Got my Kouros blind buy, and.

[Frankthetank]

I'm both relieved and a little disappointed hah.

First off, I wanted to get the full effect of what everyone has been saying about this legendary frag, so as soon as I sprayed my hand I rammed my nose in and took a big whiff...

Not bad. No ****, no feces, no other bodily fluids... I got some florals and honey and maybe musk? In fact, I liked it. Smelling it now about 30 mins after application, I do get the soapy/slightly dirty vibe with a bit of spice, but the dirty vibe is so blended such that I would NEVER worry about thinking I smelt dirty wearing this. Now, I don't know what civet smells like, so I don't know if I'm smelling it or not, but apparently people get a big dose of it with this guy.

Now I should clarify that I have the newest formulation I believe, with the plastic/ceramic shoulders and base. I've heard mixed things about it, some say its pretty much exactly the same as vintage, others say its not and that the dirty notes have been brought back quite a bit. I'll have to wear it more to get a full appreciation of it, see if I can smell some of the things everyones talking about. But otherwise, I'm fairly happy that I enjoy it, but slightly disappointed that I'm not really getting intense, gritty, animalic opening I was expecting lol.

FOR TLDR: What about you guys? What are your experiences with Kouros? Do you find the horror stories of Kouros are overrated? Or is it just the reformulation? Will it reveal itself more upon more wearings?

 

[Cheapshot]

I have been through several bottles of it, and just recently got another, and oddly I agree with you. For some reason I am not getting the heavy animal feel i once got from older bottles. I really do hope it was not reformulated. And I imagine the civet is being phased out or will be at some point to appease the animal rights movement. This could also just be memory lapse... or the discount I received was for good reason.

 

[Frankthetank]

I'm pretty sure it has been reformulated a few times, not sure when the most recent one was but from what I read if your bottle is missing the chrome trim on the shoulder and base of the bottle, then it's the latest formulation. Starting to really enjoy this scent. Also, I'm pretty sure most if not all civet in fragrances today is synthetic, so that should include the more recent kouros releases.

 

[Cheapshot]

thats just craptastic...

 

[rise]

I think the civet is being phased out or will be at some point to appease the animal rights movement.

 

[StylinLA]

I haven't tried the latest version. My bottle is pretty old. I think it is possible they dialed back the civet in the same way Chanel has slightly altered Antaeus over the years.

I would echo an earlier comment here that it is unlikely the civet in the newer or older versions was actually derived from animals. I think civet in most frags has been synthetic for many years. But I think modern sensibilities don't "get" civet as a perfume note.

 

[BillC]

My initial reaction to Kouros wasn't so much that it was really dirty but the combination of fresh with a little dirty really, really triggered a connection to the smell of urinal cakes in a public restroom. It took a couple wearings to break that so that I smelled 'Kouros' and not 'Ballpark restroom'. Once that connection broke I really enjoyed the scent ;-)

 

[Frankthetank]

My initial reaction to Kouros wasn't so much that it was really dirty but the combination of fresh with a little dirty really, really triggered a connection to the smell of urinal cakes in a public restroom. It took a couple wearings to break that so that I smelled 'Kouros' and not 'Ballpark restroom'. Once that connection broke I really enjoyed the scent ;-)

See, I don't yet get the public washroom reference, I guess it could be the combination of a sour/sweat smell with the sweet honey, but I would never smell this and think "thats a pissed in urinal". I've worn it about 3 times now, and starting to understand the scent more. So far, its been enjoyable!

I actually found that the first spray or two of the bottle didn't really smell like it does now, almost like being exposed to air has made the fragrance in the bottle "develop" a little. Anyone else experience this with new bottles?

 

[The Chandos]

Fantastic stuff! Civet has definitely been dialed back or completely phased out in lieu of something more acceptable but I hear the current juice although different is still very enjoyable. My bottle is also very old so I don't know the difference but I've come to love the stink stank skank in it.

 

[rickboone1]

Arko and kouros both can't smell like urinal cakes

 

[Niles]

I've owned a few samples of the old stuff over the years and like it. I don't think I have tested the recent reformulations.

 

[Frankthetank]

From what I've read, the newest formulation of kouros has lost the nuclear sillage of the vintage one, which for me is fine.

So last night the girlfriend came over, and about 30 mins before she arrived I gave myself 3 squirts of kouros. 1 neck, 1 chest, 1 wrist. She came over, didn't say or seem to notice anything for a little bit. After a few hugs and kisses, she said "you smell good today, what is that?". Other comments she made were "smells like you after you've showered and shaved", and the dreaded "you smell a bit old man, like if an old man passed me on the street, he would probably smell like that" (she's 22 btw). Otherwise, she said it smelled very clean and nice, she liked it, but wasn't as crazy about it as some of my other frags. One other comment she made was "it is totally inoffensive" and "not too strong", which may shock many people, especially on the online forums. She clearly didn't think it smelled like barn, pee, feces, toilet, etc etc. I should also mention that she is VERY picky with frags, and has no problem telling me if she hates what I'm wearing.

Overall, I think the hate for this fragrance is ballooned and unjustified, there may be a bit too much encouragement for finding this fragrance disgusting, and that may be influencing peoples opinions. It may also be that the reduced power of the newest formulation has made this frag more tame and smooth.

 

[The Chandos]

I hear that her reaction is quite common and I have proved it to myself. When I wear it offends no one AND the ladies love it. Self-consciously, though, I think I smell like a bucket of elephant ****. Or I used to anyway. I've gotten used to it or understand it better.

 

[Frankthetank]

Self-consciously, though, I think I smell like a bucket of elephant ****. Or I used to anyway. I've gotten used to it or understand it better.

LMAO. I'll wear it around her a few more times and let you know if "elephant ****" comes up . I don't even wanna ask how you know what that smells like...

 

[rascally]

Wow, Kouros, a blast from the past for me, one of my faves in the 80's. Never had any problem with it then, but I've not smelt it for a while so no idea what the new version is like.
I think a lot of the old school scents have changed, or I have, or both, so I tend not to wear them any more and try and find new ones with which I have no expectation or association, but hearing that name has made me feel all nostalgic.

 

[Master-Classter]

It's stuff of legend, and yet, I agree. Now that I actually bought a bottle it's really just a solid fragrance. Doesn't seem to make people recoil in horror. Probably a bit dated in terms of type of smell but still very wearable.


that being said, i got the one with the ceramic bottom, not metal... and have read several mixed reviews. Seems the consensus is that it's been dialed back a bit but still good. Anyone able to confirm or deny?

 

[Frankthetank]

It's stuff of legend, and yet, I agree. Now that I actually bought a bottle it's really just a solid fragrance. Doesn't seem to make people recoil in horror. Probably a bit dated in terms of type of smell but still very wearable.


that being said, i got the one with the ceramic bottom, not metal... and have read several mixed reviews. Seems the consensus is that it's been dialed back a bit but still good. Anyone able to confirm or deny?

From what I've read, the overall strength (projection/longevity) has been dialed back, but that might be for the best considering what I've heard about the power of the vintage. I wore three sprays with my gf, chest, neck, wrist, and that seemed like a good amount, which may have been way too intense if I had the vintage. To compare, I sprayed two sprays of new Drakkar Noir (which, I believe, is just as strong as the one my dad used back in the early 90's), and she said it was too strong and was bothering her.

I also heard that the civet note is dialed back quite a bit, my guess is that they did this to make the opening less harsh and appeal to the modern method of fragrance shopping (spray on card, sniff for 3 seconds, pass judgement). I do have to say that the opening is still quite "in your face".

So, perhaps the reformulation, for us Kouros newbies, was all for the better. I still feel like I should get my nose on some of the vintage however.

Read this blog, it does a comparison of the new Kouros to the old Kouros. Pretty interesting.
http://frompyrgos.blogspot.ca/2013/02/un-compte-rendu-veridique-de-la.html

Below is the vintage and current bottles, vintage on the left, current on the right.

 

[Master-Classter]

thanks! So in a way i'm sad I have a reformulation on sheer principle, but then by the reviews it sounds like it might have been for the best?



I'm so conflicted!!! ;-)

 

[Frankthetank]

Haha definitely. To me, the reform is plenty raunchy anyways, I'm not sure I can even handle it in this one!

Another update: I wore the three sprays again today, and to be honest, I did smell a little rank . I'm picking out the dirty/sweaty note much more now, they seem to be taking over the soapy notes for me, where as before the soap seemed to dominate. I don't know if its just due to the amount of sprays or what. I have to say, Kouros works better for me in the outdoors, it seems to really work well with the raw smells of nature, which is where I was today. perhaps I should reduce the application and see where that goes, but things are taking a turn for the worse with this fragrance for me . I'm starting to figure out exactly what civet smells like, and the sweetness of the honey only seems to exacerbate the "urine" smell. Next try, 1 spray neck.

 

[Frankthetank]

Hmm, I think I've finally figured out exactly what the Kouros drydown smells like.

Several day old slept in bed sheets. Still the smell of clean linens, but with the underlying body odor and sweat present in the sheets.

At least on me. Can anyone else relate?