Searching for that leather scent ...

I would be careful putting leather conditioners on the dash and door leathers. From what I understand, these leathers are usually specially dried so they don't expand and contract with changing temp/humidity. This keeps them taught on their backings and prevents sagging. Some of the older models had problems with dash/door/console leathers loosening.

Seat leathers are different, they need the natural oils (and conditioning from time to time) because people sit on them and they move with the seat cushioning.

I only condition the seats, now. I leave the rest of the leather alone.. I just wipe it with a damp MF towel (using distilled water).

 

You can use the cleaner on imitation, however the conditioner is solely for real leather and states that directly on the bottle. I love the fact that it rejuvenated the funky kraut leather smell in my Porsche. It doesn't change it, it just re-releases the factory smell. Also, its not slick. The seat doesn't feel like it has conditioner on it. It just feels like nice leather. The story behind it is that the creator wasn't happy with the fact that other conditioners masked the smell of his P-car leather, so he created a conditioner to rejuvenate the original hide smell. I'll tell you, in the bottle this stuff stinks. But once its applied and dries (15min) the smell is gone.

 

I have found Wolfgang Leather Care Conditioner to be the best leather condition by far. It has the consistancy of hand lotion. It has a very strong "good" genuine leather smell and you apply it by massaging it into the leather. I've used it with all my Ferraris. Its not a cleaner but a conditioner to keep the leather soft.

 

Here are some images of Leatherique in action. The SMELL of true leather comes from clean leather, not artificially from a fragrance.

I think I mentioned this in a previous post, that Ferrari leather the leather is not top coated, where as the F150 leather (in most) is top coated so any cleaner/conditioner will not pentrate into the leather to make a difference. So testing them on top coated is not a fair test for ferrari leather.

Another leather cleaner you want to search out is Leathermasters.

Cheers,
GREG
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Maybe my leatherique is to old or something, but I am not having the same level of success in my 928's with it as you did in yours! Looks good!

 

Tell me how you used it. Heat and time are two variables you want with the product.

Cheers,
GREG

 

Used the cleaner on a soft cotton towel. Rubbed it for a few minutes on the dirty area of the seat...still dirty...sure it cleaned some of it up, but not the majority of the "stain" who knows what it is from. Probably crap off the ground that my front wheelchair wheels went through and then transferred to the seat...

 

LOL at the F150 feeling confused.

 

The second cleaning needs time and heat. Allow the rejven to dwell for hours (4-6) in the hot sun with your windows up, then wipe off with pristine clean, you might have to repeat. The leather will soften up, and become supple, and swell so the micro cracks will lessen. I've had great luck with this method. I used it on my couch seats, but placed the seats in trash bags in the warm sun for about 3 hrs. This was done about 6 months ago, and the untreated one is like cardboard in comparison, and much lighter in color (faded).

Hope you get the same results.

GREG

 

It finally is warming up today in Va. so I got up and applied the Leatherique all over the seats this morning. It is supposed to hit 90 degrees, so I will let the stuff soak in today and tonight, then clean it off tomorrow with the pristine clean.

I will post tomorrow on the final results and try to snap a few photos.

Sounds like the F-150 is getting rubbed more than a guy with a lifetime premium subscription to porntube

 

I would check it later in the day and adjust your plan based on what you see. You might need to do an intermediate clean with PC then reapply RJ and wait till tomorrow, apply more RJ and wait, or you're done. You want to remove when the seats are warm in my experience.

Cheers,
GREG

 

gotcha, I have been keeping an eye on it while enjoying coffee on the patio. It is just starting to get warm outside. I'll adjust my schedule as it progresses. thanks for the heads up

 

So what are some of the Products he uses? OR are they only available to Pro's only. More info would be great. This tread is very helpful with Leather seats in Vehicles as they seems to take a beating. And i for one want them to look like they are new.

 

Hey there!

The wait for the results are killing me............

Cheers,
GREG

 

Well, my car is a 2004, tan leather with leather rear shelf and black steering wheel. I have had the car for 2 years and have never used a cleaner, only Zaino 10 conditioner. I have always kept my car very clean and consider the leather to be in perfect shape. Up until yesterday, I never thought it needed cleaning.

I followed the instructions and applied the rejuvinator product about 8 am in 60 degree weather. I used surgical gloves and a spray bottle. It took about 20 minutes to do the whole interior. I did not do the headliner or pillers. The car stayed out of direct sunlight, but in a postion to get plenty of heat. Around 1 pm, I noticed the stuff looked like it was drying up, so I opened the doors and applied a little more. Temps eventually hit about 95.

It was still in the 90's around 7 pm, I opened it up and began to use the pristine cleaner. All in all the process was very simple. Very easy to wipe down and not messy at all

What I could not believe was how dirty my car actually was. After the whole process,the leather really took on a new look. Kinda like the look of an 09 at the Ferrari dealership. Not glossy or shiny, but that matte clean look with a nice texture. I was very impressed. I was amazed, actually, as to how my car, which I thought was perfect, looked that much better. I am around other Ferrari owners with new cars all the time, and I swear I did not realize how much dirt came out that I never knew was there.

I do not know if it was just the dirt of the last few years, or a build up of the conditioner, or a combination thereof was the culprit, but the wheel, driver seat, and center console was the most improved.

The problem is, I do not have anything to compare this to, so I am at a loss to rate the cleaning aspect.

As for the smell. Well, my car already smelled like a leather factory before cleaning and it did not lose that original smell. It did not add to it either. The cleaner did give the leather a much better texture and look than the Zaino.

Today, I decided to use it on my old Range Rover Classic beater I use as a beach/boat truck. That leather was a mess. Same results only not as impressive. That car really needs a few goes I suspect. I really could tell a remarkable improvement, but you can polish a turd............you know the result. I must say however that the Range Rover did take on a leathery smell that I did not detect in the Ferrari, despite the fact I found an old sour towel under the seat. The texture and feel of the seats were vastly improved. I am very satisfied with the results. I will continue to use the product.

You really need to be careful about getting it on the inside windows. I oversprayed a little in the back shelf area, and you really have to work for Cirque de Solei to get to the back window of a 575. But I guess that is the case with any leather treatment.

I am interested to hear other people describe their results with this product. Others I have talked to at various events have explained how much a pain in the ass it is to use. I did not find that at all. It just takes time for it to set in. I guess staring out the back window and looking at your car for 10 hours without being able to drive it is a pain in the ass.

 

Outstanding write thanks!

Does your Rover have top coated leather? If it does that is the reason for the difference, top coated is made to keep things from penitrating in them.

I really like the supple feel of cleaned leather with leatherique.

I would not use conditioner again, doing another leatherique treatment will be better. Conditioner seems to clog the pores and allows for dirt to adhear.

cheers,
Greg

 

Hi Fou, thanks, for the info...you've got me thinking I should do this...I have a tan interior as well and think/thought it is/was perfect....

Did you "do" the dash top as well? And, can you tell me approx how much of each product you used to do the interior?

Thanks!

 

I did the dash, seats, center console, door, rear shelf and steering wheel. I have always lived by the creado never to touch a headliner, even with your girlfriend's feet. (which reminds me of a funny story:ever see that Ferrari for sale that had a heal tear in the leather headliner? I think it was Rod Stewart's)

Anyway, the directions said to use about 4 oz., I did not measure it out beforehand as I put it in a spray bottle and just made sure I got it all rubbed in and stuff. I ended up using about 4 oz.

Here is a picture of the interior right after the application of the rejuvinator oil. You can see the wet look.

I have not taken any "after" pictures yet of the final result. As I stated before, the final result was a very clean matte finish. The second stage product can be used as a wipe down between full cleaning jobs that are recommended a couple times a year by the literature enclosed.
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Great thread, read all the way through. I didn't notice if - aside from conditioners - any of the purely leather scents were used. I've noted this product before but never investigated http://www.topoftheline.com/32nozspacspr.html. Maybe of some use in the quest.

My leathers are of varying years, conditions, smells. The one in my 328 is getting a full "rejuvination" now in another thread, so I'm a long way from needed the scent.

I tried the Griot's scent only and I agree with rtajaly that is the department store smell. Nice but not earthy enough.

I've done the Leatherique treatment, and like Fou, got a WHOLE LOT more dirt and grime out of my Boxer than I'd ever imagined. A much older car of course, but surprising nonetheless.

My Pantera of course was born with vinyl seats, but I had some new seats made using new leather. There is virtually no "Ferrari" leather smell evident at all. It has a faint, pleasant odor, and must be the result of the 'open vs closed' cell approach. (I used the Griot's in this car.)

Am following this with interest.