Vertigo Cuir

Vertigo Cuir by Kyse Perfumes strikes the balance between leather and gourmand, and while it has leather in its name, it definitely leans toward the gourmand on my skin. Still, it's well-balanced enough, in principle, to appeal to both gourmand lovers and leather lovers. The gourmand notes that figure in so prominently are vanilla and caramel, and with the leather, I get a creamy sort of leather/caramel combination, always sweet but with the leather poking in at times to interrupt the sweetness. In addition to these main notes are musk, which softens the dry down, and green notes, which I don't actively detect but certainly could figure into the mix in a minor way. Performance is decent--this is surely a cold-weather-leaning fragrance, for which the standard of performance should be higher, but it is above average in both projection and longevity. I'm surprised to see here on Fragrantica that as of today, seemingly more than a third of the responses have been "dislike"s, as I'd expect that a fragrance that seems to work for both the leather and gourmand lovers should please a majority of those sampling it, but perhaps that it doesn't commit to one or the other is its downside for many. For me, it does a very good job and I quite like it. I'm not sure if I'm going to buy it but I'll consider it. At $49 for 60ml, it is perhaps one of the better steals of a line filled with bargains. 7 out of 10

Yummy! This is mostly caramel and leather on my skin. It opens smelling very similar to golden sand and as it dries it smells like Tajebni Nabeel. It's very sweet, very caramelly and strong! Like condensed milk that is boiled on the stove to turn it into caramel syrup and leather. I really like this especially because I've been in the mood for gourmets. Lasts at least 5 to 6 hours on skin and has moderate sillage.

This is Babycat for a fraction of the price while also supporting small business. In fact, Kyse released this gem 8 years before YSL tricked people into clamoring for an exponentially more expensive fragrance. Vertigo Cuir is the OG here - fun, cozy, and surprisingly addictive.

Fun unisex sweet leather scent. Eating candy in an expensive car. Leather smells a tad synthetic but I kind of like it in a weird way.

Delicious, buttery (brandied?) caramel morphs into non-bitter molasses. ETA: that's not a bad thing, folks... ;)

An interesting, unisex combination of notes. Less leather and more gourmand to me.

A sweet caramel, not very rich (think those "caramel" flavored squeezy toppings for ice cream) mixed with patent leather and the smell of plastic. I think there was an attempt to go for an airy/ozonic/watery aspect that went wonky. It smells like opening packaging, a new car, and, yes....a pool inflatable. Kyse scents are inexpensive but often smell better than their price; unfortunately this one smells like a cheap indie oil. Not for me. Mild dislike.

A truly unique offering that sadly doesn't work on me. The leather was just too much and smelt very burnt on my skin. I'm quite sure if your chemistry allows it, this would smell spectacular. I'm Very glad I got to try it, but it's a no for me.

For some reason this smells like that nasty fluoride rinse they make you use at the dentist's office to me. Hard pass, which is unfortunate because I love most of Kyse's other scents.

My least favorite of the Kyse fragrances I have tried. Sorry, but the opening turns my stomach. It smells like melting plastic, multivitamin juice (the kind with carrots in it) and a heavy dose of confectioner‘s sugar. At the same time very sweet and weirdly bitter, loud and messy. When it settles on the skin it gets better, the plastic smell morphs into something more like leather and even the caramel note comes into itself. It stays a little powdery, but the weird fruitiness of the opening is gone. The final drydown is nice enough, but I would not live through an hour of horror to get to that. I usually really love gourmand or fruity leather scents, and I rarely ever feel ill from fragrances, so I would strongly advise to sample this before buying or maybe just to get something else instead. Unique, but not for everyone.

this starts with caramel, vanilla and leather. i know that this house focuses on gourmands, but this is the first i'm trying and it's waaay too sweet for me. i overwhelmingly get caramel with a hint of leather and florals in the background. i was intrigued by this combination but sadly it's too much caramel for me.

I'm not a big fan of leather in perfumes. I'm ok with it as an addition, but not as the main attraction. However, this is so quirky and lovely that I might just make an exception. It's a big dollop of caramel spilled on a brand new leather jacket. Yes, I know that sounds weird, and it is, but it's also really, really nice. There's a soft hint of white florals that are surprising too. The caramel is warm and soothing, the leather is sharp and snappy and the florals are soft and airy. So many contradictions. I love that someone has gone right ahead and made something like this. It's not a perfume that's trying to cash in on any trends, it's one that's happy to be different without getting so pretentious it becomes unwearable. Well worth it.

Vertigo Cuir makes me happy! When I dabbed from the vial on my wrist I thought of Kettle Corn, the delicious buttery, salty, sweet popcorn! The scent then becomes brighter and sweeter with delicate lemon. I sense coconut on my skin but I think that is just because I smell the heavy coconut oil that I see them being used at the state fair. It does take me to a different place! The most prominent note in Vertigo Cuir is the leather, like an expensive leather scent, then the next note is caramel but it is lightly caramelized to my nose. This is my favorite scent out of the sampler packs from Perfumes by Terri.

A true leather gourmand. I can't tell if I am slowing sinking into werther's caramel puddle or a luxurious car seat. The fragrance is surprisingly green with a nice powdery floral touch. A small oddity I'm not sure why but the two sides of my neck smell different. The hair on my right smells like caramel whereas the hair on my left smells more leathery. I believe my left side is cooler because I had my window down in the car. Not sure what to make of that for certain, it's just interesting. I don't believe this was something I was meant to pull off, but this is made great.

Vertigo Cuir smells like equal parts blonde caramel, and the air which spews from the open nozzle of an inflatable plastic pool toy. I detect no recognizable leather, but I do get sun warmed plastic blending admirably with the caramelized sugar. I think this tension between edible and industrial elements makes for a very compelling and original scent. It also smells like a sweet scented marker. The light brown one perhaps. I do not personally find this wearable but I really enjoy it as art. Thanks to the wonderful member who enabled me to try this.

This really does smell like leather and as a review down there says, oddly enough, plastic pool inflatables. REALLY accurate, and actually exactly what it smells like. There's is an intense sweetness to it as well that is definitely sweet buttery caramel, but the combination of the first two scent notes is a bit too much for me personally. After months of waffling over it because of its rather unique nature I'm passing my bottle along. Not bad per say but definitely one that is very very quirky.

This is so groovy! A patent leather opening with a tinge of plastic covered in caramel. The white flowers have a green watery tinge as if they have been rained on and freshen up the fragrance. The musk adds a sexiness with the leather. Id say the leather really does look like the ad copy. Im getting a 70s vibe done in a modern gourmand way. Classification: Gourmand Leather. Great for rainy days, spring or when you need a change.Fun!

I seem to have bought this by mistake. It sounds fab....hope I like it! WELL, It's arrived. What an eccentric little concoction! It smells delicious. The first Moments are like dipping ones head in a vat of rum fudge. Then a couple of hours of gradually diminishing burnt sugar, followed by a delicate caramelised vanilla to the end. I think its beautiful, but I'm confused by the name! Can't find the leather.

Vertigo Cuir: And aptly named, because if you had blindfolded me (doesn't happen too often), I would have said bakery, no saddlery, no, bakery! Wait! Could this be one of those fancy places that makes you a fine confection, then places it in a box, and then in a very fine leather carrying case? I'm sure Hermes would do something like that if they had a pastry shop.

I could've ignored the notes, because they don't represent what I'm smelling here. This is quite peculiar. It's intensely green and sweet as nectar from the caramel, rendering this more like a lily scent - sweet, honeyed yet green and aquatic. It has a youthful, dewy and innocent feel to it, and there is no leather in sight.