SOTE: Guerlain - Cuir Intense
Let me start by saying Iāve always been obsessed with leather; the rich scent of it filling every car Iāve owned and almost every piece of furniture in my home. Baseball gloves, boots, well-worn saddles⦠bring it on! But when it comes to leather fragrances, Iām very selective. Tom Fordās Ombre Leather, with its heavy, smoky campfire intensity, is a hard pass for me. And in scorching Phoenix heat, most leather scents quickly become cloying and overwhelming. Tonight, though, in the crisp, clean Oregon winter air, Guerlain Cuir Intense delivered pure luxurious leather. Think the supple elegance of fine dress gloves or the inside of a new designer bag. Refined, sophisticated, and remarkably smoke-free. It opens with a honeyed sweetness from osmanthus that quickly gives way to plush, animalic musk, warm tobacco leaf, creamy sandalwood, and grounding cedar. The result is an intimate, deeply sophisticated drydown that clings beautifully through long, serene winter evenings. Performance is excellent with solid projection and impressive longevity. This isnāt just any leather; itās somewhat dirty in an aged and lived in kinda way, and that makes it undeniably sexy. If youāre searching for an authentic, non-smoky leather that truly shines in cooler weather, Cuir Intense deserves a serious spot on your list.