Cuiron Pour Homme (2002)
by Helmut Lang

I found Cuiron to be particularly compelling if you're into minimalistic / stark type of fragrances. The leather note is anything but lived-in / luxurious / animalic / challenging / smoky or whatever adjective may be appliable to certain types of leathers a-la Knize Ten / Cuir De Russie. It's a subtle, clean suede note with unripe fruity/citrusy indertones that shares much more similarities with a brand new black leather couch with chromium-plated details than with a lived-in armchair in front of the fireplace. Extremely modern and chemical (which in this case is as good as it is for many compositions by CDG). A dry to the bone structure that perfectly reflects the style of this house. Discreet luxury opposed to ostentation. Hidden details, square cuts, no logos/monograms. Often classified as a woody chypre but, personally, I don't get much wood out of it. A must have.

19th October, 2011.

Much different than many of the other leathers out there! While I can't say it's the best, it is up at the top! To me it comes across a bit dry at first, but at the same time, the top notes are very lively. Has good sillage on me. Yet, after a short while, it does recede to the background and becomes very close to the skin. I like that though! Cozy!!!

16th September, 2011.

A great scent discontinued well before its time (which should have been never). The notes I get are pretty much just as listed in the pyramid... Plum and leather primarily. Cuiron is smooth, sweet leather that is a bit creamy. Longevity is excellent but silage is average. Out of all the leather scents I have tried including other greats like Knize 10 and Puredistance M, I still find myself reaching for Cuiron first (and luckily I bought a 100 ml bottle when it was very inexpensive). Great stuff.

29th July, 2011. (Last Edited: 11th August, 2011.)

This is really wonderful and despite being modern and averagely sharp preserves a touch of classicism and exoticism which reminds to me the age when i was a child and used wolking around with my dad. He used to dwell for talking along the ways with some bold leather smelling serious friends and acquaintances of him. Some trait reminds a bit Habit Rouge which is a completely different beast being a mellow and resinous, sensual, animalic kind of leather scent while Cuiron, as well as already asserted, is a medially dry and straight forward woody kind of leather fragrance with a touch of spiciness and mellowness and  with the sort of nutty smoothness typical of the heavy leather and suede. Cuiron is overall similar to the modern Cuoio Odori which is anyway lighter, airier and with a laundry feel. As well as Evinick asserted Cuiron reminds a bit Dirty English which is a spicier and less velvety one with a touch of green animal notes that lack in Cuiron which is velvety, clean and not dirty. Unconceivably discontinued and fairly cult, Cuiron is a real leather based fragrance from the top to the bottom. The leather is first fruity, than tarry, finally kind of suede and velvety. Cuiron is leathery throughout  the trip except for the citrusy, with addition of plum, first opening. The neroli-plum accord is a valuable supplement for the following smoothness of suede although it initially turns out rough and with a touch of petroleum feel before to slide in the velvet. The citrusy roughness and the fruity-tarry initial leather are soon overcome by suede notes and noble leather which i adore in perfumery for their smooth, nearly edible velvety. Suede notes + leather (present in all the levels of development) + woods
(sandalwood and cedarwood) determine a real smell of brown leather a bit woody-creamy. Very elegant, comforting and versatile this one can be worn for each occasion. I detect a touch of tobacco and resins
on the side of linear woody suede and leather and this enhances the final smoothness adding an hint of
warmth. The projection is in the average while the longevity is notable.

8th March, 2011. (Last Edited: 29th March, 2011.)

Cuiron is an uncluttered, straightforward, solemn leather scent – what popular prejudice might favour as a quintessentially masculine odour. But actually, it's decent stuff. Apart from some plummy sweetness, black pepper, and a little tobacco, it's spare and motionless and like an impressive mahogany trunk thinly coated with dust.

Its drawbacks? Well, it can occasionally smell synthetic in that 'furniture polish' way peculiar to this breed of leather (I smell it in Serge Lutens' Cuir Mauresque, for instance). And then there's its discontinuation. Now rare and cruelly expensive, the closest extant scent is probably Tom Ford Tuscan Leather, which exchanges Cuiron's plum for an ugly raspberry and in terms of radiance is like Cuiron through a bullhorn.

23rd February, 2011.

Without a doubt, the most boring leather I have ever smelled. If this were a painting in a museum it would be the one you walked by without even noticing. Sad really.

8th February, 2010.