Even though my other hobby, the perfume obsession, has been somewhat overshadowed lately (I’m just saying Fantasy Film Fest in Cologne) and as a result, the quantity of comments has suffered, probably to the delight of some whom I’ve been annoying for years^^, I am of course still testing in the cinema. And I won’t let comparisons like the two now very rare YSL Rive Gauches (Light & Intense) slip by for too long.
I am an absolute fan of the original, know the powdery-modern barbershop classic & Brut successor inside and out, wear it frequently (for my standards) and was very curious about what the two flankers have to offer. Both come from a time long before the current flanker craze and shortly after Tom Ford left YSL. Hence this continuation comment.
I was definitely glad that I hadn’t applied the original in the morning as I had thought, since all three smell incredibly similar and only differ in nuances. So there is by no means as much of a difference as, for example, between M7 and M7 Fresh. Therefore, I only wore Light on the left and Intense on the right, which should actually differ the most from each other. But even here, even novices can recognize the RiveGauchePH DNA blindfolded. For me, this consists mainly of anise, lavender, powdery aftershave, musk, and a woody base. A scent for dreamers & businessmen in one. The similarities to the For Him line by Narciso Rodriguez never leave my mind when wearing both lines (especially the Musc edition). Both lines are absolutely recommended and milestones for me, not just in a suit.
Rive Gauche Pour Homme Light starts, as the name suggests, lighter than all other Rive Gauches. Airy anise, almost a fresh, cool mint breeze is present. Anyone who could never imagine the Rive Gauche DNA in summer will be proven wrong here. Only a hint of the woods and patchouli remains; describing this version as a dilution of the original is certainly not exaggerated or offensive, perhaps even intended. However, in this regard, I believe they may have gone a bit overboard, which can be seen especially in the longevity and sillage (in the continuation under YSL RG PH Intense). One doesn’t necessarily have to make every classic summer-ready and force it. Luckily, there’s no Anteaus Fraiche or anything similar (or not anymore!)
