Our take
What does Cuir Cannage smell like?
François Demachy created Cuir Cannage for Dior's La Collection Privée in June 2014. The name refers to the cannage quilting on the house's bags. The aim was to capture leather and also the smell inside a woman's handbag. The opening can throw you. Birch and cade bring a tarry, almost medicinal note that recalls a camphor balm. It takes around fifteen minutes for jasmine and orange blossom to calm things down. Then the heart turns floral and powdery. Iris takes the lead and gives the leather a suede texture. Rose and ylang-ylang stay in the background. The base is creamy, with soft leather and a hint of tobacco. Serge Lutens' Cuir Mauresque often comes up as a close relative. Cuir Cannage is lighter and less animalic, with a more powdery middle. Several retailers now list it as discontinued.
When to wear it
An elegant leather for autumn, quiet enough for the office once the opening has passed. Spray it an hour before you head out.
It belongs to the Leather family. Cuir Cannage is one of 56 creations by Dior in our encyclopedia.
