Leather is a fantastic note in fragrance if you like things a little richer, spicier, and/or smokier.
Perfumers will blend both synthetic and natural ingredients to achieve different facets of Leather, such as tanned hides, arm chairs, leather-bound books, jackets or bags or other Leather goods.
Leather scents can be rich, smoky, spicy, earthy, Musky, have a bit of a burnt aroma, and can add depth to the fragrances they are in.
The intensity can be increased with resins, woods, or spices, or mellowed with fruits, citruses, flowers, or Vanilla.
French Lavender & King’s Glove from Michel Germain - This one is a lighter, cleaner Leather scent, being primarily Leather and Lavender. It’s fresh and aromatic with Leather in the background, with Citruses, Oakmoss and Cedar boosting the Lavender.
Verano from Ormonde Jayne - This scent uses Suede, which seems to feel smoother. It is paired with the smoky essence of Tobacco and both Amber and Iso-E-Super for depth, and then brightened with Citruses, Juniper, Sage and Tea. It has a nice seductive quality to it.
J’Adoube from Mind Games - This one has a Vintage Leather note that cuts through the juicy essences of Pomegranate, Red Currant and Mandarin. Amber adds subtle smooth and sweet warmth, giving the composition depth.
Gardez from Mind Games - This one is interesting, and slightly seductive. It’s primarily a combination of Leather and Orris. A note of Black Leather is blended into fruits and a heart of flowers, with Cedarwood boosting the depth, and a note of Popcorn adding a kind of velvety quality.
African Leather from Memo Paris - This one has a little more intensity with a blend of spices and woods. Leather, Patchouli and Oud are slightly brighted with the subtle brightness of Bergamot and Saffron.
LX48 from Caswell-Massey - This one is a Leather and Tobacco scent with a hint of a vintage leaning style to it. A Vintage Leather note is paired with Tobacco, Cedarwood, Oakmoss and flowers. It conjures an image of ivy league alumni in a hidden smoking room.
Oud Nebula from The Harmonist - The name makes you think this scent will be intensely Oud. But Oud actually sits in the background of this scent, boosting notes of Amber, Leather and Cedar. Rose and Saffron add a slight brightness, giving this scent a very appealing masculine lean.
Opus VII Reckless Leather from Amouage - This one is a more intense Leather scent with a bit of a chaotic nature. There are basically no lighter or sweeter notes breaking up the intensity of Resins, Agarwood Smoke, Patchouli, Amber, Pepper, Fenugreek and other spices.
Homme Anniversary from Xerjoff - This one starts off a little sweetness from a Lemon Mousse Accord, Candied Fruits and Vanilla. Leather, Clove, Tarragon and Styrax then come in to play, adding almost too much intensity, even tickling the nose a little, before it all blends together and mellows into a very sophisticated and smooth Leather scent. It’s fresh, spicy, sweet and intens all at once.
Special mention goes to New York 5th Avenue from Fragrance du Bois. This scent feels like a dark and sultry blend of Rose and Leather. A blend of Cashmere Wood and Guaiac Wood create a Leathery essence with hints of sweetness coming from touches of Caramel and Vanilla.
Leather can have many variations in fragrance depending on what it’s combined with.
There are many other fragrances with Leather, but we find these ones to be the most Leather forward.
Let us know what you think!
