Common Scents: Pour Lui

Pour Lui by Oscar de la Renta (whose trade mark signature appears in gold ink on the deep blue bottle) is described as a ‘leather fragrance for men’. It certainly includes that material in its ingredients, along with other ‘base notes’ of oakmoss, labdanum, sandalwood and musk. The Perfume Club helpfully describes the likely or imagined customer base for de la Renta’s scent:

“This perfume is aimed at a more mature male audience. Balanced, serious and highly professional men. Parents who know how to express their tenderness and at the same time show their character when necessary.”

In my experience, leather is a preferred material for younger men, unless we are talking about its use in shoes, belts and boots. Showing tenderness and character is certainly something at which maturer folk are more adept, however. Having seen so much suffering and shed their many years, their heart may become tender (but not always!); the passing of the years has formed character, something still being forged in the bosoms of the young. Paul tells the Romans in 5:3-5:

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (New King James Version).

James Dean epitomised the young man’s love affair with leather, but I also recall those old ladies who had a predilection for sunbathing, whose skins had become tough and leathery, and their hearts little better. As we age and mature, may our tenderness remain, our characters blossom and our lifestyles offer a pleasant aroma to the One who made us.

Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days, understanding. Job 12:12

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