$87.49

Typical priceChecked Jul 6

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Kouros

Yves Saint Laurent·1981·Eau De Toilette

from $16.09· Checked Jul 6 Compare

$87.49

Typical priceChecked Jul 6

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Accords

Notes

TopAldehydes//Clary sage//Coriander//Bergamot//Tarragon//Artemisia

HeartPatchouli//Carnation//Jasmine//Orris root//Vetiver//Geranium//Cinnamon//

BaseCivet//Musk//Honey//Oakmoss//Leather//Frankincense//Amber//Tonka bean

Where to buy Kouros

from $16.09 (10ml) · 2 retailers

Every retailer shown here is a seller we’ve vetted.

100ml

Checked Jul 6

FragranceNet

$87.49Buy

Perfumania

$87.95$106.00Buy

Today's best price of $87.49 is about the typical price for this size, based on 16 days of tracking.

100mlTester

Checked Jul 6

PerfumaniaOut of stock

$59.95Check

50ml

Checked Jul 6

PerfumaniaOut of stock

$74.95Check

10ml

Checked Jun 26

FragranceNet

$16.09Buy

Today's best price of $16.09 is about the typical price for this size, based on 17 days of tracking.

Price history

100ml price trendAt tracked low of $87.49

Amazon

Price not trackedBuy

Get on the early list. We'll email you as this rolls out.

Prices are collected from third-party retailers and updated periodically. Always verify the price on the retailer's site before purchasing. We may earn a commission on purchases made through our links.

What does Kouros smell like?

Kouros is one of the most deliberately provocative fragrances ever made, and that's not hyperbole — it's simply what Pierre Bourdon constructed in 1981. The opening arrives as a sharp, almost medicina...

Details

House: Yves Saint Laurent
Concentration: Eau De Toilette
Gender: masculine
Year: 1981
Longevity: 8.7 / 10
Sillage: 8.4 / 10
Scent Profile: Spicy, Animal, Woody, Fresh, Leathery
Best Seasons: Fall, Winter
Best Occasions: Leisure, Evening
Perfumer: Pierre Bourdon

Community Insights

Based on 6 discussions

Kouros is among the most polarizing fragrances in the canon — enthusiasts describe it as a bold, confident statement that rewards the wearer, while detractors find it uncomfortably animalic or aggressively "dated" in its 1980s powerhouse style
Performance is widely considered excellent on vintage formulations, with strong projection and all-day longevity; modern batches are generally seen as weaker, with the reduction of oakmoss and civet noticeably blunting the dry-down
The fragrance community broadly agrees this is not a crowd-pleaser or compliment-fisher — it's worn for the wearer's benefit, not for external approval, and unsuspecting coworkers or partners can react with genuine alarm
Kouros is frequently mentioned alongside other pre-IFRA-restriction classics like Chanel Antaeus and Guerlain Shalimar as a fragrance younger enthusiasts tend to discover later, often with some initial resistance before genuine appreciation sets in
Fall and winter are the near-universal consensus for wearing Kouros — its warm, spicy, animalic weight makes it feel out of place in heat, and cooler temperatures let it project without becoming overwhelming

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kouros still available, or has it been discontinued?+

Kouros is still in production and widely available as an Eau de Toilette. However, many in the fragrance community consider the modern formulation a diminished version of the original due to regulatory restrictions on oakmoss and civet — two ingredients central to the fragrance's character. Vintage bottles, particularly older splash formats, are actively sought out by enthusiasts for their fuller, more animalic profile.

How does Kouros perform in terms of longevity and projection?+

Vintage formulations are considered genuine powerhouses — the kind that announce you before you enter a room and last well into the day. Modern versions are more variable; the opening is still bold and herbal, but the dry-down can become a skin scent more quickly than older versions. Even in its current form, longevity is generally strong relative to other fragrances in its class.

Is Kouros appropriate for office or daytime wear?+

With caution. The fragrance community's consensus is that Kouros is best suited for leisure, evenings, or nights out — occasions where its intensity has room to breathe and where bold choices are expected. Wearing it to a professional setting is certainly done, but it requires a light application and awareness that the animalic quality can be genuinely off-putting in close quarters. It's not a safe, unobtrusive office scent.

Appears in Collections

Casual & Leisure Fragrances2484 Classic Perfumes944 Eau de Toilette Fragrances847 Masculine Fragrances1670 Fragrances Starting With K102

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Accords

Notes

TopAldehydes//Clary sage//Coriander//Bergamot//Tarragon//Artemisia

HeartPatchouli//Carnation//Jasmine//Orris root//Vetiver//Geranium//Cinnamon//

BaseCivet//Musk//Honey//Oakmoss//Leather//Frankincense//Amber//Tonka bean

Lavender

//

Vanilla

from $16.09· Checked Jul 6 Compare

$87.49

Typical priceChecked Jul 6

FragranceNetTrusted

Buy now Compare all 3 prices Compare 3 prices

We may earn a commission.

$87.49

Typical priceChecked Jul 6

FragranceNetTrusted

Buy now Compare all 3 prices Compare 3 prices

We may earn a commission.

What does Kouros smell like?

Kouros is one of the most deliberately provocative fragrances ever made, and that's not hyperbole — it's simply what Pierre Bourdon constructed in 1981. The opening arrives as a sharp, almost medicina...

Details

House: Yves Saint Laurent
Concentration: Eau De Toilette
Gender: masculine
Year: 1981
Longevity: 8.7 / 10
Sillage: 8.4 / 10
Scent Profile: Spicy, Animal, Woody, Fresh, Leathery
Best Seasons: Fall, Winter
Best Occasions: Leisure, Evening
Perfumer: Pierre Bourdon

Community Insights

Based on 6 discussions

Kouros is among the most polarizing fragrances in the canon — enthusiasts describe it as a bold, confident statement that rewards the wearer, while detractors find it uncomfortably animalic or aggressively "dated" in its 1980s powerhouse style
Performance is widely considered excellent on vintage formulations, with strong projection and all-day longevity; modern batches are generally seen as weaker, with the reduction of oakmoss and civet noticeably blunting the dry-down
The fragrance community broadly agrees this is not a crowd-pleaser or compliment-fisher — it's worn for the wearer's benefit, not for external approval, and unsuspecting coworkers or partners can react with genuine alarm
Kouros is frequently mentioned alongside other pre-IFRA-restriction classics like Chanel Antaeus and Guerlain Shalimar as a fragrance younger enthusiasts tend to discover later, often with some initial resistance before genuine appreciation sets in
Fall and winter are the near-universal consensus for wearing Kouros — its warm, spicy, animalic weight makes it feel out of place in heat, and cooler temperatures let it project without becoming overwhelming

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kouros still available, or has it been discontinued?+

Kouros is still in production and widely available as an Eau de Toilette. However, many in the fragrance community consider the modern formulation a diminished version of the original due to regulatory restrictions on oakmoss and civet — two ingredients central to the fragrance's character. Vintage bottles, particularly older splash formats, are actively sought out by enthusiasts for their fuller, more animalic profile.

How does Kouros perform in terms of longevity and projection?+

Vintage formulations are considered genuine powerhouses — the kind that announce you before you enter a room and last well into the day. Modern versions are more variable; the opening is still bold and herbal, but the dry-down can become a skin scent more quickly than older versions. Even in its current form, longevity is generally strong relative to other fragrances in its class.

Is Kouros appropriate for office or daytime wear?+

With caution. The fragrance community's consensus is that Kouros is best suited for leisure, evenings, or nights out — occasions where its intensity has room to breathe and where bold choices are expected. Wearing it to a professional setting is certainly done, but it requires a light application and awareness that the animalic quality can be genuinely off-putting in close quarters. It's not a safe, unobtrusive office scent.

What seasons work best for Kouros?+

Fall and winter are the clear favorites. The heavy, spicy, leathery warmth of Kouros simply doesn't suit heat well — high temperatures amplify the animalic elements in ways that can become oppressive. Cooler air tames the projection and allows the fragrance to develop more deliberately on skin.

How does Kouros compare to Body Kouros, the later YSL variant?+

They share a name but occupy different territory. Body Kouros, released in 2000, is generally described as fresher and more medicinal in character. Some find it more accessible or wearable in everyday contexts. The original Kouros is denser, more animalic, and considerably more challenging — the two shouldn't be treated as interchangeable versions of the same idea.

Is Kouros considered a masculine-only fragrance?+

It's marketed for men and has a firmly masculine character rooted in 1980s ideals of bold, animalic masculinity. That said, fragrance has no rules, and the floral heart — jasmine, carnation, orris root — gives it structural elements that transcend a single gender. The fragrance community mostly discusses it in a masculine context, but the more relevant question is whether you find the animalic-soapy-floral tension appealing, regardless of gender.

Where to buy Kouros

from $16.09 (10ml) · 2 retailers

Every retailer shown here is a seller we’ve vetted.

100ml

Checked Jul 6

FragranceNet

$87.49Buy

Perfumania

$87.95$106.00Buy

Today's best price of $87.49 is about the typical price for this size, based on 16 days of tracking.

100mlTester

Checked Jul 6

PerfumaniaOut of stock

$59.95Check

50ml

Checked Jul 6

PerfumaniaOut of stock

$74.95Check

10ml

Checked Jun 26

FragranceNet

$16.09Buy

Today's best price of $16.09 is about the typical price for this size, based on 17 days of tracking.

Price history

100ml price trendAt tracked low of $87.49

Amazon

Price not trackedBuy

Get on the early list. We'll email you as this rolls out.

Prices are collected from third-party retailers and updated periodically. Always verify the price on the retailer's site before purchasing. We may earn a commission on purchases made through our links.

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Appears in Collections

Casual & Leisure Fragrances2484 Classic Perfumes944 Eau de Toilette Fragrances847 Masculine Fragrances1670 Fragrances Starting With K102