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Fresh & Vivifying YSL Kouros

post #1 of 38
1/30/08 at 9:09pm
Thread Starter 
Having enjoyed my bottle of Kourous for two weeks now, I'd not exactly describe it as "Fresh and Vivifying". But it is indeed "The fragrance of the triumphant masculinity: a divine and conquering fragrance for a powerful and intense scent."

As much as the people like to pile on with Chandler Burr about this, Kouros is not predominently civet, and does not smell like fecal notes or "magnificent secretions". It's a dry spices/incense aromatic fragrance with a good dose of Ambergris/Musk. As Kouros dries down, you get this interplay between the musk/ambergris and the spices. Thanks to the heavy fixative properties, Kouros pins down the spices for constant battle.

All in all, it's pretty obvious why this remains a best seller. It's strong and distinctive, unlike most of the characterless dreck out there.
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post #2 of 38
1/30/08 at 9:25pm
I recently finished a 1.7 oz bottle in about six months time.

All the controversy Kouros garners is beyond me...it's just a spicy, masculine, well-made fragrance.

Too hard core for the Acqua Di Gio generation, i guess.
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post #3 of 38
1/30/08 at 9:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by knightowl View Post

I recently finished a 1.7 oz bottle in about six months time.

All the controversy Kouros garners is beyond me...it's just a spicy, masculine, well-made fragrance.

Too hard core for the Acqua Di Gio generation, i guess.

Agreed, I just recieved my blind buy bottle today and have been wearing a spray on my wrist for the past couple hours and the development is quite nice. I've read a lot of reviews of people talking about it smelling like a urinal cake, but I don't smell that at all. Then again, I am a fan of Boss One which also gets urinal cake references...
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post #4 of 38
1/30/08 at 10:15pm
I recently mentioned to someone on here that it is the sexiest scent I've ever smelled. I can't sniff it without, well you're guys, you know. Naturally, I can't wear it but there's something mighty special about it.
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post #5 of 38
1/30/08 at 10:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by argogos View Post

I can't sniff it without, well you're guys, you know.

No, we don't know. Care to elaborate?
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post #6 of 38
1/30/08 at 10:32pm
I went through a couple of bottles of this back in the late 80's. Smells just swell to me. I haven't always gotten too many compliments on it. It does stand out from the transparent AdGeneration of frags. I still dab it on now and then. I can't say that it smells like sex or genitalia---they smell naturally like they do.
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post #7 of 38
1/30/08 at 10:34pm
I can't sniff it without getting gosh darned excited.
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post #8 of 38
1/30/08 at 10:42pm
About 60% of Kouros is good, and the longevity, density, and sillage are an ideal benchmark for what the strength of all men's frags should be.

But I cannot get past the smell of urinal cakes and USA men's bathroom sanitation products.
It's there. Please go to the bathroom next time you're in an airport or train Station in the states.

Maybe blame the CEO/product design specialist of the leading men's bathroom santitation product corp. for liking Kouros to much during the 80's?

IDK YMMV

I'm not trying to ruffle feathers either. A smell is a smell.
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post #9 of 38
1/30/08 at 10:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DULLAH View Post

About 60% of Kouros is good, and the longevity, density, and sillage are an ideal benchmark for what the strength of all men's frags should be.

But I cannot get past the smell of urinal cakes and USA men's bathroom sanitation products.
It's there. Please go to the bathroom next time you're in an airport or train Station in the states.

Maybe blame the CEO/product design specialist of the leading men's bathroom santitation product corp. for liking Kouros to much during the 80's?

IDK YMMV

I'm not trying to ruffle feathers either. A smell is a smell.

Sounds like Joop and Kouros might cancel each other out. I know what you're saying about the urine cake smell.
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post #10 of 38
1/30/08 at 10:53pm
During the last few years of the 70's it was Brut & Old Spice that delighted my senses after a shave or a claytons shave or two ... but when the 80's dawned ... whooa !! amongst all the superfrags that appeared .
Kouros is the one that I have emptied most bottles off over the past 25years !! ...
I still use & respect all the other heavyweights that appeared in that era but ...
Kouros is King !!
Will fight for him to prove it
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post #11 of 38
1/30/08 at 10:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimitrios View Post

During the last few years of the 70's it was Brut & Old Spice that delighted my senses after a shave or a claytons shave or two ... but when the 80's dawned ... whooa !! amongst all the superfrags that appeared .
Kouros is the one that I have emptied most bottles off over the past 25years !! ...
I still use & respect all the other heavyweights that appeared in that era but ...
Kouros is King !!
Will fight for him to prove it

Long live Kouros and Bogart PH!
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post #12 of 38
1/30/08 at 11:09pm
Opa !!
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post #13 of 38
1/31/08 at 4:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DULLAH View Post

But I cannot get past the smell of urinal cakes and USA men's bathroom sanitation products. It's there. Please go to the bathroom next time you're in an airport or train Station in the states. Maybe blame the CEO/product design specialist of the leading men's bathroom santitation product corp. for ...

...ignorance, maybe ? - If there is a problem, I think it's Made in USA. We have a food and champaign giant over here, abusing a very popular composition by G.Verdi for their stupid commercials. They at least know it shouldn't be done, but give a damn about the collateral damage caused
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post #14 of 38
1/31/08 at 4:35am
I own many fine fragrances and have sampled many, many more.

The only one which gets any kind of reaction from the Group Captain (wife) is Kouros . . . and then there's no stopping her.
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post #15 of 38
1/31/08 at 6:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nitromusk View Post

All in all, it's pretty obvious why this remains a best seller. It's strong and distinctive, unlike most of the characterless dreck out there.

Yes! Kouros rocks!
I've been enjoying it since I was 12 I think!
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post #16 of 38
1/31/08 at 7:06am
Along these lines, my wife had very positive comments about the Hermes Equipage I wore for the first time yesterday. She said "This is the old-school scent you got in? It really smells good." She kept sniffing as she hugged me!

I could also smell it rising from my chest as I ran on the treadmill this morning.

Back to topic: Kouros was the first scent she loved on me when we started dating in the 80's. She even had me spray a Teddy Bear I gave her with it.

Think I'll wear Kouros tomorrow.
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post #17 of 38
1/31/08 at 7:14am
I have a sample of Kouros coming in, though I will have to say on other frags that are known to be rather "challenging" it seems to evoke different reactions form different folks. (For instance, with Eau d'Hermes, I smelled sawdust, jock strap in a scented ladies leather handbag. My wife smelled cinnamon and a little bit of saddle soap and some other pretty fragrances.)
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post #18 of 38
1/31/08 at 7:23am
I don't have it currently and hope to get it very soon. Love it and all variations.
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post #19 of 38
1/31/08 at 8:23am
I will never be without a bottle of Kouros. Should the house of YSL ever be stupid enough to discontinue it, I shall stockpile the juice and selfishly enjoy it for the rest of my days.
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post #20 of 38
1/31/08 at 8:55am
It has been many years since I smelled Kouros - I wore it when I was a pre-teen and most likely I overapplied it.

I must say the ad campaign for Kouros is indeed fresh & vivifying.

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post #21 of 38
1/31/08 at 9:01am
I discovered the beauty of Kouros last spring. I had to learn that less is more with this one. I usually go with
a max of 2 sprays to the chest.
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post #22 of 38
1/31/08 at 1:09pm
I am on the Kouros bandwagon as well (thanks BN!)

The smell can be strong on the card, but it is so nice on the skin.

Amazing stuff

I dont find it overpowering at all
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post #23 of 38
1/31/08 at 1:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nitromusk View Post

Having enjoyed my bottle of Kourous for two weeks now, I'd not exactly describe it as "Fresh and Vivifying". But it is indeed "The fragrance of the triumphant masculinity: a divine and conquering fragrance for a powerful and intense scent."

If you like Kouros now in the dead of winter, just wait until summer! Kouros really comes into its own in hot, sultry weather; somehow the more "offensive" topnotes dissipate more quickly and the luscious combination of powder and incense meld with human sweat to create the most intoxicating, sensual, and yes... downright hornifying, aura. One of the short list of fragrances I can wear and constantly remark to myself, "Damn, I smell good!"
Unlike many fragrances, the hotter the better. IMO.
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post #24 of 38
1/31/08 at 2:01pm
So good to see so many Kouros devotees ! .. Im figuring some of you voted it your best YSL frag ? .. I did .. cheers .
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post #25 of 38
2/1/08 at 1:43am
I have not tested Kouros yet, but have smelled Body Kouros and liked it a lot.
Can someone describe Kouros comparing it to Body Kouros? I always read Body Kouros is more wearable. Is this the case?
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post #26 of 38
2/1/08 at 1:53am
To me Kouros and Body Kouros don't smell very similar at all, but I'm still new to Kouros so perhaps my opinion is not the best.
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post #27 of 38
2/2/08 at 4:25pm
Tested it today. With all the "controversy" Kouros makes on Basenotes I felt like I was doing something really huge with my first sniff of the thing.
Certainly different, and of all the things I tested, Kouros *really* stood out, but no, not my cup of tea. I'd go for Body Kouros any day. The sales guy was like "seriously dude, what's wrong with you? aren't you young for this stuff? Been a really long time since anybody tested this."
I confirmed his fears that I'm completely nuts when I asked to test Givenchy Gentleman, Pi, Green Irish Tweed (did not have a tester bottle ) and YSL Opium. But he was impressed nonetheless.
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post #28 of 38
2/2/08 at 4:27pm
I've been touting Kouros for years. Great stuff!
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post #29 of 38
2/2/08 at 4:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azsmells View Post

I've been touting Kouros for years. Great stuff!

Will fight for Kouros ..... aargh !!
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post #30 of 38
2/2/08 at 4:53pm
Urinal Cake? Go figure. I don't smell that at all. Kouros is leathery and metallic and spacey and sexy.
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post #31 of 38
2/2/08 at 8:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tvlampboy View Post

I will never be without a bottle of Kouros. Should the house of YSL ever be stupid enough to discontinue it, I shall stockpile the juice and selfishly enjoy it for the rest of my days.

Amen to that, brother. This is the only fragrance I own that upon application I think, "I could throw away the rest of my collection and I wouldn't even care."
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post #32 of 38
2/2/08 at 8:55pm
Pierre Bourdon created Kouros based off his love for Creed's Orange Spice. If you like Kouros, Orange Spice is basically it's quiet, conservative half-brother.
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post #33 of 38
2/2/08 at 10:57pm
I have read snippets in various threads that the discontinued
FURYO by Jacques Bogart & BALENCIAGA PH
are in the same mould ? similiar in types any comments on this ?
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post #34 of 38
2/3/08 at 6:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by samplermike View Post

Pierre Bourdon created Kouros based off his love for Creed's Orange Spice. If you like Kouros, Orange Spice is basically it's quiet, conservative half-brother.

it's been said before, but again, if you love Kouros, you have to get a bottle of Orange Spice, also. The differences might be slight nuances, but if you love the stuff, you'll understand why there's a need for something so slightly different.
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post #35 of 38
2/3/08 at 6:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimitrios View Post

I have read snippets in various threads that the discontinued
FURYO by Jacques Bogart & BALENCIAGA PH
are in the same mould ? similiar in types any comments on this ?

I own both Furyo and Balenciaga PH and I think they have some similarities but are also very different. Furyo has a strong civet note which I don't smell in Kouros. It is masculine and dirty witha hint of spice. Balenciaga PH is similar to Kouros to my nose but sweeter and cleaner.
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post #36 of 38
2/3/08 at 4:07pm
On the card, it doesn't smell like a urinal cake per se, but overall on the first whiff a "men's restroom" accord. Somehow the blended notes together give me this impression - though if you stop and break it down you can see the common structure of a men's fragrance, yet peculiarly it does evoke something of a men's restroom. In an antiseptic world, perhaps it is too human smelling? Too manly (in the ways that we normally try to cover up)?

I have yet to dare to try it on skin, but I think I'll be bold this week and give it a shot.
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post #37 of 38
2/3/08 at 4:28pm
When I first wore this stuff, I never really thought about the restroom/man smell. I put some on my arm before going to bed. Damn if I couldn't smell a restroom--slight urine accord. Oh,the power of suggestion! It still stands out loudly and proudly in it's state of terminal uniqueness with a distinct thumbs up.
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post #38 of 38
2/6/08 at 10:04pm
Am I attracted to urinals? I feel dirty.
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