How to Identify Real Leather

There is nothing more infuriating then paying big bucks for leather furniture or clothing and realizing you have been duped when it is too late. There is a real racket for faux leather and sometimes you can't tell for sure what you are paying for. There are several rather easy tests you can use to verify you have just bought genuine leather.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Touch the jacket or furniture. Feel the leather up and down and see if you can differentiate more then one type of substance. Real leather will feel like it came from one single source and will not feel as though it's a blend of multiple synthetic fibers.

2. Smell the jacket or furniture. Leather has a very distinct smell and you should be able to pick up the scent in an instant. If you are not sure, go to a leather store and reintroduce yourself to the aroma. The smell is a sweet but rugged wooden flavor.

3. Look for the tag of the item, if you are dealing with a reputable retailer. The tag should tell you it is leather. If it doesn't have a tag, it could be a bad sign that you are dealing with an impostor.

4. Sit on the leather furniture. If you sit on it, it should be supple and pliable. Stroke the leather to see if it is soft and silky, as leather should be.

5. Look at the cost. If you are paying several hundred dollars for a jacket that you know should cost more than a grand, it could be an indicator of a phony.

6. Consider the retailer. If you are shopping at a genuine leather store, it's a good indication that the items you are considering are real leather. The fact that it is being sold in the trunk of someone's car could also be a hint that it is not real leather.

Resources

• Read about different qualities of genuine leather
• Learn about different types of fibers and how to spot them