Crème de Cuir

This might be a little lengthy, so I apologize in advance lol. This was a slow burn for me, and DEFINITELY not a love at first sniff. Okay so a little background; I blind bought a bottle of Gris Charnel because it was the most hyped up from the house of BDK, and with it came 3 samples. Rouge Smoking, Créme de Cuir, and Velvet Tonka. This was early on in my fragrance journey, and I just don’t think my nose was developed enough to enjoy any of the samples. Rouge Smoking smelled like cherry cough syrup, Velvet Tonka just smelled,, weird and unusual to me, and Créme de Cuir smelled like a sharp burning tire, so I ended up putting them in my closet and forgetting about them... Fast Forward a year later and I find these samples while rummaging through my closet and decided to give them another sniff just for the heck of it. Rouge Smoking still just smelled like cherry cough syrup; Velvet Tonka still smelled weird to me.. but THEN I got to Créme de Cuir. I put a little dab on my skin, waited about 15 seconds to let the alcohol dissipate, put my nose to my arm and my jaw DROPPED. This burning tire turned into the smoothest, creamiest, most beautiful BUTTERY suede, vanilla, musky scent I have EVER SMELLED IN MY LIFE. I literally ordered a full bottle the next day and I am honestly thinking about getting a backup bottle because, as much as I dislike the idea of me having a singular "signature scent", this is probably the closest thing I will ever have to a signature scent because I wear this every day and it is such a hidden gem! I NEVER WANT TO STOP SMELLING THIS. You will smell completely unique. The projection and sillage are softer, so it's unlikely anybody will smell you unless they enter your personal bubble, and the longevity is a good 6-7 hours. I wear this to the office every day and somebody complimented me while I was wearing this actually lol... Somebody told me, "You always make the office smell really good", and I usually spray 5-6 times since this is a softer fragrance. I cannot wait to experiment with the versatility of this fragrance in the spring and summer, however it is GORGEOUS in cold weather. Every time I smell this fragrance, I involuntarily smile... Like a smile literally forms on my face without me even thinking about it. PLEASE BDK DO NOT EVER DISCONTINUE THIS, ITS SO AMAZING!

Light, fresh, happy. Not quite enough. That was my initial reaction. Boy was I wrong! If this was a man, I wouldn't give him second glance; but he came to me, kissed my hand, took me for a ride and made me beg for more! The initial spray didn't turn my head. I could see this on a very young man, teenager even. Citrusy and soft woody, slightly leathery... Very cute. Then, 180° turnaround! And the drydown is to die for! Oh yes, this is what does it for me! Fresh spicy masculine with decent cloud around. I wish I could make this my mans signature scent! I'm not sure if I can pull this off but I will definitely try. I am completely down on my knees! To me, after a few minutes of pure citrusy nothing, this is a sexy new fresh cleaned car with a sweet but adventurous man behind the wheel, kissing my neck while parking on a lookout somewhere, enjoying the night sky and lovely view. Pay attention to the negative comments as well, they are spot on too, just the impression and interpretation is different. To me, all that "cleaned truck" and "wet wipes" mix together very well in a sensual and generally pleasant complex scent. The pineapple is very light, but somehow it is not lost in this composition. Far from it actually, I think it reaches the farthest. On skin, the blend is leathery and aromatic fruity, manly, sexy, throwing my underwear (and money!) kind of WAU! Cozy enough for autumn and winter, but in the same time, fresh enough for spring and summer. Fresh daily scent, mysterious evening date scent with maybe some after-party on the back seat of the car... Paints very vivid images, let me tell you. I need a cold shower and a full bottle of this right now!

What I love most about Crème de Cuir is precisely what might disappoint lovers of more traditional leather: it doesn't try to impose its presence. You won't find the darkness of Tuscan Leather, the roughness of Cuir de Russie, or the animalic facet that characterizes so many classics of the genre. Instead, BDK offers a clean, luminous, and extremely refined leather; closer to a velvety suede than to an aged leather jacket. For me, it's minimalist leather. The opening combines soft citrus with a bright yet restrained fruity accord that provides freshness without sacrificing elegance. Gradually, the suede emerges (with a magnificent birch that harmonizes beautifully with the nubuck), delicate and creamy, building a sense of quiet luxury (if I may say so) and natural sophistication. It's a fragrance that conveys a polished and modern image without needing to be ostentatious. I think it's a nice choice for the professional world. It projects confidence and good taste without being intrusive, striking that elusive balance between discretion and personality that so few perfumes achieve. It never overwhelms those around you, but leaves an impression of cleanliness, high quality, and attention to detail. I also find it to be one of the most versatile fragrances in the BDK Parfums catalog. It works practically year-round, whether for a lunch, a casual dinner, or any occasion where understated elegance is desired. Its performance reflects this philosophy: moderate projection and a restrained sillage that invite you to discover it up close, where it seduces in a completely natural way.

An elegant but playful feminine leather that is unlike any scent combination I’ve ever smelled and which blooms in hot weather despite the predominant leather note?! This is a rare gem. Creamy and opulent white leather meets latex meets pineapple and tropical citrus with the faintest traces of marshmallow (evoked by the vanilla and musk)... I’m not gonna lie, the rubber glove comparisons are valid but if you can get over that, you’ll likely be able to even appreciate it. For me, it adds a sense of cool sterility that is an absolute treat in warmer temperatures. Crème de Cuir is unique to the point of being a bit odd but maintains sophistication and its unusual nature gives it an heir of exclusivity in my opinion. I find this quite versatile. Probably most appropriate as a nighttime scent on pricier date nights but I’ve been enjoying this as an easy reach clean scent for running errands during the summer. The unique sterile quality that I mentioned before is totally delightful and the thrill of an ultra smooth leather that is warm weather appropriate is simply irresistible.

This perfume is like the side kick friend to the popular girl. She’s not showy or super extroverted, so you don’t notice her that much at first. But once you do, and you get to know her, she starts to grow on you til you can’t imagine life without her. Cause she makes you feel so good. Crème de cuir smells so good. It’s an addictive smell, because you have to lean in and really huff a little. You’re not sure what you smelled, so you keep coming back for more. It is musks, cashmere, powdery sandalwood and the softest mildest white sueded leather lifted and enhanced with a top layer of bergamot and bright acidic fruit. These serve to make the creamy layer of musk interesting and lift it off the skin a little. Once these notes diminish the heart has pepper that serves the same purpose. It makes the fragrance addictive rather than boring as a straight up white musk could be. My husband and I are of the generation that watched Scooby Doo in the mornings on Saturday and he always says he preferred Velma to Daphne. Probably why he likes this on me.