HAN JO – CUIR DE RUSSIE

An avant-garde interpretation of the classical Cuir de Russie tradition, created as a personal dedication.

​The opening is defined by the unmistakable tension of birch tar, refined rather than aggressive, illuminated by Italian bergamot, Italian clary sage, and the sharp, almost mineral bitterness of sudachi. Smoke appears early, but it remains controlled and deliberate, recalling polished leather rather than raw hides.

​At the heart, the composition shifts into a pale, aristocratic floral structure. Bleached iris absolute and aged iris butter form the backbone, surrounded by Bulgarian rose absolute, May rose, jasmine absolute, and ylang-ylang absolute. This is not a decorative floral heart, but one of restraint and precision, evoking elegance, dignity, and quiet authority.

​The base is where the fragrance becomes intimate and human. Warm amber and vanille absolue merge with rare animalic materials such as castoreum and onycha. Together they recreate the deep, worn leather warmth that defines the historic Cuir de Russie style, softened by time and memory rather than sharpened by excess.

​HAN•JO is dedicated to my grandfather Hans Joseph, a man of presence, discipline, and understated strength. This fragrance is not an exercise in nostalgia. It is a continuation of character, translated into scent. A classic leather accord reimagined through an avant-garde lens, carrying lineage, memory, and permanence into the present.