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

The study of perfumes through the ages is indeed an interesting subject. The word ‘perfume’ is a derivation from the Latin word ‘per fumum’ which literally means ‘through smoke’. Perfumery has evolved down the ages and its travel through history is indeed an interesting subject.

The art of making perfumes can be traced back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia according to available records which mention the name of Tapputi, a perfume maker. But the art was made finer and more consistent by the Romans and the Persians. East Asia also contributed much to the development of perfumes although much of their hand work was based on incense sticks.

The Arabian expertise in making of perfumes was revealed through the ‘Book of the Chemistry of Perfume and Distillations’, which was written by the Arabian chemist Al-Kindi as early as the 9th Century, where he lists more than a hundred recipes for the creation of aromatic oils, fragrant waters, salves, etc. He has also given in detail all the equipments required for making perfumes as well as a hundred and seven methods of perfume making!

Later on, Avicenna or Ibn Sina, the Persian chemist and doctor invented the method of distillation for the extraction of fragrant oils from flowers. This became extremely popular and it must be said that this method proved to be very successful and is used even today.

As the religion of Islam spread to Europe, the knowledge of making perfumes too was introduced to the continent by the 14th century. But due credit should be given to the Hungarians who were responsible for the creation of the modern perfume which was a blend of fragrant oils and alcohol. Known all over Europe as ‘Hungary Water’, this was created at the command of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary in 1370.

Gradually, the art of making perfumes spread to Italy and by the 16th century, the Italian perfumes were introduced in France by Rene le Florentin, the personal perfumer of Catherine de’ Medici. The whole process was kept a secret and the formulas were closely guarded against theft.

France rapidly evolved to be a major hub of the perfume world especially due to the farming of aromatic plants in its Grasse region, mainly to meet the enormous raw material need. This gradually became an important industry in the South of France. To this day, France is considered to be one of the major centers in Europe which concentrates on the manufacture of world class perfumes and cosmetics.

Tim Walt - Jan.2009