to be experienced by anyone who is an enthusiast in this genre, or perfumery in general. Really a shame from YSL. As for the scent profile, I thought it would be more of a 1:1 shaving cream smell that everyone keeps talking about, but I just don't see it. It's more wispy and ghost-like rather than creamy. The way the anise and cloves come off as cold, piercing, mentholated, and slightly metallic really bring about that nature. The coumarin doesn't provide that thick, creamy, sweetness enough for it to be shaving-creamy. This smells like if the color "midnight blue" had a scent. Amazing.

Retro Avant-garde Dream (Jacques Cavallier, 2003) Scentrack: John Cameron – Half Forgotten Dream Rive Gauche is a retro avant-garde barbershop heaven. It was launched in 2003, but to me it appears like it’s launched in 1953. Exceptional Master Cavallier created an exceptional fragrance. Very old school and manly. The scent of reliable person and moral vertical or a good father. Like some good old time residues in the air. Rive Gauche pour Homme opens up with some beautiful classic shaving cream aromatic accord. Just a pinch of lime on star anise and exceptional Mediterranean rosemary – lavender bouquet. Very fresh and clean. The geranium gives that manly old school touch. To its drydown Rive Gauche becomes darker and woodier. The base is perfectly balanced between green vetiver, woody Guiac and earthy, but clean patchouli. Rive Gauche is so classic, yet so modern. It’s absolutely timeless. Quintessentially masculine. Like it’s simply beautiful metallic cylinder bottle. The fragrance of long gone family memories. Is there more to wish from a fragrance? Rating: 9/10

A smooth, powdery, barbershop scent with a shaving cream vibe. Classic, old style fougere; smells pleasant, calming and clean. Lavender, anise, rosemary, patchouli, guaiac and oakmoss stand out to my nose. I'm sure the other notes are in the mix. Less harsh, a little more modern and less grandpa than Azzaro Pour Homme. While they are fairly similar I prefer RG. Smells a bit like Brut aftershave. Sits nicely on my shelf next to Eau Sauvage, Grey Flannel, and Guerlain's Vetiver. "Masculine" and a bit mature but a lady could still wear it. Sillage and longevity are nice. Lasted a solid nine hours before becoming soft. Good for work but not too sexy to me. Any season but the hottest summer days. I think it would be hard for anyone to be offended by this. Sprayer is a little weak but the "throw away chic" (check out Broadbent's review) bottle is cool. It also protects the frag from light. Very nice scent from YSL. Might have a bit of an old man vibe in today's fragrance world but this is a classic that smells good and performs well.

i have a lot of luck to find a vintage version, we italians say "botta di culo", dont know how translate it..however, this is the can version with "ysl parfums" behind. so the rumors are true, this is a real barbershop fragrance, it reminds me something like proraso barber soap but in a 100 times more refined way. it's fresh, creamy, a little spicy and the blend is very masculine, mature and sophisticated. wear this scent is a true pleasure to me, i hate the fact that i cant spray it how much i want because it's discontinued. it's a masterpiece, other words are wasted. i think this cologne is more appreciated by older audience, men in particular, young girls dont know if they can like it so a blind buy can be an hard choice. still interested in trying the reformulated version because i heard it's close to this one. performance good but not beastly as many say. capolavoro indiscusso! scent: 9 longevity:7,5 sillage: 7,5 versatility: 8,5 uniqueness:8,5 bottle:7,5 my vote: 9 in one word: barbershop alternative- faberge brut

Very harsh opening. At first, I thought this stuff was rough. It was super powdery - Something like my grandfather would have chosen. As it transitions into the dry down, this is where the magic happens. As I catch whiffs of this stuff approximately 30 minutes after application, the whiffs are phenomenal. Just like a barbershop. It screams MASCULINE. It defines what a man used to be. Nowadays there are too many pretty boys and sensitive wuss's. This smells like a MAN - not a pretty boy. Now, I will admit, I am into the pretty boy scents...but there's something about this that boosts my confidence. It just makes me feel manly. It isn't necessarily mature smelling, but only a full grown adult can pull this off. No high schoolers or college-goers. The WORST part about this frag is I can only smell it for an hour or two and then nothing....but I know it is there since it stays around on my clothes. It's just unfortunate i go nose blind to it....Ugh! I love it. So different from what I am used to these days.

A simple, yet incredibly well-done aromatic fougère that, despite being made in 2003, harkens back to the days when men actually had testicles, and nobody left the house without first applying no less than 20 sprays of perfume. The premise is simple: take a classic aromatic fougère like Azzaro Pour Homme. Big lavender note? Yep. Turn up the anise a bit. The ambery, coumarinic sweetness? Turn that up a bit. Lower the herbs. Add a BIG patchouli note. Voila. A calming fragrance that says, "I'm a guy you can count on." It's not "old", it just smells reliable. It is quite strong and it lasts a while, but who cares? Wear it with dignity and let the people around you know that they can trust you. I find it more interesting and satisfying than Azzaro Pour Homme (although Azzaro Pour Homme is still a wonderful fragrance; no doubt). Rive Gauche says to the world, "I am not a moody little bitch that starts drama over Facebook. I'm a meat-and-potatoes guy, and I still eat proper home-cooked meals like pot roast."

Guys you know what this İS AMAZİNG !!!!!!! Not unisex manly elegance rich smells clean spicy but other hand is fresh woods undertone absolute amazing smells This good for mature guys . What ı mean by that when ı smell this ı can imagine a real man who is felling responsible to himself against to his family friends colleagues act. This manly barber shop fragrance and absolutely amazing BLIND BUY YOU WILL NOT REGRET IF you like smell elegance manly barber shop scents . I just spray 3 hours ago and smells like perfect nothing disappear yet longevity seems amazing so far . I would like to prefer to use this fragrance for daily basis. This not for clubbing ın my opinion ı can say that straight forward , day time all occasion amazing scents no doubt about it , of course you can use this scent for a date ,going to pub , to theather indoor activities especially but if you like smells dolce gabanne the one , one million , armani profumo , kind of sweet fragrance this is not for you .

A masterpiece. This is a 1: Aromatic fougere that smells classic and modern, 2: blends traditional clean freshness with naughty, dirty, sexiness, 3: is appropriate for evening wear, 4: is relatively smooth with a simple completeness about it, 5: is incredibly potent and long-lasting without being overbearing, and 5: costs next to nothing (for now). It opens with a traditional fougere accord that immediately reminds one of warmed Barbasol shaving cream. It becomes woodier and more modern straight away, leaving a trail of clean sexiness. The base is warm, mossy, musky, and sexy with a bit of dampness. To the 35+ generation: This will make women crawl. To the youngsters: This isn't the easiest fragrance to pull off but, if you can, you will be the sexiest smelling motherf****r in the room. The fragrance of choice for the well-dressed tall, dark, and handsome men with a tasteful vamp side. Just don't overdo it; this stuff doesn't need more than two sprays for most occasions.

Excellent, but grotesquely overpriced as the cheapest you'll often find of it is usually around $300. However, this is one of the most perfect, elegant, timeless smelling neo-classical barbershop scents. More in the style of the late 70s and 80s lavender based fougere barbershops than the 50s and 60s styles which were more citrus heavy a la Chanel Pour Monsieur and Dior Eau Sauvage, this one smells more like a luxurious and smooth shaving foam with the primary notes being lavender, star anise and oak moss while the rest of the notes play more of a supporting role. Lasts a long time for an EDT, but it comes off very subtly which I personally think only gives it a more elegant vibe. Perfect signature scent for a man in his 30s or older. If you get lucky and find the 125ml for $150 or less, pick that up quick and don't look back but pay more than that at your own risk. There are many other fragrances out there that do something similar for a much more reasonable price.

I purchased this blind hoping it would be the "one". I read so many comments saying this was the barbershop scent. I'm thinking of 90's old school barbers (like 70 years old who still use warm shave cream) hoping this smells like that. Sadly it doesn't. I don't get all of that old amazing barbershop smell from this. I get like a little barber shave cream and a lot of different smells. Not worth a $40 in my opinion. I would much prefer Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island aftershave for $10. But overall its not bad. Update: Perhaps my initial impressions were wrong. After several wearings, I am really enjoying this fragrance. Now its one of my favorites for the shaving creamish scent. Maybe it takes time to grow on you or get used to it. Sad to say, I haven't received any complements on it. That said, I really enjoy it and I would purchase this again. So it may not be a panty dropper but if you enjoy the scent of barbasol you will like this.

They say good things come to those who wait. This has a reputation in the community but I've never been a YSL guy and I haven't spent much time with the house beyond a handful of random sprays at retail stores. I'd always wanted to try it, and I purposely never tried a clone until I could try the original. I came across a great deal on a genuine vintage bottle so I pulled the trigger blind. After spending a day with it on skin periodically refreshing into the evening I can say that it's everything the fragrance community said it was. The quintessential barbershop fougere with a lovely but balanced dose of spicy anise over lavender and herbs. The lavender and woods in the base make this so, so smooth and enjoyable. Soft and a fresh close shave in drydown. Extremely relaxing, reassuring, and comforting like a hug from your father. The smell of a gentleman from an bygone era Scent 10/10 Performance 7/10

Old vs. New. I have both the black tin can as well as the newer glass bottle with black sides. These are 95% similar. The main differences are well described in the notes breakdown although I do get star anise from the new version just not as much. I would say the main difference is that the new bottle is brighter and fresher while the old is a deeper woodier fragrance. The older bottle also has a more mossy undertone. This may come as a surprise to many but not only does the newer bottle have a slightly more powerful sillage but also lasts a bit longer as well. All-in-all I prefer the opening of the new one and the drydown of the old one. These fragrances are VERY similar and if all you can get is the newer version then imo it’s not worth dropping big bucks to get an older one. Subjectively, this is a perfect barbershop (shaving cream) aromatic fougere. 10 out of 10

It is hard to believe Rive gauche was released in 2003. It gives very retro vibe and definitely is very different from men fragrances released in recent 20 years or so. Scent itself is green, herbal, smooth with great cooling vibe. Reminds of old school shaving cream. On my skin it doesn't change too much, gets a little bit warmer,slightly sweeter and woodier, but no drastic change. Smelling this I imagine a well groomed, clean shaved man in a suit. Something what Don Draper type of guy From "Mad men" would wear. Performance. This stuff is potent enough. Lasts all day with very good projection. Just perfect performance in my eyes. In my humble opinion every fragrance lover should test this ultimate masculine fragrance. Of course, to some people it may smell dated or remind their dads and uncles but man... This is how man should smell like! two thumbs up!

For a fougère Rive Gauche PH is rather discreet, certainly not the loud type. Made for Gentlemen with impeccable taste. Both my bottles (the excellent aluminum one, and the black La Collection) are more than 7 years old, and they have not aged very well. Both suffer from off notes in the first 10-15 minutes after spraying. But once these bad moments pass, the sophisticated scent of elegant lavender, aromatic rosemary, fresh geranium and warm coumarin I have loved since I first tried it, brings back not just great memories, but also reminds me why fougeres were my favorite olfactive thing. There is almost no discernible difference between the two bottles. if there is any, it's deep in the basenotes where this one seems to accent on the hay aspect of coumarin and is a tad stronger, while the black square one smells more vetivery to me. *****

My sample just arrived batch; 41832AL (unverifiable on checkfresh.com or checkcosmetic.net) In the opening, when smelled close to the skin, there is a bitter, green note that is very reminiscent of Mugler Cologne. Still in the opening, after inhaling this deeply again and again, then breathing fresh air, I can now smell an artificial cherry smell like in lolipops of days gone by. The drydown, when wafted, there is a definite, up-front, shaving cream smell to it which I think is the lavender and anise seed combined. Also, there is a dry, musk that may be coming from the patchouli. Very masculine, very old-school-gentlemanly. To me, it evokes the image of a type of man who took care of and valued himself because of his strong character and sense of duty to his loved-ones. This one is deep, rich, multi-faceted and not at all a bore.

When I was first contemplating which fragrance I wanted to buy for myself, it was between this and YSL Opium for Men. I couldn't decide which one to get between the two. I ended up getting them both! I wore the Opium a few times and while I did like the scent, I found it to be too strong and overpowering to my nose. I ended up giving my bottle away. I finally got around to wearing Rive Gauche. Right away I liked it. Not too strong, perfectly blended, smooth and soothing. The lavender and soft spices in this are so beautiful! One of the best men's colognes I've smelled in awhile. It's unique and different with a personality all its own. I can see myself reaching for this quite often. Smells clean and masculine without being too over-the-top macho. Perfect for any occasion. Every man should have this in their collection.

Je suis hétéro, j’adore ce parfum, mais je le recommande vivement au gay, je m’explique, lorsque je le porte aucune femme ne m’interpelle sur celui-ci mais par contre les hommes ne cessent de me demander « c’est quoi ce parfum, il me le faut ». Il sent le propre, le savon, il n’évolue pas trop dans le temps. On dirait qu’il est fait pour booster la personne qui le porte qu’il est préférable de le porter lorsque la journée va être dure au niveau physique. C’est un parfum vibrant qui est fait pour les hommes qui ont de la testostérone à revendre et qui veulent écraser les autres, le gars egocentrique. Dans ma situation c’est plus pour me donner un style de gagnant, lorsque je ne suis pas trop sûr de moi. Je ne le mets jamais pour me coucouner avec ma chérie. Senteur 4/5 Sillage 5/5 Longévité 5/5

So. I just started wearing fragrance again after being on a 25 year (ish) hiatus. Last time I wore anything was in the mid 90s. Something aquatic maybe. (Shudders violently.) I started reading about this unicorn called Rive Gauche Pour Homme. Gushing reviews. And there’s a certain nostalgia about Rive Gauche because my mom wore it when I was a kid in the 70s. So I tracked down a sample. (Not easy. Some guy in Italy. Thank god for him.) I had *very* high expectations. I opened the package, gave myself a little spritz. I actually said out loud “my god, I love this”. I put some on yesterday. My best friend came over, hugged me and said “you smell yummy.” And that’s how I feel when I wear this. Yummy. This is the hottest masculine barbershop fantasy ever. Nothing short of glorious. Damn.

The ultimate barbershop fragrance. Barbasol shave foam is terrible to use for actual shaving, but it smells fantastic. Rive gauche smells like a souped up version of the shave foam. Initial spray are pure anise, lavender, citrus and spice. As it dries down, the anise and spices stay most noticeable to me, with lavender and green keeping a strong base. On my skin, it lasts 10 hours. When this was discontinued, I picked up 2 extra cans online for 30 bucks each. Then sold them later to fund other frags. I am still kicking myself today as I only have about half a can left, and I am not about to pay hundreds of dollars on the secondary market. Thankfully there are some quality dupes out there, but I truly enjoy using the original on occasion. To me it is a masterpiece.

This incredible juice makes me feel like a million bucks! Sexy, clean, confident. One of the better scents I've ever smelled, which combined with it's amazing versatility, great longevity and respectful projection makes this a huge winner in my books and one of my all-time favorites. Very first morning I wore this was met with a "Mmmmmmm, you smell goooooooooood!" from my wife. Don't know where people get the idea this smells dated, my wife and I are early 30's and often mistaken for mid-20's and this never smells old or dated. Just smells like what a man should smell like. I will be stocking up on this stuff before it's too hard to find. This review is for the original aluminum bottle version; I haven't tried the glass bottle version to compare. Score: 10/10.

Dear YSL, why on earth did you stop making this? Do yourselves (and us) a favor. Make this fragrance again please. Just like it was, in the metal can. You still make the women's version in the blue and silver cans. Just make this one again, please?? Definitely one of the all-time great barbershop fragrances. Maybe, "The" aromatic fougere? There's nothing like it. Oh yeah, there's some stuff out there that's kind of like it. I won't mention their names because they really aren't anything like the real deal and I'd hate to see someone waste their money. Maybe one day, hopefully soon, someone from YSL will read these reviews (there's one glowing review after another here) and make an executive decision to produce RG Pour Homme again. Hey, a guy can dream, right?!

Been on the hunt for the vintage tin bottle and finally managed to acquire one, certainly worth the wait. As said repeatedly, this is the epitome of barbershop fragrances, indeed it is. It reminds me of a high-end shaving soap that my father used, the one you have rub with the brush and warm water to obtain that frothy shaving cream. It smells exactly like that. Very creamy, very fresh and smells ultra clean. Sillage is strong and lasts over a day, you cant ask for more. I am happy to have found it eventually and will be seeking more once this is finished. Compared to the newer reformulation, this is stronger and much sweeter. It also has more body to it, like a real shaving cream compared to an aftershave lotion if that makes sense.

2nd review (2016-10-03): only had worn it a few times, but decided to give it a try more often during winter and spring time here in Brazil. After 2-3 more wearings, I started to see the hidden gem that it really is. OK, the "star anise" theme has already been explored earlier on a fougére background (i.e. Azzaro PH), but - and that's a big BUT - this is something else. While Azzaro is more dirty and almost cloying (the leather/oakmoss base is a little bit too much on that one), RGPH stands on it's own league. Anise sweetness, yet fresh and levander-y, without being harsh. Maybe it's too much to call it a modern masterpiece? Absolutely not. 9.5 out of 10. PS: Getting one more bottle of this, will try a "La Collection" one this time.

This is so sexy and masculine. Start with a sharp (I like this part) anise and lavender with hint of citrus, and the dry down is amazing, it’s kinda dry but very smooth. One of the most interesting barbershop perfumes, not the soapy kind of barbershop, but the shaving cream kind of barbershop. Most of the barbershop perfumes become too powdery or dusty during the dry down (Le male, 1725 Casanova, Satorial or even Zino for example), but Rive Gauche manage to maintain the shaving cream vibe until the end without going to powdery or dusty direction, that’s incredible. It’s quite linear though, does not evolve much. Performance is excellent, last around 10 hours with good projection. Too bad they kept discontinuing all the good ones.

Wow just wow! I just got a half full of 50ml vintage bottle for 10 bucks it was a steal! sprayed it 9am in the morning and now at 00.50 still can smell it(mostly lavender) with in a half arm lenght. Scent is really enjoyable i detect mostly lavender,anise,patchouli and some woods in that order. I think star anise is my favourite note in fragrances Was not really a fan of barbershop oldschool scents but i like this one,never tried the newer version thou the notes listed differently most say they smell similer, ok. spring night outs i think will suit this one good. Dates.. dont think so, casual, dress up or down i think so. Will see if this one gets compliments but also okay if it doesn't So overall enjoyable scent for me

10/10 fragrance, simply the best barbershop inspired scent. If I had to choose only 3 fragrances for life RG would be on the list. It's kind of dry and at the same time creamy, just like a premium shaving cream. In my mind it's like a well groomed man from the 50's, who just got out of the barber at an expensive hotel. Far far away from what you smell on the market nowadays. I was able to get 2 vintage aluminum tin bottles last year (batches from 2003 and 2004 apparently) and boy they're potent. Enormous longevity, easily 14+ hours on my skin; sillage is also very good. In my perfume collection RG is one of the few always complimented. Thank you Jaques Cavallier for this total timeless masterpiece.

I really really liked this one. As others have said, it has an updated barbershop vibe. It would probably be my signature scent if I still had any left. I'm not paying the outrageous prices being asked for the unopened ones left around, though. The metal can is brilliant, and gives it a utilitarian vibe that matches with the flexible uses of Rive Gauche. Well integrated, smooth, masculine, confidence-inspiring. I could put this on for office, knocking around town on errands, or just hanging out. It doesn't work for me in the hot humid Summers here on the Cape Fear coast; it's a little too aromatic for that. Otherwise, day or night, it works. I miss it.

I was curious for so long to try this fragrance, so finally I got a bottle, (last year) and was blind buy, and I liked it, but it did not become one of my favorites from YSL. Formally wearing today and I was thinking this was going to be a monster of sillage, but it was not. I layered kinda with kenzo power, but only shampoo, deo and aftershave balm and splash, then on top this YSL RG, and it was a nice combo but at times I could smell more the Kenzo power than the Rive Gauche, and I did not wear the EDT from kenzo, anyway it was a nice experience but both are just very close to the skin now at the end of the day.

Well the rumors are true... this stuff smells like a barbershop. It really smells so much like shaving cream, the bottle even looks like it. This is not a bad thing, but not necessarily a good thing. I was just underwhelmed by the scent and I find it to be rather boring so I sold my bottle. My favorite time to wear it was when I went to bed, in fact I wore it pretty regularly to bed, especially if I took a shower. It just has a clean shave vibe to it that I find relaxing. Overall it smells nice but its nothing special, just smells like shaving cream without adding anything unique. 5/10... Average

It's a stunner. I have one and a half vintage tin bottles, and they, along with Azzaro Pour Homme Intense (1992), are my most treasured fragrances due to their scarcity. Fantastic performance, beautiful smell, and very attractive to women. This and Aventus have sent women over the edge more than any other fragrances in my collection of 20+ bottles. Yes, it smells like high end shaving cream, but it's just sooooooo good. You can wear it any time, but it really shines in cool/cold weather, perhaps because of the cloves and overall dryness. If you find it, buy it without reservations!

Oh yeah!!! I blind ordered a 125 mL in the aluminum can, received it, smelt it, & immediately bought another. This fragrance is all that is man. A dapper man, that is. It starts off astringent, sharp green & woody (the distilled essence of lumberjack). It dries into a spicy, sophisticated, seductive, high quality barbershop shave cream. The drydown smells like it could be produced naturally by you. Have you ever been fishing, but absolutely nothing is biting? So, you tie on that one special lure, & it catches you that rare, highly sought after prized gamefish? That's Rive Gauche.

A perfect composition that integrates fresh and heavy notes so well as to be immune to analysis. You cannot say "yes, this smells like cloves", because it does not smell just of cloves. There is patchouli, star anise, oakmoss, guaiac wood and geranium, but also lime, rosemary, lavender and a touch of coumarin. Rive Gauche is a scent for spring and fall, chilly weather and Parisian streets. There is no fragrance that comes close to it in terms of quality, impression or any other possible criterion. It is simply unique. PS I think of Rive Gauche as the son of Grey Flannel.

One of my favorite smells in the world. The ultimate dad fragrance. I didn’t want to pay the current insane prices, so I started to look for alternatives or clones and after several settled on River Fougere by Dua. (hear me out here) The opening is not good, or similar to my nose. It has this strange sourish smell. I was pretty upset that I wasted money, and then the dry down hit and I was so relieved. It’s actually surprisingly close and lasts forever. If you are open to clones and don’t want to break the bank, check it out! You may be as surprised as I was!