... so the title of a rather mediocre film from the 1980s. Although I have never seen the film, the title has become a catchphrase for me.
In fact, I have known "Cuir Andalou" for about a year now. It was part of some sample set and passed the first round right away. Not with flying colors, but it was definitely a candidate for a retest. And there it really convinced me. For me, it was a strong, but not extreme, smoky scent infused with medium-dark wood. Perhaps a bit of spice as well. Exactly my type. A bottle had to be acquired. The bottle arrived, had to wait, and over time fell by the wayside. In the meantime, I have made two or three decants for nice perfume enthusiasts who had the scent on their wish list. So it seems to at least spark some interest, which can be said for many Rania J. fragrances. Yesterday, it finally happened. And since I haven't worn any extremely strong scents lately, I also applied four sprays that morning. The bottle is small and handy and was taken along just in case... which turned out to be unnecessary, as it turned out.
Because the word "Cuir" keeps appearing in the names of perfumes, I finally became interested in its meaning a few months ago. And as with "Les Nombres d'Or - Cuir," I couldn't necessarily identify the namesake as a primary component of the ingredients here either. Both scents are primarily strong, smoky, harsh, rough, woody, but leather? I have already expressed my thoughts elsewhere about THE leather scent par excellence. "Tuscan Leather" actually smells like leather to me, and I could also associate it with a specific scent from my daily life. And leather has never been foreign to me. Leather bags, leather belts, and leather jackets have accompanied me since my puberty. Moreover, as I write these lines, I must think nostalgically of my great-uncle. As children, we often visited this trained shoemaker. Although he was already retired, his workshop, filled with all sorts of "raw materials," was still well-equipped, as he still performed small repairs for neighbors, friends, and relatives. Upon entering the house, the scent of leather immediately filled the air. And only when you entered the workshop did the smell of glue join in. The leather was probably the more penetrating scent of the two. For us kids, such a workshop was, of course, an adventure playground par excellence. That's why we mainly spent our time there. We were fascinated, alongside the numerous tools, by the large leather hides that lay flat on the deep shelves. I have never held such large pieces of leather before or since. So I have indeed come into contact with leather many times in my life. And yet, "Cuir Andalou" evokes no associations for me in this regard.
This so-called Andalusian leather lay on me yesterday. And how! Those who know me or my collection know that colognes and subtle scents are banned from my house. But yesterday, even for me and my high-performance standards, it was a revelation. I haven't been able to wear something so "penetrating" in the best sense for a long time. A good performance has always been part of a beautiful scent for me. After all, my clothes don't dissolve throughout the day. And they are only changed regularly in the evening. If a perfume can do that too, then it fits. It fits me. And only in this way can one be accompanied, and the scent and its development can be perceived more consciously. And yes, I must admit, now I can smell it too. Such well-aged and matured leather... a dream. A brew of flowers and saffron, in which the leather and sandalwood have been resting for years. I have to use quite a bit of imagination to deny the existence of vetiver and oud. However, I would be a fool to change any aspect of this masterpiece. While there are certainly some scents in my collection that make an even better impression at first sniff, the idea, the composition, and the uniqueness are masterfully executed. Indispensable in the collection.
The bottle is simple, the spray head very good. Longevity and sillage far exceed the already high expectations and for me, it ranks among the top 10 of my fragrances. A day of noticeable presence. After that, at least half a day of perceptible presence. On clothing, nearly indelible.
Updated on 04/07/2018
Top Notes 
Leather
Saffron
Neroli
Heart Notes 
Patchouli
Rose
Iris
Violet
Base Notes 
Oud
Sandalwood
Saradonin
Meadhbh
Eggi37
Schalkerin
Jeob
Xecut
Gandix
SirLancelot
Gaukeleya
Floyd
