Body Kouros

I can hardly forgive myself for never trying this masterpiece... It was a Friday evening when I decided to pay a visit to a perfume store, to sample some perfumes, mainly to revisit some older releases and give a second chance to some recent ones. After a test of Burberry London (which I still don't like), the Bottega Veneta line (which I find really bad) and the La Nuit De L'Homme (which is nice, but that's all, just nice) there it was... placed really low on the selves of the YSL section, with a minimum stock of 2 boxes of new 100ml bottles, quite forgotten by most, waiting for me to give it a try. I don't know how this one has slipped out of my attention, I am a perfume enthusiastic since 1998, testing nearly all of the major releases - I had tried the original Kouros which I don't like at all - I get the hype but I can't stand it on me - so I guess everything related to it meant a waste of time for my olfactive experience. So I gave a spray on a piece of paper, placed it under my nose and ... BOOM! That was it. The BOOM effect that had happened only 10 times all these years, it is a really rare experience if you have in mind that - as I have already mention - I test nearly all of the major releases through those 20 years of fragrance hunting... and I can name those 10 times one by one! I immediately knew that this was going to be mine, so I sprayed it on me 2 times and gave it 10 seconds to dry a bit... and then I was sure that this was a MASTERPIECE that had to be mine. Just 5 minutes later I placed an online order and today I am holding my new bottle of Body Kouros in my hands! I don't love the bottle much, nor its box BUT the juice is just AMAZING. It feels like a lovechild of Le Male and Bvlgari Black, which I both own BUT it is quite different from both, so it makes sense having it. What truly makes me go crazy in love with this one is the fact that while being gourmand and sweet, it is super masculine, slightly 80s retro and it has style! Could easily be the JPG Ultra Male release as this one is so much more masculine that the real Ultra Male (I don't really believe that perfumes have gender but inevitably some scents tends us to think of women or men when we smell them). Longevity is close to 6 hours, silage is moderate and isn't getting bigger with more sprays, you should be careful not to overspray this one, it starts cloying if over applied. It is super cheap, even though it was priced at 83 euros as a retail price, I got it online for just 38 euros. I don't know if this is going to be discontinued but the distribution right now seems limited. So test it while this is available, if you love Le Male or Bvlgari Black you will be blown away. Follow my scent journey on instagram instagram.com/scentsexual

Reviewing my favourite fragrance ever! 2019 - 2022 Batch Reviewed. The batches in this year range are identical Although I take time off from this fragrance every now and then, I can't help but love this every time I smell it. It's one of the most interesting and amazing fragrances I have smelt. I have reviewed this before, and with my new found glory of an expanded fragrance knowledge and a better trained nose.. I have uncovered some things I didn't touch on in my last review. Which I will describe now! This opens up with a bright contrasting scent of hot and cold. It's sweet but spicy, Fresh but dark all at once and the balance of these element is phenomenal! You have a bright eucalyptus with a tiny amount of clary sage amongst camphor giving a cold menthol like freshness with a bit of greenery. And next to this is a contrasting element of incense and mace giving spicy hot accords. When these two elements mix together they create an almost steamy effect! It's such a strong smouldering freshness of spice. There is benzoin in here that gives both sides of the fragrance an amazing sweetness and enhances both the warmth and freshness of the blend. It's cloudy, steamy, hot, cold, sweet, green and somewhat medicinal. And when it dries down this composition becomes a more drier version of it's begging accords. The steamy cloud aspect turns a bit more powdery and dusty while still being aerated and smooth. The benzoin really takes over along with the incense and are the main players of this composition in the dry down. The mace is much more prevalent and gives a deep sensual spice with the benzoin and incense. And the eucalyptus and camphor combines with the cedar wood giving a cold green unusual woody essence. Every time I smell it I get something different, but it is mainly a sensual incense spicy woody scent with a resinous sweetness and green cold menthol essence. Definitely a sensual sexy scent, takes a very acquired taste to enjoy this fragrance in my opinion. I haven't met much people who like this! but I have met a few who love it! Not recommended for extreme hot weather or hot weather in general, though it is fresh like I said, there is still that contrasting spice snd warmth that won't do well in the heat. You will be like a walking eucalyptus and incense sauna Decently strong, though I'd love this to be a beastmode fragrance! Bottle is nice, simple enough and sprayer is great. Priced just right, I would expect to pay more since I find this to be in the same ballpark as some fragrances Dior and channel release, especially YSL's more expensive fragrances. for an average of $80 AUD it is a steal! Elegant, causal, sensual 11/10

There is something about this scent that I find exceptionally relaxing, comforting and appealing. I've got the newer bottle, so I assume I am working with the reformulation - but I can attest that if this is a weaker version of Body Kouros then the original must have been potent enough to fill an aircraft hangar., but more on that below Much like YSL Opium, this scent is bafflingly unique and so beautifully blended that I am not nearly as impressed by specific notes as I am knocked over by the collective statement of the scent. Also like Opium (and original Kouros for that matter), this strikes me as sufficiently polarizing that I don't know that I'd use this before facing mixed company. There is vanilla sweetness, and there's such a distinct light-touch musk that without the notes listed, I'd have sworn there was ambrette in it, but like I said the notes are so well blended that I have to assume this is the work of the incense notes - but you can't be sure just from smelling it. There is also a mild earthiness and deliciously subtle spiciness, but again - what notes are doing that? Your guess is as good as mine. Also (like Opium), I love... no LOVE this so much that I still tend to apply this at home, even (or perhaps especially) just for myself, when I'm the only one left awake and I'm watching a movie or reading a book on the couch. One of our dogs loves this on me so much it's a true challenge to stop her from licking it off me wherever it's been sprayed. This is legitimately strong stuff - just two sprays and my wife, still in the next room, mind you (I'm not kidding) - will ask me what I've just applied. I can't tell you when to wear this, because in all honestly I still haven't even come close to figuring that out - but based on the strength I'd say that cold weather is a pretty safe bet. But for me, when I want to wrap myself in an exotic late-night fog of sweet, lightly musky glory I will reach for this in the spring/summer, and Opium for the same purpose in the fall/winter. I also have to say that I'm not sure what relationship this bears with Kouros other than the name of the bottle. Perhaps this is what Kouros would be without the blast of civet, leather and aldehydes, and with resin replacing the florals and spice mixture - but at a certain point one must conclude that is is a Kouros flanker simply because so many people know the name of Kouros. By any name, I'd treasure this scent.

Body Kouros (2000) by Annick Ménardo had been on my radar for a while, especially given my appreciation for her Bvlgari Black (1998). I finally scored a brand new, sealed, early 2000s 50-ml bottle of the original formulation, for a mere $75. Very excited! The opening presents a bracing eucalyptus note, delivering a mentholated freshness up top. What’s unexpected here is that this initial burst is complemented by incense, which adds a smoky depth. (Keep in mind that this was a decade and a half before smoky fragrances became a staple of niche perfumery.) As the scent develops, it reveals a harmonious blend of contrasts. The transition from the fresh, almost medicinal top to a warm, ambery base is reminiscent of Yohji Homme (1999), another favorite in my collection. (Incidentally, Luca Turin claims in The Guide that Body Kouros was a “blatant ripoff” of Yohji Homme by Jean-Michel Duriez, likely because Ménardo was getting back at Duriez for copying elements of her own Lolita Lempicka for his Yohji. Industry gossip aside, the main point to me is that these are all wholly unconventional masterpieces. And they are different enough to not be redundant, in the least.) The interplay between the cool eucalyptus and the warmth of benzoin and camphor wood creates a dynamic olfactory trajectory. Somewhere between top and heart notes, a subtle rubbery nuance fleetingly brings to mind Bvlgari Black, which only adds an intriguing layer to the composition. The camphoraceous thread that weaves from the top notes through to the base provides a cohesive structure, with the camphor wood grounding the composition and adding a subtle smokiness that lingers beautifully on the skin. In terms of performance, BK offers impressive longevity and moderate sillage. I’ve only used it a couple of times, but I think it’d be a versatile choice for both day and evening wear, particularly in cooler weather. There’s this musky-ambery undercurrent that makes this scent unexpectedly sensuous... and I’m really digging it. Overall, BK stands as a testament to Annick Ménardo’s mastery in crafting scents that defy conventional categories, offering a fragrance that is both familiar and intriguingly novel. Just brilliant.

In the realm of men’s fragrances, this composition stands tall as an unusual and distinctive scent that leaves a lasting impression while smelling completely different from the original release. With its blend of aromatic eucalyptus notes and sensual benzoin and incense undertones, this fragrance embodied the essence of masculinity and elegance at the start of new millennia. TOP NOTES The composition opens with a burst of fresh and aromatic notes that will awaken all of your senses. The refreshing scent of eucalyptus emerges which does smell just a little bit medicinal, but not enough to make it an overkill. To my nose, it delivers a cooling and minty nuance that adds a unique twist and sets a dynamic tone for the fragrance. Completing the top notes is another harmonious accord of incense that increasingly takes center stage as the fragrance begins to dry down. HEART NOTES The heart notes gracefully unveil the fragrance’s enigmatic composition with the inclusion of another aromatic ingredient – the warm and aromatic clary sage. During this stage, the powdery facets of benzoin start to emerge, imparting an overall vanillic quality. The seamless interplay among these three main accords is truly remarkable, underscoring why such a composition wouldn’t be as effective if layered over the animalic musks found in the original Kouros. BASE NOTES When the fragrance enters its final stages, the rich and warm blend of benzoin becomes fully detectable, imparting a touch of sweetness and an intensified powdery and rubbery quality. This further enhances the overall richness of the base. It is truly remarkable how the perfumer was able to create such complexity and depth using just five different notes. The mintiness and smoky incense continue to play a prominent role in this stage, contributing to the fragrance’s distinctive character. OVERALL This YSL release is one such fragrance that holds a special place in my olfactory adventures. While I wouldn’t classify it as a masterpiece, it carries a nostalgic charm, reminding me of my early days exploring the world of perfumes. In my opinion, this is the best Kouros flanker so far. Read the full review at scentgrail.com

Forgotten gem! When Tom Ford took the creative direction of YSL, back in 1999, he helped the brand create some of the best fragrances in their catalog. This was his first men's fragrance and was composed by the great Annick Ménardo. Although is kinda forgotten despite the fact that it's still available to purchase. Everybody talks about the discontinued M7 and Rive Gauche pour homme (which are both great fragrances) but this is very under the radar and i don't know why. This is a really interesting fragrance. Despite the name, it doesn't remind me of Kouros at all. In fact, it smells like sweet woods (benzoin mixed with cedar) but in a weird, almost alien-ish, yet warm-fresh and inviting. The eucalyptus note is noticeable in the opening and brings the green freshness facet to the fragrance mixed with a chinese incense type of a smell that quickly fades away to the sweet wood thing that will last a good 8h on skin. There's a liccorice kind of a smell mixed in the composition but not so strong as in others like Lolita Lempicka, created also by Annick Ménardo. Despite the weirdness, this is very easy and confortably fragrance to wear specially in night outs or during fall and winter time. Annick Ménardo ussually utilises new synthetic components and mix them with classical bases and ingredients. And this one is a good example of it. Very new and weird smell but, at the same time, really well made and with a classical touch. i recommend this one even in the newer formulation. Of course the vintage has better quality and has a more disctinct eucalyptus note but, it's still Body Kouros and it still performs and smell good. A forgotten gem that is still available and pleasant to wear. 4/5 for the vintage 3/5 for the current formulation

This is a really interesting scent, and definitely not what I've come to expect from the more mainstream YSL scents. The first spray is a light, airy, honey-like sweetness. The incense provides a hint of smokiness but it's mild and is blended well with the woody/amber notes. I honestly like this scent a lot, and already prefer it over YSL's popular boozy/spicy/sweet scents. I can see this is being a masculine, more old-school scent because of the musk and smokiness, but I really think this is a pleasant, relatively wearable scent. I'm a big fan of lavender scents for men, so I enjoy the fresh, vanilla-like sweetness coming from the clary sage. As it starts to dry down, I can already smell the warm spice becoming more defined. I think the main downside to this scent is that, as with almost all smoky/incense/musky scents, it can become overbearing if used too heavily or in the wrong setting. I'll add this to the list of scents I enjoyed a lot but am not sure I would have any use for. I'll give it an 8/10. It does smell really nice and the ingredients feel high-quality and defined, but I think the wearability is slightly limited. Edit: Wore it to the office today. I would say it projected for 3-4 hours and lasted 6-7 hours on my skin when applied over lotion. I've decided on an 8.75/10 and that I wouldn't mind owning this. Even though it still didn't wow me, the floral-musk combination was great. Another Edit: Every time I try this I like it more and more. There's something about the smoky incense and sweet benzoin that makes it so perfect and a 9/10. I only wish I could find it on discount now.

*This review is for the newer version. According to Check Fresh, my bottle was made in 2016.* I was browsing at Kohl's and saw this on clearance. I'd never heard of Kouros, nor do I ever wear men's fragrance, but there was a tester and I thought it might work for my husband. I sprayed a little on my wrist and wow! Sweet, a little powdery, a little smoky... forget my husband, this one is MINE! It's cold and snowy right now where I live, so I'm still craving warm, cozy scents. While I don't detect any spice or eucalyptus, I do get the incense and the benzoin, which makes it sweet enough that I don't feel like I'm wearing a 'mens' fragrance. Someone else said it reminds them of Givenchy Pi, which I agree with, (I had an ex who bathed in Pi) although Body is much less sweet and cloying. Body isn't a beast as far as silage and longevity goes, at least not in this formulation. I feel like it sits close to the skin, which is fine with me...this is something I would wear when I just want to smell soft and sexy, not like any particular note or flower... just an overall 'my skin but better' kind of smell. Body also reminds me of Sarah Jessica Parker's Twilight, (which I own but don't wear much due to poor longevity) which is said to be her version of her personal blend of Comme des Garcons Avignon, Bonne Belle Skin Musk, and a street cart Egyptian musk. It's very similar, in fact. Overall, a soft, sexy, powdery, smoky-sweet scent sure to draw people closer... perfect for date night or bedtime, but tame enough for work or daytime as well. Definitely unisex.

Such a shame for me i met this fragrance when it is 17.. about a week ago i tested it on the local store without having any opinion or knowledge about the notes and i can't describe why i liked it at first sniff.. may be because it reminded me the cleanness (if such word exist) of Montblanc Individuell or the sweet oriantal spicyness or may be just the mentholy cedar in it. I get every notes what is listed on that fragrance Anyway i bought the 100ml bottle yesterday the smell is undeniably unique and pleasing but it can be polarizing as well due to sweetness i see that but for me it is too masculine for a woman to wear it. And yes the drydown is somewhat similar to le male but this one is smoother and more unique. I dont think someone would tell that if i am wearing le male. That smoky eucalyptus parts them far away Projection is really good 4 5 hours solid without cloying 6-15 hours skin scent Longevity: after one and half day still could smell the cedar mostly. On clothes for now 24 hours and counting.. I think it could be worn all year around except hot day time It suits perfect for snowy day at a cafe with your woman wearing turtleneck white sweater drinking coffee, hot chocolate and getting close Annick Menardo is really a talented perfumer hats off god bless you woman! That's what i think of it. And it made top 5 fragrances on my collection Big love!

To simplify the scent, which is actually fairly complex, it smells like benzoin incense mixed in with some eucalyptus essential oils and some woods. It is a very interesting, different and realistic scent. It evokes a luxury , calming sauna experience. Its more reserved and introspective , cold but warm at the same time and the eucalyptus while it does give you that cool nose-opening sensation , is actually not as forward as I thought it was going to be (although it does open overtime and it literally gives your skin a cooling effect), the main note for me it really is the benzoin which gives it a vaniilic ambery base that is extremely pleasant and smooth, and not as sweet as a modern vanilla base. This really does have a very natural benzoin incense note. People call this a masterpiece and I get why, its character is very unique and it is cool, calm and a bit on the darker side without trying too hard. If you are familiar with this era of YSL, this is unmistakably from that golden age, and there are stylistic similarities between this and the likes of Rive Gauche pour Homme, M7 and Nu EdP. Needless to say this has 0 of the original Kouros DNA.It should have just been called Body or something to avoid confusion to be honest. My bottle is a 2004 with the original style bottle.

Gotta tell you I’m a huge fan of the original Kouros. My favorite scent of all time. But this smells absolutely nothing like it. It basically stands alone as a classic in its own right. When u first spray it you get a fresh sweet blast of spice and cooling eucalyptus. It’ll set ur nose off a bit. The balancing of the amber like quality with the more masculine spicier and woody side are basically going head to head until about an hour it has settled down into a very spicy barbershop smell with a touch of sweet undertones and woods. The eucalyptus is very much delectable most of the way through along with just a touch of incense. It really is beautiful and I can see why it would get as many compliments as it does. There is a very soft and sweet quality in this fragrance within the masculine side. It definitely played a huge role in this sort of trend that became popular with other scents of the time such as 1 million and le male. They all smell different of course but just in the use of more gourmand-like accords and ambiance that would define what perfumers would consider sexy and sensual from the men’s side of the fragrance world. This is not a gourmand frag per se but still it gets the job done and for what it does it does very well.

Dear friends, I'm writing a review about my holy grail, you should know that. I can't explain why but since the beginning of my being in the fragrance world, since I met BK, this fragrance has no competition for me. It's just magical. The way it smells it's just wow. Forget about ingredients, forget stories about reformulations, go to the store and try it. Don't do a blind buy cause BK has a character, it's definitely not for every nose. I love in this gem its simplicity-complexity balance, its power-subtleness balance. For me, Annick Menardo has made a totally and perfectly balanced scent for men with character. In the opening you can smell the character already but the golden beauty of him comes about half an hour later and it lasts and it lasts. I have feeling it's just better and better with every minute more. In my case stays on a skin for hours and I can't stop smelling myself. Yes I know, it sounds weird but I'm not an egoist, it's just the "cuddle effect" of this miracle in the bottle. Write now I'm waiting for a cold weather to buy it and of course, my new girlfriend to smell it. I'm interested about her reaction. Oh yes, in the cold weather it work the best. It gives you the feeling of a warmness. ;) A pure 10/10!!!!!!!

Honestly, I was quite hesitate to try body kouros at first, because it has eucalyptus on the notes list. Eucalyptus oil is more commonly used as a traditional remedies in my countries, so i was expecting it will come out somewhat herbaceus. Fortunately, i was wrong. The opening of body kouros was actually rather sweet because of the benzoin. It is not gourmand type of sweet such as bubblegum or cotton candy type scents. Imagine if you boiled a rock sugar in a water, and after a few minutes the vaporized water will have a hint of sweetness in it, thats how i would describe the sweetness in BK. Then after a few minute of aplication the eucalyptus become more presence and give warmth feeling. For me the advert from BK was very spot on, you could get the feeling of freshness and warmth in the same time, just like after having a jacuzzi in a japanese natural spring and while your body still in a warmth condition and you apply some body butter to moisten up your skin. This is the feeling i get when i use body kouros. I didnt have longevity issues for my current version of BK, it is almost 12h after the aplication in my morning routine, and i could still smells the whiff of BK from my wrist and cloth.

After arriving home, I could not wait to try my brother's Body Kouros, which was lying on the coffee table. Annick Menardo's signature benzoin is evident and unmistakable (at times it reminds you of Jaïpur Homme due to the presence of such ingredient and its being created by the same perfumer) because it stands out from the rest of the notes: it feels like a spicy, sugary berry cocktail that resembles the aroma of brugmansia. A few minutes later, a soapy background emerges and gives balance to the mixture, making sweetness subside a little bit. Body Kouros is a very pleasant perfume with great presence, and it benefits from being sweet without being cloying; you can notice that the creator paid close attention to the making of the fragrance. In addition, its originality is undeniable since it does not smell like any other scents I have come across in the last 25 years. It is ideal for evening and casual events, and it seems women dig it a lot. It has good longevity (+10 hours) and moderate projection and sillage, which increase with more spritzes. Here goes my rating: Fragrance: 9/10 Longevity: 9/10 Sillage: 7/10 Projection: 7/10 Originality: 10/10 Average Score: 8.4/10

Definitely not love at first sight for me. After while, I decided to give it a chance and bought 100 ml bottle. Now I can say I found my signature scent. Cannot believe I was overlooking this perfume for so long! The longer I use it, the more I love it. This never happened to me with other perfumes. It is wonderful, strong scent. It is warm and sweet, but in a different way than contemporary clubbing perfumes. It is creamy and relaxing at the same time (smokey vanilla mixed with eucalyptus). As someone here said - sexy introvert: sensual, dark, melancholic - this is exactly what this perfume is. It is strong, in the beginning very loud and overhelming. Yes, it is very linear, however more fascinating for me than other more complex perfumes which I tried. I see this on a man between 25-40 - any occasion, office / date / evening out. Definitely more autumn / winter / rainy season scent. It is not for everyone and there are not that many people who wear it. Thankfully - you can feel special. One of the most complimented perfumes I ever had. Happy to stay with this melancholic introvert for a while longer.

I have been wearing the latest formulation of 2017 with new bottle.I have tested it for several days on me and now I am writing the review after multiple wearings. I had used the formulation of old bottle of 2010 and I loved it.One thing is pretty sure.Most of the reformulation talks in Fragrantica forums about this scent are exaggerated.New bottle has the same fantastic smell,longevity and sillage as old bottle.It lasts 8-10 hours with wonderful projection.People will notice you for several hours in an air conditioned environment. Good for dates,office,night out but not for beach. Smell is unique unlike any.Incense,benzoin,vanilla and woods are perfectly blended to smell as a very linear scent,but really attractive.Ladies will compliment for sure because of the sweetness.One of my all time favorite scent and top 3 of YSL creation along with Kouros and L'Homme.

Sex in a bottle. This is a perfume that is simply irresistible to women. I don't know what they put in it, but I simply can't avoid women with a twinkle in their eyes complimenting me on how nice I smell. Fresh and smoky, sweet and creamy. Woody and edible. Even I smell myself when I put it on. One of the best perfumes ever made. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/10 Perfume performance - very poor performance, literally after application it becomes a scent that can only be felt if you get close to someone or if the wind blows in your direction. Its durability is somewhere around 4-6 hours, sometimes it lasts longer, but it is weak. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10 Perfume rating - one of the best perfumes for men. I think women could wear it very easily too. Fantastically blended and polished fragrances, nothing too much, nothing too little.

Where to begin? The first half dozen times I tried this, I swear I could not smell much of anything at all. Then I took it down to one of my brothers to see what he thought about it... The second I sprayed it on his arm it hit me!!! My God it's good!!! Maybe the weather was still too warm when I first tried it at home? I don't know.... But yeah it is amazing juice. Nothing like Kouros (which I love deeply). But amazing in it's own right. To me, it sits close to the skin. I thought it wasn't projecting. Then after work one night I went by my brothers place and my sister-in-law asked "what is that? it's so f***ing good" She told my brother he had to get a bottle of that too. Ha ha ha.... If I were to compare it to anything, I would say Azzaro Visit (also by Annick Menardo) reminds me of it (like a distant cousin).

Found a 50 ml bottle of this as I was recently doing some house cleaning, had totally forgotten I even owned this great scent. It's from year 2000 and after finding it I immidiately sprayed it for curiosity's sake. What a fantastic smell! To my nose much better than Au Masculin. To my surprise it was in great condition and not rancid at all. This is an excellent fragrance and I'm glad I found that bottle. Sadly there was just a tiny amount of the juice left, maybe 5-10 ML or so. But as mentioned by others this vintage version of BK is a monster in terms of longevity and sillage so I will go with 1-2 sprays. My new signature scent. I wonder how is the current version of this compared to the vintage? It's not sold in my country (not at least in my local shops)

Such a Divine one was this... Deep & balmy alluring vannilic benzoin which is like a desired sensous embrace what is twisted clary sage & eucalyptus combo which gives that masculin, cool, calming and serene vibe. And that coolned is paired with that slight of smokiness what mskes it tottaly mysterious. I Loved it so much on my loved one. This fragrance it's a masculine masterpiesce for me. it's exciting sensual and alluring even lustful whilst also mysteriously cool and but serene, peaceful and nurturing what gives safety and supportiv holding on vibes. So this gives everything, the feeling of a deep calming nurturing love & supportiv safety, exciting deep sensuality even sexuality, mysterious, but at the same cool & calm magnetic charm, "masculine" energy.