Spanish Leather (1902)
by Geo F Trumper

Not much leather in the opening of this cologne and to be honest not much leather at all. I sort of agree with the_good_life when he says it should be called English Barbershop as it does contain a soapy note. It does say on the box however that "It has often been assumed that the preparation includes leather in it's make-up but the name actually derives from the fact that leather, usually tanned kid or chamois, is immersed in a special perfume. Once treated this "Spanish Leather" will retain it's distinctive fragrance for a considerable time. Trumpers adhere faithfully to the traditional preparation when producing Spanish Leather Cologne."

So they have stated that it is based on a liquid used to treat leather. I can smell some leather in it but it isn't till the dry down which to me hangs around and smells like a leathery-talc.

All in all this is a very pleasing and sort of light cologne which I feel will see me through summer and winter.

There is not much happening in Spanish Leather Cologne: It’s linear, but as is often the case, linearity is not a negative. What Spanish Leather has to offer is a calm, rich, masculine leather / wood scent that relies on an attractive solid, low-key virile elegance to carry it through. It doesn’t really move… It doesn’t need to. Spanish Leather Cologne strikes me as old fashioned and traditional, but in a very, very good way: It emanates loads of quality, character, and depth. I enjoy it and I can count on one hand how many leather fragrances I can say that about. The leather presentation in Spanish Leather actually comes through quite strongly to my oversensitive-to-leather nose. This is about as leathery as I can tolerate in a fragrance and still enjoy it, and enjoy it I do…

Opening blast is intense and very enjoyable...it's like a quick preview of the whole scent in one shot...whts interesting is this, the herbal midnotes is just like PDN New York..more like New York and to a lesser extent Chanel PM. the leather is very subtle and as others mentioned has got a powdery, soapy Vibe to it. no complex vibes going on. it by no means has any of the spicy warmth of PDN NY...but the trademark herbal Bite, is just there...PDN probably had this as an inspiration to build on...lovely scent, nothing extraordinary, yet, it goes back in time and has it's charm to it.

This fragrance convinces me that a lot of what we think of as "leather" fragrance is actually a saddle soap fragrance, which we associate with leather. This is a wonderful combination of saddle soap and barbershop with just a touch of an unidentifiable "dirty" element that makes it very interesting. Clean and yet not entirely clean. A wonderful masculine fragrance of great suavity and charm, Trumper's Spanish Leather goes beyond any label as "casual" or "dressy". Yes, it's casual and yes it's dressy, leathery and yet, more than that. An excellent product from a first rate house.

Not enough leather, not enough Spain, why not just honestly call it English Barbershop (Edwardian). Basically an old-fashioned cacaphony of sweet and spicy notes that's gone in half an hour. Either my sample is off or this is one I definitively do not need.

My complete (and only) favorite. A little soapy and powdery, but what a natural smell that intrigues but doesn't intrude. Problem is, it fades very quickly on my dry skin! Bummer.