Ibraheem Al Qurashi Sapphire Leather

Ibraheem Al Qurashi is better known for rich ouds and tobacco, but Sapphire Leather shows a greener, sharper side of the house. Released in 2017, it is a herbal, smoky leather built on pink pepper and juniper up top, ginger and iris in the heart, and a base of leather, birch, amber and tonka. It sits closer to the classic Russian leather style than to sweet modern leathers. Aromatica carries the Ibraheem Al Qurashi Sapphire Leather decant in Bangladesh, so you can see which side of the split you land on.

Fragrance Notes

Top: Pink Pepper, Juniper Berries, Citruses

Heart: Herbal Notes, Ginger, Iris

Base: Leather, Birch, Amber, Tonka

Full note breakdown on Fragrantica.

The Scent

It opens with pink pepper and juniper berries over a splash of citrus. The pepper gives a bright, dry spice, and juniper brings a gin-like, piney edge. Within minutes a green, herbal note starts to rise, and that herb is what makes this scent unusual.

The heart is herbal notes, ginger and iris. The herbs are sharp and leafy, and one reviewer compares them to parsley. Ginger adds warmth, and iris gives a cool, slightly powdery texture. Some wearers describe this stage as spicy, even a little chilli-like. It is the most talked-about part of the scent, loved by some and disliked by others.

The base is leather and birch, with amber and tonka underneath. Birch gives the leather a smoky, tar-like tone, the core of the Russian leather style. Amber and tonka warm it up and smooth the edges. Reviewers call it a warm, smooth leather, not the burning-tyre kind, and one describes it as refined and animalic at the same time.

This is a scent that divides people. Some reviewers say the herbal note and the leather together make it exceptional. Others find the green herb off-putting or think it falls short of the house's usual standard. It has a strong, dense character throughout and does not turn sweet at any point, which is why it is worth smelling before committing to a bottle.

When to Wear

Sapphire Leather suits cooler months and evenings. The smoke and leather feel right for winter dinners, events, and formal nights. It is too dense for peak summer heat outdoors. In air-conditioned spaces it can work year-round with one or two sprays. See more in the Leather and Suede collection.

Who Is It For

It suits people who already enjoy leather and green, herbal scents, and those curious about the Russian leather style at a friendlier price. It is marketed as shared and wears well on anyone who likes dry, smoky fragrances. It is not for someone looking for a sweet or soft scent. Men who wear it to weddings or winter events will find it reads grown-up and distinctive, and it stands apart from the many sweet ambers worn in Dhaka.

For another birch and leather scent from an Arabian house, see Rayhaan Dark Leather. Browse the full Ibraheem Al Qurashi collection for the house's oud and tobacco side, or explore more smoky picks in the Incense and Smoke collection.

Available as an authentic decant in Bangladesh at Aromatica in 5ml, 9ml, and 15ml.