By Ann
We’re enjoying a much-needed rainy and cool spell here, so I decided test out a few more scents in the leather family, a note that I’ve only recently come to appreciate.
In previous posts, I’ve shared my fondness for SL’s Daim Blond, Cuir de Lancome and Bottega Veneta, and I also like Caron’s Tabac Blond (many thanks to the lovely perfumistas who sent me samples of many of the scents in this post). So I figured it was high time to branch out a bit more.
Today I have the new MPG Cuir Fetiche on one wrist (very lovely, soft, with a nice touch of sweetness). Musette was quite smitten with this one and did a post on it a while back. And on the other wrist, Knize Ten (equally good but a tad more masculine, and quite low on staying power and sillage). At times this one reminded a bit of Bulgari Black.
Next up, I need to snag a sample of Chanel’s Cuir de Russie and give it a re-try. I originally sniffed it when the Les Exclusifs first broke, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. My horizons have expanded over the years, so perhaps now …
So, what say you: What are your favorites? Which other leathers are worth a try?
I love leather! My favorite is Citizen Queen. I’m on the same love train with Bottega Veneta and Cuir Beluga and Black and Dzing. Cuir de Russie is wonderful, but after the leather, its just simple muskto me. I guess I wish the leather phase would last longer. Bandit gave me nightmares. I tried this early in my perfumistahood and made the mistake of wearing it to bed. Just a dab. I didn’t sleep well and I tense up/ tummy ache just thinking about it. I have retried it since, in the bright light of day, and i remember the feeling those dreams evoked. it still makes me uncomfortable… Which, inevitably, I’m sure, will turn to love given time.
Great post. I’ve made a List of unexplored leathers to try. Yum! Azuree here I come!
So glad you enjoyed the post. There were some good suggestions, weren’t there? And now you’ve got me curious about Citizen Queen. Also, as I mentioned above, I was already a little afraid of Bandit, so your experience has me quaking in my boots 🙂
CQ has a tough girl vibe- leather,iris,violet and labdanum. The leather is definitely there, but not in your face. This one falls in HG territory for me. I like the perfume better than the oil, btw. Enjoy!
Thanks — sounds good. I didn’t know there was an oil, too. Will have to check it out.
If there’s a leather I dont like, I haven’t found it yet. I am enamored of Jolie Madame, especially the vintage parfum, and all iterations of Piguet’s Bandit can have me walking through my day, blissfully sniffing my self. Miss Balmain is another beauty which always garners compliments for me. There are so many others that I cant even begin. BTW, if anyone doesn’t enjoy their leather scents, I will be more than happy to take them off their hands. Love me some leather, whether it purrs or growls!
You’re in good company here with the Bandit, and also someone else mentioned the Miss Balmain. I’ll give them both a try, although as I mentioned above, the Bandit makes me a little nervous. Thanks!
Yay for Tabac Blond! It makes me feel all sultry, like a need a throaty purring voice and a sexy evening gown with a man’s topcoat draped over my shoulders. And a cigarette in an ebony cigarette holder -to keep my voice throaty of course! I need to expand my leather empire (hey, that would be a good fragrance name) but I always get sidetracked by something else….
Hi, dear M! Yes, TB is a slinky, sexy one. I always feel woefully underdressed when i wear it.
I like Cuir Beluga and VIP Room. Have gone through several decants of both. Also Cuir from Mona di Orio is to die for. Knize Ten is okay but I actually like the Knize Ten Golden Edition a lot more. And I’ve been addicted to Neil Morris Leather Garden ever since I ordered it after Musette’s review. I have several other leather scents in my collection, it’s a favorite note of mine.
I’m desperate to try Cuir Fauve by Keiko Mecheri BESPOKE. I had a moment not long ago where I fantasized about knocking over a liquor store so I could buy a bottle. I think I’ve got that urge suppressed though.
Joanna, you are so funny! “But Officer, it was just for perfume …” Love it!
Ann,
I would never have guessed you’d like Knize Ten. My hat’s off to you, I found it really difficult (a petroleum note in it did me in). I think you should definitely give Cuir Ottoman a try, it’s so unusual in the way it goes from hardcore leather to the most beautiful powdery drydown. Also, have you tried Bal a Versailles in the edt?
P.S. I didn’t insert that link above! Don’t know how it got in there.
Hi, Suzanne! The Knize was so soft on me as to be barely perceptible. And I’m truly frightened by the skank note in Bal, so I’ve steered clear of that one. I might have given away my C.O. sample but I’ll look. Thanks for stopping by …
Have you tried Mythique? Suede and huge amounts of iris– so gorgeous. It’s on my FB wishlist as is L’Hetre Reve (plum and leather) and Costume National 21 (fuzzy honey leather thing that’s great on me)
Oh, I love 21! Fuzzy leather is a perfect description. A good one for curling up and reading on a rainy day.
Ann- I’ll put a sample in the Chaos package I am putting together for you.
Ooh, someone just sent me a sample of the Mythique. Think I’ll break it out in the next day or so. Those others sound great as well. Thanks!
Have you tried Serge Lutens’ Cuir Mauresque? A precise olfactory re-creation of the hippie leather shop where a friend of mine used to work. For myself, I prefer Bottega Veneta (love it madly, bought a FB at first sniff) in cool weather and Azuree in summer. Both of these last forever on clothing, but BV can be subtle enough for office use. Not so for Azuree; I have to be careful not to over-apply.
I’d love to try the classics – Cabochard, Jolie Mme, etc – but only if I had a time machine to take me to the era of the original formulations! And Chanel gets too much of my money as it is; I’m afraid to try Cuir de Russie. .
I’m a fan of BV too. Can’t say that I’ve tried the SL Cuir (think I may be getting it mixed up with Cuir Ottoman in my poor old brain). Wouldn’t it be great to go back and try them? And I’d stock up on some of my old favorites as well …
PS: hey, I didn’t put that link in my original comment. Is the blog host connecting to your advertisers? Because I just clicked on the link, and it went to a “buy SL CM” page on Barney’s NY website. Weird.
Not sure what happened there. It does it to me often as well. Sorry.
Have you tried Bandit?
Hi, there. I have to admit that I’m a little skeered of Bandit (hides face in shame). Guess I’ve always thought of it (mistakenly, perhaps) as the Fracas of leathers, and I can’t wear the divine Ms. F at all. But one day when I’m feeling oh-so brave …
Love those leathers! I have yet to sniff many of the ones mentioned (no availability here), but just bought a fb of Bandit. Oh yeah. Good stuff. My others are Azuree, Cabochard (wish I could sniff the vintage), Jolie Madame, Miss Balmain (more leather-y to me than her sister JM). While I love Bulgari Black, I do not get any leather from it (rubber doesn’t count). Thanks for this post, Ann, and I will check back later, as I am takin’ notes!
Howdy, Pam. A fb of Bandit — wowza!! I like the Jolie Madame as well, but have not tried the Miss B. Also must revisit Cabochard and Azuree (as someone else mentioned it on here).
Dzing!
Yes!! That one had fallen off my radar. Thanks for the reminder.
Diorling. Not that new swill. The vintage.
YUM!
My very first leather ‘ka-pow!’ was, from all things, Tommi Sooni Tarantella. It was in the middle of the drydown. Blew me away. That was the sample they were kind enough to send me – but I haven’t been able to replicate it since! :Cry:
vintage CdR is very suedy-leathery-buttery-IgotabazilliondollarsandIdon’tcare
Igotabazilliondollars … now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! Gotta get me some of the vintage CdR to try, and also the new, for comparison’s sake. Which Tommi Sooni was it? I tried the II, and it was nice, but reminded me a lot of one of the Amouage Opus scents (can’t remember which). Hugs to you!
You have already mentioned all my leather favourites except I love the leather hint in Ambre Russe by Parfum d`Empire as well as Cuir Ottoman.
Portia x
Hi, Portia. Mmmm, that Ambre Russe sounds good. Will have to try that and also get another sample of Cuir Ottoman. Thanks!
I like the soft and creamy types. Cuir Beluga is by far my favorite, and I second Rosarita on the Cuir Ottoman and Jolie Madame. I also found the new Guerlain, Myrrhe et Delires to have quite a bit of leather in it.
Me, too, Sherri! I also am enjoying the new Guerlain but will have to revisit their Cuir Beluga. Thanks!
You named my favorites in your post, dear Ann. I like my leather buttery smooth. When I want a little more depth, I can recommend Parfums d’Empire Cuir Ottoman. Yummy. I also remember really liking Tauer Lonestar Memories, but I can’t find my sample and it’s been a couple of years since I’ve smelled it. Oh, another smooth suede leather is Jolie Madame. I really like it too, but eventually the violet gets to be too much for me.
Hey, lady. Hope you’re doing well and feeling better. I think I tried the Ottoman once, but it was a while back before my leather “enlightenment.” Got a Jolie Madame sample around here and I remember liking it, so have to go sniff it out now. I think the Tauer might still be beyond me but we’ll see …
I somehow seem to have developed a taste for more hardcore leather scents (exposed my poor nose to them first)now anything purporting to be a leather scent isn’t usually cutting it (sorta like I’m used to STRONG coffee ’bout five scoops to a pot each scoop being a 1/4 cup-then go to a resteraunt for dinner and I end up with coffeewater humph!)
Cabochard,Aramis,Azuree(original not flanker)and Quarum are LEATHER to me .Bvlgari Black ,Cuir de Lancome ,and Bottega Veneta and Kelly Caleche- Nope.
The first one-Black- I get brand new bike tires,the Cuir a bit of tires,vanilla and incence similar to Black Cashmere,Bottega Veneta was sort of sour (but I was testing the dayI tried my sample and may have muddled a bit with this one)Kelly I get a very nice floral.
I will have to try those you’ve listed sooner or later -Thanks for the suggestion!
(Must toddle on over to S2C and see about placing an order……….)
I have to second Aramis and Azuree as far as leather. Mmmm, I could go for some leather now…
NP
Thanks! Haven’t tried any of those you mentioned, although I have smelled Aramis on a few guys in my time. I’m just taking baby steps into the note, so probably the most hard-core ones I’ve sampled are the Knize Ten and Tabac Blond.