I was just engrossed in my work when suddenly a suppressed number lit up on my private phone. A bit puzzled, I answered: “Chizza K. on the line, please?” “This is the Parfumo Administration. You can guess why we are calling?” “No, what's going on?” “Well, your last leather comment was a few days ago! Stop writing about other fragrance notes, by tomorrow evening there will be a new leather comment! There have already been complaints! Do we understand each other?” “Yes...yes...sure...”
Slightly shocked, I sat there until my work distracted me again. In the evening, I strolled to my car in the parking garage, having forgotten the incident, which was in desperate need of a cleaning. Someone had written something in the dust on the car, it said in big letters: LEATHERRRR! I turned around, but of course, no one was in sight. So I wiped it away, drove home, and greeted my wife. She was a bit excited and showed me a letter made from cut-out newspaper snippets, it read: “Submission by tomorrow 8 PM! Otherwise...”
I explained the seriousness of the situation to my wife, but fortunately, she remembered a sample that I had initially dismissed as average but surprisingly liked quite a bit, and so I now wrote for my perfume life. At first, I considered just copying from everywhere since good comments were already available, but then I decided to write something myself because it was about my favorite scent, leather:
Gold Leather actually starts off rather unremarkably for me, as I find little appeal in sweet notes in leather, and so a wave of rum hits you first. Fortunately, this quickly turns out to be just alcoholic. Unfortunately and fortunately for the second time, it captures the plum. I don’t like plum in perfumes because it is often used very prominently and usually comes across as overripe, juicy-sweet plums. So it is here as well. The combination with the rum leads to a new, quite nice scent, but it’s not for me. However, I must say; it will get better.
The initial citrus note seems a bit out of place here, not immediately harmonizing with the other notes and needing to find its way like an orchestra playing together for the first time. The conductor leather also slowly arrives for rehearsal to act as an organizing force. By the way, the rum is never of the nature that one has to fear that it’s served mixed in a provincial pub; rather, it’s the agreeable rum that even young people would prefer.
Surprisingly, once the leather arrives, it remains rather light due to the bergamot, as if the leather had been sprinkled with it. The plum quickly disappears, Gold Leather becomes more austere and gray in tone, while still being alcoholically influenced. Somehow, this now reminds me of a limoncello-leather blend. Subtly, I also notice the cedar, whose effect I simply appreciate. It doesn’t come out clearly for me, but that would be unnecessary here. Generally, it must be said that we have a quieter leather in front of us, which is socially acceptable and doesn’t have the urge to stand out with its strong notes.
Here we must ask ourselves the crucial question: is that enough for an elevation to higher fragrance spheres? Shouldn’t it rather be: do I like plum and rum with leather? How do I feel about rather weaker leather? Does the davana possibly disturb me? From time to time, this dull sweet smell comes through. One must like that, and since I also don’t like mango, and this smell can sometimes take on such expressions, I must personally deny the last question.
Only after two hours does the smoky element kick in, the leather now appears more austere, matte-spicy, and less agreeable, Gold Leather becomes more serious. I really like this phase, as I enjoy leather scents, but the duration of this part leaves something to be desired.
I can’t help but note that the beginning and the later sweet fruity note slightly spoil the scent for me. However, for those who appreciate plum and rum with leather, this is something. And don’t worry, it’s not pseudo-leather-jacket-bar perfume. Therefore, I gladly rate Gold Leather favorably, as the scent is fine and a light leather scent, provided one appreciates the other performers.
Is it already 8 PM? No? Phew...just in time ;)
(Thanks to Floyd who sent me the sample)
Top Notes 
Jamaican rum
Bitter orange
Italian bergamot
Turmeric
Heart Notes 
Plum
Californian eucalyptus
Davana
Base Notes 
Leather
Indian gaiac wood
Oud
Texas cedar
Yasinnisay
Itchynose
NuiWhakakore
Gandix
Yatagan
Landlord
Lucy55
YvSaint
Parfumista16
Chizza
