Leather
Vintage/old school
Woody
Notesambergrisambrette seedsartemisiabergamotbirch tarcastoreumcentifolia roseclovesgalbanumjasmineleatherlemonmugwortoakmossorange blossomoudpatchoulisandalwoodsmoketobaccovetiverylang-ylangyuzu
Tags
#animalic
#smoky
Style
for her
for him
unisex
With natural perfumes colour may and WILL vary from batch to batch.
For example, the current batch of Cuir de Russie is not as dark in colour as the previous run because the tea extract in the new batch is decolorized. This does NOT affect the aroma/effect at all.
A classic vintage chypre by design and by make Anna's Cuir de Russie is smoky, animalic and true to the early 20th century recipe.
The story of this smoky leather perfume style starts with Russian Cossacks' cavalry entering Paris to make sure the French army definetly got back home. Parisians were very much impressed by the Siberian warriors, their uniforms trimmed with beaver fur, the smoky leather of their boots (treated with tar for waterproof effect) and had a bit of an olfactive cultural shock.
French being French, they noted the whole expereince in a perfume style called Cuir de Russie. Coco Chanel later brought this style back into the spotlight to reflect on her affair with a Russian grand duke Dmitri Pavlovich (Tsar Nicholas II’s cousin).
Starring
(these fragrant materials reanacted the Cuir de Russie story):
acacia farnesiana essential oil
lemon essential oil
bergamot essential oil
birch tar essential oil
yuzu essential oil
galbanum CO2 extract
orange blossom absolute
jasmin sambac absolute
rose de May absolute
ylang-ylang absolute
jasmin auriculatum absolute
tuberose absolute
clove absolute
castoreum tinctura
black tea absolute
cognac white essential oil
tabacco absolute
Vetiver essential oil
sandalwood CO2 extract
vanilla CO2 extract
artemisia absinthium essential oil
Vietnamese agarwood essential oil
oakmoss absolute
ambrette CO2 extract
patchouli essential oil
labdanum absolute
Vanuatu sandalwood essential oil
Please note: 15 ml and 10ml EdPs come with a spray and the 4.5 ml perfume comes in a tiny splash bottle.
Important notice:
Anna Zworykina’s blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes). Her blends are sensory experiences, closer to works of art created in the scented plane (rather than, say, visual or audio).
Certain essential oils and absolutes that are used in her 100% natural perfumes may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Anna Zworykina’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.). This said, Anna Zworykina has acquired a huge fan base over many years and people interacted with her blends for quite a while now. We are not aware of any reports of any skin reactions so far.
However, Anna advises that those who are prone to allergic reactions, pregnant and nursing women, as well as people with chronic illnesses to be extra careful. Before trying natural blends, study the list of ingredients and consult with a doctor if you are not sure or a had a history of allergies. If you do decide to put these blends on your skin (unable to resist the temptation) always test the blend on the inside part of your elbow first and wait.
Do not spray these blends liberally as a cloud in the way you would spray a conventional perfume. Anna’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
A wool coat brought indoors after a long autumn walk: the scent retains the stern character of smoke and worked leather, with flowers softening its edges. Its old-school, animalic register suits an unhurried presence that welcomes a little roughness rather than polished neutrality.
How to wear
Cool weather suits its smoky, mossy weight; warmth brings the tar further forward. Start with one restrained spray on a sleeve or scarf, following the brand’s fabric-first guidance, and test an inconspicuous area for staining. Let the bitter citrus, flowers and leather unfold rather than applying a cloud. Natural materials can cause reactions, so review the ingredients if you have sensitivities.
Who it’s for
For admirers of traditional leather chypres, birch-tar smoke and distinctly animalic perfumes. It will appeal to those who enjoy bitter green openings, mossy depth and floral detail within a rugged composition, rather than soft suede or sweet, polished leather.
Release year
2009
The nose
Anna Zworykina is a PhD-trained biochemist whose creative practice centres on natural perfumery. Her compositions treat scent as an artistic medium, embracing complex botanical materials and unconventional textures rather than smoothing them into familiar commercial forms. Leather is a particular passion: Cuir de Russie is her deliberately traditional, unembellished interpretation of the genre.
Anna Zworykina’s story
Anna Zworykina creates handcrafted, all-natural perfumes as olfactory experiences rather than conventional accessories. The house favours imaginative landscapes, intricate textures and personal engagement with scent, linking its artisanal practice to a slower, less expectation-driven way of living.
Cuir de Russie’s concept
Cuir de Russie takes its cue from yuft, traditional Russian leather associated with birch-tar treatment. Zworykina builds an atmosphere of horses, harnesses and autumn hunting through smoky tar, tobacco, wormwood and castoreum. Green citrus and flowers provide contrast before the composition settles into mossy, resinous leather.
Extra info
Cuir de Russie means Russian Leather. Its natural formula includes genuine castoreum, so natural does not mean animal-free. Colour can vary between batches: the store notes that decolorized tea extract made one batch lighter without changing its aroma.
Featured in edits and sample packs
White & Black Musks in Perfume
Notesambergrisambrette seedsartemisiabergamotbirch tarcastoreumcentifolia roseclovesgalbanumjasmineleatherlemonmugwortoakmossorange blossomoudpatchoulisandalwoodsmoketobaccovetiverylang-ylangyuzu
Tags
#animalic
#smoky
Style
for her
for him
unisex
With natural perfumes colour may and WILL vary from batch to batch.
For example, the current batch of Cuir de Russie is not as dark in colour as the previous run because the tea extract in the new batch is decolorized. This does NOT affect the aroma/effect at all.
A classic vintage chypre by design and by make Anna's Cuir de Russie is smoky, animalic and true to the early 20th century recipe.
The story of this smoky leather perfume style starts with Russian Cossacks' cavalry entering Paris to make sure the French army definetly got back home. Parisians were very much impressed by the Siberian warriors, their uniforms trimmed with beaver fur, the smoky leather of their boots (treated with tar for waterproof effect) and had a bit of an olfactive cultural shock.
French being French, they noted the whole expereince in a perfume style called Cuir de Russie. Coco Chanel later brought this style back into the spotlight to reflect on her affair with a Russian grand duke Dmitri Pavlovich (Tsar Nicholas II’s cousin).
Starring
(these fragrant materials reanacted the Cuir de Russie story):
acacia farnesiana essential oil
lemon essential oil
bergamot essential oil
birch tar essential oil
yuzu essential oil
galbanum CO2 extract
orange blossom absolute
jasmin sambac absolute
rose de May absolute
ylang-ylang absolute
jasmin auriculatum absolute
tuberose absolute
clove absolute
castoreum tinctura
black tea absolute
cognac white essential oil
tabacco absolute
Vetiver essential oil
sandalwood CO2 extract
vanilla CO2 extract
artemisia absinthium essential oil
Vietnamese agarwood essential oil
oakmoss absolute
ambrette CO2 extract
patchouli essential oil
labdanum absolute
Vanuatu sandalwood essential oil
Please note: 15 ml and 10ml EdPs come with a spray and the 4.5 ml perfume comes in a tiny splash bottle.
Important notice:
Anna Zworykina’s blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes). Her blends are sensory experiences, closer to works of art created in the scented plane (rather than, say, visual or audio).
Certain essential oils and absolutes that are used in her 100% natural perfumes may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Anna Zworykina’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.). This said, Anna Zworykina has acquired a huge fan base over many years and people interacted with her blends for quite a while now. We are not aware of any reports of any skin reactions so far.
However, Anna advises that those who are prone to allergic reactions, pregnant and nursing women, as well as people with chronic illnesses to be extra careful. Before trying natural blends, study the list of ingredients and consult with a doctor if you are not sure or a had a history of allergies. If you do decide to put these blends on your skin (unable to resist the temptation) always test the blend on the inside part of your elbow first and wait.
Do not spray these blends liberally as a cloud in the way you would spray a conventional perfume. Anna’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
A wool coat brought indoors after a long autumn walk: the scent retains the stern character of smoke and worked leather, with flowers softening its edges. Its old-school, animalic register suits an unhurried presence that welcomes a little roughness rather than polished neutrality.
How to wear
Cool weather suits its smoky, mossy weight; warmth brings the tar further forward. Start with one restrained spray on a sleeve or scarf, following the brand’s fabric-first guidance, and test an inconspicuous area for staining. Let the bitter citrus, flowers and leather unfold rather than applying a cloud. Natural materials can cause reactions, so review the ingredients if you have sensitivities.
Who it’s for
For admirers of traditional leather chypres, birch-tar smoke and distinctly animalic perfumes. It will appeal to those who enjoy bitter green openings, mossy depth and floral detail within a rugged composition, rather than soft suede or sweet, polished leather.
Release year
2009
The nose
Anna Zworykina is a PhD-trained biochemist whose creative practice centres on natural perfumery. Her compositions treat scent as an artistic medium, embracing complex botanical materials and unconventional textures rather than smoothing them into familiar commercial forms. Leather is a particular passion: Cuir de Russie is her deliberately traditional, unembellished interpretation of the genre.
Anna Zworykina’s story
Anna Zworykina creates handcrafted, all-natural perfumes as olfactory experiences rather than conventional accessories. The house favours imaginative landscapes, intricate textures and personal engagement with scent, linking its artisanal practice to a slower, less expectation-driven way of living.
Cuir de Russie’s concept
Cuir de Russie takes its cue from yuft, traditional Russian leather associated with birch-tar treatment. Zworykina builds an atmosphere of horses, harnesses and autumn hunting through smoky tar, tobacco, wormwood and castoreum. Green citrus and flowers provide contrast before the composition settles into mossy, resinous leather.
Extra info
Cuir de Russie means Russian Leather. Its natural formula includes genuine castoreum, so natural does not mean animal-free. Colour can vary between batches: the store notes that decolorized tea extract made one batch lighter without changing its aroma.
Featured in edits and sample packs
White & Black Musks in Perfume