Leather N' Green Birkholz 2019

Leather 'N Green is one of the few fragrances that have been discontinued by Birkholz.
I suspect that customers saw too many edges and corners in this scent. It’s not totally strange, but it certainly knows how to provoke. This is clearly more niche, but I don’t find that problematic at all.

The fragrance starts with a relatively strong juniper note, which simultaneously flirts with earthy facets. Admittedly, I am not a big fan of juniper, and I’m not quite sure what to make of this note here. Along with the juniper berry, we have a green freshness and a leather accord that is already present from the beginning.
The spiciness of the juniper bothers me a little. The leather note is solid and perfectly fine. The green freshness has something to it, I like it!

Over time, I even get the feeling that the green freshness becomes more intense.
A tea vibe from the matcha generally comes into play, and the juniper spiciness fortunately recedes more and more. Leather nuances are still recognizable to me.
Towards the end, it becomes slightly woody again, and the moss comes through beautifully.

The fragrance is definitely unisex. In the initial phase, I thought it was quite masculine and more suited for men. However, with the green freshness and the mellowing spiciness, it becomes wonderfully unisex. The performance of the fragrance is solid. On my skin, it lasts around 7-8 hours and projects quite moderately and solidly.

There are many leather fragrances, but really good ones are rather few. I also have a few representatives from this category at home (Tuscan Leather, Moroccan Leather, African Leather), so I wasn't actively looking for a leather scent.

Leather N‘ Green came into my hands rather by chance, and the name itself already indicates the direction it presumably takes, namely towards green leather. So, I take off the cap and go for it. I have already commented on the quality of the bottle in other reviews, and even at the risk of repeating myself, the closure is simply fantastic. Covered in leather, it immediately conveys exclusivity and character, so from the very beginning, it is fundamentally exactly what you seek and expect when holding a bottle from "Manufaktur Birkholz."

Press the sprayer, enjoy the cap one more time while closing it, or indulge in it, and then take a sniff.

Immediately, leather rises to my nose, super finely crafted, this note, along with a slightly fresh hint that, much to my dismay, quickly fades away. At first, I thought, wow, this is exactly what you need for autumn, but the bergamot cannot hold its own against the dominant leather note. I find that extremely unfortunate because this very mix has an enormous appeal.

After three hours, I wonder why the name Green is included in the product designation, as by then I can't detect any grasses at all.

This changes after another two hours; the scent shifts towards the forest and directly into the underbrush, where it grows dark green. I had hoped to find a lighter variant from the fern or grass corner, but it becomes rather mossy without - and this is a great art - becoming musty. Overall, the whole story gets a bit heavier, darker, and even more masculine.

The day is drawing to a close, and with every hand movement, leather still wafts by. Not intrusive, but as initially described, in a very fine way, yet present and noticeable; the longer the day goes on, the more masculine the overall impression of the fragrance becomes.

The green has somehow faded away for me, or rather, dissolved into thin air, but after eight hours, only the leather remains.

Where and how can I categorize Leather N‘ Green now?

First of all, although labeled as unisex, for me, it is simply masculine. While I can certainly imagine Tuscan Leather on ladies (especially as a perfect complement to the mini in nappa), the Birkholz is just too masculine.

Masculine, but not brash. Not a harsh nose-bludgeoner, but rather a nose-pleaser. Classy.

Unfortunately, the freshness from the beginning disappears far too quickly for my taste. I even sprayed again to enjoy this sensational opening once more, but after a short time, the same result.

Regarding the green: I had certain expectations towards Irish Leather by Memo, which I would definitely place much more in the green corner. The green cloak that Birkholz hangs here is, similar to the bergamot at the beginning, simply too thin to stand up to the leather in the long run. That's not a bad thing, but I had hoped for a greener finish.

And so, from start to finish, this fine leather note dominates, making the fragrance so characteristic.

A word about sillage and longevity. Not bad at all. A normal dosage leaves a scent trail throughout the morning, lasting well into the late evening. Very decent values from that side, which one should expect considering the price, the claim as a manufacturer, and also in comparison to the competition.

Ultimately, for me, it is too close to Moroccan Leather (which I find even more exclusive due to ginger and tobacco) and too little green to create a real incentive to buy, but it is an extremely successful fragrance that showcases high craftsmanship due to its performance.