The Red Rider

[Aldercy]

THE RED RIDER
She went a little further and again she heard the sound of a horse's hoofs and there came another man on horseback galloping past her. He was dressed all in red, and the horse under him was blood-red and its harness was red, and just as he passed her the sun rose.

Red leather, red moss, and balsam.

This is probably the most realistic leather I've ever come across in BPAL or anything else. Perhaps it's just my skin chemistry, but I honestly tend to take the traditional "leather" note as its own unique creature-- sometimes good, but not really leather. Like how banana-flavored stuff is nice but has nothing to do with the taste of actual bananas.

But The Red Rider is Real. Tanned. Leather. For me, it smells like horse tack and animal hide (beaten soft and fuzzy with years of use), no ifs, ands or buts about it. It's not oppressive or thick, though-- it's well-aired leather. More like the scent that would truly be left on your skin after wearing fine leather gloves.

The balsam is a good base, but not noticeable in and of itself. As for the "red moss"-- there is a tangled, mossy texture to the scent, but I do not smell anything actually fresh or plantlike. There's also the tiniest drop of something that seems like very diluted red musk/watery cherrywood. It is not at all the heart of the scent, but I suppose it insinuates "redness." Kind of a gentle, rusty-brown, oxblood red though... nothing garish.

A bit masculine, yes. I won't wear it on a regular basis, but it is really interesting. The imp will be making a home here.

[Geminirubyshoes]

All I am going to say about this one (because I will not wear leather stuff) is that it smells exactly like walking into a leather store. Perhaps when my husband puts this on I will put his review in here for him. Me and the leather personally are not friends.

[Little Bird]

I agree that The Red Rider smells like walking into a leather store, and I love it. It's like the clean, cool smell of a new black leather jacket, and I find it so sexy . On my skin, I can smell a red, slightly spicy woods smell with a little bit of sour moss. The sexy leather stays strong with the other notes adding just a bit of complexity to the blend. As it dries down, this reminds me most closely of the soft leather note that's in Quincey Morris, but I like this even more than QM.

I really love this scent. I was sad when De Sade was discontinued, as I've been wearing more leather scents lately, but this blend is amazing enough to make me forget all about De Sade. This is heavy on the leather, sexy, and with a red woodsy touch. I liked to layer De Sade with other blends, but The Red Rider is nice enough to wear on its own. I definitely need a bottle of this one.

Edited September 27, 2016 by Little Bird

[gingiemay]

In the imp, Red Rider really does smell exactly like tanned leather. It smells like putting your face into a pile of leather jackets and smelling that cool, clean leathery smell. Unfortunately, when on my skin, it turns into this funny wet dog wearing a leather coat kind of scent that is just not pleasant. I'm bummed because I was really excited for this, but at least the Black Rider is a win on me.

[galahad]

In The Bottle

Whoa, leather.

On Application

Gorgeous, rich leather

Dry Down

Starts as new leather and then seems like more aged leather as it dries down. The moss and the balsam give the scent a wildness, like leather that is grass-stained. And then it's back to the new leather smell but spicier, almost like it has some plum in it. I like.

Rating (0-5)

4

 

[stellans]

When I was little, my favorite thing in the whole world to wear every day I could get away with it was a pair of real leather chaps. And not just any leather chaps, oh no: mine were red! With silver bosses! These were the coolest thing in the world to a little girl growing up in west Texas, and I wore them until they didn't fit any more (I think it was about 3 years because they started out too big).

 

Red Rider is what I remember those chaps smelling like: smooth, sweet, just a touch spicy, and wonderful. I think the balsam gives this leather blend a really different and lovely sense of being in the woods but not too far in...the leather is stronger than the other notes, even the balsam, and I like it that way!

Edited April 16, 2011 by stellans

[zankoku_zen]

Tanned leather.

 

In fact, it's a bit obnoxious on me.

 

UGH.

[Schmoozy]

 

I swear for the first few seconds this was all red musk on me, and then all of sudden LEATHER. Definitely tanned, and like the first reviewer this is probably the most realistic leather scent I have ever smelt on my skin. I am not sure I like it. I adore moss and balsam but I am honestly not getting any of it. This is all leather and it's a bit overpowering. I swear to god there is red musk in here. Do. not. want.

 

ok, I get balsam now. It's adding touches of spiciness throughout. Unfortunately like the last reviewer - This is an obnoxious scent. I need to go wash it off now.

[Dark Alice]

I know red musk is not listed here. But my nose is not lying to me. It's in there and it's strong. Mixed with freshly tanned leather. It's actually making me sneeze. This is nauseating and it has now gone up my nose and into my throat. . Must. Wash. Off.

Edited December 3, 2009 by Dark Alice

[astarinel]

I didn't test this one, but my boyfriend did and not only asked for this one to go on his bottle list, but wanted me to publicly note that he finds it to be the same leather note as in the original Dead Man's Hand, for anyone craving that. He loves DMH (and poor, lamented De Sade) for layering, because it IS, as people have noted, a very straightforward leather scent, but he finds this to be more of a wearable blend on its own, as compared to DMH or De Sade.

[hkhm]

imp: leather. honestly, exactly like walking into the shoe department and smelling new leather shoes.

 

wet: this is an incredibly realistic leather scent. i don't know how else to describe it.

 

dry: i get more moss as this dries but it's still almost entirely leather. very manly. i'm testing this scent on my husband as well.

[megank4]

this smell like a red leather purse. not just any leather, but red. I don't get anything other than leather.

[devilot]

The Red Rider

In the Vial: Whoa. Sharp leather. Super sharp. I didn't think I could distinguish a different leather note than the classic De Sade mixed in to all the other leather blends I've smelled, but this one? It's different! Very. Different. Like high-end leather gloves or purse. I don't know how else to describe it.

 

Wet: Still sharply leather, but something very earthy. I want to say vetiver, but it's not-- so I'm thinking it's the red moss. But the balsam is surely adding to the overall 'sharp' feel of this blend.

 

Drydown: Very high-end purse. I mean, this is absolutely fascinating! Much smoother, but still, the same overall scent and feeling.

 

Verdict: This blend is amazing. I don't know how Beth bottles such evocative scents. Others describe other blends as evoking feelings or imagery, but for me? This oil is the sensual experience of walking into a very high-end leather goods store. Lovingly molesting caressing the super soft, supple leather handbag. Feeling the downiness of those gorgeous gloves. I love being able to experience this. This is not a blend I'd choose to wear as a perfume, so I might swap this away, but I am so grateful for being able to smell this. And that if I wind up even poorer (because of Beth's genius) I could always recreate the feeling of being in a great leather goods boutique by huffing this oil.

[ellebelle]

This smells like inhaling a suede vest, or a new pair of shoes. I too admire Beth's genius, but this imp is going to the swap box.

[biocarolyn]

Sigh. I wanted to love this- I'm dying to find a leather blend that works for me. But the red musk that a few others have noticed hates me. DO. NOT. WANT. Red musk & I just don't get along, and this isn't subtle. I would actually say its the second strongest note after the leather, which really smells nice but on me, the red musk screams.

 

Sigh again. woe. <img src="http://www.bpal.org/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mecry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="mecry.gif" />

 

Edit: I thought red musk got stronger with age? Either mine's toning itself down, or I am just more used to red musk than I was...I think I could actually wear this. But mostly I can't resist the leather

Edited July 26, 2011 by biocarolyn

[riflmom]

Yup, that's leather. Lots and lots of leather. Maybe it will layer well with something, but for now I don't think so...

[Iceblink]

I got a big wallop of musk from this when it was wet too--made me think of Brom Bones, of all things--then the leather took over and WHOA yeah that's a lot of leather. Mossy leather. Great if you love leather!

[ralenth]

I'm a huge leather advocate, but for some reason Red Rider turned into sweaty man in leather. Not the sexy kind.

[Greenwoodtree]

Hmmmmm.....a deliciously masculine scent...

 

It's blatantly leather upon initial sniff - LOVE it....but

 

On my skin, the balsam is amping and not in a good way...right now it reminds me exactly of the sick sweet deodorizer smell on Greyhound bus toilets! Going to have to let this one rest a bit...

 

After dry down and skin warmup, I'm starting to get the leather back Thank Goddess Its warm and only slightly sweet now...Yum...like masculine leather scents do, its making me all hot and bothered! I get the undercurrent of mossiness...its a kind of musty smell. reminds me of a man's closet filled with armor and leather, and maybe a teeny bit of mothballs..

And I just want to settle into a deep rich chair in Red Rider's library with this scent and my hubby and disappear for a couple hours..heehee

 

A definite winner for me, but there is nothing remotely feminine about it!! Great for us Aries and other Cardinal signs.

[angelicruin]

This one is heavy leather & moss and I too would swear there was red musk in this one if I didn't otherwise know the notes.

[septima_pica]

That's definitely red musk. Absolutely no doubt about it. And contrary to what I was fearing after these other reviews, the balsam is plenty present -- awesome! The leather, oddly enough, is somewhat covered up by the RED MUSK WHOA, even though it should be a primary feature of the blend. And there's something...salty? Not sure; maybe that's just the red musk playing tricks on my nose, which it sometimes does. Dry, spicy, rather animal-smelling.

 

I like everything in here, and I like it together. I think I'll hang onto it for a while, though, and let it blend. The red musk may decide to hold back a little and play nice with a bit more time.

[HKB]

This is a weird scent association, but this smells just like Disneyland to me. It's that recycled water smell from the Pirate's of the Caribbean. I love it.

[impolight]

:::RED RIDER:::

 

Leathergasm...

 

That would have been a good name for this too!

Leather as a note in and of itsself has added a sexy boost to lots of other fragrances, but in Red Rider is beyond the call of even the loftiest aspirations of eroticism.

The Red Rider completely obliterates "child-friendly" element from fairy-tale and reinvents the forum entirely; supplanting every angle with hidden corners, deep breath, shudders, gasps, throaty-laughter, sweat, rolling eyes, and paroxysms of ecstacy...This is like being locked in a very expensive Leather goods store that's been closed for the weekend with that somebody you've had your eye on for months... And you drown in one another.

The Lab's version of Balsam has never been and disappointment, and Red Rider is no exception! Here is that forested, private property with miles of treeline to veil any potential distraction.

The Moss in Red Rider is clean and sharp, which serves to accentuate the already mystic deviance of the Leather. Red Rider is no joke!For those out there who have read, "Exit to Eden", the fragrance that is Red Rider sums it up excellently.

It is advised not to wear Red Rider alone... You may not ever set eyes upon the light of day again.

This is probably one of THE sexiest fragrances EVER released to the public.

Though Red Rider is most definitely the type of Leather for an unshaven, riled-up version of Him, if she wants to wear it, who gives a flying- eff?

This stuff is THAT sexy.

The Lab have outdone themselves yet again.

On a scale of 1 to 5, this one just about deserves a 6!

Lay your hands on some for sure!

[tailoredshirt]

In the bottle: A western wear store! Without a doubt.

 

Wet: Still western wear store leather, but as it dries I get something else - the moss? the balsam? Maybe both. It's a strangely sour herbal/wood note.

 

Dry: The leather is as strong as ever, and I'm still getting that sour note from the moss/balsam/whatever. I'm thinking it is definitely the balsam, which is growing stronger on me. I like most wood notes, but this combination is not working for me.

 

Overall: Western store leather! Then balsam that goes a bit sour on me with this blend. I love the smell of western stores, but I don't want to smell like one.

[ramona]

The Red Rider is the brown, aged leather of a horse tack barn. In fact, this scent is so reminiscent of horse tack to me that it almost brought tears to my eyes. This is not a black leather jacket or a leather shop to me, but instead an earthy, musky, rich, well-worn saddle leather. I adore this scent and the memories it evokes, and can't wait to layer it with other loves! Cowgirl all the way, baby