A leather fragrance evokes the different textures of leather, from the warmth of supple hide to drier, woody or smoky facets. At MATIERE PREMIERE, two creations by Aurélien Guichard belong to this family: Falcon Leather and Crystal Saffron, each built around a natural ingredient used in overdose.
What is a leather fragrance?
The leather fragrance family brings together scents that evoke the material, its density and its feel. They generally feature several of the following characteristics:
- A dry note, sometimes slightly smoky or woody.
- A warm, spicy dimension, which can be provided in particular by saffron and certain resins.
- A supple, enveloping texture, reminiscent of suede, soft leather or a second skin.
- A sensual depth, without necessarily being animalic, dark or powerful.
- There are therefore very different types of leather scents: dark, smoky and assertive ones, but also light, soft, luminous and almost abstract ones.
This note arises from a blend built around smoky woods, warm and enveloping spices or resins. Some fragrances add a powdery or floral facet to this.
The history of this family is linked to Grasse. Originally, the town’s glove-makers would perfume leather gloves imported from Italy to mask their odour. The craft of perfumery developed from this expertise, combined with the natural richness of the region, which is ideal for growing perfume plants.
At MATIERE PREMIERE, the leather accord is crafted from natural, plant-based materials. The formulas are vegan: no ingredients of animal origin are used in their composition.
MATIERE PREMIERE’s leather fragrances
Falcon Leather
Falcon Leather is built around a generous dose of Birch Tar Oil. This ingredient lends the fragrance its powerful, smoky and woody facets. Aurélien Guichard imagined a falconer’s glove warmed by the sun, evoking both its smooth, powerful texture and its supple suede-like feel.
The Falcon Leather Eau de Parfum combines this with a guest ingredient: Oud Assafi Oil from Bangladesh. Deep and dark, this oud brings warmth to the fragrance. It highlights the two leather facets of Falcon Leather: smooth full-grain leather and supple suede.
Crystal Saffron
Aurélien Guichard explores a modern and luminous expression of leather through an abundance of Saffron Oil Greek. The Perfumer captures its luminous, almost crystalline quality, and its vibrant character. The natural oil extracted from this spice lends the fragrance an addictive comfort. A leather suggested by saffron and its texture, rather than by the notes traditionally associated with tanned hide or smoked leather.
For a richer expression of the scent, the Crystal Saffron Extrait de Parfum, which features Myrrh Oil Somalia concentration of between 25 and 30 per cent. The texture is more assertive, and the quality gains in depth.
Birch, saffron, spices: the ingredients of leather fragrance
Birch Tar Oil is derived from the tree’s bark. Its smoky, woody profile is one of the historic hallmarks of the leather note in perfumery. In Falcon Leather, it is used in overdose, taking center stage in the composition.
Saffron Oil Greek offers crystalline, sparkling notes – a more vibrant and modern facet of the leather accord. Other ingredients often accompany the leather note: woods, resins, oud or myrrh. At MATIERE PREMIERE, each fragrance is built around a single ingredient, used in overdose.
This choice follows an olfactory logic. Aurélien Guichard selects each ingredient for its unique character: its terroir, the people who cultivate it, and its method of extraction define its character.
A leather fragrance for both men and women
Leather is often associated with men’s fragrances and men’s wardrobes. At MATIERE PREMIERE, fragrances have no predefined gender. Falcon Leather and Crystal Saffron are designed for both women and men.
Each creation is defined by its central ingredient, not by the person wearing it. A leather scent can therefore be worn by both women and men, during the day or in the evening. For both men and women, the choice is based first and foremost on the ingredient.
Founder and Perfumer Aurélien Guichard
Aurélien Guichard creates every MATIERE PREMIERE fragrance. He is the only perfumer in the world to grow his own ingredients on an Ecocert-certified organic fields, established in 2016 in his native region of Grasse.
The Maison’s style is based on three principles: a central natural ingredient used in overdose, a simple formulation, and an immediate and long-lasting signature. The fragrances contain between 85 and 92 per cent ingredients of natural origin. The formulas are vegan, free from phthalates and colourants.
Eau de parfum or leather Extrait de parfum
Eau de parfum has a concentration of between 20 and 25 per cent. It offers a generous sillage and a longevity suitable for everyday wear. Falcon Leather and Crystal Saffron are available as eau de parfum in 6, 50 and 100 ml sizes.
Extrait de parfm has a concentration of between 25 and 30 per cent. The fragrance is denser, the sillage longer-lasting and the scent more intense. Both fragrances are also available in this concentration, in 50 and 100 ml sizes, each featuring its own special ingredient.
Wearing a MATIERE PREMIERE leather fragrance
The bottle should be stored away from light and temperature fluctuations, which helps to preserve the ingredients and the stability of the formula.
On the skin, the fragrance should be applied to warm areas: the inside of the wrists, the base of the neck and the crooks of the elbows. Well-moisturised skin retains the fragrance better and prolongs its longevity. The moisturising lotion and Hand and Body Cleansing Gel are available for Falcon Leather and Crystal Saffron. They prolong the fragrance’s signature scent all over the body. The Crystal Saffron har perfume infuses the hair with saffron.
MATIERE PREMIERE fragrances can also be applied to clothing. The scent settles on the fabric and lingers as the garment is worn – whether it’s a jacket, a scarf or a jumper. It’s advisable to test the fragrance on an inconspicuous area first when using it on delicate fabrics.
