Explore the world of leather perfumes

In the Middle Ages, tanners settled in the sunny Grasse, France, setting up a thriving trade with Italian cities like Genoa and Pisa. Although leather products were popular, the nobility found the smell of tanned leather less appealing. Spanish artisans came up with a solution: they scented the leather with herbal and floral oils, creating the famous *Peau d’Espagne* (Spanish Leather). By the late 15th century, Italians, inspired by this approach, began scenting leather with almond and other natural essences, thanks to innovations by Marquis Pompeo Frangipani.

One historic moment in leather fragrance came when Catherine de Medici received a pair of perfumed leather gloves from Grasse’s tanner, Monsieur Molinard. The blend of lavender, orange blossom, and other local flowers was so adored by the French nobility that it led to a booming industry in Grasse for perfumed luxury leather goods.

In 19th-century Russia, dancers and soldiers waterproofed their leather shoes using fragrant essences like birch tar, styrax, and even tobacco. This tradition inspired Guerlain's *Cuir de Russie* in 1872, followed by other renowned houses launching their own "Russian leather" fragrances, including Chanel in 1924, L.T. Piver in 1939, and Creed in 1953.

In recent decades, leather has made a comeback in perfumery. Many major brands have embraced the scent of leather as a central note, transforming what once masked the scent of tanned leather into a beloved fragrance family.

The scent we associate with leather doesn’t come from leather itself but from the tanning process and the notes reminiscent of leather goods—like saddles, bags, Chesterfield couches, shoes, or gloves. Leather scents can vary from smoky and warm to almondy, animalistic, or tobacco-like.

Materials that perfumers use to add a leather note include:

• Styrax: floral, balsamic, animalistic, leathery
• Birch: smoky, burnt, salty
• Labdanum: amber, woody, leathery
• Castoreum: tar-like, smoky, animalistic, leathery

• Peau d’Espagne – Roger et Gallet
• Cuir de Russie– Guerlain
• Tuscan Leather – Tom Ford
• Fahrenheit – Dior
• Tabac Blond – Caron
• Bandit– Robert Piguet
• Cuir de Russie – Chanel
• Bel Ami– Hermès
• Knize 10– Knize
• Peau d’Espagne– Santa Maria de Novella
  

Leather Perfumes at Perfume Lounge

At Perfume Lounge, we offer an exquisite collection of leather fragrances, including:

• Orris Soyeux– Annindriya
• Himalayan Spell– Obvious
• Arabian Horse – Pierre Guillaume
• Checkmate - Frapin
• Divine Perversion – Hedonik
• Cuir Garamante – MDCI
• Bandit– Robert Piguet
• Cuir Cuba – Nicolai
• Cuoium – Orto Parisi
• Cuir Ottoman – Parfum d’Empire
• Vanilla Leather - BDK

Curious about leather fragrances? Visit our boutique or order our online Tailored Advice service and mention "leather fragrances" in the notes. This way, you can sample different leather scents at your leisure. Plus, our Tailored Advice comes with a €20 voucher toward your favorite leather fragrance, when purchasing 5 samples.

Leather fragrances are for everyone! Bold, elegant, animalistic, daring, or seductive. Treat yourself to a refined leather scent, or scent a bracelet or pair of gloves with your favorite fragrance!