Kouros Fraîcheur (1993)
by Yves Saint Laurent

This one was hard to review. I just know that it opens with a very strong citrus tone, fading over time to a more dated soapy smell. After 5 hours, the smell was kind good, but I cannot imagine using it yet. In an older gentleman, this one would be an excellent choice.

Kouros fraicheur has an indisputable quality factor into it, I do not deny that.

21st August, 2011.

Nothing much to say about Kouros Fraicheur as basically this composition does what the label says. Don't get me wrong, this is not a Kouros "sporty" edition neither an "aquatic" version. It's instead a slightly smoothered Kouros (yet mantaining all of its hallmarks) enriched with pineapple in the opening and with a gentler drydown. Simply amazing!

21st May, 2011.

Sharp citrusy opening that dries down to a somewhat "soapy" fresh scent. Unfortunately I cannot get past the urinous notes on dry down and couldn't wait to wash this one off.

21st March, 2011.

Sharp citrus and patchouli? With only tiny amounts of piss? Makes me think of A*Men Summer Flash or Ice*Men, but strangely leathery. I was pretty close to throwing out my sample, but I may have to try it out with different expectations. What bothers me is that it's soapy in a soap residue sort of way. If you could concentrate down the essence of the cheap crusty motel soap that you didn't manage to rinse off in the shower, this would be it. Still, I love how different it is from anything else I have. It's clearly a straightforward, professional masculine scent, even if it's still halfway stuck in the 70s. Maybe this is the holy grail for guys who like those old powerhouse scents, but want something more realistic and toned-down in the direction of Bulgari Pour Homme for the office? Merits more consideration.

16th January, 2011.

Yes indeed, Kouros Fraîcheur is a fresher and lighter version of Kouros. The opening is a bit harsh on my skin; the mixture of civet and pineapple isn't the most pleasant (pineapple is among my least favorite fragrance notes) and can smell kinda sour. Yes, the urinous civet is still present here, although tolerable and starts to become barely noticeable at all once this begins drying down. The "sour" smell also goes away within a few minutes.

To me Kouros Fraîcheur is a wonderful fresh, soapy version of Kouros, free of any off-putting notes to turn people away, except for the first few minutes. Gives off an "Irish Spring" vibe, similar to that of Sung Homme by Alfred Sung, just not as obnoxious. The patchouli in the base is AWESOME, too - it blends perfectly with the citrus and vetiver. The sillage and longevity are also very good, as I can get anywhere from 8 to 10 hours out of Kouros Fraîcheur.

It's such a shame that Kouros Fraîcheur had to be discontinued. It fetches for high prices nowadays online and is getting harder and harder to find.....if you have the chance to try it, or you're a fan of Kouros, most certainly try this. A good example of what a "fresher" flanker or "sport" version should be.

3rd December, 2010. (Last Edited: 10th May, 2011.)

Although I prefer masculine smelling fragrances, I've always found the basic Kouros a bit too extreme and vulgar. In fact I found it to be a caricature of machismo which has put me off buying it. Sorry fans, but I associate it with the obligatory white suit, hairy chest, tacky rings and bling watch, bushy moustache, cigar, corpulent physique, etc...however, Kouros Fraicheur is a different story. Significantly lighter than the basic Kouros but with a similar smell, this one is cool and assured masculinity in a bottle without the chest-beating machismo. Amazingly, it still packs a good sillage and has excellent longevity. I won't add to the excellent reviews below, save to say that its lighter composition enables it to be used without embarrassment in hot climates. I know it is regrettably getting harder to find, but I recently discovered some new bottles in Khartoum, Sudan of all places:-)) Kouros Fraicheur deserves a definite thumbs up.

7th December, 2009. (Last Edited: 20th March, 2010.)