Kouros Fraicheur

Back in 1994 or 1995 in my mid-teen days, I bought Kouros as a friend of mine was using it and I actually like it a lot at the time. It had this sharp and harsh-citric note that instantly makes it recognizable. So, because we ́re not in the sme school or class, I could wear it without looking like I was copying him or anyone. But, as soon as that bottle finished i didnt buy more of it (stupid, I guess). I tried Xeruys Rouge and went with it which is also a looooovely fragrance and used a lot in my late teen days (what a success it was...ahahah). Back into Kouros "topic". An year ago I thought it would be cool to get one from the stores and it seemed like they were still being sold. I picked the white Kouros bottle (the original) sprayed one and once I smelled the testing paper, I just thought the formula must have changed over the years and there were few similarities (at least in the initial blast) when compared to what I used in the 90s. It was way darker and less citric ? A "deeper" scent, instead of a "happier" scent. My nose usually doesn ́t play tricks on me and my olfact has a great memory to detail (even tough I ́m not educated enough in the notes decomposition). Now I realized that Kouros had other versions too. Sure, why wouldn ́t it ? I remembered the bottle to be white or sort of, but it was 25 years ago. That ́s when I saw this semi-transparent bottlte called "Kouros Fraicher" I asked myself if my mind was playing tricks on me. Ordered a 10ml bottle from local internet market anddd....... voilá. This was the one !! What a class. There ́s a note that is different. Something Citric/lemon that was added into the place of the slightly removed dark note (civet?) which is still present. But this swap makes it very airy and shiny. Once is dries down it is very very similar to the old original Kouros.... just slighly less dark. I mean, between the original and the Fraicheur, in the original sometimes less is more, and with the Fraicheur more is more !! Both are great. Why this "Fraicheur" version is not sold these days in the stores or internet I cannot understand at all. If it is not possible to put it in the fragrance store markets, just market it to be sold in the internet like many other brands do. An incredible fragrance from the 90s which I am so sure lots of guys would want to buy again... and again... and again. This is truly a masterpiece, for me. YSL.... come on !! What are you waiting for ???

A lot of fantastic comments, reviews and perspectives here. I will adorn this. It is, absolutely and truly, "Fraicheur". The melodic tonality of the ginger, pineapple and orange blossom create a gorgeous, radiant and amazingly fresh top layer that is ethereal over green and herbaceous patchouli and sharp, crisp vetiver. The amber is warm underneath - not cloying and allows this breathe on your skin, acting as a true base layer. However, this is much more than that... I, personally, love this. Vintage Kouros is dear to me - and this is discontinued and rare as well! It will be worn on occasion, when the mood is right...or when I need to get into the right mood. Sensual aromatherapy in a beautiful flacon. The scent pyramid here is not complete - what is listed exists, but there is simply more. This actually has a lot of the notes of Vintage Kouros in a lighter, more crisp and ethereal composition. As this dries down, one will find, in a light, airy essence...the brisk musk, a dash of civet, and what is in a "fresher & more diffusive" presentation - the gorgeous base of Vintage Kouros (but, with a soft breeze infused, therefore "cleaner" and wonderfully integrated). It is rich, but not nearly as strong as the flagship, however it carries the pedigree. That is what is so amazing, so beautifuly. It shows on top and in the heart the amazing freshness and beauty, but dries down to reflect both what is listed here and the nuances and undertones of Kouros, just not as strong. Longevity is extremely good, if not excellent, for a fresh scent. To my friend, krmarich - indeed, they do not make them like this anymore. It is stunning and near perfection in a bottle! As much as I deeply love and have a fondness for Vintage Kouros, this bottle surpasses any and all expectations. It presents itself, brilliantly! Let this be for those who "know"...to savor and enjoy the last drops in existence. Cheers.

I thought everything could happen, except that I was going to come across this wonderful flanker of King Kouros at a perfume shop in my country; I have seen it on ebay several times at very high prices, and I wanted to be able to find it in Colombia...well, I found it unexpectedly and, for the great price, I did not hesitate to take it home. Kouros Fraicheur sports the same DNA as the infamous king of perfumes for men, but it is much more "subtle" since the scent of civet is slightly perceived; I don't feel any pineapple, but I do detect orange blossom and ginger, ingredients that give the composition a more dynamic and modern vibe and make it more versatile for today's standards. Amber makes the scent a bit creamier. This perfume does feel very 90s, and it is somehow reminiscent of Montana Parfum d'Homme (and even Salvador by Salvador Dalí a little bit) as the citrus notes provide a more sparkling, less "rigid" aura than that of classic Kouros. That this is a woody chypre is totally right. The performance of this EDT is truly amazing--it lasts over 8 hours on the skin! Projection and sillage are moderate to high, which are incredible qualities for a perfume that was intended for warmer days. I think it works best during the daytime and it can be used regularly (however, in my case, I will treasure it to enjoy it for many years). To conclude, I would like to say that I really like Kouros Fraicheur a lot (why not? It's Kouros after all!), and I'm so proud to have this jewel in my collection. Score: Fragrance: 9/10 Longevity: 10/10 Projection: 9/10 Sillage: 9/10 Versatility: 8/10 Average: 9/10

Who designed Kouros Fraicheur? The original Kouros was created by Pierre Bourdon, but what about KF ? This fragrance is a camaleon. When I put the splash from the mini bottle , the concentrated fragrance had one opening and drydown. Using the EDT it is slightly different (more smokey). But in the end they all come together. The opening is beautiful. What is more amazing is that from the first spray to the end of the day drydown is that it assumes different olfatic sensations with different notes coming up. Of course, they all resemble the "Fraicheur" concept so you could identify that what you ́re smelling is Kouros Fraicheur in a second. Some of the notes ( perhaps the drydown ) I would bet that i ́ve smelled them somewhere. Eventually there will be another fragrance out there that will "match" Kouros Fraicheur at some point of it ́s drydown process. But not entirely as KF is unique. Also, I recently used it in a day where I went to the gym. I thought the smell would have already gone, but as soon as I started sweating the fragrance just came out of nowhere to the point I got "noticed" and heard a comment. I could understand that this is not a modern fragrance at all. But man, it is one of the most unique scents I have ever smelled and perhaps the one I love the most from the opening till the very drydown. There is still a market for this one to come back in all it ́s glory, even if reformulated.

★★★★★ Time flew, and here I am, reviewing Kouros Fraicheur for the second time. There was a time in my life that I was fully devoted on acquiring every formulation and version of Kouros. And I succeeded! Maybe it was my need to get closer to my absolute hero, my grandfather... I wasn't even born in the 80s, but many 80s fragrances were still going strong in the 90s, the beautiful decade of my youth. The original Kouros can be a tough business nowadays, it's bold, loud, challenging but undeniably elegant and unique. Kouros Fraicheur, is still the original Kouros, but its freshness lends it an incredible advantage, r o m a n c e. After all these years, having all Kouros bottles, I rarely wear Kouros, but Fraicheur always makes me feel that even though the world is changing, even if nostalgia of previews happy times becomes a necessity, you can still find beauty in life and in art such as perfumery. Vintage masculines tend to be conservative, and I am not a conservative person at all. Men can wear female marketed scents and vice versa, but sometimes it's ok to experience this "old world feel", when creativity was off the charts and artists would get inspired from life itself and not their mobile/pc screens. Kouros Fraicheur will always make me feel romantic, special and free.