Posse! I’ve grabbed out my travel of Hermès Cuir d’Ange. I’m not sure why I was craving it when there is so much other leather love going on in the house. Still, it was the thing that I wanted on my skin. My 15ml is well over half empty which is both excellent and terrifying.
One of my favourite Cuir d’Ange memories is Tara from A Bottled Rose and I in the back of a cab. After going to one of the big department stores and hitting the Hermès stand I had sprayed enormous amounts on. We’d spent the day with a huge perfume crew and were both exhausted. Languidly Tara looked over to me and said, “Portia, that perfume suits you so well”. It was one of those beautiful, sweet, warming moments. So very next chance, in Singapore, I grabbed a travel set with it included.
Cuir d’Ange by Hermès: Hermessence 2014
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Leather, Violet, Musk, Heliotrope, Hawthorn, Narcissus
How does Cuir d’Ange smell? Well, it’s perfectly named. Like leather of angels. Probably not angel skin but maybe they have gorgeous super soft, luxurious bags to carry their harps and trumpets? Maybe they all have super cool leather jackets with wing slits at the back? Who knows, it’s an artistic license not an allegory.
Leather and violet are a perfect partnership for me. There are a few of them in the collection here. DIOR Cuir Cannage, CHANEL Misia, Olfactive Studio Chambre Noir, Nicolai Baikal Leather Intense and Armani Cuir Amethyste are all full bottles. There are more but I can’t think.
Have I used the word languorous lately? That’s how Cuir d’Ange smells. None of that hard core, bitchy birch. No oudh. Here we are given a soft, soft leather. It’s well worn and loved. It even carries traces of a signature scent. It’s a powdery floral, hints of green that has permeated the hide. I can imagine it feeling like putting on armour and also being a safety net, a bit like a childs favourite blanket. It smells so much like them that it becomes their safe place.
Cuir d’Ange is no beast mode leather tyrant. It’s calm, interesting, refined and cozy while still managing that lovely austere Hermèssence feel. Doesn’t need to announce itself, or the person wearing it. An invisible shield and reminder how little we need to feel sophisticated and beautiful. Yes, there’s a place for the big guns but there is also a place for an introverted leather, shared only with the nearest, and dearest.
The above picture was taken on our 2022 Bali holiday.
Do you think Cuir d’Ange might work for you?
Portia xx
love the blog and enjoyed reading it.
A fragrance like this is wonderful all time
Yep! I love that one, also the Armani ( which surprised me)
I can imagine this would suit you very well.
Xoxo
Oh yes Cuir Amethyst is bloody gorgeous Musette,
HUGPortia xx
You make this sound deeelicious Portia, but no enabler badge this time. Violet is usually a hard NO from me but I do own vintage Jolie Madame, round shoulders, splash bottle. I do wear it occasionally but it’s more of an exemplar of Cellier vintage in my collection rather than a personal love.
Loving wing slits in a leather jacket, would this analogy make Jolie Madame a gimp mask with horn holes?
HA HA HA HA HA!
O M G!
Maybe it would Alityke.
Portia x
OMG!!!
It TOTALLY would!!!
xoxoxo
HA! Musette.
Then what would that make Bandit? Leather cat o’ nine tails? Spray on dominatrix cat suit? Nah the second is Bulgari Black!
This could be one helluva good perfume game.
“Perfume an item of sex dungeon wear!” Too much? Ok then perfume an item of clothing, furniture or other item!
Should I make this my very first blog post?
Cuir D’Ange sounds like it might be up my alley. I love my leather perfume.
OH Eldarwen22,
If you do get some to sniff please let me know how you liked it.
Portia x
That sounds just lovely, I bet you smell amazing in it! I’m blanking on those kinds of leathers … Cuir de Lancome, maybe, or Bottega Veneta, but they’re more powdery than that floral bit. Thanks for reminding me of this!
Ahhhh! Bottega Veneta EdP!! One of my all time faves.
I’m not sure what it was but I fell for Cuir de Lancome quite early on and bought up a bunch of it then it stopped smelling right on me. I sold them all off and now wish I’d kept one for reference.
Typical perfumista woulda, coulda, shoulda.
Portia xx
I’ve tried it, more than once, but it doesn’t come across as leathery on me, more like a powdery plasticky smell. I’m guessing it’s the combo of heliotrope and violets or something. Cuir Ottoman, Cuir Canbage and Jolie Madame work much better on me.
That’s so interesting TaraC,
Be a boring old world if we all got the same, eh?
The three you mention are bloody gorgeous though, so no great loss.
Portia xx
YES! Love this one! I’ve used up a couple samples and have it on my wish list. As you said, Portia, it’s a tender, green-tinged, powdery leather. Like a buttery soft suede dyed pastel lavender. Was the other example of violets and leather, perchance, Balmain Jolie Madame? I have and wear that one too. Thanks for a great review.
Oh yes DinaC, Jolie Madame is the big sister, much more assertive and ready to party. YUM! I have an old bottle here still in its cellophane. Can’t bring myself to break into its perfection. And one of those 4ml perfumes that’s the darkest brown and still smells magnificent.
Portia xx
Languorous. Good word. And love the idea of the wing slits in leather jackets.
Thanks Cinnamon,
It’s very nice that you noticed.
Portia x
It is just beautiful. The only problem is that it is packed away in a box and I can’t put my hand on it at the moment. Would be easier to buy one?
HA HA HA HA HA! Cassieflower, the story of so many of us.
Yeah, it probably would be easier.
Portia x
Ah Portia, there comes the longing again. Cuir d’Ange and Galop d’Hermes are my kind of leathers – soft suede. Cuir d’Ange is on my wish list for a long time but Hermes boutiques are usually not around corner as we know…
HA! Sorry Neva,
Luckily Sydney has a large Hermès store. I think it’s a three story edifice.
We can also order online and delivery is free over a very reasonable threshold.
Portia x
I could very well. And since your friend Mayor Lili is having an event Monday after next across the street from the Hermès store I may have to pop over and douse myself in it..
Please send our love to Mayor Lili Tom.
Hope you enjoy your Cuir d’Ange drenching.
Portia xx