Floris – Leather Oud review : Old money

Leather Oud is a perfume by Floris, an English niche brand that has been around for almost 250 years. Floris, unlike some other companies, has centuries of continuity, creating a classic English style of perfumery centered on simple colognes, greatly reminiscent of the Italian style of perfumery, with ample citrus notes such as Acqua di Parma creations. After all, the founder of the house Floris is originally from the Mediterranean island of Menorca.

As the name implies, the theme of this perfume is aromatic tones of leather and oud. The combination of leather and oud is one of those aromatic mixtures that quickly conjures up images of power couples. A couple of individuals with big characters, magnetic personalities, and accomplishments in every way, such as Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, or Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, were brought together by fate. Too strong to be together, but passionately tied and attracted to each other – every moment they are together is magical.

The fragrant note of oud is ubiquitous in modern perfumery, especially among niche brands aiming at the Arab market or those seeking to infuse the mystical scent of the Orient into their creations. One of the primary accords, the one people mainly sigh for in the East and the West, is the accord of rose and oud; nevertheless, while researching Floris perfumes, I came across one that particularly thrilled me, and that is the accord of honey and oud, about which I will write another time.

The perfume composition Leather Oud is oriental woody, dominated by excellent notes of leather and oud, very natural and sophisticated. Such quality is rare, not only in the designer world but also in the niche world. Rarely even for much more expensive creations, so it’s no surprise that Leather Oud and Honey Oud were originally sold exclusively as part of a private collection within the prestigious Harrods. Although the marriage of leather and oud permeates the entire composition, from the opening to the base notes you can feel other notes that enrich the formula: at the very beginning a fragrant note of bergamot, in most perfumes sparkling, green, and fresh, here it is more like bergamot sweet from the island of Crete. Partly refreshing, partly delicious, it opens this composition and gives the promise that something truly extraordinary awaits. A promise is fulfilled, because the notes that follow, a mixture of geranium, carnation, and vetiver in combination with the aforementioned accord of leather and oud provide a feeling of unobtrusive luxury and style, one that does not have to prove itself or others because it knows its value. Leather Oud is the smell of money. Old money in a bottle.