bitter leather?

I'd suggest trying Creed's Cuir de Russie. Very dry, almost camphorous, if not as strongly "leather" as something like Cuir Ottoman.

Though I haven't tried it, the Tom Of Finland frag out this year sound like it might be up your alley.

Heeley Fine Leather
Givenchy Gentleman
Parfumerie Generale - Corp et ames
Montale - Black Oudh

Funny, I get no leather at all from that, just patchouli.

Heeley Fine Leather ~ Knize Ten ~ Givenchy Gentleman - all three have unique leaether notes which cannot be compared with each other. think of it as leather treated with some notes and being specific to a region.

the leather notes found in Gentleman is pretty similar to the one in PG Corp et Ames which in turn is similar leather used in Montale Black Oudh.

Heeley Fine Leather kind of scents could be scents like Burberry London(lil bit sweeter), etc.. however, Heeley is a leather focussed scent. it;s true to the smell of saddle.

Knize ten kind of finish is mostly english style. where they treat Leather with floral elements. scents tht come to mind is Trussardi Uomo.

S Perfume S-ex. Not exactly bitter, but slighty salty leather nevertheless

The Tom of Finland by ELDO is not bitter, don't bother.

Of course Knize Ten, which you already mentioned, comes to mind immediately.

Have you smelled Cuir de Russie by Chanel?

Bitter leather? Black Aoud certainly, but Aoud Cuir d'Arabie even moreso. Also Parfum d'Habit and Miller Harris Cuir d'Oranger.

I'd skip Tom of Finland too. How about Rien by Etat Libre d'Orange?

You can't go wrong with the Creed Cuir de Russie recommendation (although it may be hard to find). Its loaded with high quality silver birch tar. Chanels version is quite a bit more floral in its reformulation. Montale Cuir d Arabie is more leathery and medicinal. Montale Black Aoud has too much rose which neuters its supposed "bitter" leather notes. I recall Hermes Bel Ami to be bitter. .

Seems I've read that Bandit by Piguet has a bitter edge with it's leather.

I have a Creed Cuir de Russie sample, and I find it to be very smooth - not particularly bitter at all. In fact I find Creed's Royal English Leather (which is far more available) to be stronger and smokier.

Since I think I understand everso's leather fragrance taste, I don't think he'd like Chanel's Cuir de Russie as a leather fragrance.... it's more of a floral with leather notes. [He may like it, but not as a distinct leather fragrance]

I will second the recommendation of Montale Oud Cuir d'Arabie - the combination of oud with the leather notes gives it that bite you may be looking for. I'm waiting for my TPC decant to arrive in today's mail.

I thought of Cuir Ottoman but I noticed you've mentioned it already. Ineke's Evening Edged in Gold is the only other bitter leather fragrance I can think of at the moment. It doesn't stay bitter throughout the progression though.

Pascal Morabito Or Black... Bitter might not be the word I'd use to describe it though. Perhaps pungent new boots birchy leather?

I think Aramis has a bitter edge to it. Or any of the other chypre frags by the same designer (Estee Lauder Azuree, Clinique Aromatics Elixir, etc.)

I am wearing Jolie Madame tonight, and if it has any relation to its sister Bandit, I'd say it is also bitter. All of these are bitter in a more green, herbal sense rather than a tarry bitterness.

One more men's scent which may fit the bill is Miller Harris Cuir d'Oranger. It is a leather chypre, so dry, bitter, green and powdery, but with bitter orange top notes. The deep drydown is a bit sweet, though.

The Cuir Venenum is leather mixed with orange blossom (that's what the listed notes are, but to my nose it smells more like cherry instead of orange). It's PG, so it's rich and thick. The leather note isn't as dark as say, Cuir d'Iris, but it's definitely a quality leather accord. If you took Cuiron and made it 'thicker' you'd be in the ballpark of Cuir Venenum

Since suggesting Aoud Cuir d'Arabie I've skin-tested it again, and if you're looking for a bitter leather, it really fits the bill. Unlike some Montales, the oud doesn't whack you over the head - it mixes very well with the leather. However the entire composition is incredibly potent.

Bel Ami is one of my favorite leathers. I'd call it "bitter sweet."

Prada Cuir Ambre is very bitter on my skin. Is it only me? The initial notes are too bitter that I have to wash it off.

Heeley Fine Leather is a decent option though I found it quite weak from my recent sampling. The opening blast is quite good with quality leather but moments later it just falls apart into an average watered down leather frag.

Imagine everso purchasing a Creed.... Ha, I love it...

I know.... I really do wish you would give Creed a shot. At least their older stuff. But I still love ya anyway.

hey, you don't have to tell us, but why don't you sneak in a sample of Royal English Leather and Cuir Russie anyways? i have a strong feelign you will like REL coz it's leather done with the "english" note. similar to Knize.

lol kk m8

Virtues or faults of Creed aside, Cuir de Russie is very different for my nose. REL is sweet soap that I have to wash off in half an hour. Cuir de Russie is tarry, bitter and almost medicinal... not all that far from Noxzema, though that's probably some form of fragrance heresy to say.

I like neither enough to own a bottle, but Cuir de Russie is the driest, bitterest leather I've smelled. Oud Cuir d'Arabie - a great suggestion; I also recommend it - is sweet by comparison.

OK, Bitter Leathers is the best thing I like in leather scents, so I got a lot.

For the beginning - dismissing some not-better, not-leathers etc.
Cuir Venenum is sweet and musk with flowers has more attention than leather. No bitter.
Rien ELDO - is about patchouly, not leather.
Bandit and Aramis, while leathers and bitter, has powdery chypre heart (Frankincense). If you don`t mind it - go forward, they are great! As Antaeus, VCA pour homme, and other leather chypres from 70-80-s.

Cuir de Russie (Chanel, Creed, Piver LT etc) are flowery. They are noble - but they lack true masculine bitterness.

I`d second Aoud Cuir d`Arabie by Montale and Or Black by Morabito. They both are pungent, bitter and leathery. Or Black is also musky and peppery, but it`s not a fault.
Oh, and Parfum d`Habit (MPG) too!!!

Then - my new suggestions to your list.
Cabochard de Gres.
EDT is green and bitter in the beginning, then - not sweet flowers and then - castoreum, moss and leather. Best chypre cuir suggestion, for my nose, is the perfume. But EDT is a beauty too. And it`s cheap!

SMN Peau d`Espagne. Dry spices and leather. Very pungent and powerful. I like it, but wearing it with care about colleagues.

Derby Guerlain. Carnation and leather. Very Cognac style, and vintage is much better, for my palates.

Cuir (Revolte) de Lancome. Vintage version has all the top-heart notes destroyed, so in sillage amber and leather are alive.

Dior Jules. Technically it`s not a leather family. But it`s bitter and leather is pronounced. Safari for men RL too.

Rochas Macassar. Spicy-leathery mess. As bitter as dark.

Azuree Estee Lauder. Honey-mushroom version of Cabochard.
And Miss Dior as iconic chypre is very good too.
And Cravache Piguet is leathery cologne - if you will find out the vintage EDT.

I'm surprised no-one's yet mentioned Lonestar Memories. As bitter as they come, almost makes you choke from the amount of tar in it. Or Patchouli 24 for that matter.

for bitter masculine leathers my advice goes for Aoud Cuir d'Arabie together with the gentler yet not gentlemanly Lonestar memories, both followed close to the fierce greeness of the leather in Bandit.

Love the sound of that

I've got some Lonestar Memories coming my way, perfect timing I'd say!

If by "bitter" you mean "lacking sweetness", I suggest sniffing Duro by Nasomatto. Very non-sweet leather

Tom Ford - Tuscan Leather. This starts off really bitter