Dissection of a rare gem: YSL "Kouros" pour homme, EDT, year 1981 (with pictures)

Ladies and Gentleman!

here's to you a *very* rare "KOUROS" EDT pour homme, 100ml 3.3 oz.,
by Yves Saint Laurent, Paris, France.
Year 1981
(Please note: it's NOT for sale, it was a precious gift, I'm fond of it)




Note how reflective the box is: it seems a mirror despite different colors:


Lateral sides without any lettering (1):


Lateral sides (2):


The bottom side, with a white "check" sticker by Squibb Spa.


The bottom side (the white sticker has historical importance, it's a sort of proof of authenticity, since "Squibb Spa" ended operations in 1989)


The front side in all its glory (NOTE: there is ONLY ONE BLUE TONE. Plus, in following years colors will change; "eau de toilette" lettering will move in the bottom; the word "Paris" will simply disappear)


Lettering in the front side


Lettering in front side (2) ALL LETTERS ARE IN SILVER.
*IMPORTANT*: note the TWO white bands with THREE silver bands.


Rear side.


The upper side (it's only a "mirror")


opening


The Cap (IMPORTANT: THE YSL LOGO on the cap is CARVED, and NOT embossed)


The YSL Brochure, stored in the side


All pieces


The bottle (splash)


Lettering on the bottle: DARK but reflective.


Lettering: Dark but reflective (2)


Notice the light YELLOW staining, due to >30 years.


The lower side, in heavy and thick metal.


Lower side, mirror-like, with the batch number printed on.


The Cap with CARVED logo (later, bottles will have an embossed logo)


Rear of the bottle


Brochure and presentation of the "new" Kouros line


Brochure (2)


And the parfume?
Well, it's simply KOUROS, in all its glory.
Andrè

Well, if you smell the new version you can still say : "Ok, It's Kouros". But it's a bit weaker and it seems...."diluted".

Keep in mind the old bottle aged for more than 30 years; and I always wonder how much a modern perfume (ie: entirely, or 99% sinthetic) will be able to "age", without natural ingredients.

As reported many, many times, checkcosmetic has a very low reliability....

Yves Saint Laurent products have now a batch code similar to this: " "62H12345...." . (2 numbers, then a letter, then numbers)
During 2001-2004 it was similar to "2234" (4 numbers)
During 2005-2011 it was similar to "7EBA" ( 1 number, 3 letters)

before year 2000, it was simply a 5-numbers code.

If you want a YSL vintage parfum, simply check a batch code with all-numbers, and no letters

There were probably at least 2 reformulations. The last one happened at the end of 2010 (new "enamel" bottle, without metal inserts).

It's easier to look for a box with the TWO white bands and THREE silver ones; it's vintage for sure.

Yes, the leaflet tell about Kouros, the "new" line from YSL.
Most likely this is one of the first bottles (1981).
Personally, I *definitely* smell some differences between the year 1981 bottle and a 2005 one.
(not to mention the modern -after 2010- version, even more different)

if it's a splash : before 1998-1999
if it lacks the "Green dot symbol" on the box: before 1994
if the batch code is not a 4-numbers code : before 1993

and if the cap has the YSL logo "carved" instead of "embossed"....
I think your bottle is probably from the Eighties : you lucky guy!