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A group for members who wear old-school and powerhouse styled masculine fragrances, with emphasis on fragrances released before 1990. Powerhouse fragrances from the 70's and 80's, colognes from... » More

Anyone try the reformulated Kouros?
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post #1 of 17
2/23/13 at 3:49pm
Thread Starter 
I realise there are a number of threads on the recent reformulation of Kouros, but I want to get a Powerhouse usergroup perspective on it. What's it like. I have 3 back up bottles of the previous formulation, so it isn't likely that I will be buying again soon.
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post #2 of 17
2/27/13 at 8:50am
I've not had a chance to try it yet - there are testers in all the department stores but I've never thought to try it. I am curious though and will try and remember to spray some on next time. There's conflicting reports (as always..!) about how different the new version is but it seems pretty certain that it has had the oakmoss removed and some of the 'dirty' elements, civet, honey etc dialled down giving an overall cleaner smell. If i get a chance to test it I'll report back...
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post #3 of 17
2/27/13 at 12:05pm
I did experiment and I can say that
the latest reformulation does not have powerfull and long lasting projection & sillage as a Vintage version
The good Kouros is dead, the latest reformulation is just a shadow from the original...sadly, very disappointed:
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post #4 of 17
2/27/13 at 2:52pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the input guys. Things move slowly here in Western Australia, and I still only see old style testers. This does not mean, however, that the stock the seller is carrying is the same (ie they might have the reformulation with an older tester).
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post #5 of 17
2/28/13 at 8:55am
I got a 50 ml bottle today from a webshop and all I can say is King Kouros is dead! Totally DESTROYED.

I put on about 20 sprays in a period of 2 hours and its not even CLOSE to the old formula, with the chrome on the lower part of the bottle. It doesn't smell bad but it's a totally different experience, and with pathetic longevity and projection.

I'm going first thing tomorrow to try to find the older bottle! There should be more rave about this, cause I'm not even that big of a fan of Kouros so I can only imagine how the true lovers of this scent might feel when they try it. How come some people think that this new reformulation is OK?

So sad to see many classics being slaughtered these days
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post #6 of 17
3/1/13 at 2:40pm
Guys, Did the reform just happen? I purchased a 1.7oz in December and it is fine. My bottle has the porcelain shoulders (not metal).
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post #7 of 17
3/1/13 at 11:30pm
Thread Starter 
The reformulation was pretty recent, perhaps they changed the bottle and then the juice inside. I saw my first new tester yesterday, so it is making its way to even far flung places like Western Australia.
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post #8 of 17
3/3/13 at 11:20am
I am deeply saddened by this tragedy. What is this World coming to
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post #9 of 17
3/4/13 at 5:38am
Tried it at Boots (UK Chemist) at the weekend and it's certainly not the same as the fragrance I have in the bottle with the chrome shoulders. I only tested it on a paper strip but it smells like it's missing some of its facets. It smells totally clean and stripped back to just incense, patchouli and a powdery note - also, it didn't seem anywhere near as powerful as expected. I'd still guess it was Kouros in a blind test but it's like a rough sketch, not a full blueprint if that makes sense...!
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post #10 of 17
3/4/13 at 10:07am
Tested it as well and concur 100% with Derby!
I own the vintage with 'Eau de toilette' written on middle of bottle and it is just no comparison at all.
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post #11 of 17
3/4/13 at 1:34pm
I have a version that has tree moss (an older version) and another one w/o tree moss which I believe to be the first reformulation. The former has a more animalic opening for sure. The latter is still good. Both mine have the silver trim on the bottles. I believe that there is now a 2nd reformulation currently being sold, or so it appears from what I read, which is weaker yet. It seems to have no silver trim on the bottle.

I love Kouros but there are really so few opportunities to unleash this monster on the general populace w/o causing a DEFCON 1 alert. I think the 3.3 oz. vintage I have will surely last me ad infinitum.
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post #12 of 17
3/4/13 at 3:55pm
L'Oreal acquired Yves Saint Laurent as a company and inherited his incredible line of historical fragrances a few years ago after his passing (R.I.P., Monsieur Saint Laurent - you were a genius). Without exception - all have been either reformulated or discontinued. When you buy a bottle today that has no chrome shoulders or baseplate, you are handing your money to a cosmetic company that has destroyed the brilliance of what used to be...I've written a lot on this. Current formulation is very powdery and cleaned up. It is simply NOT what Kouros used to be.

Vintage Kouros is simply no more...even the reformulation that moved Eau de Toilette to the bottom of the bottle (just above the Yves Saint Laurent logo) is better than what exists today, but not nearly what it used to be (just 'closer').

Cheers,

ericrico
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post #13 of 17
3/30/13 at 4:46pm
Thread Starter 
I tried the reformulation recently and was disappointed by it big time, the animalic aspect that I love had been taken away. Still, it might be a reasonable fragrance in its own right: it is just not the Kouros I love.
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post #14 of 17
4/1/13 at 10:15pm
Speaking of Kouros, today I was in small shop and tested a frag that blew me away as it seemed a dead ringer for original Kouros smelled on paper. It only cost $10 to boot, but I didn't buy it as I have the real deal.

Anyway, here it is:


http://www.rivoliparfums.com/Product...php?id=5&page=
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post #15 of 17
4/3/13 at 10:27pm
What store did you find that at Boge?
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post #16 of 17
4/6/13 at 12:25am
A small store on the Texas/Mexico border. No website.
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post #17 of 17
4/20/13 at 11:09am
This saddens me greatly. It would have been better to simply discontinue the scent rather than hobble it and put it back on the shelf. I kick myself when I didn't pick it up from the discount houses for $35/bottle.
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