LOVE LOVE LOVE CdR! Bought the giant size EdT when les exclusifs was launched, and the parfum extrait when Chanel relaunched it. What can I say, one sniff brings to mind the most beautiful, buttery soft, camel-coloured leather.

There are aldehydic florals and a touch of sweetness- but not too much. I would not say this is a "girly" fragrance -- also it is not for those who like fruity scents. It is definitely not for the mainstream - but I love it all the more for that!

I am constantly complimented on this perfume, and even on occasion hubby steals a bit of the EdT to wear as cologne

I got a large decant of this from TPC and have waited a year to review it, I've worn it maybe a dozen of times and sprayed it in the air a bit as well. I just can't bring myself to like it. I agree with many reviewers below that get a "dirty" sense from it, and unfortunately it's not a pleasant dirty to me. Cerulfox's review below points out the animalic style, I agree with that as well. I think the leather and tobacco in this might be the culprit, though I love those notes in other perfumes, I think they're either too strong or are playing off some other notes in a bad way. I will definitely not be purchasing a full size of this.

Wasn't sure how I felt about this one till I read some negative reviews here. I agree with the other reviews who said it smells rather "dirty" underneath and then as if there is another scent trying to cover it up on top. I really wanted to like this but its a big no from me.

Vintage Cuir de Russie was a well balanced leather blend.
I can't find any leather in the current product 2012, nor flowers,
just a rough disagreeable sandalwood. Chanel has killed this
fragrance.

Ahh, for a gal who Hates dirty, smelly armpit scents, I found none in this scent. It Was smooth and very girly on me and I loved it. Only problem was: lasted about 1.5 hrs. and at that price I couldn't afford to spray again. Thanks to a lovely swapper, I now know what all the talk was about but it's not in my future. that's why the 3 lippies--too expensive and doesn't last.

As much as leather is one of my favorite scents, of the (limited, I admit)leather-featured scents I've tried most have gone into plasticky-PVC-bondage leather rather than butter-soft leather gloves passed down from a chic female relative. Cuir de Russie, however, was love at first sniff. It opens with a dirty animalic note that's borderline fecal, but the soft, creamy, spicy florals seep in and smooth out this animal's shaggy fur until Cuir de Russie becomes this heart-achingly beautiful blend with an undercurrent of barely-bridled danger; a lady in leather and lace, a sleek panther at repose in a meadow. I feared the bergamot and mandarin might ruin CdR as citrus is my skin's nemesis, but the two are either nonexistent here or (more than likely) thankfully so well interwoven with the other notes that I can't make out their presence.


I have the current Exclusifs EDT, and so cannot compare to past formulations or the parfum, but I can imagine those are as beautiful if not more so. For an EDT sillage and longevity are quite long, and I only regret buying the smaller EDT. Ah well, more wiggle room in my budget to save for the parfum!

this little number is second in my Chanel Les Exclusifs line...second to Coromandel which is a masterpiece...and a totaly different scent...
I admire all exclusifs I've encountered,but just these two were according to my taste...
Cuir de Russie is the real leather...raw,mercyless and harsh...at the first stage, it reminded me strongly of Piguet's Baghari, but after a while it started to develop this sweaty,stinky note which to my surprise wasn't all scrubby (like Dzing, Musc KK or simmilar leather scents were)...
this is a creamy,soft and very sophisticated leather which is very much unisex, but on the other hand has this softness and spicyness that could be likeable to most women...correct, pleasant, very sexy....and....well that's it!nothing so special or unique unfortunately...

it could be pulled as a day or nightime fragrance,and it has a very strong musc note (Theo Fenell Scent going through my head right now)...
sillage is very weak and comparing to my beloved Coromandel, Cuir had 1/5 of strength and longievity...
nice, but not as nice as C..

Wow, what a wonderful fragrance. I wish it came in an eau de parfum. I have just opened my owned bottle and I am thrilled. It's the eau de toilette. Lovely. Paloma Picasso was way to strong and harsh for me. This is just beautiful. Funny that human beings want to wear leather fragrances. But somehow, it works!

Leather for the queen out riding.

This review is for the parfum version. Becomes a skin scent on me in about 30 minutes. Before then, I get more barnyard than with other leathers, meaning hay and earth. Makes me feel like a very elegant woman doing a rare bit out of work outdoors.

Same base as Bois des Iles. On me, Bois des Iles is warmer and friendlier. Almost zero sillage, hard to gauge the longevity.

Notes: orange blossom, bergamot, mandarin, sage, iris, jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, cedarwood, vetiver, styrax, leather, amber and vanilla.

This fragrance opens with the aroma of leather and powder. It is almost as if the powder note was trying to hide the animalistic odour of the leather accord. There is a moment at the beginning of the scent’s development in which the animal hide accord briefly overpowers the framing notes only to be quickly subdued again. This makes me think of an imaginary tanning process, as if I was seeing the more pleasant aspects of making Russian leather. A very agreeable, subtly rich leather scent – although a tad old-fashioned. Lasts more than six hours on my skin.