Fragrance house

English Leather

English Leather traces its origins to Vienna-based MEM in the 1930s, when the scent was known as Russian Leather; it was introduced in the United States under the English Leather name in 1949. Built around a leather-centered men’s fragrance, the classic scent is presented as a citrus, aromatic, woody composition with a distinctive leather signature and as the brand’s signature fragrance. The brand’s recorded history also includes a motorsports association: in 1976, English Leather sponsored Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen’s Funny Car, a connection revived for a 2026 tribute. Ownership developed through Dana’s acquisition of licenses for legacy fragrances and Renaissance Cosmetics’ 1996 acquisition of MEM’s men’s fragrance line. After Renaissance Cosmetics was sold in 1999 and the resulting company was renamed New Dana Perfume Corporation, substantially all IMG Holdings and affiliated Dana assets, including English Leather, were transferred in a 2025 Section 363 sale to Dana Heritage Finanz St. Honore Beauty. English Leather Black, launched in 2007, offered a darker woody, spicy/aromatic, musky interpretation that retained part of the classic’s leather identity.