Imperial Leather (1976)
by Cussons

After many years I still find this perfume fresh, natural, masculine and sensuous. It is still sold in Australia, mostly as after-shave in men's shaving packs, and it doesn't seem to age. The sensuality and sweetness of the lavender and vanilla is somehow rendered less floral, more primal by the woody, earthy textures. It doesn't seem to have any of the synthetic and bitter qualities I detect in even good modern perfumes, and its transition from top to bottom notes is almost seamless. The perfume seems to be appreciated by both men and women equally, old and young, but seems to me better suited to men over 35.

Imperial leather owes its origins to the Russian court back in the 18th century when a Count Orloff commissioned Bayleys of bond Street to create a perfume which wa originally called Eau de cologne Imperiale Russe. Bayleys was eventually bought out by Cussons in 1921 but Imperial Russe was nor ressurrected until 1938 when the original perfume was used to create soap and other toiletries by Chairman Alex Cussons - it was originally Russian Leather then eventually ....Imperial Leather.

Imperial leather is a distinctive perfume and I am very privileged to have a tiny phial of the perfume which probably dates from the 1940's ....I never saw it on sale in here in England. It was inexpensive. The perfume bares scant resemblence to the soap at first but as it warms up the leather comes through but with a touch of Oriental spiciness that the soap lacks. Not a unisex perfume at all ....unlike the soap! It is quite a sensuous little number without cloying sickly florals or invigorating citruses. In many ways it is a little like Opium without that heady cinnamon ...more subtle. A very beautiful little perfume and quite unexpectedly expensive smelling fragrance.
On me - the longer I wear it the slightly sweeter it becomes but without losing that sense of the exotic or its sophistication...definitely no rough edges. Definitely one perfume to try and find! Wish I had more than the few ccs that are in the tiny little bottle as I'd love to wear it!!! I have no idea if they ever made a cologne or toilette water.

I can see why it was a favourite of the Russian royal family ....pity it was never marketed in recent years as a prestige perfume although you may remember the soap adverts back in the 70's with the family bathing in their private jet....the telephone call to the pilot when asked where they wanted to go .....'Bermuda looks nice'!

Sadly I can't find this anywhere even on the manufacturers website. The Original Soap is the most simple manly sandalwood smell and I wish there was an EDC/EDT to go with it. Dunhill for Men Original nearly does it. Incidentally I see no sandalwood in the pyramid and I'm sure it dominates.
Fantastic, simple, masculine, invigorating and clean.