Best leather fragrances
From soft suede gloves to a worn biker jacket.
Leather is the note for people who want presence without sweetness. It ranges enormously: modern "suede" leathers are soft and almost creamy, while classic leathers built on birch tar smell like a saddlery — smoky, raw and unapologetic.
The ranking below covers that whole range at live Australian prices. Leather compositions age brilliantly in the bottle and on skin, and they are among the most complimented scents in cooler weather.
The picks — ranked by live prices
Buying smart
Start suede, graduate to tar
If leather is new to you, begin with a soft suede interpretation. Raw birch-tar leathers are a committed taste.
Leather loves cold weather
Heat can turn heavy leathers acrid. They are at their best from autumn to early spring in most of Australia.
Two sprays maximum
Leather notes have enormous presence per spray. Overapplication is the number-one reason people think they hate leather scents.