What happened to the smell of leather
Discussion
When I was very young I recall travelling in the back of my Grandfather's cars such as a Rover 90 or a Humber Super Snipe,and the very distinctive smell of new leather which seemed to stay with the car. I remember the same thing in Jags.
I have bought a fair number of new cars with leather in the past years but I never smelt that new leather smell. Has tanning utterly changed??
I have bought a fair number of new cars with leather in the past years but I never smelt that new leather smell. Has tanning utterly changed??
Edited by RDMcG on Sunday 2nd September 16:14
Modern leather isn't tanned any more, it's painted like the bodywork - colour pigment with a clear lacquer over it to protect it.
That's why there's no need for conditioners - the only molecule passing through the coating into the leather is water, which is already present in your cleaner.
The rest of the ingredients (emollients) will sit on the surface attracting dust/debris, and acting like sandpaper was your body moves.
If you want leather smell, you'll need to introduce it artificially rather than rely on the seats to provide it.
That's why there's no need for conditioners - the only molecule passing through the coating into the leather is water, which is already present in your cleaner.
The rest of the ingredients (emollients) will sit on the surface attracting dust/debris, and acting like sandpaper was your body moves.
If you want leather smell, you'll need to introduce it artificially rather than rely on the seats to provide it.
Car plants don't smell like they used to either. You could smell the SD1 paint shop from miles away.
I remember the delicious smell of Leather and Contact adhesive in the trim shops at Brown's lane and Newport Pagnell.
By comparison modern plants like Gaydon seem sterile with everything clean and no noticeable smells.
I remember the delicious smell of Leather and Contact adhesive in the trim shops at Brown's lane and Newport Pagnell.
By comparison modern plants like Gaydon seem sterile with everything clean and no noticeable smells.
Modern car homologation features something called the "shed test" where the car is put in a sealed environment to check what it emits from glues, paints, leather etc. Modern cars smell less because they have removed lots of Volatile Organic Compounds from various bits and pieces to reduce environmental impact and the negative health effects associated with these nasties.
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