Explore English Leather's Fragrance Family And Similar Scents

English Leather is a men's cologne with top notes of Italian bergamot and kaffir lime, heart notes of leather, oakmoss, and vetiver, and base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, and musk. It was originally created in the 1930s by the Vienna-based MEM company and was called Russian Leather due to its similarity to the scent used by Russian saddlers to tan leather. In 1949, it was introduced in the United States as English Leather because of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

Some similar fragrances include:

- Sharif by La Via del Profumo

- Knize Ten

- Banana Republic Leather Reserve

- Guerlain's Habit Rouge

- Hermes' Equipage

- English Leather Black by Dana

- English Leather by Dana (this may be the same fragrance your grandfather used to wear)

English Leather alternatives

Banana Republic Leather Reserve

With top notes of bergamot, lemon, lavender, rosemary, and orange, middle notes of honey, iris, and rose, and base notes of leather, musk, cedar, vetiver, and tonka bean, English Leather by English Leather is a leather fragrance for men that was launched in 1949.

Sharif by La Via del Profumo

Sharif by La Via del Profumo is said to be very close to the original English Leather fragrance. While it may be difficult to find in stores, samples can be purchased from Luckyscent's website.

Knize Ten

Knize Ten is another alternative, although one user notes that their latest bottle seems a bit harsher than previous versions.

Guerlain's Habit Rouge and Hermes' Equipage

These two colognes are excellent alternatives that can sometimes be found at a bargain. They may evoke feelings of nostalgia and are likely to be appreciated by your partner.

Banana Republic Leather Reserve

This fragrance has been described as having a "clean smell" that does not remind users of the classic English Leather. However, it is still a good option if you are looking for something similar.

Dana English Leather

Although some users have expressed concerns about spillage and changes in the formula, Dana English Leather is still a popular choice and can be easily purchased online.

Tru Western Leather #1 Private Reserve Men's Cologne

This masculine, woodsy, and leathery cologne is a good alternative to English Leather, with some users preferring it over the original.

English Leather Black by Dana

English Leather Black by Dana is another variation of the classic fragrance, offering a modern twist on the traditional scent.

Stetson Original

Stetson Original is a classic, woody, and masculine cologne with fragrance notes of citrus, patchouli, and tonka bean. It is a good alternative for those seeking a traditional scent.

Brut Splash-On Original Fragrance

Brut Splash-On Original Fragrance is a bold, masculine cologne with spicy woods, floral, and citrus notes. It is long-lasting and has received numerous positive reviews, making it a good choice for those seeking an alternative to English Leather.

These alternatives offer similar notes and scents to English Leather, allowing you to explore new fragrances while still enjoying the essence of the classic cologne.

English Leather dupes

English Leather is a men's cologne that was first launched in 1949. It has top notes of bergamot, lemon, lavender, rosemary, and orange; middle notes of honey, iris, and rose; and base notes of leather, musk, cedar, vetiver, and tonka bean.

Geoffrey Beene Grey Flannel

This cologne has been described as having similar citrus and leather notes to English Leather. It is also said to be well-liked by many people and suitable for special occasions.

Shulton Company Old Spice Original

Old Spice Original is another fragrance that has been compared to English Leather. It has a strong citrus opening that dries down to a woody, spicy, and musky scent.

Guy Laroche Drakkar Noir

Drakkar Noir has been mentioned as having similarities to English Leather, although it may be considered more suitable for younger men. It has a strong citrus opening with a woody, spicy, and musky dry-down.

Azzaro Azzaro pour Homme

This fragrance has been described as having a similar scent to English Leather, with a strong citrus opening and a woody, spicy, and musky dry-down.

Hermes Terre d'Hermes

Terre d'Hermes is another possible dupe for English Leather. It has a strong citrus opening and dries down to a woody, spicy, and musky scent.

Yves Saint Laurent Kouros

Kouros by YSL is said to be similar to English Leather, with a strong citrus opening and a woody, spicy, and musky dry-down.

While these fragrances may share some similarities with English Leather, it is important to note that they may not be exact duplicates, as scent preferences are highly subjective and can vary from person to person.

English Leather's history

English Leather is a men's fragrance that was originally created in the 1930s by the Vienna-based MEM company. The scent was similar to what Russian saddlers used to tan leather, so it was originally called "Russian Leather". In 1949, the scent was introduced in the United States as "English Leather" due to the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

The fragrance has top notes of Italian bergamot and kaffir lime, heart notes of leather, oakmoss, and vetiver, and base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, and musk.

Over the years, English Leather has been described as a rich, sensual, masculine, and classic scent. It has been worn by cowboys, ranchers, farmers, and professors, and has received votes for being the best-smelling teacher's fragrance. It is long-lasting and has moderate sillage.

Some similar fragrances include Banana Republic 83 Leather Reserve, Geoffrey Beene Grey Flannel, Hermes Terre d'Hermes, and Burberry London for Men.

English Leather's notes

English Leather is a leather fragrance for men with top notes of bergamot, lemon, lavender, rosemary, and orange; middle notes of honey, iris, and rose; and base notes of leather, musk, cedar, vetiver, and tonka bean.

The top notes of Italian bergamot and kaffir lime give way to heart notes of leather, oakmoss, and vetiver, with base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, and musk.

The scent is described as rich, sensual, and masculine, with a blend of wood and citrus. It is said to be long-lasting and bold, with a distinctive leather signature.

The fragrance has a rich history, originally created in the 1930s by the Vienna-based MEM company and called "Russian Leather" due to its similarity to the scent used by Russian saddlers to tan leather. In 1949, it was introduced in the United States as "English Leather" due to the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

Some people consider it to be old-fashioned, strong, and synthetic, while others find it pleasant, well-liked, and suitable for special occasions.

English Leather reviews

English Leather is a men's cologne that was first introduced in 1949. It has top notes of bergamot, lemon, lavender, rosemary and orange; middle notes of honey, iris and rose; and base notes of leather, musk, cedar, vetiver and tonka bean.

English Leather has been described as a "masculine, old-fashioned scent" that is "pleasant" and "well-liked by many people". It is said to be good for "rural or cowboy settings" and "special occasions". However, it may be considered "outdated" and "too strong or overpowering" by some.

> "I wear English Leather, or I wear nothing at all!"

> "I love English Leather. Aromatic, leathery, woody and yet somehow it was fresh. I haven't seen it for more than 20 years but I would gladly buy another bottle just for the sake of those unforgettable days!"

> "I'm surprised there are people who don't smell the leather in English Leather. I find it to be very leathery, even in its current form. It doesn't smell anything like Knize Ten or any of the petroleum-like leather fragrances, but not all leathers smell the same. English Leather is not heavy, dark or animalic. Rather it smells like blond, dry, yet oily leather that's been just treated with saddle soap. The smell reminds me of sitting in an old leather barber's chair in a barbershop, with the smell of shaving cream and lime aftershave in the air. Can't imagine anyone not liking that smell."

> "I remember my Dad using English Leather aftershave back in the 70s, as it was his only fragrance. I think MEM made it back then. It smelled oily but clean, kind of like leather saddle soap blended with a little bit of tanning dye. Today's version of EL by Dana smells like that too, but they've added a skanky, sour note to the blend, which I don't like and don't remember smelling 50 years ago. I don't know if this was intentional or is a sign of cheap, poor quality ingredients. I hope it's the former. Either way, English Leather is still a good scent, and it exudes cleanliness and good grooming."

> "I'm an older guy and for the fun of it, I thought I'd revisit some colognes from my youth. I remember English Leather being hyped in the 60's. Great advertising slogan, 'All my men wear English Leather or they wear nothing at all.' Well sorry to say English Leather did not stand the test of time. It's simply horrendous. Smells cheap and artificial like plastic. Nauseatingly synthetic. Simply appalling."

> "I always find myself wondering about the smells like, and the motivation? Scents from the period? I have no idea how 4711 and Clubman Pinaud are there, but just to be clear, no, not similar. This opens with bright tart citrus, flows quickly into florals, with a prominent rose note. It dries down to musk and leather with a gentle touch of sweet, likely the Tonka, and touch of dry dusty Vetiver. This projects and has decent longevity for an aftershave, but most importantly it feels great on skin after a shave. I personally like to layer this with Ferrari Uomo as the two work well together and give the scent the right kind of boost for today."

Frequently asked questions