Kouros
Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent is a masculine-leaning eau de toilette from 1981 in the designer price tier. It opens with aldehydes, bergamot and coriander, moves into carnation, cinnamon and jasmine and dries down to civet, castoreum, leather and honey. Expect around 10 hours of wear, and it projects very strongly.
Notes, explained
Opening
- Aldehydes Fizzy, soapy, slightly waxy. The 'sparkle' at the top of Chanel No. 5.
- Bergamot Sharp citrus with a faint bitter edge. The opening of about half of all men's fragrances.
- Coriander Warm seed spice, slightly citrusy. A quiet workhorse.
Heart
- Carnation Spicy, clove-like floral. Old-school and a bit peppery.
- Cinnamon Sweet heat. Reads festive, sometimes to a fault.
- Jasmine Heady, sweet and slightly animal underneath. Rarely subtle.
Dry-down
- Civet Sharp, faecal and intense on its own. In trace amounts it makes florals glow.
- Castoreum Leathery, smoky and warm. Adds depth and a bit of danger.
- Leather Smoky, dry and a bit animal. Can be a new jacket or an old saddle.
- Honey Sweet, waxy and slightly animalic. Can smell dirty in large doses.
Smells like this
- Aramis Aramis
- Chanel Antaeus
- Carner Barcelona Rose & Dragon
- Arquiste Nocturnality
- Francesca Bianchi Unspoken Musk
- Lancôme Magie Noire
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