By Thomas
Funerals are tricky business for the true dandy. How does one show the sober respect for the dead while still maintaining a sense of style? The choices are few – suit (charcoal), tie (sober stripes), shoes (black), scent: YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme.
For some reason Tom Ford has a thing for shadows and darkness. Or maybe it was a phase when he was re-crafting this scent – who knows? In any case, this is a sober dirge of a scent. The bottle is a perfect reflection of its contents.
Rive Gauche opens with a barbershop soapiness - vetiver, bergamot, and anise pull together to give a fairly clean and well-scrubbed (if slightly dull) impression. For some reason I expect this combination to have more “lift” between the bergamot and vetiver, but the anise seems to keep this grounded and slightly stodgy.
As Rive Gauche trudges along, some earthy-flowery notes and very unobtrusive spiciness (allspice?) join in but there’s still not much excitement going on here. Finally a woody patchouli turns up and the pallbearer successfully navigates the casket into place on a damp, grey day.
This is well-crafted and balanced, but not my idea of a compelling/fun/must-have scent. This is aloof and melancholy, a cologne that admires the drapes while people dance in a conga line in the middle of the room. I wouldn't even call this a “cigars and scotch” scent. Wearable but not memorable, just like the charcoal suit and striped tie.
Year: 2003
Perfumer: Jacques Cavallier
Notes: Bergamot, Rosemary, Star Anise, Geranium, Cloves, Lavender, Vetiver, Guaiac Wood, Patchouli
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