Collection Orientale - Noble Leather Yves Saint Laurent 2013

When I started here a few years ago and embarked on the wild ride of fragrances, I first had to orient myself. For me, with my drugstore knowledge, there were three scent categories: very good, okay, and terrible. But since I couldn't really get anywhere with these criteria here, I had to do some research on what the "real men" wear. So come on, "leather." A grown man simply has to wear leather. And everyone has a good idea and association with leather. Leather is concrete and tangible. At least more concrete than styrax(?) or "sheltered shipwreck."

How long does it take to stumble upon "Tuscan Leather" in the search for a leather scent? Right! A few milliseconds. Its prevalence and all the reviews and comments cannot deceive. With this fragrance, the topic of "leather" is shot. In my early days, however, a bottle in that price range felt too risky, and I decided to secure 50 ml through a sharing. So Tom Ford's interpretation of leather was now in front of me. And what can I say? I was disappointed. There was clearly leather in it. But it was neither authentic leather nor a fragrance. It was something in between that neither impressed me ("Wow!!! It really smells exactly like leather!") nor did I like it. It was rough, technical, and lifeless.

Since then, I have been enlightened regarding leather, and after a few more samples, I also gave up on finding a fragrance that has a dominant leather note and is simultaneously pleasing.

In my database, I record all the samples I liked in green. During the last revision, I noticed that I never really followed up on "Collection Orientale - Noble Leather." And as fate would have it, a bottle was for sale in the souk a few days later. Snatch!

On one hand, I was curious today if I had once again thrown a hundred bucks down the drain. On the other hand, my expectations were zero. I had actually regretted the purchase right after paying and had already lost interest in the fragrance when the bottle stood before me. Good signs for a full-body all-day test, right?

Long story short. Here it is. Leather! No kitsch, no distortion, no aberration, no attempt, no homeopathic dose, but also no reminiscence of the lifeless material or the monotonous substance leather.

To my nose, it is once again my now beloved friend saffron that primarily brings the coals out of the fire here. Although dried fruits are also listed, saffron provides the sour-fruity-herbaceous undertone. The wood presumably adds a drying effect, so the story doesn't become too bubbly, exuberant, and thus unbelievable. I smell patchouli and vanilla only because I've read it beforehand. However, in my opinion, they only play second fiddle and slightly dull the saffron's peaks.

The sprayer works moderately well. I find the bottle kitschy with its golden color coating, on which the angular plastic cap, turned 45°, sits. It doesn't feel pleasant to the touch. An ergonomic disaster. However, I am compensated with remarkably well-adjusted longevity and sillage. Everything between three and six sprays leads to a pretty much the same very good result. It is consistently strong and does not overpower. Rarely have I left the house with such a confident feeling. It lasts until this evening and yet does not unintentionally disturb the surroundings. Very well done.

How glad I am. There is still a second, quite similar candidate, but for now, the topic is finally checked off.