Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent

guest_Cristi

Best ever, long lasting, don't make the mistake to over spray, one puff is more than enough. The first time i bought it i did the mistake of 3 puffs and then went with the tube, it felt like all the people there looked at me it was too powerful. A bottle lasts more than a year using it almost daily. I recommend it! not only for over 40.... i have 24...

BIG

very intense smell. i couldn't detect any "cat piss" note. LOL

dm8m

a classic ysl.but it's too strong for me. it's not for my age group.

mypersonalharmonics

Kouros is weird,wild,marble cold and spicy hot at the same time.

I absolutely adore the tarragon note.
It is rarely used lately...

Mellyhelly

I'm a woman, aged around 35 and I find Kouros off-putting. It keeps me at distance. No male attraction. Only a big stink. I blame it on artemisia and coriander which are pungent and revolting smells and they smell similar to some type of masculin sweat: the pungent one. I can't stand it. That's when I pass by a sweaty running man (especially youngsters) and even in open air my nostrils get pierced by that pungent acrid male sweat odour. Bad. There are other kinds of male sweat which smell better. I'm not saying that Kouros smells exactly like that kind of sweat, but it comes close, like a worked natural smell.
The ads are not so bad after all, but I'm interested in the juice.

instantjim

To kittycat63...
Three women with whom I work love Kouros, one in fact indicated in humorous terms that I had better watch myself if I ever wore it. All of the women are in their 40's ... I can imagine that more mature women (as opposed to younger women) would tend to like this more. My daughter says it makes her gag, my wife is one of the few who has no strong feeling either way.

Kittycat63

Hmm, I just read Countbernadotte's review and I have to say it's a bit laughable!

According to him "The folks at Yves Saint Laurent conducted an extensive market study to find out what men’s scent most women consider as sexy and arousing. The specter of a man hard at work in the gym, perspiring and showing muscle strength came as the number one attribute of sex appeal, ergo, they went to work to reproduce the closest scent that would represent this sex appeal to women in a man’s fragrance.

If men find Kouros by YSL unattractive and disconcerting, it is because men’s perspiration does not, nor should it, arouse other men, whereas, the same scent drives women putts when they smell it on an attractive man.

This should not be interpreted that Kouros smells of men’s sweat, it doesn’t. The thing is: it is not the classic scent men had come to expect out of a fragrance. The masculinity is derived from deep, deep wood and animal scents, strong and overpowering. What remains to be an absolute fact is: it drives women week in the knees, very week in the knees, …… Very, very!"

I'm thinking that Countbernadotte must be working in cohoots with YSL and is desperately trying to convince gullible men into parting with their good money to buy the bottled stinkiness that is Kouros! I can't believe that any woman who is sane would be driven "putts" by an attractive man who is wearing this.

If anything, no matter how attractive a guy might be and how alluring a woman would find him I think any woman with good taste and a keen sense of smell would be running in the opposite direction if he stank of this! Also, yes a subtle smell of sweat can be sexy on a guy in some situations but reeking of B.O. is definitely a major turn-off!

I have to applaud Bamacharm's review of Kouros which I totally agree with and it made me laugh!

Kittycat63

ALL MEN READING THIS TAKE NOTE ...
KOUROS IS REVOLTING!!!!

I'm a girl (well, a woman actually!) and when I was a (little bit!) younger and more naive I was browsing in the perfume section of a department store and came across what I mistakenly thought was an interesting looking bottle of new perfume so I excitedly spritzed some on, only to recoil in absolute horror at the stinkiness that came out of that bottle! To my horror I realised it was actually a man's scent and it was KOUROS. My god, it was VILE with a capital V.I.L.E.!! Luckily, I was on my lunchbreak and my office was close by so when I got back I rushed to scrub it off my wrist but, to add insult to injury, I could not get rid of the stench so I had to endure it all afternoon and I was ashamed that everyone at work would think I smelled as horrible as I thought I did!! On top of that, it made me feel queasy so I spent the rest of the day trying not to inhale too much!

Anyway, to cut to the thrust (so to speak!), I know a bad smell when I smell it and Kouros has to be one of THE most disgusting and stomach churning smells I've ever come across. It's almost impossible to describe how awful it is, except that I found it very sterile and clinical smelling, almost antiseptic, and more like some industrial cleaner or something than a sexy man's scent! I definitely would not want to snuggle up and get close to a guy who was doused in this.

I agree with a lot of the reviewers on here that Kouros is definitely NOT for the faint hearted but I can only imagine any man who gravitates towards this thinking it's sexy and that it will lure women towards him is nasally impaired in a major way!

Anyway, one men's scent I can highly recommend, and which I think is EXTREMELY sexy, is Issey Miyake. Now that's lovely .. which is ironic because the female Issey Miyake scent is almost as disgusting as Kouros. What a shame! I'd actually rather wear the male one myself. Admittedly, it is a lot softer and maybe slightly more "feminine" in some ways than Kouros but that's not a bad thing and it smells very sexy and certainly catches my attention when a guy wears it!

guest_rubin

best one ..........we should see what women likes more........if they are happy then what else we want ???

empathyboy

It is 1988, I have just turned sixteen and I am on a plane headed for the Greek island of Kos for my first 'adult' foreign holiday. I look through the duty free magazine and make my first ever fragrance purchase. I have never smelt it before, I take a gamble on a bottle that looks a bit like the Greek architecture that I am headed towards. It even sounds a bit like the place I am going. Surely it has to be fate?

I have to say that my sixteen year old self loved the smell of Kouros. I thought it to be distinctive and clean smelling. An absolute perfect olfactory sound-track to my first coming of age beach holiday. Imagine, a day of swimming in Aegean waters and laying on the beach soaking up the sun's rays. Then a shower in the evening followed by a hefty dose of Kouros. Then out on the town to drink and flirt. I felt like the bee's knees and probably killed a few bees too from over application. For a good few months, I never smelt anyone else wear it and I always got compliments (mostly from older women) of how nice I smelt. Then I started to notice more and more people begin to wear it and I began to realise how potent this stuff really was. Subtle it is not. As I began to notice it's very distinctive scent on other people, I fell out of love with Kouros. It was like a beautiful girl who flirts with you and makes you feel like the only guy on the earth and then you one day find out she is the same with everyone.

I still have fond memories but this is one love affair I will never feel the need to re-visit. Oh, and in case you were wondering about that summer holiday... yes, I did ;)

bourbon108

I got a 1 mL tester of this along with my recent purchase of Body Kouros.

I really don't know what to think of it. I don't find it as immediately revolting as some do, but I'm certainly not crazy over it either. Unfortunately I do kind of pick up on that urinal cake scent that is sometimes mentioned.

One thing I do know is that I would not wear it in public. There's something just a bit wrong with this scent, but of course that's only my opinion.

One thing for sure, is that you should test this before buying -- this is not something to blind buy.

desmondorama

This is a classic, all-time, sexy, masculine fragrance that every man should have in his fragrance wardrobe.

Admittedly, it's part of the 80's Zeitgeist and some parfumistos may see it as a negative; but why has it so much appeal even until today, I ask?

I have just finished a precious bottle and looking out for another, as it's a wardrobe staple for me.

Long-lasting and great sillage. Wear this and know you're sexy.

It is definitely for a more mature-minded man and not for younger males who may enjoy wearing the lighter, 'fresher' versions of this iconic fragrance and other 'fresh' scents that are mass-produced for the youth market.

It's pure sex and not for the faint-hearted!

truffles

I remember this mainly from my teenage years and every time I smelled it my conclusion was the same. Just one word - HORRIBLE.

octavio_bb

este perfume es para los que pierden aceite ,o para los que quieren salir del armario,para que la gente lo conozca

guynspfld

Truly Masculine.....So distinct and fresh......It was my first grown up colonge and I still wear it.....Compliments abound when I wear it. The longevity is the longest of any I have. When you people talk about classic fragrances this is the one I think of...Nothing compares

Lemale75

HORRIBLE ive just tried it because of the positive reviews...and is a BIG NO! smells like someone that is trying desperate to draw some attention...anoying and cheap smell

vin570

I find it too agressive and offputting, with a strong smell of woods plus herbs (I don't know exactly if it's really what I feel). To me it's vulgar, doesn't smell imposing...

instantjim

I picked up a couple of 50mL bottles of the EDT that were being cleared (about $5 US ea) without smelling them - at that price why not. When I got home and tried it I was blown away. I love it - it is so rich. It lasts on me 6 or more hours. I made the mistake of applying 3 sprays when I first got it (as I do with some lesser fragrances) and found that waaay too much (my wife said "Don't use 3 sprays or you'll either give me a nose bleed or an asthma attack") - it reactivated on my skin as I was doing some public speaking and made me start to cough.

My wife likes it, my daughter says it makes her gag. This is definitely a masculine scent and probably my favourite - or at least top 5, it is a masterpiece.

guest_

this fragrance reminds me of a clean gas station restroom. very outdated scent if u ask me. i cannot see how anyone under 30 can enjoy wearing/smelling this.

renneyg007

Oh god, this is an all time favourite of mine. I remember being about 16 and smelling this, it was addictive. Hate to admit it but i would follow men wearing this despite my then tender years. Failing that i would spray it on myself for a fix. Its very pungent by today's standards but its one of the most recognizable scents. Complete turn on in a bottle....and yes for men not boys.

krmarich

This is manhood in a bottle. Bold and provocative. The musk & civet scare many wearers off. Yes, I have smelled these notes in urinal cakes. I guess thats part of the appeal. Never has a fragrance caused such a controversy. I have been wearing it since 1986. I have an original bottle that is just as potent. I am the only person I know that wears it, so I guess its my signature, locally. Heads turn, as the sillage is powerful. It is most pleasing after 2 hours. Its a BIG fragrance-the ingredients are complex. This is not unisex-ladies beware! My best description is "sacred incence from some lost temple"!!! It last for hours. 10/10

guynspfld

I love it...I remember buying a bottle in the early 90s when I was a teen....I could smell for days on my coat....I still wear it and the compliments pour in......It is very different and not that common anymore

cbstarker

Well, for those of you who love, or for those of you who want to experience this for yourselves, I have a bottle for sale. PM me and we can discuss. I had to try it myself and agree that it is both repulsive and a beautiful work of art. It may be the most impressive fragrance I've ever experienced but I don't ever want to wear it again. And I don't care how many women it is supposed to attract, I have plenty of others that also attract very well. Kouros anyone? I have a speeding ticket to pay...!

shamus1

Yes indeed, Kouros is definitely the perfume you love or hate - there's no middle ground. I love it. I love it for the reason I love Yatagan - it's risky and utterly unconventional. It's got some beautiful citrus/floral top and heart notes (reminiscent of Caron's Troisieme Homme). But then there's the infamous and reviled base - a raunchy, filthy note that smells like sweat and a toilet full of turds. Yes, it sounds disgusting, but the combination of all the notes together creates a very virile, hot-blooded fragrance that only a man can pull off. I come from the school of thought that most fragrances are "unisex" (I hate that term), but I have a hard time imagining Kouros smelling good on a woman. Kouros is quite simply a manly fragrance. Beware, however, and apply it very sparingly - this stuff is so concentrated and loud that if you pour it on people within ten feet of you will be on their knees choking and begging you to leave the room. Worn sparingly, however, Kouros is a masterpiece.

For those of you who are fascinated with Kouros, but don't think you can wear it because it's too heavy, I would highly recommend Kouros Fraicheur, which is a lighter and brighter version of Kouros and is an outstanding alternative.

Aristo

Bitter honey and laurels on an ancient velvet...

Aroma of gods and heroes

susieqrj

Yuk!!!! To me it´s the worst perfume ever!! I really dislike this one and the smell makes me gag. It´s a woman repellent to me: I´d never get close to a guy with Kouros.

Trinity

Yes, Countbernadotte is absolutely right! I couldn't not have described it better! Kouros is, next to Azzaro and Aramis, one of the best, sexiest and attractive male fragrances out there.

These 3 scents separate the men from the boys!

Personally, I want men to smell like men and not like women. A lot of male scents on the market today are overly sweet and (even) fruity….they might smell nice, but they are certainly not sexy.

guest_Luvadventure

Men, I'm a woman who loves good smelling men and I love Kouros, so does my sister. It does not smell like sweat to me, it's sexy and alluring - I agree with Countbernadotte on this - it makes me weak in the knees. Perhaps before you dismiss it so readily you should take a poll of the women you work with and in your life of what it smells like to them. It's my favorite men's scent and it's very seldom I come across a man who's wearing a scent I find attractive. What smells good to you does not necessarily translate into being alluring to a woman.

countbernadotte

Men must view the appeal of any men’s fragrances with respect to their olfactory effect on women. Whenever Kouros is mentioned, I see too many heads shaking in denial, refusal and disbelief that it has merited any mention at all. Yet it’s almost insane spell on women who smell it on their men is beyond explanation!

However, from a man’s point of view, a woman’s fragrance should be feminine; that is sweet, sexy and fruity. If it is reminiscent of perspiration, it repels men regardless of how well it has been marketed as the quintessential feminine fragrance. The same logic should be applied on a man’s fragrance; if it appeals to women; that is feminine women, then it must be masculine. Kouros falls into this category; it is overtly masculine.

Women are aroused by a man’s sweat after a good work out in the gym. The odder of a man’s sweat, provided it is not a stench, is not offensive to women, in fact, studies have shown that women think of it as sexy and arousing; the whole mark of a man’s power and strength.

The folks at Yves Saint Laurent conducted an extensive market study to find out what men’s scent most women consider as sexy and arousing. The specter of a man hard at work in the gym, perspiring and showing muscle strength came as the number one attribute of sex appeal, ergo, they went to work to reproduce the closest scent that would represent this sex appeal to women in a man’s fragrance.

If men find Kouros by YSL unattractive and disconcerting, it is because men’s perspiration does not, nor should it, arouse other men, whereas, the same scent drives women putts when they smell it on an attractive man.

This should not be interpreted that Kouros smells of men’s sweat, it doesn’t. The thing is: it is not the classic scent men had come to expect out of a fragrance. The masculinity is derived from deep, deep wood and animal scents, strong and overpowering. What remains to be an absolute fact is: it drives women week in the knees, very week in the knees, …… Very, very!

For those of you who still find it too strong, please refer to my article on Opium Pour Homme by Yves saint Laurent.

Toni Lop

Smells much of musk amber ... very deep in sensation ... good for night wear ... for it gives a woody heavy smell to it leaving an elegant touch in you

LuckyStar1

I once tried the Summer version of this many years ago and i still found that was too strong. Although the summer version smelt a lot better than the Original which is too overpowering and dated now.

bamacharm

The intent of the perfumer is to create an aroma of stale body secretions reminiscent of a musty smelling weight training facility and locker room one might associate with body building.

Kouros, however, is no more than exploitation of the urine and civet (fecal) accords for purposes of achieving the supreme animalistic effect. If that's what turns you on, be my guest. However, I was unable to detect anything of redeeming value in this scent and I'm perplexed that some actually believe an aroma which conveys soured body secretions is somehow desirable to others, especially in countries where daily bathing is the norm.

It makes little sense that one would spend good money on a fragrance whose sole purpose is designed to produce the unwashed effect. Wouldn't it be easier and less expensive to simply stop washing?

Some suggest that Kouros "separates the men from the boys". I suggest that it is a good thing. If you wear it, have the courtesy to stand on the other side of the room with all the unwashed chics who dig it too.

Rockdj

a real masculine scent, i just love it it's simple it has an strong smell that u will never forget it, it get stuck in ur nose. the only fragrance that i like it from yves saint laurent. its a sophisticated compose hardly to describe but very pleasant to use it. is sexy and masculine at the same time and terrific long lasting!

arzacu

I don't like it.

I s one of that fragrances that you love or just hate.

personally I hate it, too strong and smells very synthetic.

dasa

hey slipcat, where did you hear that YSL dont produce Kouros anymore? It is one of the classics among parfumes, and it will be produced for many years to come. YSL would be crazy if they cease it from production, and I hope that day will never come.

dasa

This one is sooo strong... I had it and I will have it again. Really masculine and unique. Comments on Kouros are very different when I wear it; some girls love it, some find it repellant and vulgar. Whats important, is that I feel powerful when I wear it. And I like that feeling.

originaldeftom

Outstanding in a sense there is nothign that smells like this! Very masculine and machismo.

Greek Gods would have smelled like that as it is THE bodybuilder frangrance and very 80ies! Still a classic and very suitable for very self confident men. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Claude Van Damme, or Tyson Beckford would smell like this. Very homo-erotic as well.

Fresh, citrus, soapy, white linen, white flowers, amber, and heaps of musk....an aphrodisiac.

Cassiano

This one is very difficult to describe: some love it and some hate it!
It is agressive to others noses, but is sensual, warm and sexy for those who wear it.
I like a lot this scent. Besides that, is just necessary 2 or 3 sneezes to smell for the entire day.
One who loves this scent will be loyal to it forever!

suelle

Very masculine, but one of my favourites when I need to make an aura of strengt around myself. I'm a heartbraker wearing this one.
And it has all my favourite ingredients.

Perfumaniac

Very strong long lasting scent. Not for summer use!

slipcat

One of my all-time top colognes. This cologne got me a lot of "positive" attention from the women and was a great ice-breaker. I am very sad to hear that they no longer make it. Perhaps my highest recommended cologne.

guest_redwine

I love to wear this and I am a woman...love fragrance with a bite..this has that , yet I find it kind also...very sensual...I am an American woman from Gerogia ! (I do weight train also!)

guest_desmondorama

This is an all-time, sexy, masculine fragrance that every man should have in his fragrance wardrobe. Long-lasting and great sillage. Wear this and know you're sexy. Not for the faint-hearted!

Abbas

one of the most aromatic and long lasting fragrance that is masculine and sex appealing.

quite differnt scent

afraafra

You either love it or hate it, I hate it, it must be the civet, or artemesia

elgab89

Very masculine scent. Works great on a more mature man.