Kouros Yves Saint Laurent 1981 Eau de Toilette

For a perfume that's supposed to be bold and challenging, Kouros is surprisingly fresh and evocative. It's a bit pissy and sweaty, but when you combine bodily fluids with soapy florals reminiscent of clean bedsheets, the scent suddenly becomes deeply sexual.

Bottles with silver shoulders from 2000-2008 are the sweet spot. Current formulation dials down civet in favor of freshness, losing some of its magic. On the other hand, older bottles are too dense for my liking. Top notes are mostly dissolved, pissiness and powderiness are amped up. I would pay up to $200 for a 2000-2008 bottle in good condition.

You can expect moderate to soft projection for 3 hours before it dries down to a skin scent. Depending on year of production, longevity ranges from 7 to 10 hours. It's not too loud and can be worn all year round for any occasion. Yes, even at the office.

With formalities out of the way, we can get to the fun part. What does it smell like? I think it's magical from the moment you spray it - the opening isn't rough and you don't have to wait for the drydown. Animalics are accompanied by flowers and honey, while aldehydes, citruses and spicy herbs create plenty of breathing room.

30-40 minutes into the wear, pissiness starts moving to the background, staying present as a tantalizing undertone. At this point, florals are blooming with their clean, soapy, powdery facets. This combination transports me to the bedroom and reminds me of going down on my SO. In the deep drydown, I can notice velvety leather and more warmth.

In my opinion, Kouros is an artistic masterpiece. It's not animalic for the sake of it - tasteful amounts of civet and musk paint a vivid picture. Some people might not be able to connect the dots and some might even find it offensive, but given how notorious and impactful it is, one thing is for sure: you have to try it!