SOTD: Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent 08/01/2025

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Like it or loathe it, there is food reason that this one is around nearly as long as me. Not only is it a piece of fragrance history buts it's one of the powerhouse scents from the 80s.Created by master perfumer Pierre Bourdon the same nose behind Creeds Green Irish Tweed & Davidoffs Cool Water, it was released in 1981, I was 5 years old. I seems to have been named after this Greek Statues of Young Male Athletes? It's certainly a product of its time but I must say, I do enjoy these old-school frags. It shares so much with the likes of Polo Green and Azzaro's Homme to name a few.. while it's an Aromatic Fourgere it has a certain unique and heavy animalic-musky-soapy twist that sets it apart from others.

It all starts with a sharp, bright, and medicinal/camphoraceous opening that includes a blast of spices and herbs. The aldehydes contribute to its powerful lift and soapy/clean character. With heart notes of Carnation, Patchouli, Vetiver, Geranium, Cinnamon, Jasmine You get a spicy, floral, and herbaceous warmth. The florals (especially carnation and geranium) are dense and masculine. The legendary dry-down is definitlyits defining feature. It is animalic, and earthy. The civet and musk create a "lived-in" or animalic accord, which is balanced by the sweetness of honey and the classic depth of oakmoss and leather.

Historically this stuff was a beast and despite numerous reformulations over the years for an edt this juice still hits harder than most modern fragrance. This is an easy 8hrs+. My wash basket still has the scent from earlier in the week. A little goes a long way here. Best used in the Cooler Months (Autumn and Winter) and for Evening Wear. The dense, warm, and musky base could be overwhelming in high heat. This is a must IMO for any gents collection, a timeless classic.

My Rating: 8.5/10

Scent: 2.5

Longevity: 2.5

Sillage: 2.5

Y/N: 1

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