Did You Know? This Dior Fragrance Is Inspired by the Iconic Saddle Bag
Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian formulated “a leather fragrance of the most unexpected kind.”
by Kyla Villena
Published on Jan 21, 2026
The Dior Saddle has always been iconic. First introduced by John Galliano in the 2000s and reintroduced by Maria Grazia Chiuri in 2018, the emblematic piece continues to be the obsession of fashion mavens. Today, the current creative director of the French luxury fashion house, Jonathan Anderson, has also translated and reimagined it as part of his “dream library.”
The carrier, whose main composition involves calfskin, embodies Dior’s signature elegance despite the many ways and seasons it has been reinvented. This magnetic timelessness has inspired perfumer Francis Kurkdjian to create “a leather fragrance of the most unexpected kind” for Dior’s La Collection Privée.
Dior’s New Fragrance Was Inspired by the Iconic Saddle Bag
Cuir Saddle is an unprecedented fragrance with a leather floral composition. Contemporary and sensual, it was designed to be worn like second skin. Francis aspired to capture how the time-honored it bag is both audacious and elegant as he was formulating the scent.
“Like a Dior Saddle Bag clasped under the arm, where it embraces the lines of the body and caresses the skin, the perfume offers a sensual organic encounter with supple, scented leather, adopted as an extension of the self,” described Francis. He expounded that the bag served as the north star that guided him towards “an olfactory creation that defies convention” to the point of becoming a potential timeless icon.
With that, he created the Cuir Saddle, “a trompe-l’œil leather perfume that seemed ‘classic’ in its charred smoky and woody accord, but which ended up surprising and delighting the senses through a touch of lightness that was completely unexpected.” Francis opted to move away from the connotations of heavy leather, and instead shifted the gear towards luminous floral and musky notes, thoughtfully chosen to soften and brighten the fragrance.
The Dior Cuir Saddle retails for P10,850 (50ml), P17,650 (100ml), and P26,060 (200ml). A travel spray refill is also available at P6,450. For chic customization, you can also opt for a couture lid worth P4,550 and a couture sleeve worth P14,150.
Kyla Villena loves a good lip gloss and a trip to the art gallery. She is Preview's beauty girl, who doubles as a self-proclaimed motivational speaker.