safe & trusted since 1999

I have worn this perfume since it came out in 1971. I'm 82 yrs young and a boy friend of mine gave it to me. He had lived in France & love the fragrance.

Very pleased to receive this hard to find perfume. From ordering to receiving was longer than expected but at least my enquiry regarding whereabouts was handled promptly and efficiently.

It was a very bad move for YSL to change the orginal scent. That scent smelled so wonderful and different on each woman. That was what I loved it had a certain mystifying and personal for everyone who wore it. How do I get the old scent ?? Is there anyway I can do this??? Tom Ford made this beautiful scent to an old lady fragrance.. Shame on you Tom Ford. My rating will be for the old scent not the NEW one..

I too have worn this perfume for a very long time, and I am in search of the original fragrence. I found that if the bottle say rive gauche in the middle it is the original scent, but if it say Yves.... in the middle it is the new bottling and new powdery something scent. Since there are so many women who want the original scent and have fond memories of wearing this scent why not make 2 ???? makes sense to me...

I am 52 and have been wearing RG since a boyfriend gave it to me in about '76. I suspect a few of the (younger?) posts here are confusing 'classic' with 'old'. It's exotic, sexy and bohemian. I adore it - and it lasts all day, unlike some of my other favourites; it's my signature perfume; and men really do love it! I've had compliments for years from them. One male colleague - when I asked a favour of him recently - said he'd do anything for me, even gardening!, as long as I kept wearing that perfume! But I get it that not everyone can wear it; I've tried friends' amazing 'signature' scents and they smell awful on me!

I did not realize that Rive Gauche has been reformulated in 2003! No wonder why I always think there something amiss but cannot pinpoint it.I started using it when it came out in 1971 and it became my favorite. It smelled so good and it lingered for a long time. I just finished my last one that I ordered from Bloomingdale's. I agree that it does not smell the same way. Why did they have to reformulate it when there is nothing wrong with it? It was very French. Did Tom Ford want to make it smell like a cheap American perfume? Or does he want it to smell like a man's crotch too? What a shame! The manufacturer should go back to the classic original scent! If not they are making a very big mistake! I am giving it an excellent review only because I cannot forget how the original smelled so good.

I agree with all those who deplore this depressing mania of "reformulating" classic scents. It started with my beloved Mitsouko. Then, they decided to sacrifice Chanel #5 on the altar of pop culture, or political correctness, or some such idiocy. Now this. I wore this for years to the nicest compliments. Now I see it's gone down the drain. These companies should be sued!

I loved the ORIGINAL Rive Gauche and hadn't worn it for years. So when I saw it (same design as the original), I happily paid a nice dollar for it. When I sprayed it on, it didn't smell as I remembered (the new one has a brassy-type effect on my sensors). To put it mildly, I too hate the departure from the original. Why in the world would you ruin a classic, timeless fragrance. Think of your profit margin, if not all of the women who would flock to Rive Gauche (original fragrance, that is). The original Rive Gauche was EXCELLENT. This revamp is HORRIBLE.

I totally agree with Lucia's post. They have wrecked Rive Gauche.

Rive Gauche is not something I would wear personally, but so many fantastic women pulled this off so well when I was kid in the late 70s. Back then, it epitomized a fun, sassy woman. Great classic.

Tom Ford, stellar darling of the lolipop guild, has maimed this classic beyond recognition. For all the women who want the original. I'm afraid you're out of luck. It was my sister's favorite and I tried to get it from a knowledgable 'source' for her birthday (Jeez! sounds like a drug deal!) No dice, it evaporated. My source is a professor who will soon be publishing a book on fragrances and has a profound knowledge of chemistry, far beyond my comprehension.-- But the bottom line is that the original one has a shelf life that expires faster and tends to evaporate. I got a refund, and some free samples but poor sis. In any case, for all of you who appreciate the heights which the house of YSL once was able to reach, may I suggest you stock up quickly? (My corner drugstore has Opium on the shelf!- Good God! Where have all the decadent women gone?)--Anyway, I suggest you hurry before Ford reformulates the whole works. And THX again Lucia, I needed a laugh.

I like Shalimar, Rive Gauche, Opium, Magie Noire..Old Lady??? Come on, these are the opitomy of feminine and classy!! I don't call the scents of today "teeny bopperish.." Therefore, my preferences at 30 years old are not "Old Lady." More like sensual, classic, and in good taste...passed on through the women in my family for years. I'm going to laugh if I turn 95 and start wearing Clinique Happy... come on, now.

Has anyone had any luck finding the original, prior to the 2003 reformulation? I haven't tried the new version & it's not for sale in the U.S. & I haven't been able to find a sample. TIA

What on earth have they done to this CLASSIC! I spritzed myself when walking past YSL counter as i often do for memories and was shocked at what i smelled! why dont they leave classics alone, SHAME SHAME SHAME! I was so upset as this fragrance held a lot of memories of my younger years im so sad i was nearly in tears, lets hope a lot of people complain so theyll bring back the original.

I wore the original in HS in '78. Everyone hated it on me, but, I loved it nonetheless. The new RG is awful. Perhaps Tom Ford should concentrate on smelling mens crotches and not stinking up womens perfume.

I guess this fragrance is the same type with Chanel no.5 and it's an old women fragrance

I'm only 30 but remember women my mom's age (60) wearing this when I was a child and I thought I was going to wear it when I matured. I'm sorry, but I was disappointed when I recently checked it out. I believe those who say the composition is different.

I agree with Anna. I've used R.G. since '71' & nothing else. Why change perfection. Old R.G.excellent new,horrible!

If you loved the original "Rive Gauche" and absolutely hate its current incarnation, I recommend you try "Calandre" by Paco Rabanne!

If it aint broke, don't fix it. For those at YSL, please listen to your customers, bring back the old formulation of RG. The new version is bears no resemblence to the magical original.

I'm giving Rive Gauche five stars simply because the original formula was so magnificent. The new formula is a disaster, to quote Luca Turin. What is it with Tom Ford? A Russian blog calls him the grave digger of perfume houses. Ha. I agree. Ford launched his Black Orchid, then turned around and said he wanted his 'fume to smell like a man's crotch. What a bad joke he played on women---man's crotch/black orchid. Orchid, crotch. Is anyone else getting the joke here? But before he played the nasty Black Orchid joke, he played an even worse joke on women by ordering the classic Rive Gauche to go through a change. Change is sometimes necessary. But in RG's case, it was completely superfluous. Completely. And the new version is so unoriginal in the opening and so unexciting, it makes me want to cry when I compare it to the original formula. I hope someone else will take the helm at YSL and will order, yea, DEMAND, that Rive Gauche be returned to its original glory. The makers of the original, Jacques Polge and Michel Hy, deserve nothing less. As do we.

This smells exactly like hairspray !! What a waste of money to buy this ! Why do people like this?

This is the perfume for lovers. If love could be smelled it would be "RIVE GAUCHE". Sexy, Romantic, Delicious.

Here is how to tell the original Rive Gauche apart from the new version. The original fragrance has the Yves Saint Laurent name at the bottom of the spray can and box with the name Rive Gauche in the middle of the can and box. The new version has the Yves Saint Laurent name in the middle of the can and box. Hope you find it!

I used to wear this in HS, which I graduated from in 1978. My boyfriend at that time detested this scent, I liked it and wore it when not around him. Time passed and I discovered Chanel #19 and Opium. Of those three scents I revisit Opium and; do think my HS boyfriend was on to something. PS: He gave fabulous fashion advice and came bursting out of the closet in 1980!

Of all the dept store designer brands, I think YSL comes up with the most innovative scents and bottle designs. This was especially true when YSL himself was at the helm----think Rive Gauche, Opium, Paris. Released in 1971, Rive Gauche is a marvel to behold. An absolute masterpiece of silver, coolness, and snowflakes. However, I will tell you that after you spritz it on, don't even bother to smell it until an hour passes. It's even better after 2 hours pass; the strange harshness you smell immediately upon application is not indicative of the drydown. Not one bit. RG is what I call a glamour-hyde, like Arpege, Chant d'Aromes, Chanel No 5, or Dans la Nuit. If you like the elegance of the floral aldehydes, you may very well fall hard for RG. This is one of the few scents I own that garners me compliments from strangers. Five stars.

I wore this fragrance when I was in high school. I don't honestly remember exactly what it smelled like, but if I wore it back then, it obviously isn't for an old lady!!!

always will be a classic reminds me of younger days when me and my friends used to sneak a squirt (when the sales lady wasnt watching of course). Brings back beautiful memories always luv it.

I've heard that Carol has been a fan of Rive Gauche since 1971. It always reminds me of Sunset Blvd. in the 70's - fresh, exciting, bohemian!

I hate to burst the bubble of those that think this scent is for old ladies. It is a wonderful classic; nothing like it! When I wear it, men rave about it . . . younger men, older men , ALL MEN!

Hello ladies, I'm not sure if it's just me but this fragrance is in my opinion very close to Deci Dela by Nina Ricci... If you like this one I'm almost certain that you'd like the other one as well. There is just something about the attitude of these two fragrances that makes them both extraordinarily special. Enjoy!

I just bought Rive Gauche hoping that the new version smelled just as good as the original. Well, I was somewhat disappointed. The "updated" version was not like the Rive Gauche I remembered from way back. I'm also mad that they made the new bottle to look like the old, so that you don't know which one you're buying. Does anyone know if the original version is discontinued? I hate that they messed up a good thing with their so-called "updated version."

I was being assisted by a YSL sales lady. We had been discussing Cinema and Nu....Then I asked her about Rive Gauche, but she said that was for older ladies usually. She didnt think it would fit my style apparently! Actually, I find this rather inappropriate. I asked her to please spray some on my wrist anyway. I like it. It is not a Wow for me, but it is surely not only for older ladies! What a joke! No age limit. (maybe mind limits)

I really wanted to try this after reading the reviews on here and indeed found this fragrance a very interesting one... It reminded me of something right away, and it took a little while but between my fiance and me we figured in out on the way to a restaurant one night... It has very similar notes to Deli Dela by Nina Ricci... So there it is... all along I thought that Nina Ricci had something totally unique and there it was all along RIVE GAUCHE... the similarity is not a dead-on, they are only similar not identical, but now I know that my Deci Dela is not as unique as I've always thought ;( I think I prefer Deci Dela to Rive Gauche but to be honest they really are very close

Hello everyone! From reading your posts I understand that the formula has changed. I have never smelled the "old" version, but kind of like the "new" version. I do, however, find it a bit harsh and synthetic at first - it gets a lot better after a couple of hours. Can you tell me what differs between the "old" and "new" one? Is it worth the trouble trying to find remaining bottles of the original version? I'm grateful for your replies!

Definitely different than most of the stuff that's out of there. Old fashioned in a good way. Powdery, flowery, sophisticated. Good.

This is a grand scent and definitely not old lady like, but lady like. Originally I thought the bottle was tacky, but now I see how classy it really is. This is not an overpowering scent and I really like the powdery tone to it. This can also be sparkly. I think it's a clean classy floral.

May be it was a masterpiece some time ago (35 years back :)). It smells exactly like that - old, sharp and dusty though expensive.

The scent of Rive Gauche reminds me of Chanel No. 5. Kind of like her little sister who, in an attempt to be 'grown-up,' wears a little too much blush and stays out all night at a party she shouldn't be attending. It is very 'rive gauche,' and I can see this with vintage jeans and heels.

I agree with so many comments -it is very 70's and unfortunately dated. Maybe it's the fact that it was so popular back then makes it's so nondescript yet French! i agree Caleche is similar

I agree with Luisitania. This scent was heavenly in the 70's and I was eager to wear it again. What happened?! The top is harsh and synthetic- just a hint of the old glamor remains. Fie on Tom Ford if he is responsible for ruining a classic!!

This is neither original, stylish, elegant, interesting, hipp, trendy, or even passable, it is a mediocre mess, depriving us of what was once a masterpiece. How I (and many other's) love and miss the original version created under the wise supervision of Mr. Yves St. Laurent - as the old saying goes "If it works, don't fix it"

didn't like: smells like perfume from the 20's

The old version - A classy, stylish fragrance all of its' own. I love it.

Why is the house of YSL allowing Tom Ford to turn everything on a full scale mannish slant? Just wipe everything female celebrating womanhood off the face of the face of the earth, Ford. ..This new version of Rive Gauche smells like the worst locker room cheap men's cologne! "NU" is also horrible and just reeks with Old Spice 1950's undertones. What happened to the old versions? The original YSL creations? I'm sure Yves himself would be turning over in his grave if he saw what they have done to his formerly heavenly Parisian fragrance. My advice---if you can find any of the old original Rive Gauche---stockpile it! It's going to be like Yardley's Oh de London---once it's gone, it's gone for good.

Just as an aside . . . to me, Rive Gauche smells a little like CALECHE, from Hermes. I don't think Ma Griffe is anything like Rive Gauche. One more scent might be similar to RG . . . it's Jardins de Bagatelle, by Guerlain.

The ORIGINAL Rive Gauche is an all time great. It was Barbara Hutton's favorite scent. The new version lacks the original's verve, sparkle and originality. BUT . . . it's still better than most of what's coming out from other design houses. It's sad that Monsieur Saint Laurent no longer heads his salon. He is a genius, and already he is sorely missed. YSL'S favorite scent was CHAMPAGNE. Again, that fragrance got mixed up, and now it's called YVRESSE. I don't think that's as good as the original, either.

Spent a semester in Europe while in college. Solid push-up stick was great to carry in my back-pack. The scent still takes me back.... Is the old formula still available? They did the same to another favorite of mine - Chanel's Cristalle - but luckily kept the original scent with the EDT -- can't wear the EDP gives me a horrific headache? What mess around with what works? Be loyal to those who have made this a fragrance staple! The excellent rating is for the original scent -- haven't even seen the new.

Here we go again. I smelled the new version too, and it really stinks. What is wrong with these people? Next they'll be tinkering with Chanel 5.

I have never been fond of florals, but this fragrance is lovely. The new 'intense' version is a disappointment.

OH, WHAT MEMORIES THIS BRINGS BACK. THE SEVENTIES - SKIING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, COZY EVENINGS BY THE FIREPLACE AT A NEW ENGLAND INN, LONG WALKS ALONG RIVERSIDE DRIVE AND THE COLUMBIA U. CAMPUS, AUTUMN IN NEW YORK! THIS CRISP FRAGRANCE BRINGS IT ALL BACK. IT'S YOUNG, FEMININE, AND CASUAL WITH A BIT OF SEXY.

I do not wear this but my mom did. Reminds me of her along with one other fragrance. Makes me feel at home & safe, you know what I mean? She says it reminds her of her wild day in the 70's, hehehe ;)

I also have the new rive gauche sample in a magazine. Do not know why the original formula has been changed the old one is pretty good. The new formula is similar but it is missing the most important thing, it has no personality that ia what made the old rive gauche good. Just an opinion here, Ma griffe by carven smells very close to original rive gauche and is inexpensive in comparison.

I just got the latest Allure mag and they've got a sample of new Rive Gauche-the "modernized" version. The ad is of two people apparently having phone sex (???) Rive Gauche always smelled classy and sophisticated to me, certainly not reminiscent of phone sex. This STINKS!! I'm SO SAD they've changed the formula. I'm interested to hear what others think, but this does NOT smell "modernized" to me -- it smells old, heavy, dark, and musty. GROSS, Tom Ford - GROSS, and a bad decision. It smells nothing at all like the original. Why don't they just make a new one and call it Rive Gauche 2 or something, instead of messing with success?

I spent summers in France as a teenager. My French mother, grandmother and aunt all had this fragrance in the bathroom. Once I snuck a spray and that night was the beginning of my first romance with a wonderful French teenage boy. The perfume is wonderfully evocative, powerful, and magical...

This scent is being discontinue and new updated version is being launched by Tom Ford for YSL also a male version is launching also some bottle just in black and silver. I believe the formula for woman's is going to be diffrent...I read the mens is going to have a 70's smell to it.

Had this, but never warmed up to it (nothing negative, just wasn't me). Love the bottle!

This was my signature scent for YEARS. I used to get nothing but compliments. Everybody used to say "Hey, I smelled Rive Gauche on someone else the other day. So reminded me of you!" Can't think of a better endosement. LOL (wink)

Rive Gauche always reminds me of 1974 & that whole 1940's/Biba dress revival with The Pointer Sisters hankey-hemmed dresses & platform shoes. Back then I smoked those thin White Owl cherry cigars & French Gitane cigarettes & wore lots of dark eye makeup. Makes me think of Paris & the Left Bank, and an extremely good looking folk singer with big soul searching-chocolate brown eyes. *sigh*

This scent reminds of being a teenager in NYC late spring, early summer, it wasn't too hot or humid yet, and this heady scent lent its playfulness to that air. Yes, I will wear it again and treasure the memories.

I love this perfume! Its the only perfume I can wear that doesn't bother my allergies. Hard to find but it's the best!!

This is one of my favorites from the past. There are alot of memories attached to this one. Nice to see it's still around and still popular.

As a young child I would alway "swipe" a few squirts of this perfume from my aunt when we would visit her. I'm sure she knew. Time passed but I never forgot the scent. I couldn't remember the name, but did remember the distinct package color. I AM SO THRILLED TO HAVE BEEN REUNINTED WITH THIS PERFUME AFTER 19 YEARS!.

I've worn this perfume since the 70's. Men love it, and will fall in love with you when you wear it. It is one of the truly marvelous things in life...

I bought this perfume for my mom,as a gift,since this has always been one of her old time favorites..well I did not know how it smelled like but I bought it anyway,since I was sure that this was the one she liked.Yes,I got it right and my mom was so happy.I was very curious and when I smelled it I loved it!!It reminds me of face lotions..I don't know..with a very clean,soft and a bit sweet scent.It has an overall elegance...it's,in my opinion,a sophisticated fragrance,from a very sophisticated designer.

I've worn Rive Gauche for years and even bought some on Grand Cayman Island since I couldn't find it in stores here. Thank goodness it's still around - a timeless, unique fragrance!

The UPS man just drove away and I now have my Rive Gauche natural spray. I had run out and thought I may have to give it up since it has been taken out of stores. I am delighted to find it on this site. In 1975, I smelled this scent on a woman I babysat for and later saw it on her dresser and went out and bought some even though at the time I had never spent MONEY on perfume. I had to have it in 1975 and still do.

It's the only fragrance I've worn for the last 25 years.

One of my favorites. I have worn this perfume for over 20 yrs. But now I can't find it in the stores. I am so glad to find it on your website.

today I bought this perfume and I think it is lovely, spicy and very female !

Outstanding and distinctive scent!!! Reminds me the fragrance Babe from Faberge that I cannot find anymore. It smells nostalgy from the 70s. I will get a bottle pretty soon...

flowery powdery but fake-smelling. post-modern

Classic, light, made before designers were trying to "shock" with their scents.

Like every other msg, I think this timeless classic is an all time winner. It was, back in late 70's! They just don't make them like this anymore. oooh the memories...

Both have the deoderanty/powdery smell. Very close cousins IMO. Great fragrances for someone who doesn't want to smell like everyone else. These are good for signature scents.

Rive Gauche is my favorite perfume. I bought my first bottle in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. It always reminds me of New Orleans, and inspires many memories. Very simple, not overpowering, but definitely original.

Apples; powder; soap; sweet; cool.

It's a perfume I have loved and will always keep as a part of my life. Soft,sensual yet romantic and inviting.

I wore this in the late seventies...during a lot of partying years. Lots of good memories when I smell this scent.

This was Barbara Hutton's favorite scent; she sprayed her apartments and clothes with it all the time. Powerful, but not too potent, mostly white flowers. Very . . . up! Individual. I've never smelled another one like it.

strong. smells a bit "fake" to me. but there is also something nice about it

Rive Gauche is my favorite fragrance. I have worn it since high school bach in the early eighties. It was the fragrance I wore to special occasions such as dances. It is rich and complex without being heavy. I'm glad that I can get it through Perfume Emporium.com as it is rarely seen here in the Cleveland, OH area nowadays. I also can't help but remember the commercials for RG with the RG woman - "There she goes an independent woman..." I feel very good when I wear RG, and I still get compliments on it!

I`ve worn Rive Gauche since it first came out. Not a day goes by that some one asks me what that wonderfull perfume is. Most people have never even heard of it! So lets keep this a secret to ourselves. In this age of heavy and spicy or cool and clean frangrances, this one really stands out.

This was my signature fragrance in the late 70s. Even though my fragrance tastes have changed a bit and I don't wear this one much anymore, I find that I like having a bottle of it on hand. When I do wear it, it instantly takes me back to another time in my life. I consider Rive Gauche to be a timeless classic.

when i smell this perfume i thik it 's very nice.. it's very perfectly.