Rive Gauche was created in 1970 by perfumer Michel Hy. Its name – ‘Left Bank’- stands for the left side of the river Seine, an intellectual, hip and slightly more bohemian side of Paris, where YSL boutique is situated. Rive Gauche is a fragrance for 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.
The well-known and much loved composition of floral aldehydes was enriched in 2000s with clear woody and aromatic accords. The aldehyde note is now surrounded by pelargonium and rose absolute, which somewhat softens the sharp metal note of the original composition, ending with a comfortable combination of oak moss, vetiver, musk and balsamic notes.
And yet those changes leave the fragrance very recognizable – all the way to the arty flacon. It is a great addition to any perfume lover’s collection due to its true versatility and impeccable, ‘very French’ taste. Rive Gauche was launched in 1971.
