“I love you, but I hate that.”

I have an amusing anecdote to share with you today.

I like to shave after a hot shower and I usually shower in the evening, so most of my post-shave routine involves lightly scented or unscented products. Yesterday evening I decided to try a more robust product. Here’s the artisan’s description:

“This one is masculine. Like really, really masculine. Like a ‘take an old, beat up leather jacket, drape it over a couple of tires to make a table and clean your guns on it’ kind of masculine. Dark, unrefined, and totally unresistible, this is a scent for those who don’t mind sticking out.”

And here are the notes: Russian Leather, Motor Oil, Hoppes #9, Birch Tar, Oakmoss, Gasoline, Smoke, Cedar, Cade, Bergamot, Vanilla

Needles to say, I underestimated the potency of this aftershave. Here’s a summary of the events that followed my (modest) application:

• My wife stepped into the bathroom and immediately backed out as if propelled by some explosive force.
• She used words like “skunk”, “disgusting”, and “burning rubber” to describe my aroma.
• The kids and pets, likewise, avoided my presence, closing themselves in their respective rooms.
• Despite Midwest temperatures still barely above freezing, windows were opened, and a box fan was installed in the hallway to prevent the smell from spreading to other parts of the house.
• I was told I’d be sleeping on the couch. After assurances the smell would fade (it’s an aftershave after all!) I was allowed in bed several hours later.
• My wife woke up several times in the middle of the night and proceeded to retch, cough, and curse. She woke me in the morning with the words “I love you, but I hate that. You are throwing it out.”

By now, you might be wondering the cause of all this consternation. It was Chiseled Face’s Midnight Stag. Ron Wiebe, the owner and perfumer, calls it the scent he’s most proud of.

My thoughts? I love it! (But I won’t be wearing it as an aftershave, nor around polite company, any time soon). I started a discussion thread here for fans of the brand.

Fun fact: I also love Chiseled Face’s Summer Storm, which my wife ALSO loathes. In a Reddit AMA from several years ago, Ron Wiebe noted that one rather Machiavellian customer layers these two scents to great effect. For my own safety, I haven’t tried that…yet.

NettyYeti said:

I have an amusing anecdote to share with you today.

I like to shave after a hot shower and I usually shower in the evening, so most of my post-shave routine involves lightly scented or unscented products. Yesterday evening I decided to try a more robust product. Here’s the artisan’s description:

“This one is masculine. Like really, really masculine. Like a ‘take an old, beat up leather jacket, drape it over a couple of tires to make a table and clean your guns on it’ kind of masculine. Dark, unrefined, and totally unresistible, this is a scent for those who don’t mind sticking out.”

And here are the notes: Russian Leather, Motor Oil, Hoppes #9, Birch Tar, Oakmoss, Gasoline, Smoke, Cedar, Cade, Bergamot, Vanilla

Needles to say, I underestimated the potency of this aftershave. Here’s a summary of the events that followed my (modest) application:

• My wife stepped into the bathroom and immediately backed out as if propelled by some explosive force.
• She used words like “skunk”, “disgusting”, and “burning rubber” to describe my aroma.
• The kids and pets, likewise, avoided my presence, closing themselves in their respective rooms.
• Despite Midwest temperatures still barely above freezing, windows were opened, and a box fan was installed in the hallway to prevent the smell from spreading to other parts of the house.
• I was told I’d be sleeping on the couch. After assurances the smell would fade (it’s an aftershave after all!) I was allowed in bed several hours later.
• My wife woke up several times in the middle of the night and proceeded to retch, cough, and curse. She woke me in the morning with the words “I love you, but I hate that. You are throwing it out.”

By now, you might be wondering the cause of all this consternation. It was Chiseled Face’s Midnight Stag. Ron Wiebe, the owner and perfumer, calls it the scent he’s most proud of.

My thoughts? I love it! (But I won’t be wearing it as an aftershave, nor around polite company, any time soon). I started a discussion thread here for fans of the brand.

Fun fact: I also love Chiseled Face’s Summer Storm, which my wife ALSO loathes. In a Reddit AMA from several years ago, Ron Wiebe noted that one rather Machiavellian customer layers these two scents to great effect. For my own safety, I haven’t tried that…yet.

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Sounds like you need a well-vented man cave... I note that the advertising copy calls it "unresistable," not "irresistible"--maybe a new term for the inability to mount any effective resistance?

Flakonkrystal said:

Sounds like you need a well-vented man cave... I note that the advertising copy calls it "unresistable," not "irresistible"--maybe a new term for the inability to mount any effective resistance?

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I saw that too

With my wife, it's, "I love you, so I tolerate your perfume hobby."

She is very good about telling me fragrances I don't have to wear again, and ones she especially likes. Very appreciated.

Pippin06 said:

With my wife, it's, "I love you, so I tolerate your perfume hobby."

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Mine is usually very accepting of even my more challenging samples. At least now I know what to wear when I WANT to sleep on the couch.

Must admit, there are certain leather fragrances that are just too much for me, they have a meaty quality that doesn't make them feel like something I could wear regularly. But leathers just feel perfect for late Winter/early Spring to me, so this seems like a great time of year to explore them! My latest vintage purchase, a little bottle of Lubin's Cuir de Russie (from the 1940s, I think) is a bit challenging, but in a very enjoyable way. There's a strong jasmine in there that somehow makes the harsher aspects of the leather more tolerable. I think I'll be sampling Santa Maria Novella's Peau d'Espagne next, it was launched a year later and sounds pretty damn animalic from the reviews!

If I gave ristretto to someone who didn't drink coffee, I wouldn't expect the greatest results either.


That being said, it's easy to make a strong Russian leather fragrance, it's hard to make a well blended Russian leather fragrance that isn't self indulgent. I think this one likely missed that mark, which is why you got a bad reaction to it. I think you'd be better off with Dior's Fahrenheit if you wanted a leathery, motor oil scent for an aftershave.

Midnight Stag is some awful shit IMO.

Layer it with The Veg if you really want your wife to stay away!

My wife never voices any negative opinion about any fragrance I wear.

hednic said:

My wife never voices any negative opinion about any fragrance I wear.

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My wife doesn't either, but I've kinda figured out that a no comment is basically a thumb's down. Hednic, you'll be pleased to know that Aramis was given this treatment recently. So, it's out, baby!

I can relate Mrs. @NettyYeti … like when my dog gets sprayed by a snunk. Radical and unusual protocols go into immediate effect.

_Nicolas_ said:

Must admit, there are certain leather fragrances that are just too much for me, they have a meaty quality that doesn't make them feel like something I could wear regularly. But leathers just feel perfect for late Winter/early Spring to me, so this seems like a great time of year to explore them! My latest vintage purchase, a little bottle of Lubin's Cuir de Russie (from the 1940s, I think) is a bit challenging, but in a very enjoyable way. There's a strong jasmine in there that somehow makes the harsher aspects of the leather more tolerable. I think I'll be sampling Santa Maria Novella's Peau d'Espagne next, it was launched a year later and sounds pretty damn animalic from the reviews!

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So you're aware, the Russian leather profile and the Spanish Leather profiles are very different.

GWM said:

So you're aware, the Russian leather profile and the Spanish Leather profiles are very different.

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Thanks, I've heard that but in what ways specifically? I only mentioned the Lubin and SMN because the latter came in the next year, not because they were similar leathers. The only Spanish Leather I've tried is Trumpers and that sounds like it's at the very floral end of Spanish Leathers, very heavy on the rose and with an even more prominent geranium, so I think the SMN might be a better representation of the more 'severe' type.

Well I haven't smelled the Santa Maria Novella yet (in fact, it's one of the very few perfumes I have left on my list to try, along with Aoud Cuir de Arabie for leather perfumes), but in my experience with Russian leather smell profile, I think the Spanish is going to be much more floral, like what you experienced with the Trumper. Of course, the SMN is said to have much more of a birch tar accord.

Thank you for sharing.
Was luckily never (at least not very obviously) in such situation so far.
Even though wearing, owning and enjoying scents like Drakkar Noir and Sienna by Cabtree&Evelyn among others did get at least some feedback comparable to this.

_Nicolas_ said:

The only Spanish Leather I've tried is Trumpers and that sounds like it's at the very floral end of Spanish Leathers, very heavy on the rose and with an even more prominent geranium, so I think the SMN might be a better representation of the more 'severe' type.

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GWM said:

Well I haven't smelled the Santa Maria Novella yet (in fact, it's one of the very few perfumes I have left on my list to try, along with Aoud Cuir de Arabie for leather perfumes), but in my experience with Russian leather smell profile, I think the Spanish is going to be much more floral, like what you experienced with the Trumper. Of course, the SMN is said to have much more of a birch tar accord.

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The SMN is quite smoky. I enjoy it, but I like smoke. I think most would find it to be the challenging entry in the SMN lineup.

ChuckW said:

My wife doesn't either, but I've kinda figured out that a no comment is basically a thumb's down.

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Ha! My wife is the exact same.

The worst she will say is “Did you just put on a fragrance?… Not a fan”.

Normally she just ignores it. After decades of me stinking up the house, car, etc. she is likely immune.

_Nicolas_ said:

Thanks, I've heard that but in what ways specifically?

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I know I'm quoting myself, but it just occurred to me that the presence of an amber accord might be a way of distinguishing them, I've never seen amber in a Spanish Leather note breakdown but the Russian Leathers all seem to have it in there somewhere.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peau_d'Espagne

hednic said:

My wife never voices any negative opinion about any fragrance I wear.

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Yes, but do you wear Chiseled Face’s Midnight Stag??

NettyYeti said:

• My wife stepped into the bathroom and immediately backed out as if propelled by some explosive force.
• She used words like “skunk”, “disgusting”, and “burning rubber” to describe my aroma.

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This is where artisanal niche fragrances take you. It's good of you to share this humorous anecdote with us. I do think there's some people in the 'fragcomm' who are increasingly solitary in their fragrance use (i.e. receive little to no honest irl feedback from spouse or friends) who could do with this from time to time. Particularly relevant to masculine/dark fragrances.