A TIMELESS FRENCH CLASSIC. (Yves Saint Laurent: Rive Gauche, Eau de Toilette)

Member Name: PRINCESSPUSSYCAT

Product:	Yves Saint Laurent: Rive Gauche, Eau de Toilette
Date:	14/07/08 (277 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A beautiful French Fragrance

Disadvantages: None.

-RIVE GAUCHE POUR FEMME-

- By Yves St Laurent -


'Rive Gauche is a state of mind, a way of being, a lifestyle, a unique 'Avant-Garde' perfume for an independent and unpredictable woman' -

That's me! :)


~~RIVE GAUCHE~~

Launched in 1971 by the French Haute Couture Fashion House, Yves St Laurent, Rive Gauche is a stunning classical and timeless fragrance from this French designer. Designed to capture the atmosphere and ambience of the famous 'Left Bank' of Paris, Rive Gauche is a sexy and sophisticated perfume that withstands the march of time. -


Rive Gauche translates into 'Left Bank', 'Left Shore' which stands for the left hand side of the river Seine. This perfume was made to represent the bohemian and intellectual quarter of Paris where the YSL Fashion House stands on the exclusive row of shops on Avenue Marceau. Rive Gauche is a perfume that has been created for a 'free and independent women, a gracious inhabitant of the city who likes the sun and wind more than anything but who is also quintessentially metropolitan'.


In 2003 Yves St Laurent saw fit to re-orchestrate this classic fragrance and under the creative direction of Tom Ford, the floral middle note of Rive Gauche was altered and Rose absolute was added to bring some modernisation to the scent, but what has actually occurred is that the perfume has lost some of its edge and the perfect harmony of accords is set off balance. It still has the same fragrance but the drying down has been affected and the sharp features of this scent have been smoothed as they felt was dictated by modern trend.


~~RIVE GAUCHE~~

The Rive Gauche perfume is distinguishable by its unique and stylish container, which is a vivid blue, black and shiny silver in colour and encased within a slim metal cylinder which comes within its matching box. The weight of the Eau de Toilette atomiser that I own is 100ml/3.03oz and because of its slim shape it is a perfect size to house in your bag for freshening up when you are out. The product looks expensive and the cylinder is beautifully designed and finished to a high standard.


~~THE FRAGRANCE~~

The fragrance of Rive Gauche is absolutely stunning. It is one of my very favourite perfumes, along with L'eau D'issey. Both I feel have this uplifting quality of fragrance which give a euphoric lift to the senses. Rive Gauche has a beautiful scent which is created by its unique selection of harmonic notes. This is a perfume that has that timeless quality. Created in the 70's, but still extremely valid and pertinent today. It is essentially very French in composition and versatile in its usability and I would say the Rive Gauche is a perfect scent for 'Anytime' and any occasion. It stays on the skin well and dries down perfectly. -


~~THE NOTES OF RIVE GAUCHE~~

~TOP NOTES~

Aldehydes - Honeysuckle - Peach - Bergamot - Lemon -

~~Middle Notes~~

Magnolia - Iris - Gardenia - Jasmine - Ylang-Ylang - Lily-of-the-Valley - Rose.

~~BASE NOTES~~

Geranium - Sandalwood - Tonka Bean - Ambergris - Vetiver - Musk - OakMoss -


~~SUMMARY~~

Rive Gauche is a truly beautiful perfume. Whilst looking at which notes this perfume contains, I noticed it has the Chemical Component Aldehydes which gives out a fresh crisp white linen fragrance. I always seem to go for perfumes containing this component. It was first used it in Chanel No 5. The creator of this chemical formula worked in the arctic and he wanted to capture the fragrance of frozen lakes and the smell of water at midnight. A poetical vision I think and I truly feel that he has managed to replicate something very special here with this synthetic component. His idea here was to imitate fresh linen brought in from the frosty air. It certainly has got that pure, fresh smell that represents an essence of nature. Rive Gauche is breathtaking. Pure yet sexy, elegant and very, very French...


'Rive Gauche for Women by Yves Saint Laurent is more than just a perfume. It is a state of mind, a way of living, a way of being, a celebration of the avant-garde and the unpredictable. This blend of rose, oak moss and vetiver is a perfect fragrance for the elegant and independent woman'.


Rive Gauche Eau de Toilette Atomiser Spray: 100ml £19.99. Which is a fantastic price! http://www.idealo.co.uk


Thank you for reading
PRINCESSPUSSYCAT
July 2008*

Summary: A beautiful French Fragrance