Cuir Sacré

The cardamom and saffron is beautifully spicy and the leather here is nothing short of brilliant. The leather is raw and with a very slight animalic tone in the opening, but mostly floral and clean for most of the wear. There is a burnt tire note when smelled directly up close, nose to skin. But not from 2-3cm off the skin. Incense/wood smoke is also nicely detectable through out the wear. A nice clean and earthy vetiver along with a nice cedar note as a nice base. Cypriol is noticeable, but not to the level where it's unpleasant to me. I'm not a big fan of cypriol in more then low concentrations, but used in the right doses, it is an amazing ingredient. And this is the exact right amount. I believe it's juniper berries that gives it s slight lift, making it almost a little airy. But it's faint' so i can't say for sure. At one point, i swear i detected a bit of ginger too. Spicy and giving that ginger kick to the scent. But i believe that could be a trick of the cypress. To me, this smells like a final boss, or a action hero would smell. Like James Bond, or Hans Gruber (from Die Hard 1). Elegant and classy with an alluring reach, but also with a sharp edge and a dangerous side to it. I love it, and will treasure the bottle i have, and buy a new one when it's empty. Speaking of bottle. As most people know, the bottle is an art piece on it's own. Even without the gold flakes in the bottle, the way it's made, the oval shape, the attention to details, materials used, how every piece is part of a complete story that together is the bottle and it's content. I blind bought the bottle, and the juice inside just happened to be as good as the packaging. OK, a bit of an exaggeration. I Did blind buy it, but i researched the fragrance thoroughly. So i knew pretty much what i got. And it far exceeded my expectations. My Only complaint is that i want more projection from a fragrance of this style. It's a "bad boy" scent, but with a "gentleman" projection. As this is a dominant, alluring, dangerous, and powerful scent (in my opinion), i would have liked it to have a strong projection. It's still a moderate projection, A nice 30-40cm of projection (about one foot), which is ok. Sitting still, it will make a scent bobble that is about a full arms length away. But this is one of those few times i'll say i want strong or enormous projection. This fragrance should grab the attention of everyone around you, and be felt for minutes after you leave. It's a statement piece and an extension of self control into the environment around the wearer. I get an easy 7-9 hours with steadily declining projection from hour 5-6. Skin scent for 12+ hours. If i spray in the evening, i still pick it up the morning after. It's been a little while since i sold my bottle of PDM, Haltane. But in the dry-down of "Cuir Sacré" i get a oud like woody scent with that saffron. Reminding me of Haltane, but without the praline. To my nose, it never smells like Encre Noir or Encre Noir Extreme. I wouldn't call it a summer fragrance, but a little heat helps it project. It's not so heavy or choking that it can't be worn all year. Just consider the number of sprays and it'll be fine. Personal score: 9.5/10. I can only take half a point off because i wanted Slightly more projection from this style of fragrance. Otherwise, it's perfection. I can Strongly recommend you sample if you like the note breakdown.

Opens with a spicy/smoky cypress, that will cool down to a beautiful suede note. In the base a beautiful vetiver note will steal the show, supported by woods, and still a hint of leather. The projection is average, but a couple of extra sprays will amp up this one to a strong projection during the first couple of hours, and a longevity of 10/12 hours. That said, a more modest performance might here be a strength, given the bold scent profile. Let's dig into the comparison game: as others have underlined, I can see some similarities with Lalique Encre Noire due to the cypress/vetiver combo, but the absence of a suede note in EN and the difference in quality puts these two on different shelves. As opposed to others, I cannot spot any similarities with Malle VE other than the vetiver note, and thus comparing these two just doesn't make sense. (what's the point of comparing each and every fragrance with a noticeable vetiver note with Malle VE and Hermes TdH, just because of the vetiver note??). That said, the closest I can compare this one to is Initio Divine Attraction (very close, but it's no surprise that AdO CS is made of way better quality ingredients and is dryer), and DS&D Bowmakers (similar level of quality, but again, AdO CS lacks the sweetness of Bowmakers's drydown). Also some (more remote) similarities with Vilhelm Smoke Show, and others like AC Emeraude Agar, Korloff No Ordinary Man and Gucci Guilty Absolute, with the latter 3 standing a step lower in terms of quality (even two steps lower, in the case of Korloff, but that remains a great cheapie). Of all the one I listed, this one is the one that stands out the most for me, and that I would highly recommend to who is looking for a dry woody/suede-ish vetiver-centric fragrance. Should you prefer a hint of sweetness/roundness in the base, Bowmakers might tick the box, or also GGA for whom is on a tighter budget. 5/5 Cum Laude for me, right up my alley! Best in fresh or cold evenings. Leans masculine, 25+

My fragrance for life, the best fragrance in my hole collection! It opens with green spicy touches and transforms into the most beautiful soft Leather Vetiver fragrance I've ever known. Soft and balanced, luxurious and mysterious, Cuir Sacre evokes formality and discretion. I find it super masculine and elegant. Use in the summer, perhaps, with fewer sprays, calling for a milder climate. Medium sillage, people around you will smell your perfume. This fragrance is the purest interpretation of niche perfumery. It doesn't follow trends, it only follows total olfactory elegance. Marie Salamagne (Perfumer - Artist), House - Atelier Des Ors Thank you soooo much!!!!!!!

This is a unique combination of soft leather, gentle spices, evergreens and vetiver. I find it grounding & soothing- evoking nature in soft shades of green and brown. Soft to moderate projection & very long lasting- it has me swooning within my scent bubble all day long. If you're looking for a perfume to announce your arrival this will not be it. If you want people to wonder if you might be mother nature herself when they lean in for a hug then this will suit you just fine. I'm personally not a fan of the gold flake gimmick of this house, or the sky high retail prices, but this can be found at discounters for less than half of retail.

Sexy as hell! Got this in a discovery set and gave it to my husband to try out. Oh man this is sexy, dark, incense, leather, oud magic. I get the medicinal notes others have mentioned but it’s in the background not up front, and honestly I really actually like it! If I’m being honest, I’ll admit this isn’t completely unique. There are many leather incense and oud fragrances out there nowadays but what I will say is this one is done supremely well. If you’re looking for this type of scent profile in your collection this is a must try.

I'm a woman, and this is the ONLY leather scent I've ever been drawn to. I'm sensitive to typical leather scents. They nauseate me. I don't own any leather-forward scents other than this one. The magic in this fragrance is how dry and woody the leather is. The cardamom and incense just accentuate the dry woodiness. Addictive and sexy. Strong but not heavy. The leather definitely comes through, but not the least bit animalic. It's like the leather has been cured by dry, spicy, and smoky woods. Absolute gem.

Lovely scent that starts with a fresh photorealistic pine resin smell - absolutely mesmerizing! It has both freshness and smokiness with some added spiciness. The base for me smells more like vetiver rather than the actual leather tbh. But it’s a fantastic fragrance, for those who like deep aromatic and woody fragrances. My ig: scent.guide

This has become my special occasion fragrance. Truly unique, a little mysterious, somehow dignified. A sparkling opening that transforms into a beautiful leather and vetiver scent as it dries down, with a touch of incense and saffron. I strongly recommend that you get your nose on this one.

I was kindly provided samples of a few offerings from Atelier des Ors by a blogger friend(thank you!). Here is my experience with Cuir Sacré: On my skin, Cuir Sacré is primarily a vetiver fragrance, contrary to what the name might imply. At first glance (or sniff should I say), the fragrance seems quite linear and simplistic. But upon close inspection, different notes do demonstrate their distinct facets even though they're overall very well blended. Cuir Sacré opens with aromatic, fresh, almost crisp juniper berries and vetiver. The vetiver here has some of its woody, salty smoky ham-like aspects, grapefruit-like sourness and even mineral tonalities, but it feels essentially awashed and pale. It recalls to me the bleached vetiver in Frederic Malle Vétiver Extraordinaire, a type of vetiver interpretation that I have had hard time with. However, what makes Cuir Sacré much more interesting and wearable for me, is the wonderfully fleshly cardamom-saffron-creamy leather accord that I also enjoyed a lot in the opening of Lune Féline. The spices here are much more demure than in Lune Féline, and the leather is more like an abstract velvety texture. But they effectively cast a soft tanned glow on the pale face of vetiver. Cuir Sacré doesn't go under any significant change once all the elements are in place. I can catch glimpses of the green woody sparkles of cypress, but generally speaking, the fragrance remains a gently spiced vetiver through and through during its 8-hour longevity. The sillage is also quite intimate. It generally stays very close to skin, and the fragrance feels rather airy and transparent. Because of my personal preference to a darker, more robust vetiver interpretation, Cuir Sacré ultimately doesn't suit my personal use, but I thouroughly enjoyed the delicate yet carnal cardamom-saffron spices. I would definitely recommend it as a modern, sleek vetiver fragrance, especially to fans of Vétiver Extraordinaire but would like a bit more sensual warmth.

Interesting, original, upscale - but overpriced and fatally underpowered. First fragrance I've tried to attempt a mix of leather with cardamom - which is a lovely blend, and more leather fragrances should try it - and with the juniper also adding a special, cleaner aromatic tang to things. Other ingredients listed here (vetiver, incense, cypress) are detectable, but only just. In this approach of mixing leather with unexpectedly dominant and unusually eclectic extra spice/herb/leaf/berry notes, it's riding very close indeed to the Memo Italian/French/Moroccan/Whatever Leather series - and that's not a bad thing at all. No rough leather-jacket sourness here, just elegantly couture suede and aromatics picked from only the finest batches. Name is intimidating, presentation is almost ludicrously luxe, retail price is terrifying. So all that might lead you to expect an absolutely spectacular product... but this ain't it. Performance is only middling (only projects discreetly, and even that only lasts for 2-3h max); the skin scent which lingers behind, for up to 5-6h, is nearly all cypress and vetiver, which takes it back down-market to smell, not unpleasantly, a bit like a watered-down Encre Noir. Not what you'd expect for the money. I also fear that those who like strong leathers will be disappointed - there's little of the grease or near-meatiness or big sillage of the leather classics. So: not sacred, just overrated (by its Creators.) If you are very specifically searching out cardamom-juniper inflection of leather, well, this is the only one I've come across, and it IS a classy thing overall. But if searching for truly upscale, beautiful, radiant leathers, cast your lariat further afield IMHO.

I agree with Maquilab below... I, as a woman, am quite surprised about how much I like it despite hating strong leathers in the perfumes. Well, this is officially the 5th leather fragrance I like, after Bottega Veneta EDP, Valentino Donna, Montale Black Musk and Byredo Bibliotheque. I can totally imagine to wear it on myself 👀👍 Probably it's this particular combination of the notes. I definitely pick up coniferous notes, something similar to Gypsy Water by Byredo. And then the incense. I have mistaken it for the oudh. The leather is obviously there, so I am not mentioning it. And probably some vetiver in a supporting role. Actually I had the chance to smell a true vetiver in the 1907 niche perfumery just right today. So yeah, vetiver's there. The fragrance is very long lasting and with a good projection. I think it leans more on the masculine side, but I do not see a problem for bold women to wear it. Especially if you layer it with some sweet notes. I actually find the scent quite attractive and sexy. I would truly recommend to layer it for women, because this makes the perfect elegant base with its smoky, leathery, forest - y 😁, hay - y 😁, sour-bitter-mint smell. The quality is top. As it is the whole Atelier des Ors 👍

Holy wood! I was expecting leather and incense from the name and I got a full-on, perfumey slap in the face. It's a loud and extremely woody, coniferous opening with cypress, juniper, cedar and cypriol oil, a little bit dirty and tarry. The cardamom and saffron also make an interesting pairing up top with neither dominating. The vetiver comes through in short order. And peeping out timidly in the the mid-range comes the missing incense. As the woods continue to fade (too quickly) this becomes more of a gentleman's aromatic-leather, the contrast with the bombastic opening is jarring. And you're left with a musky leather dirtied up with cardamom, vetiver, cypress and a lick of incense. Need to retry a few more times but I like it a lot.

"Cuir Sacre" is a lovely interpretation on leather - extremely elegant and easy to enjoy despite this being a bit on the screechy side. The first notion I got was the juniper soon followed by leather accomponied with sourness of vetiver and saffron. The mix feels weird, but somehow it works wonder together and gives this classy, elegant vibe of high class cars with leather and wood interiors. Anyhow, it stays like this all trough drydown. And then "Cuir Sacre" dissappears. It has a staying power of 2 hours max and all trough it stays extremely close to skin. Given the price tag - I wouldn't recommend blind buying before testing if longevity is an issue for your skin too. Truly dissapointing despite the lovely scent.

An exceptionally uncommon fresh leather fragrance that feels more like an incense based Oriental. This fragrance inspired by the perfumers travels to the Andalusian region of Spain begins with an interesting opening of cypress, cardamom and juniper berries and moves to a heart composed of incense, saffron and cedar before settling into a base of leather, vetiver and cypriol. The unisex perfume is blended beautifully and offers moderate sillage and lasting power. Unique, mysterious and evocative, this is a very different take on a leather perfume that evokes memories of a horseback journey along tree laden forests. Very unusual and very interesting. Enjoy!

So... All the negative comments about this being a skin scent, not heavy on the leather note... These are the reasons I might actually like Cuir Sacre. :) See, I don't like leather-based perfumes; if leather comes on top in a fragrance I'd even have to scrub it off. But this is something different! The first few minutes after spraying it, it's a pretty Oriental spice-leather mix. Then, it quickly calms down, almost disappears. You have to get close to the skin to detect it. And it's so beautiful. It's not the brutal leather goods shop scent - it's a soft whisper of suede. Comforting to say the least. I'm actually pretty surprised by my own reaction. :)

I sprayed it on a blotter and couldn’t really smell much. I thought maybe it was the blotter’s fault—maybe it somehow soaked up all the molecules, and some kind of sorcery happened. But no... I sprayed it on my wrist three times, and I can barely smell it! You literally have to stick your nose into it and breathe as if you’re gasping for air! And there it is... somewhere. I love and own quite a few ADO fragrances, but this one is a joke. Maybe it was meant to be a room spray, and someone accidentally released it as a perfume? Well, no point talking about the scent itself since it’s barely there anyway.

Very simply put, the opening on this kicks off with a little sharp green vibe from the Cypress and Cypriol oil, then pretty quickly settles into a a fairly statement making fragrance withiut choking you out. The impact from a perfect matching of the big fat vetiver note hangin out with Cardamom and leather like 3 best mates who become better notes when they're hanging out together. Such a great balance in my opinion. Not a fragrance for wallflowers but equally not for loud obnoxious jerks either.

Green leather and incense what comes in mind. It changes colours when you wear it and becomes more leathery towards the base. Not for faint hearted for sure. Vetiver is dry and smells like heeley's natural vetiver extract. what was it called? Veritas? if you know it you can imagine it here. outstanding Jobe on perfumer's end. Solid release and projects close to beastly.

Opens with leather and vetiver. Leather fades pretty quickly and this becomes a vetiver fragrance with a lightly sweet incense. I find this more in line with Jovoy’s Incident Diplomatique than any other comparison. This is stronger with better longevity. This leaves a trail. Overall not a fan of this one even though it’s currently on sale for $90. **If you try this first and then smell Private Label, this makes Private Label smell even more incredible than it already is.

I bought a FB of Lune Feline from their website and they sent me a free and generous discovery set of 2ml samples. Cuir Sacre opens as a very aromatic, incense and strong scent, unisex, but leaning more masculine for me. Cardamom is strong too, but settles as a more subdued cardamom and soft leather. Doesn't stay on my skin for more than a few hrs, i see this issue with most of their fragrances, including Lune Feline (or maybe its just my skin chemistry).