Les Nombres d’Or Cuir was my first foray into the perfumes created by Mona di Orio who tragically passed away at the end of this last year.  And what an interesting introduction into this line of fragrances.  Les Nombres d’Or Cuir has an incredibly strong opening.  And it’s an opening of smoke, cigarettes and burnt paper.  This is considered a leather scent, but the leather is so hidden and disguised behind this screen of smoke. After about an hour the scent evened out to a sharp, almost green scent but with the smoke ever-present.  This is an intriguing scent, but I am not sure when and where I would want to wear it.  In the end though, if the other Mona di Orio creations are this daring, I am looking forward to sampling some more.

From the Mona di Orio website:

Opening with a whiff of Gauloise-like smoke it quickly becomes toasted spices and sweet absinthe before the appearance of the leather. Neatly straddling the line between biker and Birkin bag, the leather is almost carnal in its depth. In these days of anodyne scents and trans-fat free lives this is a welcome walk on the wild side that would be wonderful on a man. On a woman? Only one way to put it: Cuir is ruthlessly chic.

Cuir Notes:
Cardamom, Absinth, Leather, Cade, Resinoid Opoponax, Castoreum

• Bone Rating:   3 out of 5 possible bones
• Scent:  Leather
• Classification:  Unisex, but leans masculine
• Expense:   $170 for 100ml