Kouros (perfume)

{{Infobox fragrance

|Name = Kouros

|Image = Apollo_of_Tenea_Glyptothek_Munich_168.jpg

|Image size =

|Caption = Example of a statue: the Kouros of Tenea, {{circa|BC 550}}

|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{{cite news|url=http://madame.lefigaro.fr/beaute/1981-kouros-dyves-saint-laurent-280712-271558|title=Kouros, succès et longévité d'un hymne à la virilité imaginé par Yves Saint Laurent|last=Chanial|first=Jean-Pierre|date=28 July 2012|work=Le Figaro|publisher=Dassault Group|language=French|accessdate=18 October 2013}}

|Predecessor =

|Successor =

|Flankers = Body Kouros, Kouros Fraicheur

|URL =

}}

Kouros is a perfume for men produced by Yves Saint Laurent.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/style/tmagazine/21scent.html?_r=0|title=What the Cat Dragged In|last=Chandler Burr|author-link=Chandler Burr|date=21 October 2007|work=The New York Times|accessdate=16 October 2013}} The perfume was introduced in 1981.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zq4zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=k-kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1272,4299789&dq=perfume+kouros&hl=en|title=Kouros Debut Lacked Sweet Smell Of Success|date=5 March 1981|work=Palm Beach Daily News|accessdate=16 October 2013}} It was created by perfumer Pierre Bourdon. It is also known as "The Scent of the Gods."

The perfume was inspired by a trip to Greece Saint Laurent had taken. 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.

(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

• Top notes: Aldehydes, Bergamot, Tarragon, Clary Sage, Coriander
• Heart notes: Carnation, Vetiver, Patchouli, Cinnamon, Jasmine, Orris Root, Geranium
• Base notes: Oakmoss, Amber, Incense, Honey, Leather, Civet, Musk, Tonka Bean, Vanilla

A spin-off fragrance Body Kouros was released in 2000,{{cite news|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/content/kadin/kad013/kadin10.html|title=Güzel bir kokunun karşı konulmaz çekiciliğini kim inkar edebilir ki? |date=2002|work=Milliyet|language=Turkish|accessdate=22 October 2013}} and Kouros Fraicheur by Yves Saint Laurent, a woody chypre fragrance was launched in 1993.{{cite web|title=Kouros Fraicheur cologne for Men by Yves Saint Laurent|url=http://www.perfumemaster.com/yves-saint-laurent/kouros-fraicheur-mens-cologne|website=PerfumeMaster.com|accessdate=22 November 2015}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://scentgrail.com/perfume-reviews/yves-saint-laurent-kouros-review/|title=Yves Saint Laurent Kouros Review (2021): Is It Still a King? - Scent Grail|date=23 January 2021}}