Niche leather perfumes: 7 ways to wear it

Leather in perfume is a bit like the jacket you never take off. People picture it dark and raw, but it can also be soft as suede, fresh as a spring morning or floral as a rose. It all depends on what surrounds it.

Here are seven perfumes from our catalogue where leather (or suede) plays a real part, sorted by style. The notes we mention are the ones on our product pages, nothing more.

The spicy leather: African Leather, Memo Paris

Released in 2014, African Leather opens on saffron, cardamom and bergamot. In the heart, cumin and geranium. At the base, leather, patchouli and vetiver. The spices warm the leather from the first minutes. A warm, earthy leather with plenty of character. See African Leather.

The fresh leather: French Leather, Memo Paris

French Leather (2016) goes the other way. It opens on juniper berry, lime, bergamot and pink pepper, moves through rose, clary sage and hay, then finishes on Virginia cedar and suede. Green and bright, with soft suede at the base. Leather for springtime. See French Leather.

The pure leather: Falcon Leather, Matière Première

Just one note on our page: leather. Falcon Leather (2019) doesn't hide behind anything else. If you want to find out whether you truly love leather, this is the perfect test. See Falcon Leather.

The powdery leather: Midnight Omen, Trudon

Midnight Omen opens on iris, mandarin, peony and saffron. In the heart, leather, sandalwood, violet and cashmeran. At the base, moss, musk and patchouli. Iris and violet make the leather velvety, almost powdery. Elegant and hushed, for evenings. See Midnight Omen.

The rose leather: Arabians Rose Leather, Montale

Here the leather arrives right at the opening, with Taif rose and ylang-ylang. The heart brings oud, cedar and sandalwood, the base labdanum, vanilla and black musk. A dark, woody rose, carried by leather from start to finish. See Arabians Rose Leather.

The fruity leather: Opera, Xerjoff

Opera begins on a fruit basket and Turkish rose. In the heart, leather, amber, nutmeg and ylang-ylang. At the base, cedar, vetiver, musk, patchouli and vanilla. The fruit softens the leather, amber and vanilla wrap it up. A generous leather that's easy to love. See Opera.

The rosy suede: Devil Tender, Ex Nihilo

Devil Tender opens on pink grapefruit, pink pepper and peach. In the heart, rose, rose water and Petalia. At the base, sandalwood, suede and white cedar. It's the lightest in the selection: a fruity rose resting on soft suede. Perfect if leather makes you a little nervous. See Devil Tender.

How to choose your leather

• Spicy and warm: African Leather.
• Fresh and green: French Leather.
• Pure: Falcon Leather.
• Powdery and elegant: Midnight Omen.
• Rosy and woody: Arabians Rose Leather.
• Fruity and ambery: Opera.
• Soft and light: Devil Tender.

Always test on skin: leather changes a lot from one person to the next, and it often softens after the first hour. On every product page you can see the shops that sell the perfume, compare offers and set a price alert to hear when it drops.