Leather Oud

In my experience, Dior's Leather Oud can be broken down into a question and a revelation. The question is, "Is Leather Oud animalic?" Or, perhaps a variant: "Is Leather Oud as animalic as people say it is?" The answer is of course dependent upon the nostrils of the beholder. For someone like me who owns a few Indian oud oils that reek of horse dung before they settle into feral woodiness, Leather Oud is only an approximation of animalia, reaching it by way of furry musk in its dry down and a sour twang that sometimes wafts its way to the nose during hotter weather or more liberal sprays. Dior's fragrance is certainly pungent, strong, masculine. It's neither romantic nor sexy. What it offers is something sexed, as all animalic scents do. They call toward our instincts and remind us, in the end, not of horses or cats or whatever other animal is referenced when trying to articulate the smell of the animal kingdom, but of ourselves–our bodies. With that said, Leather Oud is too refined and touched by human hands to be the holy grail of animalic fragrances, and its concept of imitating oud smoke rather than oud oil, also precludes it from being in the running for taking the top spot of oud fragrances. Nonetheless, that won't stop me from layering it with a dab of oud oil so that personalized magic starts to unfold. This brings me to my revelation about Leather Oud, which not many people talk about. It's essentially a very good and unique incense fragrance. The secret has been in the branding all along ("Oud wood exudes aromas of leather when it is burned") and the proof rests on the comments I've received. No one's ever told me I've smelled good while wearing Leather Oud, and no one's ever said I stink, but they have made it an issue to note that I smell like I'm enveloped in incense. A few sprays before going out and I feel like I'm traveling along a Möebius strip representing the full spectrum of the animal and spiritual world., because as refined of a scent as this fragrance is, its own notes (ashtray, sour lemon, furry musk) work against its elegant craftsmanship to suggest the exudations of someone whose body is both a private temple and lived-in home.

Brace yourself! No, literally. Before smelling this perfume take a big deep breath, you're going to need it. Dip your head towards it, breathe deep, and be prepared to have all of the air sucked from your lungs - as if air could evaporate further - and brace for an onslaught of burning oud, spices, and sun-scorched leather. It is like walking into a sauna fed by coals instead of steam. The way this perfume opens tells you, immediately and without question, that this is not going to be a wallflower fragrance; it is here to make a statement, and to push your olfactory senses and that of those around you to the edge. Super dry cardamom and cloves pull all of the moisture from the air around you, as if its intent is to use it to feed the insatiable appetite of its pet monster growing by leaps and bounds in front of you: burning oud. Francois Demachy notes that when oud burns it gives a distinct leathery facet, and I believe him without question. The oud acts as if the fire that burns it, and the moisture it absorbs, forces plumes of impossibly hot leather into the air around you. All of this is evocative and exciting in itself, but perhaps Leather Oud's best trick is that it never lets this carnality go so far as to be repellent or unwearable; it stops just shy of it. The monster was given a bath and put in a fine silk tuxedo. It is polished and elegant, you marvel at the fact that fine clothes can contain the straining muscles and animal rage inside... but the threads never break, and they always look relaxed and well-pressed. I am absolutely won over and in love with this garish monster. It is quite possibly one of the best oud perfumes or leather perfumes I have ever experienced, and certainly tops my list of the best oud and leather combination perfumes to have been created.

I have a 2015 miniature and a 2018 125ml bottle. I absolutely love this fragrance! When I wear it I just feel this burst of confidence and masculinity. Such an amazing fragrance with an animalic leather and a bit of like a urine smell (I know that doesn't sound pleasant but I don't know how else to describe it, but I mean it in a positive way). I wore my 2018 batch to a concert the other night, 4 sprays. This stuff was kicking off my skin. I could smell it all night through my mask and my girlfriend kept getting strong whiffs through her mask. This stuff was radiating all night and seemed to never have become a skin scent. I woke up the next day and I could still smell it pushing off my neck. There are some who say that this fragrance has been watered down, but that is not the case in my experience. There is definitely a difference in scent with the older formulation and the current formulation. The older formulation had more of barnyard fecal attribute while the current version has more of a urine attribute (again, I mean both these things in a positive way). If you can, definitely sample because this is not a safe blind buy. It can be a polarizing scent for sure. I seldom wear it because I don't have too many occasion where this fragrance would be suitable, but when the occasion arises I'm definitely reaching for it and wearing it with my head held high.

Fell in love with it, bought it, got my nose used to sweet gourmands, and then hated it. I've had my conflicts with this one. At one point I thought it smelled like horse shit lit on fire and then extinguished with piss in the middle of a desert, and that's what you get if you spray it on your hand and smell it up-close. Don't do that, this is too potent. I've learned how to enjoy this one, and it's from distance. 4 sprays on my neck is all I need for an entire day, and it smells magical. A deep, almost sweet, fruity opening with loads of spice. A sandy, dry, smoky, animalic mid and base, with a civet-like note, although this isn't supposed to contain civet. As my body gets hotter, 6-7 hours into the wearing, it almost smells a bit like in the opening again. Very complex, and I love it to pieces now. Edit: I've learned another thing about this perfume, and it's that, on my skin, it needs heat. During winter, I get the harsh, sandy/smoky dry down too quickly, whereas during spring, or even summer, it smells a lot more like the opening for a longer period of time.

Magnificent! Just received a BNIB monster 8.4 oz bottle. I was a little worried because I see it has 2 formulations. My previous sample is a .25 oz from 2015 and I love it but it was discontinued and I could not find a bottle at a reasonable price. Then I came across the new formulation. Knew that I had to add it to my collection of OUDS (which is getting rather extensive). Ordered it and waited wondering which version would show up. Biting my fingernails about whether it would smell like that fabulous barnyard one I knew. Lo and behold it does. Maybe a little less strength but having obtained a huge bottle I can now put some in a travel sprayer and wear it whenever I choose instead of only very special occasions. It’s not cheap but a special Dior fragrance never is. It’s elegant and potent. One that is not going to wear off or can’t smell once the top notes fade in 30 minutes like sadly too many. It’s ballsy. It may not be for everyone. It’s a masterpiece and I’m thankful to own it.

I managed to get this discounted in a ‘Black Friday’ sale thing on Sunday. It is luxurious and very smoothly balanced between, um leather and oud though leaning more leather. It has a kinship wth Knize Ten but without the raspberry topnote of Knize Ten but with a dark bitter floral note that develops an hour or two in; the geranium described in the notes perhaps. It has been taken off display by Dior and has been discontinued I was told by Dior staff. Each time a new fragrance is added to the ‘collection’ one is axed to ‘make way’ apparently to keep 22 in the line and it was the turn of Leather Oud. I can only think the comments about it being ‘a disgrace’ relate to a more powerful original formulation though this last edition could do with lasting longer it should be said. If you find Leather Oud do try it and don’t be put off by notions it is animalic or skanky as it is not. A lovely fragrance indeed.

This is one of my most favorite, and it's definitely not for everyone. It starts strong, and I don't get the bergamot listed here-- rather a spicy, smokey, semi-floral, geranium-leaning top. Within a few minutes, the leather and the oud itself become apparent, along with deep notes of incense and something animalic and quite dirty. This is bottled lust, and it's definitely not for the faint of heart-- one reviewer said they were embarrassed by it and I can see how that could happen, but I like this kind of daring. It is a deep, rich, and intoxicating fragrance, smells very expensive, and with excellent performance. No vanilla, no musk, no sugary notes at all, thank goodness! Just strong, intense, and sexy, and you won't smell like a dessert. A couple of sprays are more than enough, and I'm hoping the decant I bought lasts for a while since this has sadly been discontinued.

It’s a luxurious and bold fragrance that embodies the perfect blend of leather and oud, two rich and intense notes. The scent opens with a strong, smoky, and slightly animalic oud note, which quickly melds with the warmth and depth of leather. The fragrance feels both opulent and mysterious, with an almost leathery-sweet undertone, while a hint of spices and wood adds complexity to the composition. It is a bold fragrance best suited for colder weather or evening wear, offering an intense, lasting presence. While the oud might be a bit challenging for those not used to this note, the balance with leather and other supporting elements makes it approachable for many. Overall, Leather Oud is sophisticated, strong and undeniably luxurious, offering a deep, powerful experience for lovers of both oud and leather-based fragrances.

Yesterday I received the new formula (I guess?) bottle of Leather Oud that I recently bought. It says 8C02X - which means it's produced in March 2018. No idea wether it's the new version, or rather the old one. I am asumming it's the new version. OK so I am testing directly 2014 and 2018 versions of Leather Oud. The new version should be named Civet Leather or Skanky Leather. Still and undeniably leather is a star in this fragrance. The main difference (on my skin) is: the 2018 version is much louder on civet - what I actually prefer. The old one from the 2014 has a prominent oud background and I can smell it clearly on my skin. Surprisingly - I like the NEW version more. I prefer the pure blend of leather and civet. The older one is richer though, significantly.

Man, do I love this one. Oud, leather, smoke, with a pissy opening that's just beautiful. There's some sweetness from the cardamom. It dries down to beautiful pure oud and smoky leather supported by warm spices and a touch of sweetness. Late drydown is warm and sweet with a touch of pissy musk. This is animalic in a different way compared to some of my other oud fragrances. I don't get any fecal smell from this. Doesn't smell quite like anything else I have. Unfortunately, it's either discontinued or made in much smaller quantities and unavailable in the US except on auction sites for ridiculous prices. Fortunately, there's a cheap dupe that smells basically identical: Leather Oud by Fragrance World. $20 for 100ml. Give it a shot!

I am absolutely mesmerised by this perfume. One of the best oud and leather combinations! Quite distinctive and effective. It slightly reminds me of Zegna's Peruvian Ambrette. Quite discreet and long-lasting at the same time. The ideal scent of elegance and affluence! (I'm at a loss about the previous comments here, so negative all of them, that I doubt whether we are talking about the same product.)

Beautiful leather/clean animalic/saffron/woods. A little barnyard-ish, but nothing dirty. Crowds used to mainstream stuff will find this one extreme, but oud lovers will find this one a refined and elegant very wearable oud fragrance. Projection is moderate, that said longevity is 12+ hrs on my skin. I have a mini bottle, and will go for a full one once it’s over. Colder Evenings, 30+

On my skin it smells like mix of Oud Palao's drydown (w/o rose, camphor, tobacco etc.) with Afrika Olifant from Nishane and it's leathery, animalic vibes. Overall it kinda reminds me of Chanel's Antaeus in terms of animalics, with beast mode performance - but it's big simplification. I got older batch decant and it's literally filling the room with 2 sprays.

The notes are correct on the other listing: strong, warm, rich; top of leather, sweet/honeyed oud, labdanum and civet that is taken over by honeycomb and flowers then the leather and oud rise again; bit of a headache inducer, lasting; love it

As far as I know this is not discontinued nor being phased out off the market/collection by Dior.

Bold fragrance for bold people. Absolute gem. Shame they're phasing it out. One of a rare breed.

A bold, rich and smoky fusion of deep oud and warm leather, with a spicy, exquisite finish!!

If anyone is selling this perfume I am interested, please contact me privately.

I had this review written so long ago and only now I discovered it was not published here yet. When I read opinions about perfumes from the Haute Perfumery as it is called, sometimes I create an expectation that ends up turning into frustration. That’s because (in my opinion) some fragrances don’t deserve this title, for their poor presentation, the bad quality of their materials, the lack of innovation, etc. Leather Oud is, definitely, an example of high-quality fragrance that belongs to an exclusive line. It has exactly the result that I expect to find in a high-quality fragrance made with notes of leather and oud. Is it innovative? Not so much, because it has the DNA I have already felt in some Montale fragrances. But it has a glamorous oud, not medicinal, well applied inside an olfactory pyramid that seems to me a true clash of titans: labdanum, birch, sandalwood, amber, cloves, beeswax, civetta, leather, cardamom, etc. Leather Oud is rich, dry, raspy and has a good incense tone right in the beginning. Then, it surrenders to the creamy tones, resulting from the amber and the beeswax. On the other hand, it doesn’t lose its strength. On the contrary, it gets richer with spices, and the clove together with the cardamom, command the heart of the fragrance. In the end, the astonishing fusion of oud + civetta + leather raises the fragrance to the level of tradition, luxurious, power and refinement. If you have money to buy a bottle of this juice and want to be noticed, don’t think twice! The secret of the Pharaohs, the opulence of the Maharajas and the magnitude of the monarchs were bottled by Dior. Beautiful work!

Dior Leather Oud (2010) - Sweet Leather - #francoisdemachy ‘s creation hinges between light and dark, clean and animalic. It starts with a strong blast of Civet and Leather, yet calms in a smokey-leather laced with honey, amber and oud. It also has spicy accords that comes out during cold weather. Perfume construction is well-built and projects elegantly on my skin. In 2010, this would have been iconoclastic. I’ve also come to accept this perfume to remind me of my grandmother, not because it was her favorite, but it was what I wore during her death. Perfumes have that power. It transports our emotions, people we love and places we’ve been.

I really want to like this fragrance, and every so often I pull it out of the drawer and try it again. I don't not like it but it's not meant to be worn on me. I get citrus for a split second but once it's gone, it smells rather like "new car" fake leather smell but with plenty of dry spice and smoky wood/oud. I wish the jasmine were amped up a lot, as it would add a nice balance to the dryness.

for anyone looking into a budget option get Lattafa's Velvet Oud.

Reminiscent of YSL Kurous but smoother, warmer and more animalic.

REAL quality Oud + Bergamot citrus + tons of campfire Smoke + Birchwood + a touch of leather + Sandalwood + dry Cigarette Tobacco + warm golden Amber + a small hint of Tonka/Vanilla for sweetness Oh baby what an opening!! :D The quality of Oud and the amount they put in is a fragrance lover's dream! The Oud has just a tiny amount of funk to it too that makes it actually addicting. The amount is so perfectly added to balance the rest of the notes, and yet is the leading star note of this frag, followed by a dominant smoke note. This quality of Oud is fresh and superior to the dryer one that Tom Ford uses. A bit of Bergamot lime helps cut through the rich note of Oud. The smoke here is too much and overbearing when sniffing yourself, but maybe it smells nice in the air to others? Would love to test this on someone near me so i can see. But imo the Smoke note is so strong that it might sway people from buying it. With that being said, you better be a Oud and Smoke lover before buying this. Im also getting a dry cigarette tobacco within the mid dry-off in here as well, and with the over-used Smoke note it's sadly off-putting the fragrance. The warm golden Amber becomes more prominent within the mid as well. This is in the same vein of a scent genre as Le Labo's 'Tabac 28'. This to me smells like you've been clubbing in a private booth hard with friends filled with all-night drinks & cigarettes lol I don't want to smell like that as my fragrance, i want to experience that on occasion and that smell comes with the territory. :D I blind bought this, and had no expectations, but wasn't ready for a dna like this to hit me in the face! Took me 2 washes to rid myself of this awful dry-down. Waste of an amazing Oud imo. Please Dior, make more frag dna's using this very same Oud! The dna to my taste is challenging as a whole and imo is just 'okay'. 2.5/5 Woofs

I almost like the challenging aspects of this, especially up close; the leather is complex and the oud has this fermented aspect. In proximity, these facet have this fullness that suggest a well built scent. However, in the air I mostly get this sour and acid quality that's overwhelmingly rancid. I don't find it repulsive but it leaves me a bit flat. It's kinda off the mark far as what I want an animalic oud scent to be.

Masculine leaning animalic leather smoky oud on my skin. As some other suggested, you can get better things for the money. This could smell a lot better if they added some iris to it. It needs something to balance it and happy it doesn't have rose in it but it needs something IMHO.

For those who are wondering, "Leather Oud" is NOT discontinued, Dior just produces it in lesser quantities so it's pretty hard to get in their boutiques. This fragrance smells like you are riding a chariot through a hot desert, extremely masculine and intense.

Nothing special. It's an OK scent that will not set you apart. Oud is minimal. Your money could be better spent on something else.

Kind of like the younger brother of Mancera's Wild Leather. Much less loud and in your face, but has the same animalic leather/ barnyard/manure smell at first. It is the first Dior Privee/MCD scent that I feel doesn't come close to justifying it's price. It smells like a Bogart/Franck Olivier level scent. It now smells like a burning pile of various animal manure. I actually know what that could smell like since my grandfather had a beef cattle farm. I bought this as a sample...and I don't know if this is the older Privee release or the newer MCD release. I'll find out.

Got a mini bottle of this and not impressed at all. Have to research the original, but what i got is the synthetic oud, just like in Oud Palao, minus clarity and rose. And a light leather accord. Semi sweet, dense but not crisp. Nothing dirty, provocative....Lasting power is mediocre as well. Not sure what hype is all about. Try to find original, maybe that one was something worth sniffing.

I bought a decant to try it in my quest for the perfect oud. Not my cup of tea, the scent is quite uncomfortable and reminiscent of the Bronx Zoo urinals in the 1970s. Probably cool if you enjoy making love with partners who are disdainful of the prevailing norms about hygiene. Guess I'll stick to Oud for Greatness, Oud Malaki and Oud Wood.

Starts out sweet like overripe bananas, but dirty and slightly rotten, so dumpster bananas. There's some nice, gently animalic leather well down in there, but the drydown is unfortunately quite pissy. I don't want to smell like this, and I don't want *you* to smell like this. Sample it, but without expectation of enjoying the experience.

I received a small sample bottle with a Dior purchase and I can only describe the scent with one word: atrocious. I cannot believe Dior allowed this fragrance to be released.

I found this extremely heavy and unbearable even though I like complex and heavy fragrances. No thanks.

Animal excrement in the true sense, nauseating

It’s terrible and the notes listed are not in this perfume....lol Not even worthy of a full bottle, or even 1/4 of the price. and fyi there is no actual Oud in this fragrance, it’s just accords. Most ppl have never even smelt real Oud, if they had, they would know immediately that there’s no Oud in here. I’d say 90% of all so called “Oud” perfumes sold in the US and Europe don’t contain even a drop of real Oud. And what’s worse is these horrible accords these perfumers use are making ppl think all Oud is stinky, fecal and barnyardy. And oh my goodness that’s far from the truth, real Oud has so many facets and intricate complex scents and can smell anywhere from woody, chocolatey, floral and yes even barnyardy, if that’s your thing. Artisinal Oud is extremely expensive but thats because it’s almost impossible to find. Natural Oud is so scarce that it’s about to be put on the endangered species list, if it’s not there already. This is why Oud is EXTREMELY expensive and no big desiger house will ever be able to buy or find as much “Oud” as they would need. Even the cheapest Oud is much too expensive for designer houses to justify putting it into their perfumes, unless you want to pay $5,000 for a 15ml bottle. The perfume industry killed Mysore by overuse. Same with authentic rose oil. None of these rose based perfumes contain any real rose oil. It’s all accords. Rose oil is also extremely expensive to put into perfumes. Just a tiny 3ml Attar made of quality Oud and rose would cost thousands. The perfume industry counts on consumers ignorance to make billions of dollars. If ppl only knew how much their $275 bottle of perfume REALLY cost the perfumer to make, here’s a clue; the bottle is worth more than the perfume inside...lol . It pisses me off when I see brand like ROJA and Malle charge a small fortune for their perfumes that they claim to have Oud and rose and jasmine but doesn’t have a drop of any Oud, or any real rose oil or any flowers . It’s all just accords. And the most talented chemist/perfumer who can concoct accords to fool ppl into thinking they’re smelling Oud or rose, well he’s the one that’s highly sought after by these perfume houses. And they have fooled millions of ppl all over the world into believing they’re smelling Oud, or that their rose perfume actually has any rose in it....smh it does not. I used to be one of the clueless idiots who believed their lies. I used to hate any perfume with Oud in it because it ruined the perfume with its fecal stink. But that’s just Oud accords made up of what the chemist and perfumer “think” actual Oud smells like. Ughhhh they were too lazy and cheap to actually spend the money(and goodness knows Dior and all the other designer houses can afford it) to buy a small piece of actual Oud or even some authentic Oud oils so at LEAST they could get themselves familiar with the smell of real Oud so when they go and create a perfume of Oud accords, they could at least do it some justice. Shame on them for deceiving their customers. I wouldn’t buy this garbage perfume that’s reviewed here, if it was $1. Or any designer house’s perfume claiming to contain real “Oud”. I do own a few perfumes that actually contain real Oud, not the fecal kind. I’ll leave that for the more “adventurous “ ppl. I love my animalics and my challenging perfumes but I draw the line at smelling as if I pooped myself. And being from NYC and around a lot of ppl. I have passed by ppl who are wearing fecal oud perfume. And guys it’s revolting. I don’t get why anyone would purposely want to smell like they pooped themselves. 🤦♀️. Smh. Dm me if you want me to recommend a breathtaking Oud or Oud/rose fragrance. Once u smell the real thing you’ll never be able to buy these fakes again.

Knowing that the name is "Leather Oud," I searched for those scents, but if I don't think about that I get more of a smoky fragrance from this for the first few hours. Initially it's rougher like a fireplace, and then after an hour or two it smooths out into a smell more like incense smoke, increasingly floral over time. By the end of the day the smoke is gone, and all that's left is a heavy floral perfume scent. The initial smoky scent was interesting, but the perfumey smell that was left by afternoon disgusted me. I couldn't bring myself to give it a second try.

Dior makes great perfume. Oud and leather are not their thing. This is just gross, nasty and disgusting. Whoever gave this to me must not like me very much. Two of my most hated notes. Fecal Oud and leather accords. And it’s very disappointing that one of my favorite perfumers made this atrocity

After a while all I smell is ass.......not clean ass but an ass that has been hard at work all day......this kind of ass smell is why I use wipes instead of toilet paper. It was so embarrassing walking around smelling like this, I’m glad I just sampled it on my arm at the mall. DO NOT BLIND BUY.

I was able to test this at a local department store as they were sent a bottle (from Dior) by accident. I understand one may be intrigued by the scent profile, however, this won’t attract compliments. It’s so animalic... I smell like an exotic zoo. And I don’t like it.

Do not waste your money, it is absolutely disgusting. It smells like polished luxury car seat leather and pee. It’s so horrible, no one should come close to me while wearing this. Also, the notes listed are definitely not in the perfume.

This reformulation is an abject disgrace, there is nought to this scent now. something must be done about these companies

All in all this is a very nice little fragrance and a seems to my nose to be a natural brother to Oud Ispahan. It starts off a little medicinal due to the synthetic oud but soon settles down to a honey sweet, light leather with a very light touch of incense, musk, and wood. I don't find it to be particularly challenging or in any way offensive, animalic, or skanky as some other noses seem prone to expound. For me, this fragrance is more Han Solo than Darth Vader. ;) I have both the 2014 and latest formulations. Some people wax on about the 2010-2014 formula as if it's the Holy Grail, but to my nose the difference is minimal. Maybe they just want to inflate the price of the bottle they're trying to sell on eBay? ;) IMO the latest formulation does not have quite the same longevity as the 2014 version but there's not too much in it. The latest reformulation seems to be missing the civet that was in the 2014 formulation, but it doesn't really impact the overall experience a great deal, it still feels like Leather Oud but just a wee bit lighter. If you're looking for a non offensive, light, designer oud and have a couple of hundred quid to spare to spend on it then I don't think you'll go far wrong with Leather Oud. If you're still unsure then pop into your local Dior counter and have a sniff. It's not like going to the Dentist, and it won't kill you... honest! ;) CONCLUSION | ★★★★ One of my favourite MCD releases!

We have two Boston terriers. We love them dearly. I wore this fragrance for Valentine’s Day dinner. As I was laying out the wine selection, my wife entered the dining room and asked if one of the dogs had peed on the floor. I said no. She said there is a really bad smell of piss in here. A few minutes later, my daughter walked into the room, and said what’s that smell in here? It smells disgusting. Did of the dogs poo on the floor? I said no. Moments later, my wife is furiously mopping the floor with ZEP thinking one of the dogs pissed everywhere and we couldn’t see it. Of course, I knew it was the Leather Oud, but I had a great laugh at it and decided I would wait until the next day to tell her. I took a quick second shower, threw on some Tom Ford Amber Absolute to mask the evidence of my involvement in defiling our eating area, and carried on to a great meal. The poor little dogs, however, accused of serendipitously defecating around the dining room, did not get even a scrap of the grilled steak that we had for dinner. They were very confused. So that is my most recent experience with Leather Oud. It is definitely a fragrance you wear for yourself. No one is going to enjoy it. Personally, I love it. But in future I’ll enjoy it on quiet days in the home office alone or when taking a stroll in the park. It’s not fair to the other creatures who live with you.

Leather Oud by Dior is a fragrance that embodies timeless sophistication and raw sensuality. From the moment it graces the skin, it announces itself as an opulent and bold composition, perfect for those who appreciate the art of perfumery at its finest. The opening is rich and smoky, with a powerful leather accord that evokes the scent of a finely crafted leather workshop. This leather note is seamlessly intertwined with a robust oud, lending the fragrance its depth and exotic charm. The interplay between these two dominant notes is masterful, creating a scent that is both intense and refined. What makes Leather Oud truly exceptional is its balance. The addition of subtle, earthy nuances—like vetiver and patchouli—grounds the fragrance, while faint whispers of spices add complexity and intrigue. It’s bold yet wearable, making it suitable for special occasions or whenever you want to make a statement. The longevity is outstanding, with the scent lingering for hours without losing its complexity. Projection is equally impressive, commanding attention without overwhelming. Leather Oud is not merely a fragrance; it’s an experience. It captures the essence of power and elegance, making it a must-have for those who crave a bold and distinctive signature scent.

The original was my favourite of all time. This recreates it quite well but only fleetingly. The dry down is shallower and ghostlike in comparison - you know what it’s trying to emulate but you also know it’s a futile effort. The magic has drifted away and a gaping hole is left in the world of perfume. This one is an initial blast of animalic leather and oud, quickly followed by smooth leather, silky sand and muted woods. Some gentle, non-skanky oud wafts through. It fades quite tragically over 2-4 hours. A beautiful but unfruitful attempt to recreate the glory of the original. But still worth sampling - a relic of perfume history. Now sadly discontinued so don’t go searching for it. But jump out your seat if you have the good fortune to try it. “Let the risen corpse fall back to the earth and melt away without disturbing the memory of its ancient 2011 tombstone” said Christian Dior, probably never. RIP.

On first spray there's smoky wood, a touch of oud, spices, something slightly resinous and maybe a hint of florals. I do get a sense of fresh citrus as well. A suggestion of leather rather than something realistic. As the scent progresses it loses it's freshness becoming drier, more sour and I get more oud and incense. Reminds me quite a bit of Esteé Lauder's Amber Mystique but less jammy. Masculine and mature. Okay for work and not really sexy. Smells smooth and high quality but I don't find the composition very exciting. Nothing bold or daring; a smoky wood scent at the opening; more sour, woody oud later. Kind of a generic oud scent if that's even a thing. Average performance lasting eight hours or so. Pricey but not a bad deal if you get the big bottle. Then you'll have LO to pass down to your grand kids. Not bad but doesn't do much for me.

I think these days a scent like leather oud isn’t really that astonishing or polarising. If it was released today that is. But in 2010.... Holy moley - it definitely was. A step into oud for dior and I’ve got to say I love it. Obviously the reformulation debate does get old. Scents with naturals can change year to year based on the crops used, regulations prevent original formulations of scents being produced, the age of a fragrance has a massive effect etc etc Having said that - my bottles from 2010-2014 are noticeably different to the current release. Mostly due to civet note and longevity. If you can find a vintage bottle - it is the holy grail of sweet animalic oud and a time capsule for scents a decade ago. 9 stinky stanky unwashed Diana’s out of 10

Leather Oud, on my skin, smells really “solid”. Like there is no airy or transparent aspect to it. Not even in the opening. Opens with a heavy dose of leather (not so “raw” and almost suede-like) followed closely by that synthetic Oud accord that is rather medicinal than animalic or barnyardish. But the incense is the main character, to my nose. It doesn’t get to be unbearably ashy, but this incense makes every note and accord smoky out of the skin. Very interesting. With a spritz or two it is totally wearable. Cool or cold winter fragrance in my opinion. Slightly daring and extremely beautiful for the “western taste in Oud”. Good performance, but not beastly. AND it can be a bit of a headache inducer. So be warned. 8.5/10 in my book.

The smokiness, animalic qualities laid over a bed of dry florals really does hold a lot of similarities to my vintage Chanel Cuir De Russie Parfum from the 1940's, however Chanel has a bit more florals amped up and contains no oud at all, but aside from the floral and oud aspect - the animalic quality and bard yard goodness in Leather Oud is 90% identical to my bottle of CDR. In a perfect world, the animalic and smoky quality of Leather Oud combined with the floral aspects of CDR would create such a perfect floral leather. I really must try layering these two together and I recommend those of you who are a fan of both scents to also try the same.