Thoughts on Kouros from YSL

[joshmpdx]

I've done a little searching and haven't found too much info on B&B's thoughts of Kouros. Im really interested in colognes that have an interesting scent. And as polarizing as this one seems to be it may be a great fit for me.

What is the Clove scent like? i really dislike the clove in Old Spice, is there any similarity there?

​

 

[warlandsboy]

Simply put, I dislike the smell of Kouros, but I do appreciate it's place in the fragrance world. Body Kouros was somewhat interesting to me, but maybe just because it wasn't as harsh on my nose.

 

[joshmpdx]

Simply put, I dislike the smell of Kouros, but I do appreciate it's place in the fragrance world. Body Kouros was somewhat interesting to me, but maybe just because it wasn't as harsh on my nose.

from all the reading i've done on Kouros as well as Body Kouros, i can't seem to get a feel as to what they're like. Can you put your finger on what you dislike about it?

 

[StylinLA]

I've sampled it a few times and finally made a trade for it. Haven't received it yet.

But meanwhile, the thing that gets a lot of people riled up is that it's initial opening notes have such a strong civet note that it can smell more than a bit like urine. This is especially true if you smell it on a paper strip. Others have likened the overall scent to urinal cakes. One article I saw compared it to pulling your pants down in public.

Now all that being said, on skin it goes into a dry down that is sort of honeyed and tangy. Very distinctive. Very clean. Sort of exotic soap. To my nose, the clove doesn't stand out as "clove" per se as in a Bay Rum frag, it's well blended into the mix.

My sense is some people grab onto to the civet note and can't get past it. To me, the C&S scents have a fecal note I can't get past. Civet smell or not, the fact that it is so distinctive and different than anything else might freak some people out. I've never seen it likened to anything else.

You're kind of a bad azz for the City of Roses, Josh. Get a 5ml sample from The Perfumed Court for like $11 and see if you can rock this juice.

It's been around since '81 and still sells well. It works for some people. But you have to know going in that it will potentially freak some people out like A*Men or Yatagan.

I haven't given it a lot of "real world" testing, so I'm looking forward to some cautious, tentative wearing next week. If you want to try it, score a sample, lock the doors and put it on. It presents it's true self on skin over time. Scary on paper strip.

It is a must sample for cologniseurs and any aficionado of male frags. If they were to start a male frag hall of fame, this one would go in first round. A winner with both critics and the popular vote.

 

[Kouros]

IMHO the greatest fragrance ever created bar none. The reformulation has all but eliminated the urinal cake aspect. All I get now is a honey woody composition. It works so much better in the heat with a little sweat that I could swear I was wearing an entirely different fragrance. In cold weather it smells more like patchouli. If you want a warmer, cleaner, orange version you really should try Creed Orange Spice which was the inspiration behind Kouros.

 

[Aaron01]

The clove note in Old Spice can be bothersome, as well as the one in Jacomo de Jacomo, but it's not present in that way in Kouros.

I really enjoy the scent, I don't notice any urinal cake note, but maybe that's because mine is of the current formulation. Though I would like one with real civet and ambergris instead of the synthetic replacements.

It may be polarizing in it's reviews but I've always recieved positive comments on it. Creed's Orange Spice is a good alternative if you like Kouros but want something a little different and more subtle. I liked Kouros better so I kept it and sold OS.

 

[Drubbing]

I hadn't used this stuff since I was in my 20s. Tried it the other day in a store and it was still very nice.

I don't have a cologne nose to describe it, but it is nothing like the cloying stench emitted from Old Spice IMO.

 

[dwnwrdishvnwrd]

I love Kouros. It's a great frag, long lasting, awesome value (a 100ml bottle will not be run through any time soon), and it's just awesome. Get past the initial civet blast (which I happen to like) and it's an awesome, woody, honeyed fragrance.

 

[thunderball]

Reminds me of my uncle who always wore it but I still think it's a pretty darn nice cologne!

 

[Matt555]

It is nice, but VERY, VERY strong

 

[The National Razor]

I can't describe it but I love it

 

[StylinLA]

I wore the Kouros monster today and it's not so bad. I was a bit cautious with the dose. I'll push it a bit harder next time.

After drydown, it's no so horrible really. But a little bit a "dirty" is always there. It's no more intense than Rose 31, another fave of mine with some stank in it. I can wear Kouros and feel solid about it.

I'll just make sure I stay in house for those first few pungent minutes.

Put me in with the rest of the Kouros kooks.

 

[auee1977]

I have sampled it and still cannot get past the horrible, to me, odor of the top notes. I will keep at it and see if some day, I can past that point and enjoy as it certainly is considered to be a classic fragrance and I do love Yatagan.

 

[professorchaos]

I can't get past the civet note in Kouros (or any other fragrance).

 

[htownmmm]

This must really be a YMMV... I absolutely love this fragrance. I couldn't believe it when it was discontinued back in the day, but I am very happy to see it's available now. I do believe I'll have to go and buy a brand new bottle!


marty

 

[StylinLA]

This must really be a YMMV... I absolutely love this fragrance. I couldn't believe it when it was discontinued back in the day, but I am very happy to see it's available now. I do believe I'll have to go and buy a brand new bottle!


marty

Perhaps the ultimate YMMV. I don't know that it was ever discontinued, but it might have been. I know it can found easily online, but you don't see in a lot of the department stores. YSL has an odd distribution network to me. They make some great male frags, but you have to work to find them.

 

[Aaron01]

I can't get past the civet note in Kouros (or any other fragrance).

Civet is very hit or miss, you either love it in frags (like me) or you hate it

 

[professorchaos]

Civet is very hit or miss, you either love it in frags (like me) or you hate it

That it is! I've noticed that it can play a dual role. In some fragrances, civet fleshes out the body. In others is plays a leading role. It is the former I can't abide.

 

[DULLAH]

​

Both very interesting and beautiful photos.