Of all the Mona di Orio perfumes in the Les Nombres d’Or line, Cuir is probably the most difficult one to wear, even to come to terms with.
Not one to be put off by an initial olfactory shock, I persisted with Cuir and while it never will be a put on and go kind of perfume (I highly doubt it was designed as such), I am glad I didn’t dismiss it.
Cuir was created by Mona di Orio and includes notes of cardamom, absinth, leather, cade, opoponax and castoreum.
Cuir provides a shock to the system, opening with smoke and the smell of roasting meat. Nick said on Twitter, it smelled of chorizo and I agree, but thankfully that carnal – in the most literal sense – impression is fleeting. (The Candy Perfume Boy gets a lot of meat as well, here is his take on Cuir.) The smoke is here to stay, but it is accompanied by a strong and powerful leather, on the dry side and very rough and masculine. Spices peek through the smokescreen now and again, and become stronger as time passes. A sharp pine-y whiff (cade) and a softer cloud of cardamom make the leather interesting and less stark.
In the drydown, Cuir becomes softer, although it never completely loses its edge, but it no longer screams at your enemies to “Get down, now!” Jack Bauer style.
I little bit is enough, the EdT concentration makes you wonder what other people put in their juices, because this is enormously powerful, with great projection and longevity.
Often, Cuir is too much for me, and I have no desire to emulate Jack Bauer, but sometimes it has the effect of turning me into a leather outfit wearing, martial-arts-savvy Trinity from Matrix. I’m on a mission then, I’m invincible and I’m not to be taken lightly.
Watch out, World, Cuir is a powerful weapon, and I’m not afraid to use it.
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Great review,have not had the chance to try this one,but now I feel I almost have!Have you heard about the new rose perfume by Mona di Orio coming out?Isn’t it exciting?!!
It is exciting indeed! Just yesterday I spoke to Mona di Orio’s distributor for Europe and she has already smelled Rose d’Hollande and she was very, very happy with it.
I hope to receive a sample asap!
A rose perfume from MdO?! 😀
Can’t wait to read first impressions and there’s always room for one more rose fragrance in my house.
That seems to be made for you, Marie (and for Tara 😉 )! There is always room for one more gorgeous rose. 🙂
I have now visions of you in full ninja-guise, martial-artsing your way around Vienna!
Your point about wondering about what others put in their juice is so apt. Cuir is SO strong for an EDT, most designer EDP’s would pale in comparison.
That is what I usually do right after breakfast. 😉
Cuir is really packing a punch.
I guess I’ve never tried this one, although I have samples from the whole Les Nombres. I need to revisit – for strictly scientific purposes, of course.
Of course!
I bet this Trinity suit would look absolutely smashing on you! 🙂
With my skyhigh Jimmy Choos… 😉
🙂
That chorizo comparison really stuck with me but Jack Bauer is much more attractive 🙂
He is more attractive than chorizo, no doubt, but he yells at people… 😉
My sniffing notes for this just read MEAT. The drydown is more gentle but not worth the opening I’m afraid. Nope, I’ll just stick to my wonderful Vanille for now. A MdO Rose – now that is exciting!
I doubt I’d ever finish my mini either, but it is good to know I have it for “Trinity moments”. 🙂
Oh man, I need to find a perfume that does that for me! I don’t think I have a “get out of my way, I have a job to do here” fragrance. Unfortunately I am really not a fan of leathers as it is, so I doubt I would like this particular one… hm. I wonder. The only two I can think of that may give a similar vibe are No. 19 and Bvlgari Black, but they’re badass in a completely different way than Trinity. Histoires de Parfum is kind of in the same category as Black for me… SSS Tabac Aurea is smoldering and more … Victorian, I guess?, than futuristic. I will have to think further on this one. 🙂
Let me know if you find such a perfume that works for you in that way.
Out of all the Les Nombres D’ Or, this was my least favourite,
Jack Bauer sums it up perfectly. 🙂
I will stick to Vanille, Musc and Oud, I can’t like everything (as much as I try)
An MdO Rose, now that has me interested, can’t wait to smell this one. 🙂
I’m really looking forward to try Rose as well. Hmmm.
Guess who will be doing a split??? 😉
You have found your true destiny… 🙂
Too chaps-like for this chapess as well. I like all the others in the Nombres d’Or collection though – thanks for you for my starter kit ; – ) – and await the new rose one with interest!
“to” you – the uncharacteristic heat has addled my brain!
Understandable. It is so humid here too, thinking straight is definitely harder. 🙂
I would have been really surprised if you had been a Cuir fan. 🙂
While this is not an easy wear for anybody, it’s still a brilliant, daring and fascinating creation.
Have you ever tried Cartier’s La Treizieme Heure ?. That also has a “charred meat ” vibe about it, but way more refined – sort of beef jerky in a tuxe and bow tie.
I agree! It is a bold and fascinating perfume.
I have Treizieme Heure in my waiting to try queue, I might bump it up a little. 🙂
This sounds AWESOME, Birgit! I love meaty leather perfumes. They strike me as very carnal, like you said. Thank you for the review- on top of Candy Perfume Boy’s, it has convinced me to seek Cuir out!
I’ll be looking forward to hearing what you think of Cuir, Ari!
This sounds quite dark and daring … a must-try for me, even though I can’t say I want to smell like meat. But yeah, count me in as someone who must sample this baby! And thanks for the enticing review! 🙂
Cuir is definitely a Suzanne perfume! 🙂
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my experience , there is something in it that I don’t want to smel!!! i think that tarwood or something like that. I’m sure you can keep a good distance with it if you need it ha ha.
Meanwhile, I feel like you do. My leather days are over. 😉