| Kouros | |
| Endorsed By: | Yves Saint Laurent |
| Type: | Aromatic Fougère |
| Notes: | Clove, Oakmoss, Incense |
| Released: | 1981 |
| Label: | Yves Saint Laurent |
| Tagline: | Kouros, un parfum pour dieux vivants[1] |
| Flankers: | Body Kouros, Kouros Fraicheur |
Kouros is a perfume for men produced by Yves Saint Laurent.[2] The perfume was introduced in 1981.[3] It was created by perfumer Pierre Bourdon.[2] It is also known as "The Scent of the Gods."
The perfume was inspired by a trip to Greece Saint Laurent had taken.[1] He was particularly impressed by the kouroi:
J’avais été fasciné par le bleu de la mer, le ciel, la fraîcheur intense qui émanait de cet univers voué à la beauté. Dans le même temps, j’ai revu les statues de ces jeunes hommes qui sont la splendeur de la statuaire grecque. ... J’avais mon nouveau parfum. Et son nom.[1]
(I had been fascinated by the blue of the sea, the sky, the intense freshness which emanated from this universe dedicated to beauty. At the same time, I saw the statues of these young men who are the splendor of Greek statuary . ... I had my new perfume. And its name.)
PERFUME NOTES
A spin-off fragrance Body Kouros was released in 2000,[4] and Kouros Fraicheur by Yves Saint Laurent, a woody chypre fragrance was launched in 1993.[5] Kouros is usually in the top five of all-time greatest male fragrances.
The scent has undergone many reformulations throughout the years and the modern version has been largely criticised in fragrance reviews.[6]
After being in continual production since 1981 Kouros was taken off the Yves Saint Laurent website in 2020.[7]