Secret of Beauty La Rive 2024

In my eyes, an underrated doppelgänger. Yes, the overall performance of the original is better, but the price-performance ratio is unbeatable!

The fruity opening with a bit of blackcurrant, more plum, and a splash of green apple is spiced with cinnamon, which runs through the entire scent development and always remains. This slightly sharp spice gives the fragrance a warming, yet grounding quality that feels very mature.
This is supported by jasmine, which takes over the fruits in the heart. Again, a bit of spice is added through thyme, which reminds me of my garden in summer when the thyme cushions release their scent upon touch.
Woody notes in the base confirm the impression of a summer evening by the Mediterranean, when the olive groves recover on the dry earth from the hot summer day, and the warm ground allows a woody-spicy, slightly herbal scent cloud to rise.
Due to the spice, the fragrance is also perfectly wearable in autumn.

For over a year, "the scent has been maturing" in my closet. It comes from the time when I had to gradually rebuild my collection, when Corona threw a wrench in my plans, um, budget. Although there is no musk in it, I struggled a bit with the scent right after purchasing it. Something bothered and still bothers me immensely. While La Rive previously excelled with scents that started with hairspray, alcohol, or synthetics and then disappeared, now all the newer fragrances have a strange musty note that runs through the entire scent. I think the company is cutting corners, and that's where the problem lies.

But now to the fragrance, which is older but, in my eyes, has not matured. The fruity opening is reminiscent of plum/apple pie in autumn. Vanilla and cinnamon hint at Christmas. Blackcurrant is nowhere to be found. But that wouldn’t have fit anyway. Then there’s the super star jasmine, which actually doesn’t harmonize properly. It flattens everything out. The woods try to soften and round it off, but that doesn’t work either.

The scent is loud, trying to tell the Boss fragrance that it’s even louder and that it is the boss. Boss can only smile tiredly at that. Meanwhile, the little boss is quite clingy and doesn’t want to weaken even after 5-6 hours.

If you sympathize with the Boss fragrance, it’s better to wait for a deal and pay a few euros more than to spend less money on a scent that is not a hit, even if it is supposed to resemble the big boss.

When I saw the fragrance notes of "Secret of Beauty" here, I thought it might be a scent I would like. Previously, at a large perfumery, nothing really appealed to me, so I was pleasantly surprised when I tested the ~ 7 € fragrance at the drugstore.

The scent starts off sparkling fresh, with dominant black currant and plum for me. Vanilla and cinnamon are recognizable.
After a few seconds, the heart notes spread - a pleasantly floral sweet jasmine scent with a slightly bitter and perhaps even somewhat scratchy note. After a trip to the spice drawer, I would say it’s thyme. As the thyme begins to fade, woody notes slowly come to the fore.
In the drydown, for me after about 1.5 hours, it remains floral, but the woody notes take over. I can't directly identify olive tree, but sandalwood and cedar give a pleasant warmth, and a slight sweetness remains.

The longevity is not particularly long, which I don't expect from a 7 € fragrance. At this price, you can also spray a few times more and reapply.
The sillage is low. When freshly applied, I can perceive the scent myself, my husband in the car can too, but in a large room, you probably won't notice it strongly at a normal distance. With 2 sprays on my wrist, I can only smell the fragrance directly on my skin after about 2 hours. After 6 hours, it is still minimally detectable on me. It definitely helps to mist the clothing a bit as well.

From start to finish, I find the scent pleasant and unobtrusive.
I don’t think it’s a typical women's fragrance and would label it as unisex. After testing it on my husband, we both agree with my assessment, but he finds it a bit too floral and sweet for himself.

Recently, I stopped by the perfume section in the drugstore to check out the new arrivals as usual, and bingo, a new bottle from laRive caught my eye. A quick search online revealed it to be a fragrance alternative to Boss Alive, so I grabbed a tester and started spraying while continuing my shopping round.

The scent opens with a blend of blackcurrant and plum, which feels fresh and fruity, but not too sweet. It's almost as if you're reaching into a ripe fruit basket, fresh yet richly ripe at the same time. Shortly after, jasmine comes into play, adding a soft, floral note to the fragrance. The floral character harmonizes well with a hint of cinnamon, which contributes a wonderful warmth, giving the whole composition an interesting depth without overwhelming the lightness of the scent. In the drydown, almost back home,
the woody notes unfold. They provide the perfume with an elegant and earthy base, ensuring that the fragrance feels not only lively but also pleasantly warm and comforting. The wood tones round everything off harmoniously and give the scent a certain maturity that I, as someone over 40, appreciate very much.

Secret of Beauty by laRive is a balanced fragrance that finds a great balance between fruity freshness, floral elegance, and warm spice. The combination of blackcurrant, plum, jasmine, cinnamon, and wood makes this scent very versatile, not too overpowering, but definitely memorable. Ideal for everyday wear, but also for special occasions, especially now in autumn. Longevity and sillage are moderate and correspond to the price-performance ratio!