Searching for that leather scent ...

Update on Zaino and Zymol: Both great products, and they both smell great. But they don't smell like the original leather. They remind me a lot of Griot's Garage's scent--that is, walking down the belts and wallets section at Sacks--nice, but perfumed nonetheless.

Of the three products mentioned above, the one that was easiest to apply, and produced the visibly better results was Griot's. It was a close call between that and Zaino, but Griot's just felt a little nicer and went on a little easier.

Zymol smelled nice, but wasn't easy to apply. If you didn't get it on right, it would leave streaks and had a tendency to cake.

So, now I'm waiting for Insta Finish to arrive. We'll see how that turns out ...

But, while waiting for the various products to get here, I did a little more research on caring for saddle. The thought being that saddle owners only care about how well their hides last--not the way they smell. So it occurred to me that maybe the way to get the best smell out of leather is to have the best conditioned leather. This would leave out perfumes, most likely. So after a little looking, I ordered Bick 1 leather cleaner and Bick 4 leather conditioner. They're supposed to be good at caring for saddle hides, and they're a lot less expensive than the rest of this stuff on my list.

As for now, no winners yet--not even close. In the meantime, keep checking back for the latest updates ...

Here's a funny side note: When researching for these products, I kept Googling to find the latest updates on them. And when Googling Insta Finish leather conditioner, one of the top hits was this very thread! It almost felt recursive ...

 

Great point. That would be a very useful forum.

 

Yes, I am approaching the same conclusion. That's why I ordered the Bick 1 & 4 products. They should get here in about a week.

Doesn't Sonus contain waxes and other oils that you want to keep away from your leather? It's supposed to be for use on imitation leather too, which worried me some. What has your experience been with it?

 

Yesterday, I sent out an email to the guy I'd bought my car from--the original owner--to ask what he used on the leather. This was the most logical place to look since I was trying to maintain the leather the way that it was. He replied today and said that his dealership, Ferrari of Atlanta, used to always take care of detailing the car.

So, I called the dealership. After some asking around, they said that they used "Hyde Food". I asked if they meant Connolly Hide Food (which doesn't go by that name anymore), and they said that they didn't think so. It was this stuff called Hyde Food (with this spelling).

Back to Google search for Hyde Food ... Well, there is this stuff called Byron's Hyde Food, so once again I placed the order. It should get here sometime next week.

So far, I've tested Lexol, Griot's Garage Leather Care, Zaino Leather in a Bottle, and Zymol Treat. They're all fine products, but none were what I was looking for. There are three more candidates that haven't arrived yet: Insta-Finish Leather Conditioner, Bick 4 Leather Conditioner, and now Byron's Hyde Food. Stay tuned ...

 

Certainly, and I'm glad you're liking the analysis so far. As a quick note, none of the products mentioned have made it to the Ferrari yet. The first set--the ones that have already arrived--have all failed the smell test. That's the starting criteria. But one thing to note is that I didn't want to put something on the leather before it was fully vetted. This is because some products can do more harm than just leaving the leather alone, or simply wiping it with a barely-damp rag.

In my 360's user's manual it says to only use the leather cream supplied with the Ferrari detailing kit. But I've found it impossible to find just the leather cream, or even to buy the kit online (there was a place I found in the UK that sold the leather cream, but wouldn't ship it overseas). The closest dealership to me is about 70 miles away, and they're notorious for ripping people off. I am very lucky to have great Ferrari mechanics in town who work independently of the network.

Once all the products have arrived and have been fully tested--on the old leather chair, and on my F-150 Lariat's leather--then I'll update this thread with the final results. In the meantime, please stay tuned ... you may even be amused by GCalo's non-stop puns.

 

Of the products I've tested so far (Zaino, Zymol, Lexol, and Griot's), the best one in my opinion has been Griot's. It applies easily, and has a nice smell. The leather on the test chair has improved dramatically since I've used Griot's on it. I would recommend this product over the other three ... so far. But it doesn't smell like the inside of my 360. And, it would change that smell since there is so much leather.

But we still have three more products to try sometime next week when they arrive.

There has been some advice on other threads about the leather topic that I find dubious ... one in particular was letting your car sit in the sun for a few days so that the leather's pores open up and absorb the conditioner. You should never do that. And if at all possible, keep your baby garaged.

And, to the people who give this kind of advice: What is leather? It's natural skin. What happens to your skin when you sit in the sun for a few days? Depending on your complexion, you may need a trip to the emergency room.

Your body can repair itself over time, but leather can't . That's why I believe the first step to taking care of your leather is to keep your car in the shade when not in use. Also, I wouldn't put anything on the leather until you've researched it thoroughly, and tested it on other leather goods that you have, e.g. bags, shoes, chairs ... Leather comes in all sorts, and as you've noted, even Ferrari leather can be different between models and years.