Rive d'Ambre
Tom Ford (2013)

What's interesting about this fragrance is that there is a floral quality to it… but there are no florals. Instead it's all citrus, herbs, and woods. That's about the only noteworthy thing about this fragrance, the illusion of florals. Otherwise, it's pretty safe, pretty boring, "good" stuff - not great, not bad, just good. Monodimensional and stagnant, bergamot and bitter orange sit over beds of cardamom and tarragon on a base of balsams and bright woody ambers. Not much happens with it, not much is said by it, its life is relatively short, clean, and simple. One could call this a cologne then, as the only purpose it would serve would be to freshen up the dapper gentleman after a shave or a bath. But, this is Tom Ford, so of course even as a very safe and very easy cologne it's priced like a high-end statement-making EdP. Add to this the fact that it was discontinued nearly as quickly as it was developed and launched, you would spend enormous amounts on the aftermarket for it. In other words, it came, it smelled fine, it was discontinued, we all have forgotten about it, and that's as it probably should be.

Oranges, salt, saliva, over a more conventional amber base.
Weird, and occasionally unpleasant. Really not sure the herbs and spices work here (the mint is OK), much as I love all artemisias (including tarragon, which is kinda minty). And what is that bad-breath, salty note ?

Fortunately, it all wears off very quickly.

This fragrance is a blend of various citrus notes with a subtle sweetness provided by the amber. The amber note doesn't come across as overly resinous or thick, and it allows the airy quality of the fragrance to shine through. The natural and clean aroma of this fragrance is enhanced by the presence of tolu balsam, which adds a solid foundation to the scent. While the performance is average, it is expected for a fragrance with this profile.

While it is a good fragrance, I am uncertain if I would be willing to pay the high prices associated with Tom Ford fragrances for this one. Therefore, I'm not too upset to learn that it has been discontinued.

A very nice citrus fragrance. The Amber, citrus and musk combination smells great...while you can smell it. The longevity is poor. I can smell it (with my nose pressed against my skin) for up to four hours. The projection is near nonexistent. A great smelling fragrance with terrible performance issues. Although I like it, I must give it a thumbs down due to price point, performance and uniqueness.

The opening is designer citrus with sweetness, which isn't bad, just what it reminded me of and kinda not what I expected. Shortly after, it goes into a green-salty/peppery scent which is quite rich, very classy. Maybe even a little musky and sexy. The amber in the drydown is powdery, not warm and heavy. I think this is an excellent work fragrance for everyday use.

Performs much better on clothes than on skin for projection and longevity. I won't even report on skin performance because it was bad. So on clothes, the projection is still average but longevity is good, lasts all workday.

This started off powerful out of the gate and cleared my nose. A strong citrus and floral/herbal/mint shows up. It smells unique, but definitely unisex. There's kind of a boozy wood that appears in the base. It's not my style, but it is good. It comes off as a mysterious smooth boozy, amber orange. The only thing that interferes is a slight hairspray note, but that is a problem for so many fragrances. Since I haven't liked much of Tom Ford, it's easily one of his best for me. Dry down is like orange scratch off cards. This would be a great alternative to L'Anarchiste