Leather, a material with a long-standing association with harshness, was hunted for survival before being chemically structured, preserved and shaped into something worn, first on the skin, then over the shoulder. The house of Dior is no stranger to this earthy, animalic material, possessing a strong portfolio of leather goods under its belt, such as the Lady Dior and, most recognisably, the Dior Saddle bag. The love affair with the equestrian, sporty shoulder bag began in the early 2000s, debuting on the runway in John Galliano’s Spring/Summer 2000 show. Since then, the Saddle Bag has made numerous returns in recent collections. Now, the bag’s iconic touch is coming back in a different form—reinterpreted into a scent that embodies its audacious appeal.

Unlike the Dior Saddle Bag that combines saddlery expertise with a design specific to fashion, Dior Beauty translates this leather craftsmanship into the world of perfumery—reframing the sensation of leather on the skin and forming an extension of the body through La Collection Privée’s Cuir Saddle. Imagined by Francis Kurkdjian as a new take on the masculine accord, the fragrance holds a certain suede-like sweetness—a far cry from the smoky, tobacco notes of traditional leather perfumes. “Leather is not a [fragrance] family in itself, it’s an accord.” notes Kurkdjian, as the scent’s trail unfurls woody and floral notes rooted in leathery nuances instead of an overpowering finish. 

To create this unique composition, the original leather accord was softened and diluted in a mix of cedar and salicylate notes that, once sprayed onto the skin, give an impression of organic leather settling on the surface, slowly embracing the body. Supple yet sensual, the Cuir Saddle was conceived as an extension of the iconic leather bag, featuring a matching couture leather cap and travel spray adornment to keep a flacon of second-skin close to you always.

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