Hi there Perfume Posse! Portia from AustralianPerfumeJunkies and I’m wondering if you like leather? No not the fabric, hide, the shoes, the handbags, belts or even couches. I think we all agree that leather the thing is rather special but I am talking now about the scent of leather, the smell of its curing, colouring, tanning, working to a usable piece from being the skin of an animal, do you like it? It’s a polarising scent and many cannot stand it in their fragrances. I am a fan, I love it and the many ways it can and has been used in fragrance over the years. Today we are looking at Mon Cuir, My Leather, by Spanish house and perfumer Ramon Monegal.

Mon Cuir by Ramon Monegal

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Russian leather, orange blossom, labdanum, musk, sandalwood, Indonesian patchouli leaf, nutmeg

Isn’t it interesting. You read the notes, in your minds nose you can put together an scent image of what may be coming, I sometimes think that I’m getting a handle on what fragrance is all about and then something like Ramon Monegal’s Mon Cuir comes along. The first time I spritzed Mon Cuir I was so surprised that I gave it a veto because I wasn’t smelling my expectations, it has since lured me in and made me want it bad.

Opening is warm, soft leather with a little booze and a soft bouquet of resins and blossom. Balmy is a word I could use, there is something smooth, supple and luxurious about Mon Cuir that is spare and sheer but still maintaining a lovely richness. For some reason I was expecting a Lonestar Memories experience but what we get is something more akin to the CHANEL Cuir de Russie or Hermes Cuir d’Ange but quite different to both, there is little sweetness in Mon Cuir yet the dryness is not raspy. Imagine your skin fresh from the bath and moisturised in cool but not cold weather, leave it about 15 minutes so there’s no residue left: that’s the kind of fleshy softness. A warm, new ultra luxe leather pair of gloves that fit perfectly and light as gossamer the very first moment in the store.

Photo Stolen GloveLove (problem using image, get in touch please)

It only takes a very short time for Mon Cuir to soften off to a close and comfortable body fragrance. It still maintains a light sillage but it’s in close that you can smell its magical, sexy pulse. Great date with a view to sexual encounter fragrance, also I think it would be an excellent choice for office. If you need a scent that is not going to be in your face, something that you can enjoy selfishly or something that will make anyone really close to you take notice then I recommend Mon Cuir.

I had to write and ask Francesco at Ramon Monegal what Labdaceme is, his reply:
…As soon as I’ve pronounced the word “Labdaceme” Ramón has just smiled!, as it turns out it is a molecule exclusive from his palette. It is a derivative of Labdanum ciste but with ambered notes, and this is all I can tell you, my friend…..

Further reading: The Non Blonde and BL’eauOG
LuckyScent has $185/50ml and samples

Do you like the Ramon Monegal line? What about those bottles?
Portia xx