Iberian Leather

Chica Frente A Un Espejo What a strange title I chose for this review. Yet the choice was not at all random. It is the name of a masterpiece by the master Picasso, “The Girl in Front of the Mirror”, which portrays a woman looking at herself in the mirror: her body has been broken down into many small parts precisely according to cubist rules, but her figure is recognizable quite easily. The painting can be divided into two parts: the woman looking at herself in the mirror was created with light colours, to enhance her beauty; part of the woman’s face on the left in the painting is coloured yellow, as if she were wearing some sort of mask, and alludes to her happy moments with Picasso, while the other side of her face is young and free of imperfections. The reflection of the subject in the mirror has unique characteristics. And Iberian Leather is similar: a fragrance with two opposite facets, like a coin, dual I would say. On one side there’s the dark, dirty, leathery, smoky aspect, and then there’s the clean, sweet, comforting one on the other. It is a rather extreme leather, with a very dirty and oppressive start, almost like that of a stable. But then it softens and becomes truly welcoming and intimately pleasant. And since Iberian Leather is not simple at all, the smoky nuance is typical of Scottish peated whiskies. When it comes to whisky, I am always looking for the smokiest one, or peaty, as they say in the jargon, the Scots from the island of Islay, also known as the queen island of whiskies. But this is about perfumes, and in my opinion, this is the peatiest leather perfume I have ever smelled in my life. And ironically, it takes its name from the Iberian peninsula, not the Scottish one. Just to give you an idea of the power of this beast, by spraying the perfume into the cork and screwing your nose in, with your eyes closed, you get the sensation of smelling the cork of the whiskey bottle, for example, that of an Askaig, Laphroaig or a Lagavulin. The smoky, leathery, dense, and dark accords form the backbone that supports the perfume. If you want to risk a blind buy, know that perfumes like #Ombre Leather and #gucci Absolute are like rose water in comparison. It seems that some regions of the Iberian peninsula were anciently known for leather processing; the heart of traditional Spanish leatherwork, Andalusia’s heritage in leather craftsmanship can be traced back to the Moorish period. Iberian Leather is a thick, smouldering leathery fragrance. Black as pitch, phenolic as ink, resinous as a medicinal syrup. Maybe there is something citrusy, but it is sour and ephemeral enough that it is almost not noticeable. The notes reported here are too many, and only an expert and trained nose would be able to capture them, separate them, and classify them one by one. We humans, however, are allowed to recognize the major chords, associating them with smells, places, and memories of our experience. At the opening, the bitter, dark and leathery accord of saffron arrives immediately, with nuances of black, wild and bitter blackberry. There is an immediate smoky dimension with a hint of aromatic and spicy splashes. The spices and aromatic herbs that make up the initial phase give the perfume a taste of pure liquorice, like the chopped logs found in herbalist’s shops, bitter and black and dirty and leave an indelible mark on the tongue. The aromatic note is that of rosemary, minty, concentrated, resinous, like that which grows spontaneously on sunny islands, rich in intense oils. If I pay attention, I also recognize the spicy note, a freshly grated dry cinnamon bark, sweet and bitter, pungent. Damn, the more I spray it the more I like this phenolic, smoky opening. There is an alcoholic streak, which doesn’t hurt, and together with the note of Scotch whiskey, it also adds a thin thread of inky aroma, the one used to dye leather. Slowly, this initial explosion calms down, allowing powder, slightly pungent and dry musky accords to emerge. The iris concentrate is buttery, and the carrot seeds give a dry freshness to the heart of the fragrance. In the background, we begin to perceive a medicinal oud, dense, dark, but never repulsive, unbearable, or with skanky and barny nuances. It is an oud that gives mystery, and depth, and adds that animal touch that makes the leather more vivid, real, and almost palpable. Other flowers contribute to composing the middle phase while remaining mixed with the streaks of leather. You can sense the light touches of rose together with those of jasmine. That dusty corner due to the iris is strengthened with the presence of osmanthus. Although there are flowers in profusion, the fragrance remains masculine, always dark and gloomy, and the tenacity of the spices does not give up. As we move into the lingering leather base, we are greeted by a deep, dark tone. The tone seems threatening, stubborn, distinctive and unapologetic. The patchouli here is incredibly ethereal; the woods, following the oud, take the skin on a harmonious journey that almost seems as if the journey has no interruption. The leather is elitist and mischievous at the same time. The last leg of the journey is all about this exciting twist of gorgeous oakmoss, creamy sandalwood and ever so slightly sweet amber, of course, with a touch of spicy vanilla. In case you missed it, phenols are aromatic compounds that are created when peat is burned. Then, during the drying process, the barley will absorb these phenols. The longer the malted barley is exposed to smoke, the greater the infusion. Iberian Leather has an excellent performance and is recommended for spring and autumn evenings. For me, my gut tells me this is the leatheriest fragrance I’ve ever smelled. I'm expressing my thoughts on a decant I've owned since June 2024.

Iberian leather... It keeps getting more and more intriguing as it dries down. At first upon initial I was shocked. I never really smelled anything like that in the opening, and I've smelled hundreds of fragrances over the years. There is definitely a "dank" sort of medicinal scent in the opening in which I cannot detect the cause. It does simmer down quite a bit as it dries but never fully disappears. Then, there is a deep earthiness that dominates the middle of the fragrance. The leather is quite realistic to me, and it reminds me of how a tannery smells. As it dries, I get more of the saffron, oud, and dark woods. I can detect a bit of smokiness similar to how Copal incense smells when burning. The oud is quite nice and is a perfect balance between medicinal and "hay-like". If I could paint a picture... Imagine walking into an apothecary and there is a gentleman working there with a large, genuine leather apron on. He is mixing a tincture of saffron, cloves, rosemary, and white flowers. In his shop there are many potted indoor plants, and you can smell the soil throughout the building. There is also some incense burning in the room in the far corner, and you are getting whiffs of it here and there. The inside of the building is all wood, and it is lit dimly with Edison lightbulbs. This is Iberian leather.

Iberian Leather is the last sample in my Memo sample set, that I purchased over a year ago. I've left it this long because all the reviews gave me the impression this would be too leathery. I thought I'd had enough of leather after buying a bottle of African Leather. I guess I was wrong... This is actually really nice. A bit rough. Not sure if I can pull it off. But very nice nonetheless. I have to agree with the opinion that this reminds of Halfeti Leather. The leather accord is very similar. Built on saffron I suppose. The soft backbone differs a little. Halfeti leather is a little sweeter, with softer spices and more rose. It has the original Halfeti dna. While Iberian Leather is pretty original, with some dry sandalwood thrown in with the oud. And a more astringent feel. It also progresses quite a lot. It's much sweeter, almost floral after a couple of hours, while the oud too is taking more of a front seat. The leather isn't going anywhere, not that I'd expect it to. Beautiful fragrance! Why have I waited so long to try it? It's a love from me. Now I'll just have to do some soul-searching to decide if I can pull this off or not.

Started off a bit shaky at first but now in the deep dry down I’m vibing with it. I love any fragrance that gets stronger 2 hours in. The longer I wear it the better it gets w/wafts of different incense and spice in the dry dessert air. Out of the 5 decants I got in this batch, this is the only one I could rock. Opening: B- Mid: C Dry down: A++ Note, on my skin it takes 1.5-2 hours to bloom. Edit: I bought a bottle. It’s a lot drier then I’m used to and doubt I’ll have occasion to wear it often, but I love what it does. Edit2: after owning the bottle I’ve discovered I have no self control. I’m trying not to wear it everyday and failing. I have now fallen in love the opening. I still love the silage in the drydown. Performance is the cold is muted but still nice. In the heat it’s explosive. Regardless of what I’m wearing I’ll often add 1 spray on the back of the neck to add intrigue. Im sure I’ll get tired of it, but haven’t yet.

I will describe you this fragance in few facts: 1. The performace is equal to a good EDT, the first 2h/1:30h is beastly shooting burst everywhere, after that, it gets closer and closer. The longevity its nothing outstanding, 6-7h on skin, sadly. Im not hating it, it is one of my favourite fragances but lets put the truth out. 2.The first seconds you can tell a bit of alcoholic smell, after that pases, you have a beautiful leather fragance. Its very complex and elegance, the prominent notes are; patchouli, leather, a lot of spices and oud. It has the most beautiful drydown of my entire colection, the smokiness/oud stands out in this phase. 3. Don't buy retail, it is not worth the money. Have good materials, no te best. Have good sillage, not duration. However, if you find it on discount or underretail, go to fucking buy it because its beautifull in overall.

This is heaven to me and for me it represents the wet soil of New Zealand. I love wearing it when it is dark, rainy, windy and it storms here. I am a woman and have received many unsolicited compliments: from my 80 year old neighbour, a teenager, two personal trainers age brackets 20-30 and 30-40 (different days, different seasons) so it seems to appeal to a variety of people. I love all stages of this perfume and with regards to the Memo Paris tester box this was the one I fell for. I also put it on before bed. I have quite a few Memo Paris perfumes and together with Sintra, this is my favourite. They are completely different to each other though. I have skin that highlights the sweetness in perfume. Longevity is good on my skin, sillage is ok with two sprays of which one on the back of my neck.

Iberian Leather is in the ballpark, but not really close to Interlude, or Black Iris. I got into fragcom just recently, but i can't say that I've smelled something like this in the leather category, Iberian leather is pretty unique. The opening got me super hooked (idk know why but to me it smells like sweet fruits + leather in the back). The drydown is more tame and left me wanting for more, as is the case with some other Memo fragrances, it seems. It's a really solid appealing fragrance, i think it will be good for summer night outs, but i wouldn't say it's super masculine, or dark, more to the unisex side. Interlude Black Iris, Tuscan Leather, even Memo Sicilian Leather are tilted to the masculine side way more, than IL.

I am a female and I wear this. While it is masculine leaning, no reason why it can't be worn by women either. Have received many compliments when wearing. Projection and sillage are beast mode, kept projecting even at 12+ hours on, was told was room-filling as people smelt this at 2 metres! It lasted on me even after a shower and before on clothes this may be eternal. The scent itself is sharp at first but keeps evolving throughout. A delicious powerful blend of leather, saffron, oud and patchouli. The other notes come and go as I got whiffs of them while wearing. Absolutely love the stuff

Imagine this fragrance as James Bond in his iconic black suit during his prime, it's a captivating blend of scents that mirror Bond's charismatic presence. Upon the first spritz, it boasts bold and confident top notes that leave a lasting impact, much like Bond's charm and wit. "Iberian Leather" is a fragrance reserved for those who radiate confidence and strength, making it the perfect choice for special evening events where elegance meets intrigue, just like a night out with James Bond himself.

This is a really underrated geme. For me it’s one of the best in Cuirs Nomades line from Memo, next to African leather. While Afican leather is well loved, is one is not being understood so much. Maybe because it gives a bit medicinal vibe. But for me it’s sweater and easier to wear than African leather. I really love it. By the way, I usually wear famine scents. So I don’t know why this one is so intriguing to me.

Absolutely insane. I thought Couium was the strongest thing in perfume history and Iberian leather said HOLD MY BEER. Jesus. That being said, they're not the same scent at all. Yes the leather is overwhelming in both, but this one is sweeter and more complex. Cuoium is drier and a more peppery leather. One shot is all you'll need of this. Same with the Orto. WOW! Room clearers. 🤣

mesmerising, opens up with dry spices and dries down to a woody amber dry down. Quite assertive perfume, makes for a good alternative to amouge interlude. I see people comparing it to Helfati leather, I have both and they are different. This is dry and spicy, the driest perfume I have ever smelled. It has a unique raw spicy effect that is present throughout the whole wear.

Frankly speaking this is spectacular. Overwhelming mix of coriander, saffron and clove, over a bed of geranium, rose and lilies, and a base of well, whatever you dare mention. Just look upside. To me, the best leather by far of this house after Irish Leather. It’s a masterpiece whatever the ratings and I advise to keep it macerating 5 months before using

What amazing performance on my skin. Nothing I have came across before (leather interpretation, Iberian indeed). Beautiful from top until it dries down. Great longevity, 10hrs +. One of the best packaging I've seen and bottle. A keeper!

Phenomenal. I purchased this because I found it on discount and there were almost no reviews on it on YouTube. All I can say is I'm blown away. Very masculine, classy, assertive, yet mysterious. I will be wearing this one frequently.

Amazing fragrance, but not a lot of leather to my nose. To me it is a lighter version of one of the greatest fragrances ever : 'Interlude' by Amouage.

100% beast mode (male) fragrance, it stays up to 10 hours on my skin and 15++ hours on my clothes.

This one is really enjoyable for me. Not sure about all the haters in the comment section...

Very, very simillar to Cuoium by Orto Parisi, but I prefer the latter.

Fuck, this is good. Slightly smoky off my skin. An absolute delight.

Sweet spices, soft leather, hints of rose. I love this!

To my nose the drydown is a leathery black afgano.

Smells very similar to the FM the promise.

Iberian Leather is easily the most leathery of the Cuirs Nomades that I have tried (Irish, French and African Leather). It is centred on a dark, dense leather accord, formed by birch tar according to my nose. Bolstered by smoke and spices, IL is a dry, woody, non-animalic leather. It is also the most masculine of this collection. It verges on harsh, but just about gets away with it, embracing its dry, woody, slightly mineralic nature. IL is a smooth, dry leather scent from initial spray, very woody and spicy up top. The spices are peppery and savoury, adding bite to the woods, and persisting throughout. The leather accord becomes more birch tar-like as it develops, with a smoky undertone enhancing the dryness. As it develops, the powdery floral heart adds body, keeping the dry woods from becoming too harsh, but remaining in the background. It is not a feminine bouquet at all - the florals simply add some subtle nuance and texture. I get a peach edge thanks to the osmanthus, but otherwise I can't distinguish individual floral notes. A green herbal undertone follows, complementing the woody-leather nicely. I get peppery geranium, and an increasingly pine-like nuance as it develops. Vetiver becomes very prominent in its final act, dry and slightly astringent alongside the smoky leather. It becomes musky as it fades, with a hint of sweet amber evident. Sillage is strong and longevity is long-lasting - IL is best applied sparingly. It is a masculine, autumn/winter scent that is very much in keeping with modern trends. While good-quality, bold and compelling, this is not what I'd wear personally (or choose for a man), but I can appreciate its composition. 3/5.

Absolute insanity, This is the strongest and most complex fragrance I own. Forget extrait de parfum, this needs its own category above that. It's so strong in fact, you need to apply it in a particular way or it will (as it did with me and appears to be doing to others here) completely blow out your sense of smell. 2 sprays...2, and only 2 to the--back--of your neck. No more. Why the back of your neck? Because any closer and all you'll be smelling is vinegar or sour pickles. Trust me. Ok, now that you know how to apply it, let's talk a bit about what you're about to get yourself into, because this fragrance isn't for the feint of heart. The open is a little sweet and ambery. But that backs off and it goes into an incredibly deep dark earthy woody vibe. It's slightly animalic, yes, but to my nose it settles into what I'm going to call a balsamic woody leather. This is by far the most complex fragrance I've ever come in contact with, and will take even a veteran time to really get to know. Kind of goes without saying but this fragrance lasts 12+ hours on skin easily. You'll shower and scrub and still be smelling it on yourself when you get out. It is extreme. I'd only wear this on a cold day, as in the heat it would probably choke you and everyone around you out. Do not screw around with this stuff unless you truly want a complex niche perfume. And if it smells like pickles or vinegar, you're making the same mistake I did, your applying it too close to your nose--put 2 sprays on the back of your neck and no more!

The oakmoss, saffron, leather, patchouli, herbs (particularly corriander and rosemary) oud, clove, and labdanum (which presents as both smoke and musk) are apparent upon first sniff. The saffron seems to disappear as the the pine surfaces. I thought I might be smelling birtch or even incense in there somewhere and it could present, or perhaps it's labdanum. There's earthiness as well. This is pretty complex stuff but you can pick some notes blind smelling. Speaking of complex, this is compared to Bodicea Complex which I think is a stretch however, they do share some characteristics like smoke, pine resins, spice, oud and labdanum. Overall, I like this one. The blend smells good on skin and clothes and it lasted me all night, so a bottle will last lifetime. Not so niche you cannot wear outdoors, there's a hint of fruity sweetness along with green notes and herbs that tame the very slight animalic oud/labdanum. It's also easier to pull of (in western countries) than Bodicea Complex. -----------------------------------------------------Conclusion: Good but not great scent; not worth retail of 310 but let's be honest, who actually pays these absurd prices? You can find on the gray market in the US right now for $120, which is a fair price if you like it. Scent 6 8/10 Performance 8/10

I blind bought this because so many people were describing this as insanely STRONG and complex, so I just had to see what the hype is about. Memo retailers in my area didn't have a tester of this so I really had no idea what to expect. I can agree about complexity of it, because one moment it's ambery and sweet, other second it's wet mossy dank soil, then it's smoky wood with spices, then it becomes sweet/herbal again... I really like the smell itself, and I'd say this is totally masculine - but either I'm crazy or there is a huge difference between batches because this is by far the WEAKEST Memo fragrance out of 6 that I own. And it's not just my opinion - my friends confirmed it's quite weak (I had to ask a few people before wearing this to work and suffocating people around me in case only my nose doesn't really catch it). It has very average projection and less than average longevity. The only good thing is that I can safely wear this everywhere without having to worry that I smell like a rank nuclear bomb lol, which I expected based on other reviews.

Excellent interpretation of what a leather fragrance can become. This composition is sharp overall upon the initial application. This yields slightly smokey leather, with a dark soil undertone and pleasant floral nuances. I personally can pick out the rose and geranium amongst the many notes. Great silliage and projection! On my skin I got 10+ hours of silliage. IMO this is perfect for the spring months. It has the strength and projection for springs cooler days but it offers a fragrance profile appropriate for warmer days where you won't choke anyone out. If you're looking for a masculine floral fragrance, this could be it. Personally though.....it reminds me of MAC My Heroine. Go easy on the trigger if you're wearing this indoors.

Not easy to wear, not a safe blind buy, extreme projection, brilliant performance - this magic potion radiates. This is something to be worn during late autumn and for the whole winter season - as long as the temperature is COLD, in order for this to perform at full capacity. At one point will get a bottle of this to use at only the most special of events during the cold season...

I got a leaky bottle delivered and now my whole room is leather scent. Literally got nothing but leather. Some oud, yes, but negligible. Lovely though it maybe, too much of a good thing can kill. Lol. Really didn't get the other notes. Will have to sit down and do note breakdowns when the new bottle is delivered.

This is basicly African leather on steroids. The leather is more present than in african leather, where the leather note is more subtle. This maken the fragrance even more masculin. Performance is amazing

Strong NUTTY and incensy leather (i don't know why anyone hasn't mentioned that yet)

similar to PDM godolphin , the most leather from the memo i have smelled until now

Halfeti? From the first time I tried this scent it has always reminded me very strongly of Halfeti, and now that I've worn it I still think it's very similar. I still have some juice left in my Halfeti sample so I'll be making a proper side by side eventually. They're not identical, however, and I'm not a huge fan of Iberian Leather. Iberian Leather does have a leather note closer to the skin, unlike most of the fragrances from the Cuirs Nomades line, as well as a nice oud accord. In the air this is a spicy, woody and slightly aromatic geranium scent. Unfortunately during the dry down this gives me the same dry nutty scent that I've gotten out of other leather scents such as Halfeti Leather and Ombré Leather EDP (and Aaron Terence Hughes's Raw Cherry for some reason) but, unlike those two, it doesn't completely overpower the rest of the notes. It doesn't make for a nice wear though, it was a bit displeasing and even my sister told me it sucked. The opening is pretty nice though. This may work better with other people's skin chemistry but it doesn't work with mine at all. Honestly I'm gutted because I really liked Iberian Leather off first impressions and it ended up leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Performance is good but it was nowhere near as strong as people are saying, which was oddly also the case with the two leather fragrances I mentioned earlier. Projection and sillage were both just moderate, nothing really strong or overwhelming. Longevity is good, it reached 8 hours on skin but it's already faint so I doubt it'll reach 10 hours, let alone break into the "eternal" longevity category.

This fragrance rewards those with the patience to endure the opening. The first few minutes after the spray, your nose is violently assailed by a mixture of harsh birch tar and citric acidity that could leave burn wounds on the inside of your nostrils. Depending on your skin chemistry this torture could last for up to an hour I suppose but it leaves the stage quickly enough for me to make room for the main act, a warm but not sweet spiciness accompanied by a subdued leather accord - we all know that you get more than just leather if you buy perfume with the word leather in the name. This performs much better when a little of your spray lands on your scarf and you catch intermittent whiffs of it throughout the day. My final verdict is while enjoyable, it feels like it has been cooked up by cowards from within the marketing team, trying and failing to make something resonating to the theme or title of the perfume. There is no such resonance going on here. A better perfume house could have sold this for far less, in less conspicuous bottles and packaging.

Starts off smelling like a light-musky, yet dark, light-handed oud, but then the notes become more clear--very light bergamot/citrusy sensation, and very much rose-iris bias, but its mellowed out. Still however, I can tell these are present and I'm afraid any leather here is close to abstract than anything. It's a strange fragrance, it also moves the perfume as a whole in a almost petrol/gasoliney direction, but it's just a nudge. Very interesting perfume, but because of the floral notes, this wouldn't be bottle worthy of me, even though it sorta tames out to an aldehydic bias. It's also caught me off guard as I didn't expect a floral twist to what is seems like a mysterious petrol aura.

I agree with several other reviewers that this parfum has an intense and confusing opening, but in the drydown its more sober and tasteful. It has lots of interesting and exotic notes, but in the drydown, the most prominant are the leather notes and the spice notes. I would say the initial spray is unisex but the drydown brings it to a more earthy masculine scent. Leather is far from being my favorite note, but with this mix of spices, wood and florals, this is something I would use.. would, if it wasn't $250. Could propably find something similar for cheaper :p

Outrageously overwhelming! Deep forgotten forest floor. Untanned leather, blood, sweat, animal dung. Rusty old trucks, spilt red diesel. Oil skins and well worn boots. Decaying sheds. Fantasy gamekeeper.....real gamekeepers arnt as hot. I gave my sample to a gardener friend who works on a very posh shooting estate. Armed with this pong she can out stag all the ghillies when she goes for her tea break....if she wants to.

Strong, forward and a lot going on. There might be some leather but honestly I get other notes, some floral, but also a musk accord and perhaps oud that adds sort of a fecal note a bit too heavy. Animalic for sure. Maybe a bit of incense/amber. A bit overwhelming. Not sure people in my general vicinity would appreciate me wearing it. I image this could be at least a suggestion of what a traditional tannery smells like?

First blast of pleasantly medicinal leather and camphor. Vetiver presents at the opening along with moist earth...oh no, oakmoss. Overall it's a feeling of warm brown leather and spice, with spikes of cool cardamom freshness poking through. For rugged and no no nonsense men only. Very masculine and it think would suit most weather except for heat.

I don’t know how to describe it. It’s very funky. Like shoe polish with clay, leather, smell of cut woods with hint of flowers at the very back. Little Azman twist of very dark scents. On one hand unique but so full of all that hard to distinguish on somebody what it is. Not a blind buy even for niche lovers.

Glad I got a sample of this as the price point in pretty high. Not an expert, but to me this is like if Tuscan Leather and Toy Boy had a baby. Interesting, but not for me. Beast mode performance and an interesting evolution from opening to dry down.

Very leathery, very masculine. The leather here has almost like cigarettes vibe.

very similar to Oriental Leather but not as spicy or sweet

Horribly screechy and overwrought. And that's just from grazing my nose quickly over the tip of the sprayer on my 1ml sample. Sooooo not a blind buy. I'm usually a big fan of loud woody fragrances, but this one seems like way too overbearing. I'll add to this review after I bravely try to actually spray some on. January 30, 2023: I finally got back to actually trying this. And came to the same conclusion; way too screechy. This stuff could strip paint. And merely washing my turtleneck with other clothes wasn't enough to get out the smell/stink either. I had to scrub the collar by hand with a big bar of soap. The first time I had to do this ever, in my 70+ years of wearing perfume.

It would be a wonderful fragrance if there wasn't so much patchouli... The combination of leather, oud, saffron and oakmoss gives this scent a mysterious quality. I found it very masculine. Extreme longevity.

From the beginning to end all I can smell is sharp, dusty, mossy leather. I don't know where all the other notes are hidden... Definitely more suitable for men.

Enormous scent. Similar to Zoologist's "T-Rex" but without the blood accord. Not a young man's scent. Took 3 scrubs to wash it off.

Not for me definetely. 18 Lagavulin, tannery, sweat. very very heavy. I like dark fragrances but this is not dark, just dirty.

Очень сильный перегруз тмином и всякими специями для меня Как будто я в пыльной саванне нюхаю старую кожаную сумку