As one who has (only) standard leather in my 997 cab, I felt like I had to help my interior give me that wonderful leather smell when the top is up and the cabin is all nice and buttoned down.

So, I first tried Zaino's Z10 Leather in a Bottle (zainobros.com). Cost $10.95 but had to pay the "shipping flat rate" of $8.95, bringing total to $19.90. Product goes on very smoothly, dries quickly, needs no buffing. Smells better than before - almost like fresh leather. Scale of 1-10, I'd give it an 8.5

Next i tried Griot's Leather care. Costs $8.99 plus "standard shipping" of $10.99 which included for 'free' a small bottle of Griot's window cleaner and an aerosol pump.

Griot's leather care goes on a little thicker, takes more time to dry, and after it dries requires some light buffing. Leather feels good, but not quite as soft as the Zaino, and I don't think its smells of leather quite as much as the Zaino does. Griot's does say to give its product 1-2 days to cure, and to apply several thinner coats rather than 1 heavier coat. However, if I had to grade it today, on a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 7.5.

For my money, I'll go with the Zaino product.

YoungTurk
'05 Carrera Cab (Arctic Silver/Stone Grey/Black)
Venture shield clear bra, Xenons, 19" Carrera Classics, Colored Wheel Crests, Clear Sides, Nav, Bose, MFSW, Sports Chrono, Power Seats, Heated Seats, Crested headrests and . . . PSE!

 

Zaino Z-10 has always been my favorite leather "conditoner" for leather.

The smell is as close as can be for that new leather smell.

For cleaning leather, Woolite with distilled water (6-to-one) in a spray bottle works as one of the best simple cleaners that not too many people know about. Why spend $$ for cleaners? Save the money, and use it for Z-10.

Z-10 has a new car leather smell closer to Lexus, MB type new leather. Porsche interior leather smells different new. Quite a bit more clean smelling than "leather" smelling. Odd, but never remember leather smelling so different.

So, some light cleaning of vinyl, I use 1Z Cockpit Premium which has a clean smell. This is closer to that new car smell for Porsche.

I highly recommend Z-10 over other leather products.

Keep the Lexol for indoor leather... As Lexol has one of the worst smells for a conditioner. I hate it even more than Hide Food which has a high Kerosene smell and odor that lingers quite a long time.

Regards,
Deanski

 

Hey Jim, glad to see now that you have your car what I've been talking about the Porsche leather smell being subdued and not as strong as on other cars. That's why I've been reluctant to use anything that gives it an artificial leather smell, like this "leather in a bottle" Zaino product.

I've been looking for a conditioner that is practically odorless, and through its moisturizing properties alone is able to bring out the dormant natural smell in the leather as the leather is rejuvenated and reconditioned to make it smell new again.

 

How does Zaino compare to Zymol' s conditioner. I bot a Zymol conditioner for $7 at Target. It wasn't as easy to apply than Lexol as Lexol was light and easy to wipe on.

 

Maybe my nose is defective, but I just tried Zaino "Leather in the bottle" a couple of weeks ago and the smell is wretched - nothing like fresh leather smell. I have also used Connolly leather conditioner; harder to use, but is much more effective and better smelling.

 

When I first opened the bottle and smelled it, I agree with you - didn't smell like leather at all. But after I had applied it, the next time I opened the car and sat in it, I was greeted with what was very close to the smell of fresh leather.

YoungTurk
'05 Carrera Cab (Arctic Silver/Stone Grey/Black)
Venture shield clear bra, Xenons, 19" Carrera Classics, Colored Wheel Crests, Clear Sides, Nav, Bose, MFSW, Sports Chrono, Power Seats, Heated Seats, Crested headrests and . . . PSE!

 

You're right on the new smell.... Very clean, nothing like my Lexus smelled like when new. Lexus leather had a very strong "new leather" smell. Porsche is quite different.

I'd look into the 1Z Cockpit Premium. Or 1Z Lerderpledge conditioner. The 1Z CPP smells very clean/fresh and light. Not much smell from the 1Z Leather product.

Lexol to me smells like cat urine.

Deanski

 

I use this product and love the smell, but alas it doesn't last very long. Also, the product is so low luster ('matte finish' they call it) that you can hardly tell its there. But that's why I like it. I don't use it on the dash - only on the hard plastic door jambs - the ones that say "Carrera" in the Silver insert on my 997 cab.

YoungTurk
'05 Carrera Cab (Arctic Silver/Stone Grey/Black)
Venture shield clear bra, Xenons, 19" Carrera Classics, Colored Wheel Crests, Clear Sides, Nav, Bose, MFSW, Sports Chrono, Power Seats, Heated Seats, Crested headrests and . . . PSE!

 

1z cockpit premium is my favorite interior product. It definitely has a "matte finish" but with the dash of the 996 a high gloss just cause horrible reflections in the windshield. Unfortunately the clean smell doesn't last long.

The 1Z ledgerpledge conditioner is much closer (but not the same) to the new Porsche smell than the Zaino product. The Zaino is a great product and does smell like leather after used but not Porsche leather. Like Deanski said it has the high "leather" smell of a new Lexus. Nothing wrong with the smell just different from Porsche.

 

Are those Zaino products as well?

 

No, they're a German brand, Einszett aka "1Z." Lesser known, but well-regarded nonetheless. Drivewerks.com stocks their products.

YoungTurk
'05 Carrera Cab (Arctic Silver/Stone Grey/Black)
Venture shield clear bra, Xenons, 19" Carrera Classics, Colored Wheel Crests, Clear Sides, Nav, Bose, MFSW, Sports Chrono, Power Seats, Heated Seats, Crested headrests and . . . PSE!

 

Oh yeah, I've heard of them. My dealer carries this brand in the parts dept., and it's advertised in our local PCA publication.

Sounds like a great brand. I'd like to give them a try. They do have some weird names for their products, though. Like this wax called "Glanz Wax." ... Come again? .. What are we waxing here again?

Btw, YoungTurk, thanks for the link.

 

Glanz is a great product. It is extremely easy to use and is almost as durable as Zaino. It is more "carnauba" looking, in other words it does not have the high "shine" look. Great for black and dark colored cars because it has the deeper wetter look.

 

I've been using the Zaino leather cleaner and conditioner since 2001 and I love how it works and smells.

 

Has anyone tried the Porsche leather cleaner and conditioner?

Nick