Cuir Ottoman

Classic fun old fashion dopeness. On the bright side though aaand opens with the showcase, not the wait for it.

Opens with a slightly animalic leather accord and rubbery iris, and drys down to a softer smoother leather accord along with the rubbery iris, and stays like that as it's extremely linear, and you don't get any other notes. However, it is VERY weak, it disappears within 30 minutes and I even returned my 100ml to Deloox and they refunded me. Such a shame as the scent profile was very good. I bought it hoping it'll be a good alternative to the discontinued masterpiece Dior Homme Parfum 👑, but the iris is nowhere near as classy and potent as DHP 🙁 A video review is also available on my YT ▶️

Really Good daily smell, soft and elegant leather with a beautiful and discreet iris . Only cons is a real lack of longevity on skin as much as on clothes . Still beautiful and enjoyable

Cuir Ottoman is, without a doubt, an elegant and captivating leather fragrance. It doesn’t feel animalic at all; instead, the resins give it a luminous quality that keeps it from becoming overly heavy. What truly fascinates me is the iris—powdery yet noble, creamy, and reminiscent of refined make‑up. Although marketed as unisex, I find it leans more toward the feminine side. I wore it as my signature scent for a while, and while it’s not a “compliment‑getter,” people will tell you things like “you smell elegant.” It’s not loud in projection; it stays close, within your aura, whispering rather than shouting. For me, it’s magical. One of those works of art in perfumery that I cherish. The iris facet here is exactly the kind I love to read in a fragrance. And as someone who adores French perfumery, this one definitely gets a thumbs‑up.

this is a sophisticated, elegant perfume which you won't a priori call a 'leather-perfume' and yet it is. and then the leather get's a softness, kind of demureness, suppleness, which you also find in suede handbags and slithering ladies' jackets. the Leather Note is conjured up by Leather, Iris, Incense (in my opinion) and some of the many Resins and Spices. Labdanum gives the perfume an overall Amberiness which perhaps takes care as a 'Leather-Supply-Caring' Emulsion. or a mollifying agent, making the perfume softer and softer, splendidly blended in the process. I still have an elongated flacon of 100mL, bought around 2006. I find these flacons (I also have Ambre Russe in it) much more striking and artistic (and ergonomic). the perfume gives you a pleasurable feeling of roundedness, a calming, soothing effect which is hidden in the resins Tolu, Benzoin and Styrax. then the clearly detectable fragrance of another resin, that of the Boswellia-Tree, Frankincense or Incense. in my imagination these resins turn into fluid powder and disperse themselves as nanoparticles in the air where we spritz them by using the perfume. they have aromatherapeutic features as well as aromatic, fragrant characteristics. all being in concordance with Tonka and Vanilla, Labdanum and the Jasmine. the Leather in the perfume is fully incorporated, softly visceral as also just simply Expensive. to use this perfume after such time has been a pleasure that added to my 'perfumoscape' this house is already becoming since a long time.

one of the most disappointing fragrances that I have tried, is really close to Dior Homme intense, sits close, and there is this tiny bit of dirt to it, but nothing worth hyping

Side by side with Dior Homme Intense and they are not similar. Cuir Ottoman is noticably sweeter and balmier. Vibe-wise, DHI is slicker and handsome, CO is decrepit but cozy. Also, someone here drew a comparison to Parfum d'Habit, which I can see. CO is, again, sweeter more ambery than that one.

Smells like a fancy 1990s shoe store. Great scent if your vibe is the dad from Home Alone.

Nearly indistinguishable from Parfum d'Habit in the drydown that I can't justify a purchase of Cuir Ottoman, though I still may (the top and middle are different enough). Living for the "dirty butthole" review below. She's not wrong.

Cuir Ottoman is one of the best well crafted Leather Iris and Vanilla combination in the market imo, A hidden gem in my opinion, the creator has a big love for Leather, and more precisely this note mixed with Horses, Somehow you can feel, that this comes from a real place and a original idea of taking the wild smell of a horse settle leather, and mix it with some kind and joyful notes, like Iris, and Vanilla and Tonka. In the very beginning you can feel a burst of that "stall" in a very alcholic way, thanks to the Labdanum i suppose, almost old style bottle of some precious old composition, it can be off putting at first, but in reality is a pleasant smell of a precise place, because it goes into uncharted territories, My theory is that a " unpleasant" strong smell well crafted on the drydown, mixed with more " pleasant" smells works all the time if done right. The second phase is about the leather-sweet accord coming out and taking place, but isn't harsh, is like a beautiful old suede that is constantly mixed with this sweet tone of the vanilla, this phase stay sweet and very pleasant, is the center and is Oili, is the smell that people will feel around you, the dry down is another mastery of how to take this and make it a bit more meditative, more personal, the incense comes to play, and the leather takes a sit back, both of this main accord mix very well with the sweet base, and the scent plays this game on and on for the entire duration, is a smooth transition from Leather to Inciense. This is a very special scent imo, because is created with the raw horse stall in mind, but is made "accessible" thanks to the sweet accord choices by a profumer that grow up around horses and had a clear idea in mind, A beautiful discovery, it's an Elegant, Mature, and Sexy, a very pleasant Leather scent that is easily likeable if you have a good nose, likable, but not commercial. Thinking that this is a 20 years old creation, is impressive.

Interesting, I have the opposite conclusion as the guy below me. Perhaps less popular take, seeing as I'm in the reviews for Cuir Ottoman. Over some months, I tested Daim Blonde, Iris Poudre, Dior Homme, Cuir Ottoman, Iris Perle, an indie called Anjali Jaya, Vol de Nuit and Interlude Black Iris. My nose places this directly adjacent to dior homme, just sweeter and more amber focused. The iris accord is very similar though. Cuir Ottoman is definitely strictly better than Daim Blonde and Jaya. Similar in scent profile, but Cuir Ottoman is the superior fragrance. If you want a more classic interpretation, Iris Poudre is quite exceptional as well. Poudre is much more powdery, aldehylic iris/suede. Poudre and Perle are both quite powdery, I think Poudre is quite a bit more beautiful than Les Indemodables Iris Perle. Perle is at one once very powdery but also quite sharp, paradoxically. Poudre is quite feminine, I think Vol de Nuit is a really good one if you want a more masculine take. Far and away the most unique and characterful is Interlude Black Iris. Perhaps if I owned regular interlude I would keep one of the rest. However, I prefer IBI to regular Interlude. Not trying to take away anything from Cuir Ottoman. I'm a huge Corticchiato fan, but its too safe and not particularly unique in this genre. The strength of this perfume is its flawless execution. In terms of raw beauty, this one probably has no equal in the iris/suede conversation. Conceptually, though, it is quite boring. IBI is an engaging, thought-provoking wear. At the same time, it is still quite easily wearable. If Cuir Ottoman is beauty, IBI is character. Intrigue. Beauty can get boring, but character and personality don't. It just depends on what you are looking for in a scent. In my mind, all of these iris perfumes are so likeable and easy to pull off that erring on the safe side in your scent composition is a mistake. Perhaps I will keep both.

After trying Interlude Black Iris, EP Velvet Iris, Prada L'Homme, Bois D'Argent, Glossier You, Serge Lutens Cuir Mauresque, Tuscan Leather, Ombre Leather, Givenchy Gentlemen EDP, and Alexandria Fragrances Leather Intense (apparently the best DHP 2014 clone), Cuir Ottoman is the best iris/leather fragrance I've come across, and I have trouble believing it could be topped by anything else. It's arguably my favorite leather as well, tied with ELDO Nostos. The iris here is smooth and perfectly folds into the base... oily leather and seamlessly blended amber with a hint of labdanum funk. Cuir Ottoman is a masterpiece in perfumery. It doesn't have the first-impression mass appeal of DHP 2014, but it's not really trying to be DHP, it's like a sister fragrance to it. DHP is powdery iris, smooth leather, with a mild, woody base. This has smooth iris, shiny leather, and an ambery base. If you like iris or leather, you absolutely must try this. This fragrance is actually what opened the doors to leather as a note for me.

Retro_Futurista review is right : the firts 10 minutes are awful. Dark and Bitter wax-like, even olive-oil like scent.

This stuff is just beautiful! I love Iris based fragrances and this one might honestly be the best. I have no words for how good this is. Leather, iris, slightly creamy and powdery. It's smells so classy and sophisticated, addictive. It's now a must buy after sampling. 9.5/10

Quel parfum exquis ! Une odeur enivrante.... Quelle qualité ! C'est bluffant C'est un cuir non étouffant , assez soft et meme agréable avec des facette résineuse et sombre et à la fois adouci par l'iris . Tout s'entremêle et se mélange c'est un parfum technique et extrêmement complexe. Les performances sont malheureusement tres faible mais le parfum est tellement beau qu'on lui pardonne... 🙏🏻

This would be a fantastic Iris amber if not for the pungent smell of dirty butthole in the first 10 mins of wear. Tragic

I'm not a fan of Dior Homme Parfum (2025), or leather accords in general, but I like this. The opening is a little challenging if you're sensitive to labdanum, but on drydown (30-40 minutes) it becomes very smooth. The iris and leather are blended perfectly, and I must say this is growing on me. If you like leather or iris fragrances, you have to try this-- Cuir Ottoman is to leather what Terre D'Hermes is to vetiver.

Nice airy elegant suede, perfect blend of Iris and Leather. Lasts for the whole day, 50ml will last a lifetime ^Free Palestine^

Parfum d'Empire is just another level, this is Dior homme intense but playing champions league

This scent surprised me. As many have stated, this is a very soft, warm, powdery amber, iris & leather. The amber is similar to what you’d find in something like Shalimar. There’s a musky, almost lactonic quality to the iris that reminds me of Francesca Bianchi’s work, but it’s a lot more subdued, and the leather is definitely more of a suede. I liked pretty much everything I’ve tried from this house and going by the notes, Cuir Ottman should’ve been a home run for me, but when I judge it as a leather scent, it falls a bit short for me, so the first impressions weren’t all that positive. The leather is subtle, I find it a bit too sweet, it smells very “beige”, it vaguely reminds me of baby powder and it doesn’t have an iota of the grit I’d normally look for in a leather scent. But I suppose that’s the whole point. I think that the name “Cuir Ottoman” is a bit misleading. It could fool you into thinking that this is going to be a lot rougher and more butch than it actually is. I reckon “Iris Ottoman” could’ve been a more accurate name, it certainly would’ve set the right expectations. With all of that being said, it’s a great perfume, and there’s definitely a place for something like this on my shelf, it’s very elegant. The more I get to know it the more I like it, and I can see myself wearing it fairly often. Follow up: since I wrote this review, I’ve worn this a few times and I basically went from “this nice but it’s not what I expected, should I sell it?” to “IT SHOULD BE FUCKING ILLEGL TO SMELL THIs FUCKING GOOD”. I do get more of the leather now but it simply doesn’t matter, it’s not the point. If you’re unconvinced, give it some time, it WILL grow on you.

Probably the best iris/leather fragrance I've smelled. Opens up with a blast of high quality iris that is definitely reminiscent of Dior Homme Parfum's iris. It then evolves into an animalic leather mixed with iris and warm resins. Wonderful.

Some people say it’s boring,others say there is no leather.Listen to me,this is the best leather perfume ever created.A masterpiece,complex and nuanced.A creation most interesting.

For me this is just PERFECT! I tried so many fragrances in the last 2 years that I find myself underwhelmed very often. This beauty just reminded me how it is to fall in love again!!

Leather, is that you? Knock-knock. Who’s there? Not leather. Not a single sliver or slice of tanned hides to be found behind this door. But that’s the point. Corticchiato has gone down the road several have been before to give us materials trying to trick us into smelling leather - and you know what, he does a much better job than most. Corticchiato wants to make sure we know it’s a ruse; this isn’t a joke at our expense, we’re in on it from the start. The opening notes are highly convincing, thanks to a bracing start of highly animalic styrax, and sparkling funky resins that give a medicinal/chemical tanning effect. It’s marvelous. Then in a cloud of powder that suddenly drops and wafts like flour spilled on a kitchen countertop, the floral heart trying to put a leather mask on. Chalky and starchy orris and an extremely parched indolic jasmine nestle with warm benzoin. The effect is beautiful and quite convincing of soft and supple suede, like the interior of a lady’s makeup-carrying leather handbag. Unlike, say, the massive powder bomb that is Dior’s Cuir Cannage, which repeated this formula many years later, this is a leathery floral that very comfortably rides the unisex line. Don’t be fooled by the marketing towards women, men can easily pull this off and I think it would be quite a bit more striking on a man than a woman. The powder is just enough. The florals are just enough. The animalics are just enough. The resins and warm woods are just enough. The bitter tonka and sensuous vanilla at the base are just enough. Corticchiato has this composition expertly balanced to a pin’s tip precision. Hardly unique or novel, and nothing surprises or makes you think much, but, again, not the point. You buy this because leathery orris is classic, a winning recipe that should be a genre all of its own, and because you know, appreciate and love Corticchiato’s virtuoso compositional abilities. A tried and true presentation in the hands of a master. Of course it’s great.

I smell brushed cowhide at first, rich, rounded, slightly animalic. I also notice a vintage, powdery floral note, almost like old hair lacquer, which isn’t really to my taste. After a few minutes, the leather softens and drifts back, leaving the dry, powdery floral with a touch of citrus and musk. I actually like that part more, though I’m still not completely sold on the overall scent.

Delicious, powdery soft leather. It answers the question, “How can leather ever be described as delicious?” There’s a faint animalic touch, noticeable especially in the opening, but it never crosses into anything overwhelming or off-putting. Beneath it lies a rich balsamic heart; tolu, benjoin, and styrax weaving their resinous warmth together, and that’s where the magic truly resides. An iris-based powderiness and coldness running through, the overall impression is warm, enveloping, and beautifully balanced. The sweetness is perfectly dosed. Exploring this house has been a real pleasure; full of hidden gems, and this one is surely among them. Tag(s): hidden gem, delicious leather, animalic, powdery, warm, hug

A spectacular creation! Once again, I take my hat off to this incredibly talented perfumer. Cuir Ottoman is a leather unlike any other. From the start, the main players — leather and iris — merge into a unique accord that quickly unfolds into its sweet resinous heart. As it develops, the scent gains remarkable depth while that powerful leather-iris duo remains all the way through the drydown. The resins add a gentle sweetness and a comforting warmth, making it a perfect companion for colder weather. Each wearing reveals new and beautiful facets. But what truly blew me away is that tiny-tiny dash of jasmine — the note that ties everything together and adds just the right touch of funk. That subtle funkiness gives the entire composition its incredibly sexy and mysterious aura. Truly a masterpiece.

Great opening. Amber, leather, slightly animalic. Soon changes completely. Becomes, thick, balsamic, sweet, with an edge though. Reminds me of musc ravageur. 7/10

So good leather smell! I can also smell a bit of smell of garage, that is some gasoline kind of thing. A leather couch in a garage or car mechanic's place where the main character is definitely leather. I like it all. I don't know about the flowers mentioned in the list of notes, I can't separate any of those in this scent. Later I can smell more amber too but on my skin. On my shirt the amber does not reveal itself that much but the smell is good there anyway.

Parfum d'Empire is very less spoken brand, Truly underrated and under the radar. This brand uses most natural elements in their blend making. I own 6 till now, want to add few more. Below are my favorite list in order. 1. Cuir Ottoman - Slightly powdery Iris, resinous cozy suede amber with new leather 2. Azemour Les Orangers - lighter version of Les Indemodables Chypre Azural. But I enjoy both. 3. Aziyade - unique date syrupy vibe 4. Ambre Russe - Spicy, warm, slightly boozy, at times slightly gourmand and very elegant [ At time this becomes Top 1 and sometimes down to 4 - Its been like aa shuffle game] 5. Immortelle Corse - Initially, I felt what is this non-liner profile. But after let it settle down for 4-5 months. Now it is unfolds its honeyed, spicy, and slightly saline nuances, evoking sun-heated herbs, dry earth with slight sea breezes. 6. Fougere Bengale - Yet I need to understand it. For now, it is darker spices + syrupy sweet. Prominent Papery Tea and mint, Ginger and Patchouli play a hide and seek. Better to sample before buying full bottle. Awaiting to hands-on un bel amour d'été.