Have Fun by La Rive

Perhaps it’s because I have a special affection for Moon Sparkle, but I’m hooked. I’ve never been a fan of fruity perfumes, yet this one has a beautiful evolution on the skin and lasts almost six hours; given the price, I already consider it the best dupe. It begins with green apple. The first time I tried Have Fun, I thought of that Ratatouille moment and my university anecdotes, but it didn’t happen; it sounded very generic and dull. Still, I atomised it for daytime use, and after a few hours, the scent of Moon Sparkle emerged: aquatic flowers and fresh fruits, youthful, carefree, and luminous. It’s a perfume that’s not annoying at all, and in my opinion, it can be worn not just in summer and spring, but also in autumn. I’ve used it these rainy days, and the truth is, smelling it has comforted me greatly. Overall, it’s a scent I enjoy immensely for use at home or casual outings. Moreover, La Rive’s price is excellent. I’m glad to know that this nostalgic scent remains within reach.

The opening is terrible, extremely alcoholic, with a very synthetic strawberry smell. After a few seconds, the apple note emerges and the alcohol disappears, things improve but not much. However, after a couple of minutes, a red fruit scent arrives, perhaps led by blackcurrant, which makes me like it much more. A few minutes later, when some indefinite floral notes come in, it smells very good: floral, fruity, summery. I haven’t had the chance to try the Escada fragrance it resembles to compare them, but judging by what I’ve read, it’s really similar to Moon Sparkle, which wouldn’t surprise me given La Rive’s track record of producing good designer perfume clones that I have tried. Its sillage is moderate and the longevity is about four hours on my skin. In summary, for me, it’s a carefree, unpretentious perfume to keep in the handbag or gym bag, with a strawberry note that doesn’t cause as much rejection as in other perfumes (sorry, Mon Paris!). My last business trip took me to Poland, where I’m delighted with the quality and prices of facial care and makeup products (there are many excellent local brands). Today at the chemist, this small 30 ml fragrance was only 1.50 euros. Who can resist? Judging by the La Rive shelf, this perfume is doing quite well this summer as I picked up the last one in any of its presentations while others from the brand had the shelf full. Scent 5.5/10 Longevity 4/10 Sillage 6.5/10 Value for money 8.5/10 Versatility 4/10 Packaging 6/10 Would I buy again? No