Leather is a scent that is either loved or hated with very little expression in between. Most people are attracted to it, visualizing wonderful memories from their childhood or vacations spent camping or a carefree day in the saddle. But did you know there are different classes of perfume in the leather category? There are true leathers, floral leathers with influences of iris or violets and even tobacco leathers that have smoke or wood notes added.
Leather perfumes originated in the 16th century when perfumers were asked to alter the smell of freshly tanned hide used to make gloves and boots for the upper classes who didn’t particularly care for the gamy smell of their new garments. Since tanning leather in those days involved the use of animal excretions, the odor could be quite strong and unpleasant!
Leather perfumes are most often associated with masculine images but several varieties are made for women. Fendi makes a perfume of the same name for women that tempers the scent of leather with rose, amber, musk and sandalwood for a creation that is alluring as well as intriguing. Combining the scent of leather with subtle floral notes imparts an unmistakable air of femininity and freshness to the full-bodied and memorable scent of leather.
FENDI BY FENDI (EAU DE TOILETTE SPRAY 3.4 OZ)
- Price : $38.13
Of course, men’s perfumes make liberal use of leather scents to impart a rugged impression of authority and strength. In 1996 the late Luciano Pavarotti commissioned a perfume he named Pavarotti Donna whose fresh leather aroma was combined with subtle tobacco and wood scents. It is still a very popular cologne; its use of elements usually associated with male attributes is said to make it a definition of masculinity.
PAVAROTTI DONNA BY LUCIANO PAVAROTTI (EAU DE TOILETTE SPRAY 1.7 OZ)
- Price : $10.78
Leather is a very versatile scent for perfumers to work with and has inspired many great perfumes. Tempering the leather with citrus, spices or floral oils can produce nearly endless formulas both manly and feminine. Leather perfumes can convey strength and aggression or delicate sophistication and all the conception between those two
extremes. It can be manipulated by using spices, woods, citrus and florals to create moods ranging from free and easy fun to adventure and rugged strength.
Some perfumes using leather essences invoke a strong impression of fine luxury such as leather upholstery while others use the scent as a means of tempering florals or spices, lending them a more basic, earthy quality. Leather is a wonderful attribute to many perfumes, truly versatile and consistently pleasant.
Tim Walt