Is Armaf Black Onyx a dupe of Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Pour Homme?
Rive Gauche Pour Homme EDT
| EDT | Concentration | EDP |
| M | Gender | U |
| 2003 | Year | - |
| $$ | Price Tier | $$ |
Black Onyx EDP
While both Armaf Black Onyx and YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme share barbershop fougere DNA, they cater to different sensibilities. Black Onyx leans into a bolder, spicier profile with a strong cardamom presence that some find polarizing. Rive Gauche, however, offers a smoother, more refined experience, celebrated for its classic elegance and approachability. If you seek a challenging, statement-making scent, Onyx is your pick. But for a timeless, universally appealing barbershop fragrance, Rive Gauche remains the gold standard, if you can find it.
Where they differ
Biggest gaps first. The bolder side leads.
ScentArt
How it unfolds
Notes
- Rive Gauche Pour Homme
- Black Onyx
- in both
Tap a note to light it in both. A+B means both have it
Which Should You Buy?
- You want a fragrance with a strong spicy kick.
- You enjoy bolder, more challenging scents.
- You appreciate a unique, statement-making fragrance.
- You prefer a modern take on the barbershop genre.
- You want a universally appealing, classic scent.
- You prefer smoother, more refined fragrances.
- You appreciate timeless masculine elegance.
- You want a benchmark barbershop fougere.
A legendary barbershop fougere, Rive Gauche Pour Homme is near-universally adored and sorely missed by those who know it. This YSL masterpiece embodies classic masculine elegance, setting a benchmark for the genre that modern perfumery still struggles to replicate.
Black Onyx is a love-it-or-hate-it spicy powerhouse. Many find it a unique, classic masculine scent, while others recoil from its intense cardamom and dry, herbal qualities, often describing it as an 'old school barbershop'. Not for the faint of heart, it's a statement piece.
Scent Profile
How They Wear
Mood
Notes
Top Notes
Heart Notes
Heart Notes
Patchouli
10%
vs
11%
Star Anise
13% share of the perfume
Lavender
13% share of the perfume
Geranium
10% share of the perfume
Rosemary
9% share of the perfume
Oakmoss
9% share of the perfume
Vetiver
8% share of the perfume
Clove
8% share of the perfume
Guaiac Wood
8% share of the perfume
Bergamot
6% share of the perfume
Coumarin
6% share of the perfume
Star Anise
13% share of the perfume
Rosemary
9% share of the perfume
Bergamot
6% share of the perfume
Lavender
13% share of the perfume
Geranium
10% share of the perfume
Clove
8% share of the perfume
Coumarin
6% share of the perfume
Myrrh
20% share of the perfume
Patchouli
10%
vs
11%
Oakmoss
9% share of the perfume
Vetiver
8% share of the perfume
Guaiac Wood
8% share of the perfume
Note weights are our estimate from each note's place in the pyramid, not the share of the formula. Brands do not publish formulations.
Performance
Season and Occasion Fit
Seasons
A year-round scent - easy to wear in any season.
Occasions
Its clean, classic barbershop profile makes it suitable for nearly any occasion, from office to formal settings, without being overpowering. The strong longevity and projection, while excellent, might be a bit much for very intimate dates or active sports.
Seasons
A year-round scent - easy to wear in any season.
Occasions
Its potent projection and intense, divisive spicy profile make it less suitable for office wear where subtlety is key. However, its strong performance and unique character lend themselves well to evening dates and formal events, particularly in cooler weather, though some find it casual enough for a relaxed weekend.
Similarity Breakdown
Our estimate of how alike these two fragrances smell, calculated from their published notes. It is a position on our scale, not a measured percentage of shared smell.
Shares 1 of its 11 notes, including Patchouli
Adds bergamot and clove, drops amber and cardamom
Where to buy
Pick a size. The two cheapest offers, then the rest.
Rive Gauche Pour Homme EDT
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