The ultimate guide to YSL Kouros for perfume enthusiasts and fragrance collectors: from rare vintage bottles to modern releases, including the history of each period, boxes, labels, and expert tips to help you identify all Kouros fragrances with confidence.
This article is divided in two parts: this is the first one.
Here you will find:
- Introduction.
- YSL and Kouros: a brief overview.
- Kouros (1981-2017).
- Ratings.
- Pictures.
In the part nr. 2 you will find:
-Kouros Launch Party in Paris (February 20th, 1981)-Flankers (1986-2014).
-Body Line.
-Special Bottles.
-Gift Sets
-Accessories.
-Miniatures.
-Advertising.
-Miscellaneous.
you can find the part nr.2 HERE
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INTRODUCTION
Actually, Kouros has no need of introduction: put simply, it's the most famous "love it, or hate it" perfume.
Nothing as Kouros - and I mean absolutely nothing - has been able since its apparition to to split the audience so radically: on a side there are the fanatic lovers, exalting it beyond any description ("The scent of Gods," it's the usual definition of Kouros ).
On the other side, people fiercely hating it: "Kouros smells like sweat plus other disgusting body odors", it's commonly said.
But what causes this heating discussion? It's the fact that Kouros tries to imitate the natural scent of human skin, "fresh and clean". As supporters say, it is an extraordinary perfume of "a pure Man".
On the contrary, detractors change it in: "a dirty Man".
Anyway, Kouros is certainly one of the scents that made the History of Perfumery.
In production without interruptions since 1981, a blockbuster that made Yves Saint Laurent's fortune, this scent survived through decades, but unfortunately, suffered heavy reformulations. Now more than 30 years after it's quite different from early years. Early versions are now considered by many experts as "the best", using the finest ingredients. During a press conference in 1981, Kouros was described by a spokesman: "the most expensive male perfume on the market now".
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| "Living Gods have their own scent: Kouros" |
in order to understand many of the things outlined in this article, you should go
read the story of the mother house Yves Saint Laurent, the five historical periods, and its perfume division (here)
Year: 1981
Top notes: Artemisia, Aldehydes, Clary Sage, Bergamot, Coriander
Middle notes: Orris root, Carnation, Vetiver, Geranium, Jasmine, Cinnamon Patchouli.
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Civet, Honey, Vanilla, Musk, Leather, Amber, TonkaBean.
Scent created by: Pierre Bourdon.
Bottle designed by: Alain de Mourgues.
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Yves Saint Laurent and KOUROS: a brief overview.
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1963-1986: This is the first period of YSL perfumes, or "Charles of the Ritz" Era. Kouros was created in 1980, and launched in 1981. The early years are dominated by the "Paris-type" (or "Charles-of-the-Ritz" type) bottle and box. In these years, Kouros is at its maximum power brilliance.
At the end of 1986 the American stint (or "Parfums Corp." Era) starts; it will last until 1993.
Kouros bottles and boxes sport slightly different labels.
It is said that a first reformulation took place during year 1986, with slight attenuation of its animalic scent, in order to get a favourable opinion from international audience. However, this is an highly debated argument ("the Ghost Reformulation", since many people claimed no reformulation occurred).
First flanker was launched in 1986: Kouros "Eau de Sport", lately renamed "Sport" (discontinued in 1993).
During these years, two different body lines appeared, named "Kouros Formule Sport" (1986) and "Formule Soin" (1987).
During 1991 a third body line was launched: "Kouros En Plein Air".
1993: The so-called "Sanofi Era" begins; it will will last until 1999. Kouros bottle remained the same, the box underwent other minor changes. The scent is, approximately, the same than the previous "American" period.
Another flanker was launched in 1993: Kouros "Eau Fraicheur" (two different packagings; discontinued in 2001).
At the end of this period, traditional Kouros box underwent a significant change, losing the typical "twin white stripes".
1999: The "PPR-Gucci Era" begins. Although slightly reformulated, Kouros still maintains its particular quality. Another major change in packaging occurred in 2003.
Although it is commonly believed that Yves Saint Laurent dicontinued "splash bottles" (i.e. "non-spray" bottles) at the end of the Nineties, however, Kouros "splash" bottles were produced until 2003 at least.
Since 2002, there were lots of flankers launched, almost every year ("Eau d'Ete", "Cologne Sport" "Summer Fragrance"...).
During 2002, a limited "Traveller Edition" twin-bottle appeared.
After 2004, the mandatory list of ingredients on the box (i.e. the so-called "allergens list") was adopted.
According to many people, during years 2004-2005 a major reformulation happened, watering-down the scent.
since 2008: These were "L'Oreal" years. Again, there were heavy reformulations during this period. Many perfume lovers claimed these reformulations as "disappointing". In 2011 Kouros appeared to be a quite different scent than the one launched exactly 30 years before.
Since 2011, the bottle doesn't sport its typical "metallic base and shoulders" anymore.
Warning
One of the biggest problem in dating perfumes is the discrepancy between batch-codes and labels on the box/bottle. This happens because many producers continued to use old, out-of-date boxes, until end of stocks. So you can easily see modern batch-codes on ancient boxes, and find it confusing. In these situations you should trust the batch code more than the box.
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KOUROS
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First Period
("Charles of the Ritz",1981-1986)
First Period
("Charles of the Ritz",1981-1986)
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| The "Paris" bottle (above and below) the first one and the rarest.(1981-1986) |
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| Notice difference in color under artificial (above) and natural light (below), since it's the same box |
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| The "Paris bottle derives its name from the "Paris" word, on the corner of the box |
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| During 1981 and 1982 there was no Estimated Sign on the boxes, although already used in other YSL perfumes. |
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| During 1983-1985/86, the Estimated Sign appears on the boxes. Important to say, there are no differences in scent. |
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| No symbol on the upper side of the box (silver-mirror) |
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| No differences on the back side of the boxes |
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| The bottom of the box, with the typical "Charles of the Ritz" labelling |
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| Details |
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| The Twin (Double) White Stripes: Details |
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| The Twin (Double) White Stripes: Details |
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| Bottom side of boxes ,years 1981-1986 |
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| Content: Perfume, blue protective cardboard, blue brochure |
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| year 1981 Brochure: presentation of a "New YSL products: Kouros." |
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| The Cap with the YSL "carved" logo |
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| The typical silver-metal bottom of the bottle, with the YSL lettering. IMPORTANT: during first years (1981-1985) the batch code could be "painted" this batch code is 20781 = beginning of 1982 |
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| Another silver base of the bottle, probably year 1981. There are even bases without any inscription. |
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| Another view of the base of the bottle. |
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| "Paris" bottles produced during 1983-1986 can sport the batch code on the bottom or on the front side (below) |
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| CAN YOU SEE THE BATCH CODE? ("Paris" bottles, 1983-1986) |
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| this batch number is 61701 = year 1986 |
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| Batch number 53301 = year 1985 |
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| IMPORTANT: all "Paris" bottles sport the word KOUROS roughly in the middle of the height of the bottle
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WARNING
There are a few (very) rare bottles sporting both the word "Paris" and "New York"
on a typical First Era box. These bottles are presumably produced for US market
(thanks to Michal)  and here is a bottle batched year 1984 by Jon Wilson  
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SECOND PERIOD
"Parfums Corp." (1986-1993)
Still debated if a reformulation occurred, weakening the animalic notes.
Perfume still at full force.
Minor differences in both box and bottle.
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| In 1986 the American Years began, and there are a few changes: 1 the word Paris disappears. 2 the Twin White Stripes tighten. 3-a short list of ingredients appears 4- the word KOUROS appears on the back of the box, too. 5 -both box and bottle sport the word KOUROS on the upper part, not in the middle 6 - word Parfums Corp. appears on the bottom of the bottle YSL logo appears on the upper side of the box. |
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| Differences between Paris bottle (1981-1986) on LEFT, and Parfums Corp bottle (1986-1993) on RIGHT |
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| The word "Paris" disappears (above and bottom) |
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| Twin White Stripes tightens, and ingredients appear. |
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| White protective cardboard with white brochure |
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| Bottom of the box with the label "Parfums Corp" |
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| IMPORTANT: during the Second Period (1986-1993) the word KOUROS moves on the upper part of the bottle |
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| Paris bottle (left) ParfumsCorp bottle (right) |
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| Bottom of the bottle |
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| YSL logo on the upper side of the box |
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| "Paris" box (on left) - "Parfums Corp" box (on right) |
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| "Paris" box (on left) - "Parfums Corp" box (on right) |
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| "Paris" box (on left) - "Parfums Corp" box (on right) |
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| Paris box (left) ParfumsCorp box (right) |
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| "Paris" box (on left) - "Parfums Corp" box (on right) |
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| "Paris" box (on left) - "Parfums Corp" box (on right) |
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| "Paris" box (on left) - "Parfums Corp" box (on right) |
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| Back of the boxes: stripes tighten and word "Kouros" appears. |
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| "Paris" box (on left) - "Parfums Corp" box (on right) |
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| "Paris" box (on left) - "Parfums Corp" box (on right) Back sides |
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| "Paris" box (on left) - "Parfums Corp" box (on right) the old-type thin barcode could appear on Parfums Corp. boxes |
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| "Parfums Corp" box (upper box) "Paris" box (lower box) |
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| Details |
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| Details |
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| YSL logo on the cap is initially CARVED; later it will be EMBOSSED |
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| Batch number still on the front side of the bottle here batch nr.02901 = year 1990. |
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| "Paris" bottle (left) and "Parfum Corp" (right) |
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| Differences between bottles. |
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| Brochure presenting the flanker "Eau de Sport" (1986) |
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| in a few cases reported, batch number is written inside the box. In this case 0290 = year 1990 |
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| batch nr. 91081 = year 1989 |
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| 50ml and 100ml "Parfums Corp" |
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| 50ml and 100ml "Parfums Corp" |
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| Details |
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| 50ml and 100ml "Parfums Corp" bases |
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| Indication of %vol. will disappear during next period |
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WARNING: "The Ghost Reformulation"
It seems during 1986 Kouros underwent a first reformulation in order to smoother the "animalic" notes and make it more "acceptable" to a wider audience. This is an highly debated question. Some people affirm there are notable, significant differences, since the civet appears "toned down"; personally, I didn't found so many differences between first and second version. Both appeared magnificent, and Kouros still irradiates in its full force.
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THIRD PERIOD:
"Sanofi" (1993-1999)
This is a complicate period, bottle and box underwent changes
and the only way to determine date is checking the batch number.
The silver, metallic base continues to sport the old "ParfumsCorp." labelling.
The silver, metallic base continues to sport the old "ParfumsCorp." labelling.
Scent still appears excellent.
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| "Parfums Corp" on left "Sanofi", on right |
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| During Sanofi period (1993-1999), all quantity indications are "dark on dark" |
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| Many Sanofi bases have the old "ParfumCorp" label. In many cases, the word 80% disappears. To determine date and period, you must check the batch number |
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| "Sanofi" (left, with Greendot and Barcode) - "Parfum Corp" (right) |
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| Sanofi (upper) ParfumsCorp (lower) |
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| In many Sanofi bottles, the 80% VOL indication disappears |
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| ParfumsCorp and Sanofi bottles are pretty identical Some very slight differences in height due to spray/splash |
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| Parfums Corp (upper, white "quantity" lettering) Sanofi (lower, dark "quantity" lettering) |
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| WARNING: during "Sanofi" period, the batch number is written on the back of the bottle. batch 42141 = year 1994 |
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| ParfumsCorp, on left Sanofi, on right |
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| ParfumsCorp, on left Sanofi, on right |
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| Sanofi box, bottom side Note the barcode and the Greendot. |
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| ParfumsCorp (upper) Sanofi (lower) |
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| "ParfumsCorp" 1.6fl.oz in white "Sanofi", 1.6 fl. oz, in dark blue |
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| BACK SIDES (Parfums Corp on left - Sanofi on right) Sanofi boxes: ingredients are listed on the back NOTE: the back-side of the Sanofi box is DIFFERENT not twisting stripes , but linear ones. |
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| LATERAL SIDES (Parfums Corp on left - Sanofi on right) NO ingredients on the side of the "Sanofi" box ("Sanofi" bottles have ingredients on the back side only) |
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| (ParfumsCorp on left - Sanofi on right) |
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| (ParfumsCorp on left - Sanofi on right) |
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| Sanofi bottle batch nr. 83481 = year 1998 |
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| ParfumsCorp (upper) Sanofi (lower) |
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WARNING
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| (from Ebay) this is a "transition" bottle between "Sanofi" and following "PPR-GUCCI" period. the TWIN WHITE STRIPES on the box disappear, only one stripe remains; bottles are identical during year 1999/2000 splash bottles bacame rarer and rarer. Late "Sanofi" boxes and early "PPR-Gucci" ones are almost identical, except for labelling |
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FOURTH PERIOD:
"PPR-GUCCI Era" (1999-2007)
"PPR-GUCCI Era" (1999-2007)
since 2000, splash bottles became rarer.
The last splash bottle appeared reportedly in 2003.
The last splash bottle appeared reportedly in 2003.
There are TWO different types of box: early box
(with a short list of ingredients),and late box (long list of ingredients)
some scent reformulation occurred.
(with a short list of ingredients),and late box (long list of ingredients)
some scent reformulation occurred.
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| PPR-GUCCI early box , year 2003 (almost identical to late "Sanofi" one) |
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| PPR-GUCCI late box, year 2007 |
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| late PPR-GUCCI typical bottle: note the word "eau de Toilette" on the bottom. |
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| New laberlling: "YSL Parfums", NEUILLY CEDEX |
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| Early (2003) and late (2007) PPR-GUCCI bottles you can see the differences |
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| Parfums Corp ( on left ) late PPR-Gucci (on right) NOTE the line "Eau de Toilette" moved on bottom |
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| PPR-GUCCI early box (2003) with the short list of ingredients |
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| Late PPR-GUCCI box since 2005 , introducing the "long list of ingredients" |
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| PPR-GUCCI label, note the wording "YSL Parfums" |
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| back of late PPR GUCCI bottle with the long list of ingredients (note the last ingredient: 2YF02-2. During next L'Oreal period it will became 2YF02-3, then disappear) |
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| on the back of the bottle batch 7JAA = year 2007 |
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| The bottom of the bottle, with the address "Neuilly Cedex France" both early and late bottles have identical bottoms. |
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| Bottom of PPR-GUCCI bottle, note the address "NEUILLY" |
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| Sanofi box (above) PPR-Gucci box (bottom) |
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| Late PPR-Gucci box (left) Sanofi box (right) |
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| Late PPR Gucci (left) SANOFI (right) |
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| Late PPR-Gucci box (left) ParfumsCorp box (right). |
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| Paris bottle (left) late PPR-Gucci bottle(right) |
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| Paris bottle (left) late PPR-Gucci (right) |
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WARNING: "plastic" bottles.
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| Some PPR-Gucci bottles are made of plastic instead of "enamel". Although Kouros is a counterfeited scent, these bottles are genuine. Always check for the mandatory batch-number, on the back of the bottle |
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Fifth Period:
"L'Oreal Era" (2008)
significant consecutive reformulations occurred. The scent appears progressively toned-down and "flattened".
There are changes in boxes and bottles. Label "B.R.I." (L'Oreal Labs) and YSL Beautè appear.
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| L'Oreal style box and bottle since 2011: notice the missing silver base and shoulder you can read "BRI Neuilly"and "YSL Beaute" |
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| year 2008-2010 bottles: , note the "2YF02-3" ingredient, a bit weaker than previous "2YF02-2". |
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| Since 2011, without the "2YF02-3" ingredient. This is an even weaker version than previous ones. |
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| year 2012 L'Oreal box (front and back side) note the new YSL BEAUTE label |
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| Early PPR-Gucci (on left) year 2012 L'Oreal (on right) |
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| Early PPR-Gucci box (left) Year 2012 L'Oreal box (right) |
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| Typical bottom, without the silver, metallic plate. |
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YEAR 2015 and beyond....
during year 2015, l'Oreal launched a new packaging.
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| Comparison between year 2011 box (on left) and three "new" ones, year 2015 (on right) |
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The F.I.L. (Fragrance Ingredients List)
reported on the boxes since 2005:
2006-2008 : "2YF02-2"
2009-2011: "2YF02-3"
2012-2015: "B45376-1"
since 2015: "165825-2"
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RATINGS
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-First Period ("Paris" bottles, 1981-1986): 10/10 cum laude
-Second Period ("ParfumsCorp." bottles , 1986-1993, including the "Ghost reformulation", still debated) : 10/10
-Third Period ("Sanofi" bottles, 1993-1999): 10/10
-Fourth Period ("PPR-GUCCI" bottles) :
Early Gucci Bottles (1999-2004) : 9/10
Late Gucci bottles: (2005-2008): 8/10
-Fifth period ("L'Oreal" bottles) since year 2008 : 7/10
after year 2010: 6/10
It is commonly said that KOUROS retains its peculiarities until 2004-2005.
If you like KOUROS I strongly suggest you to search bottles produced before 2004-2005.
However, if you like the "animalic" qualities of this scent I strongly recommend you to search, roughly said, the oldest you can find. In this case the motto "the older, the better" is really poignant.
LONGEVITY and SILLAGE
Kouros is a really strong perfume; all versions last for at least 7 hours on skin. there is no significant difference in performances between skin and fabric.
High sillage.
Suitable for both winter and summer.
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PICTURES
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| Artwork by Damien Blottière |
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EXHIBITION
(all pics provided by Cytherian,
from Basenotes.net, year 2015)
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| A rare "Parfums Corp." bottle signed Paris-NewYork, and "Made in USA" (above and bottom) |
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| Early bottles: different bottoms |
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| Early bottles: different fronts |
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| "Fraicheurs" |
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Continue on Part nr 2 (HERE)
....and...
Batch-codes
Year-of-production,
all-you-need-to-know
about vintage perfumes in the following pages:
-GUERLAIN perfumes ( here )
-YVES SAINT LAURENT perfumes ( here )
-CHRISTIAN DIOR perfumes ( here )
-GIORGIO ARMANI Perfumes ( here )
-VAN CLEEF et ARPELS perfumes ( here )
-CHANEL perfumes ( here )
-BVLGARI perfumes ( here )
-HERMES perfumes ( here )
-VERSACE perfumes ( here )
-GIVENCHY perfumes ( here )
-GUY LAROCHE perfumes (here)
-CACHAREL perfumes ( here )
-ROCHAS perfumes (here)
-GUY LAROCHE perfumes (here)
-CACHAREL perfumes ( here )
-ROCHAS perfumes (here)
-JEAN PATOU perfumes (here)
-LANCOME perfumes (here)
-CARON perfumes (here)
-CALVIN KLEIN perfumes (here)
-RALPH LAUREN perfumes (here)
-JEAN PAUL GAULTIER perfumes (here)
-SERGE LUTENS perfumes (here)
-GUCCI perfumes (here)
Plus:
Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent, visual guide (here)
Fahrenheit by Christian Dior, visual guide (here)
Azzaro pour Homme by Azzaro, visual guide (here)
Drakkar Noir by Guy Laroche, visual guide (here)
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, visual guide (here)
Samsara by Guerlain, visual guide (here)
and others..