Leather smell

The smell of leather

Everyone knows the soothing scent of old leather, but nowadays there are hardly any leathers that exude this beautiful smell. Previously, leather was tanned differently. The vegetable tanning was the main tanning methode. The tanning agents and fats and oils gave the leather a special odeur. Some of the odoriferous substances used in the past are even prohibited today. In particular some nitro-musk compounds, which strongly influenced the smell of leather.

Leather odours are always different depending on origin of the leather, on the type of leather, on the colour chemicals, on the refatting substances and on the used preservatives and tannins.

Today, most of the car, furniture and clothing leather are chrome tanned. The result of this tanning methode is less odor intensive. There is also not only one leather smell. According to the used refatting substances, dyeing and colour chemicals and many other substances the resulting leather smells differently. Consequently, the mixture of individual odours of the substances gives the final odor of the leather.

Most automotive manufacturers attach great importance to the least possible odor. For testing, the interior of a vehicle is heated to 70 ° C, as odours intensify with rising temperature. Experts with particularly sensitive noses then test the interior for strong and unwished odours. Most manufacturers prefer an interior without odours, since an existing smell leads to a complaint rather than no smell. This is to be prevented by the lowest possible odor.

The odor policy of the various manufacturers (2015):

VW: "Leather seats must smell like leather."
BMW: "The best smell is no smell."
Mercedes Benz: "Leather is the only permissible smell."
Volvo: "Minimize all odours."
Audi: "Neutral smell."
Ford: "Target: Eliminate all odors."

Since many consumers feel a leather odor as pleasant, it has been investigated for a long time how to control the smell of a leather in the production of leather. However, since the leather odor is produced by a mixture of the tannins, refatting agents, dyestuffs, binders and preservatives used in the production process, the final leather odor can not be controlled at all. Most chemical components are necessary to achieve the desired leather quality. If an element is exchanged for a certain smell, the quality parameters of the leather are often changed too.

Micro hollow balls

There have also been attempts to introduce odours into the leather or the dressing via micro-hollow balls, which give a leather odor under load. Such micro hollow balls contain smell and crack under weight load with the time. So far, leather produced in this way is not widely used in the market.

Alternatively, it is possible to apply a leather odor like a perfume to the final product.

Odor problems with new leather

Some new leather of bags, belts, furniture, vehicles and jackets have a very unpleasant smell. This can occur when inferior fish oils or other bad smelling substances were used in the manufacturing process. This should be noticed at the time of purchase. Usually, the smell occurs later, because odours are only noticeable at warm temperatures or in smaller, neutral smelling rooms.

Unsuitable fish oils spread a "fish odor". In clothing, the leather might be safed by a dry cleaning specialist, who removes the oil completely by cleaning in solvents. But usually the object suffers under this type of cleaning. For objects, where such a cleaning is not possible, there is no solution. Therefore always prefer to complain in time.

Leather from North Africa sometimes have a smell of urine. This phenomenon occurs more frequently with low-priced goods. Unfortunately, this smell cannot be removed. Don`t buy such goods or complain quickly.

Arround 2010 cases of leather furniture (beds, upholstery, furniture) have increased considerably in Germany, where the leather had a biting, chemical smell even at the time of delivery. The country of origin of the leather has been Italy in most cases. It is assumed, that a preservative which produces this strong and unpleasant odor, was the cause of the problems. If a distinctive smell does not stop after a few days, you should seek advice.

Measuring leather smell"

Unfortunately, you can not measure smell. The opinions are very different, which is a nice or an unacceptable leather smell. In practice, the nose is used for testing. Since every leather smells like "leather", such typical smell can`t be complained. A good indication of whether a leather stinks unreasonably, are therefore human beings, which confirm the unacceptability of the odor. Then it is not an individual sensitivity, but the majority finds the smell unacceptable. This is usually confirmed by an expert.

Mould and cellar stench

On some leathers arise unpleasant odours due to incorrect storage. Mostly it is mould. Be careful before buying used leather articles. The most beautiful vintage car or the most beautiful crocodile leather bag maybe irreversible worthless. Frequently, such odours cannot be eliminated.