Supple and sensual with an undeniable edge, leather is an accord that’s challenging for some, and essential for others. Previously reserved for gentlemanly colognes and pungent aftershaves, in 2025, leather in perfumery knows no gender or age. Animalic and tactile, it has a smoothness that elevates any scent to sophisticated status. Here are 5 fragrances to delve into its allure.
The Fragrance: Crème de Cuir
The House: BDK Parfums
The Nose: Violaine Collas
The Notes: Pineapple, Musks, White Suede
The Inspo: The authentic charm of Italian cities
My thoughts: It’s shocking how quickly this has shot to the top of my favorites list. Creamy, joyful, and ultra-feminine, this a soft, never-zingy citrus that melts into smooth suede and vanilla. It smells elegant, with a subtle sweetness, and would make a lovely signature scent, especially for daytime in autumn/winter. The sillage is quite clean due to a base note of birch.
The Fragrance: Leather + Pine
The House: Ranger Station
The Nose: Steve Soderholm
The Notes: Evergreen, Clove, Leather
The Inspo: Coming of age in the Minnesota north woods
My thoughts: A fresh, green, addictive hit of outside, this smells exactly like its name suggests – wearing a broken-in leather jacket in the middle of an evergreen forest. Stripped from the usual suspects when it comes to men’s cologne, this is decidedly unisex. It’s simple in its genius, and works just as well as a candle (which came first!).
The Fragrance: Funny Little Things Whispered At Very Important Dinner Parties
The House: Maison Millais
The Nose: Undisclosed
The Notes: Green Tea, Suede, Amber
The Inspo: Blue linen pajamas, 4pm rain, giggles in the back of taxi cabs
My thoughts: Crystallized amber meets smooth suede. This opens with a sweet, almost powdery leather that is heightened by cedarwood, then wanders into pleasing amber. The moss keeps it fresh. It smells like everything at once, the same way the air would smell at a lively dinner party where everyone is wearing a different scent, a different leather jacket, and the atmosphere inside mingles with the night breeze (in the best way possible).
The Fragrance: Cuir Infrarouge
The House: Maison Crivelli
The Nose: Jordi Fernandez
The Notes: Raspberry, Leather, Tonka Bean
The Inspo: Electronic music parties – fluorescent neon lights, upbeat playlists, and leather chairs
My thoughts: Maison Crivelli has a singular talent when it comes to creating statement scents that last all day with impressive sillage. One spray of this provided me with an entire olfactory narrative – I was transported instantly to the moment founder Thibaud Crivelli sipped a raspberry cocktail at a music festival, flashing lights and all. Bold, loud, and sophisticated, this one boasts an unrestrained elegance only found in scents by this iconic house.
The Fragrance: Lover
The House: The Maker
The Nose: Undisclosed
The Notes: Fig, Suede, Vetiver
The Inspo: True intimacy
My thoughts: A burst of sharp black pepper, then a fig-sandalwood dream. This is an easy oud, a sueded woody scent that will have you questioning why you ever thought any of these notes were challenging. Lover is blended to perfection, and feels like borrowing your boyfriend’s cologne (somehow, it smells even better on you).
