English Leather

English Leather

Valarie, the lovely blogger from the UK http://allsortsforallsorts.blogspot.com/

commented on a recent post that she did not know what my reference to “English Leather” was.  Funny that someone from the UK would not know about “English Leather.” 

She did assume it was not like leather from a shoe.

Anyone from the USA who grew up in the 60’s surely remembers “English Leather” that infamous cologne worn by pimply-faced teenage boys hoping to get lucky.

When used sparingly, “English Leather” was probably quite pleasant, certainly more pleasant than the actual smell of a pimply-faced teenage boy.

Legend has it that at one time an attractive young lady told a pimply-faced teen boy that she liked the pleasant odor of “English Leather.”

Word spread that “English Leather” drove women wild, and teen boys doubled down on its use.

(Young people may need to just think “Axe.”)

For years, young girls were subjected to the much over application of “English Leather.” For the sake of continued dating, since all young boys used the stuff, young girls said nothing.

Only after millions of young men finally won the affections of young women were they advised to stop splashing that horrid stuff all over. 

It does not take long for those millions of men to advise other young men that “English Leather” was not an aphrodisiac.

The stuff probably still exists in cupboards of homes long left by former young boys, or perhaps in some ancient abandoned but undisturbed college dorms. 

I don’t actually know what the leather of a worn old English saddle smells like, but I suspect the odor would bring back memories of, “No, don’t!” and perhaps even a quick slap to the face.