Perplexus

Anyone who complains here has probably never truly understood Yves Saint Laurent. And neither the high art of perfumes.

This fragrance is a milestone in haute couture fragrance creations and it is an absolute statement, a very successful statement. It is profound and fascinating and it is simply indispensable.

It is the provocative and stylish statement of a man who was different and who significantly shaped the fashion world. A man, by the way, who struggled with many contradictions and inner turmoil, a man who nonetheless, and perhaps precisely because of this, had a more profound impact on his time than almost anyone else in his industry. One of the most creative minds of his time in his field.

In particular, his fragrance creations are primarily well-thought-out provocations.

Provocations (like Opium or Champagne) that one gladly succumbs to because they are so refined. Because they also provide the outside world with a tool for making a statement. Everything follows the conscious philosophy and the clear idea of what it is supposed to embody. Here, small universes unfold with considerable depth.

Kouros is the prototype of what masculinity and eroticism exude. It is a scent for individualists, not for the mainstream. The risk of rejection is always already included here; it has been part of the strategy. Kouros is a classic, whether one understands it or not.

A fragrance for men, not for boys. Because the immature or mainstream types will never truly understand such fragrances and will always express themselves rather silly, sometimes below the belt, about them, because they cannot do otherwise and because this philosophy, this statement, will forever elude their revelation.

Connoisseurs, on the other hand, will quickly realize that a true masterpiece is at hand, which has unintentionally caused quite a bit of headache for generations of perfumers since its inception, because it was indeed a provocation and also a small unheard revolution for the industry.


By the way, Kouros shares some similarities in its composition with Joop Homme. However, Joop Homme has often been unfairly criticized, even though the accumulated sales success over the decades, similar to Kouros, has spoken entirely different words.

So it is certainly not harmful to engage with the reviewed material before publicly displaying one’s misunderstanding and ignorance somewhat embarrassingly, instead of quietly accepting one’s own inability.