Quick Summary
Zara Still Leather Review: Zara Still Leather (LTH/01 Still Leather EDP) is a leather fragrance that makes its presence known from the very first spray.
Top Notes: Raspberry
Middle Notes: Saffron
Base Notes: Leather, Woody Notes
Longevity: ★★★★☆
Projection: ★★★★☆
Best Seasons: Fall, Winter, and Cool Spring Days
For a Zara release, Still Leather feels surprisingly niche-oriented. It is unapologetically leather-focused, and its overall direction reminds me far more of Tom Ford Ombré Leather than most designer leather fragrances.
The opening carries a touch of brightness from raspberry and saffron, but make no mistake — this fragrance is ultimately all about leather.
From start to finish, leather remains the centerpiece, with everything else acting as support rather than competition.
Intro
Still Leather was one of the Zara releases I was most curious about as soon as it launched.
It didn’t create much hype, which actually made it more interesting to me. Compared to Zara’s usual easygoing, mass-appeal fragrances, this one felt immediately more focused and directional.
From the name alone — LTH/01 Still Leather — it was clear that leather wasn’t just part of the composition, but the entire identity of the fragrance.
Unlike most Zara fragrances that lean toward lightness and accessibility, this one feels heavier, more intentional, and more structured around a single idea.
So I had one simple question:
“What does Zara’s interpretation of a leather fragrance actually smell like?”
The answer came immediately on skin. Within seconds, Tom Ford Ombré Leather came to mind — and that comparison never really left throughout the wear.
Notes & Accords
Zara Still Leather is built around a strong leather-centered structure from the very beginning. Leather stands at the front, and everything else exists around it more as support than competition.
Unlike many leather fragrances where leather sits beneath other notes, Still Leather places it firmly in the spotlight. The fragrance feels focused on a single idea rather than a blend of many competing elements.
A touch of raspberry appears in the opening, adding a slight brightness to the leather. It never becomes fruity or sweet, but instead creates a subtle contrast that keeps the scent feeling open and airy. Saffron follows quietly behind, softening some of the sharper edges and helping the fragrance move naturally into the dry down. Woody notes remain in the background, providing structure without drawing attention to themselves.
The first thing I notice when I spray Still Leather is the leather itself. But this isn’t the dark, heavy leather that many people immediately associate with leather fragrances. It feels sharper, cleaner, and surprisingly cold. There is something almost fresh about it, as if the material has not yet been softened by time or wear.
As the fragrance develops, the opening sharpness gradually settles. The leather remains central, but the overall texture becomes smoother and more refined. Nothing dramatically changes direction, yet the fragrance feels more comfortable and cohesive as it moves forward.
By the time it reaches the dry down, the leather, saffron, and woody notes have blended into something calmer and more controlled. The identity never changes, but the texture does. What begins as raw and direct slowly becomes softer and easier to wear.
The atmosphere it creates reminds me of a freezing early morning before sunrise, when the air is cold enough that every breath becomes visible. Inside a leather workshop, people move around handling freshly made leather materials, occasionally breathing into their hands to warm them while working with cold raw material. There is something clean and precise about that image. The scent doesn’t feel warm or cosy. Instead, it feels focused, almost like the smell of craftsmanship happening in real time.
Strangely, the fragrance also pulls me towards a completely different memory. The smell of leather brings back an image of being very young during winter, sitting in my father’s arms and catching the scent of his leather jacket. At the time it was just a smell I barely paid attention to, but years later it carries a completely different meaning. There is a sense of familiarity, comfort, and distance attached to it now that wasn’t there before.
Because of that, Still Leather never really feels like a fragrance built around notes and accords. It feels more like a collection of moments connected by the same material. Cold air, fresh leather, skilled hands at work, and old memories all seem to exist within the same scent, which is what makes it stay in my mind long after the fragrance itself has faded.
Performance
longevity: ★★★★☆
Projection: ★★★★☆
Zara Still Leather performs noticeably better than I initially expected.
One of the most surprising aspects of this fragrance is its performance, especially both longevity and projection.
On skin, it easily lasts from morning until evening, and over time it gradually settles into a more skin-like leather scent. It does not disappear abruptly, but instead fades in a naturally “settled” way, which gives the overall experience a sense of stability.
On clothes, the longevity feels even stronger. The texture of leather combined with the soft saffron nuance lingers for a long time, and in some cases it can even be detected the next day. For a Zara fragrance in this price range, this is quite impressive.
Projection is clearly noticeable in the first stage.
For the first hour or so, the leather projects quite distinctly, enough for people around you to easily notice it. It is not the type that aggressively fills a room, but it is definitely noticeable in close and medium distance.
After that, it settles down fairly quickly. The sharp opening gradually softens, moving closer to the skin, and the overall presence becomes more controlled and balanced.
One thing worth noting is the intensity of the leather in the first 20–30 minutes. In this phase, the leather can feel quite linear and direct, and it may come across as slightly strong when smelled up close. However, after this stage, it quickly transitions into a much more balanced and refined form.
Design & Presentation
The box was thrown away shortly after purchase, so I no longer have it. From what I remember, it followed a simple dark-brown design that matched the overall mood of the fragrance.
The bottle itself is more interesting. It comes in a clear glass bottle topped with what appears to be a real wooden cap. At first, I assumed it was simply plastic designed to imitate wood, but the visible grain and texture suggest otherwise. It is a small detail, yet one that makes the presentation feel more thoughtful than expected.
The design also suits the fragrance surprisingly well. The light brown liquid inside the bottle subtly reflects the leather theme, while the wooden cap adds a natural texture that complements the scent’s character. Combined with the clean glass bottle, the overall presentation feels simple, structured, and intentional.
My only criticism is the large lettering on the front. It interrupts what is otherwise a clean and minimal design, drawing attention away from the bottle itself.
Still, for the price range, the overall presentation feels well considered and more refined than many people would expect from a Zara fragrance.
Recommendation
Still Leather is not a fragrance designed to appeal to everyone, and that is part of its charm.
If you enjoy leather fragrances, particularly those with a modern designer-style character, there is a good chance you will appreciate what Zara has done here. It feels focused, confident, and far more mature than many of the brand’s safer releases.
This fragrance works best during autumn and winter, where the cool air helps emphasize its sharp leather profile. It can also perform surprisingly well during cooler spring days, when some of its brighter nuances become easier to notice.
Who will love it?
• People who enjoy leather-dominant fragrances
• Fans of Tom Ford Ombré Leather
• Anyone looking for a signature scent with strong character
• Those searching for a high-value leather fragrance
Who should avoid it?
• People who prefer sweet fragrances
• Fans of fresh citrus scents
• Anyone sensitive to strong leather notes
• Those looking for a fragrance that changes dramatically throughout wear
Overall Conclusion
Still Leather is a fragrance built around one idea and one idea only: leather.
What impressed me most was how immediately recognizable its direction felt. The moment I sprayed it, Tom Ford Ombré Leather came to mind. It was an instinctive reaction rather than a comparison I arrived at later, which explains why many people view it as an alternative to Ombré Leather.
That similarity is both its greatest strength and its biggest weakness. On one hand, it delivers a convincing leather experience at a fraction of the price. On the other, comparisons are almost impossible to avoid.
Even so, I do not think Still Leather deserves to be dismissed as just another dupe. It has its own atmosphere, and that atmosphere is what stayed with me long after I finished wearing it.
A freezing early morning before sunrise. Cold air where every breath becomes visible. Fresh leather being handled inside a workshop while people warm their hands against the cold.
And somewhere beneath that image sits another memory entirely — the smell of my father’s leather jacket during winter when I was a child.
That combination of cold air, raw leather, craftsmanship, and distant memory is what makes Still Leather memorable to me.
It may not reinvent the leather category, but it captures a familiar leather profile in a way that feels convincing, wearable, and surprisingly evocative for the price.
FAQ
Q1. What is Zara Still Leather like?
It is a leather-focused fragrance where the core idea is a strong leather accord. However, it is not just a heavy or dark leather scent. Instead, it feels sharper and more defined, with raspberry and saffron working in the background to slightly refine and balance the texture.
Q2. Is Zara Still Leather an Ombré Leather dupe?
It is not a 1:1 clone in the strict sense, but it strongly feels influenced by Ombré Leather. Because of that, many people naturally perceive it as a “dupe” or at least an “inspired by” style fragrance.
Q3. Is the leather note strong in Zara Still Leather?
Yes, it is quite strong. However, instead of being heavy and dull, the leather here feels sharper and more linear. It has a direct presence, especially in the first stage of wear.
Q4. What kind of leather scent is it?
It feels less like a dark, heavy leather and more like a “cold, raw leather” impression. It reminds me of fresh leather jackets, car interiors, and the raw material used in leather workshops.
Q5. How is the performance of Zara Still Leather?
Performance is generally solid for its price range. Longevity is good and projection is moderate to strong. It opens with a noticeable presence and gradually settles closer to the skin over time.
Q6. Is Zara Still Leather masculine or unisex?
It has a clearly masculine-leaning character, but it is not strictly limited to men. Anyone who enjoys leather-based fragrances can wear it regardless of gender.
Q7. When is the best time to wear Zara Still Leather?
It works best in autumn and winter. The leather feels more defined in cold air, and the overall structure becomes more balanced and natural in cooler temperatures.
Overall Rating
If I had to summarize Still Leather in one sentence, it would be this: a surprisingly convincing leather fragrance that captures the spirit of Ombré Leather while remaining affordable enough to wear without hesitation.
Scent: 8/10
Longevity: 8/10
Projection: 8.5/10
Originality: 4/10
Overall: 7.5/10
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