Aniline leather
Also called: semi-aniline leather, unfinished leather
Leather dyed through with no pigmented surface coating. Soft, natural-looking, and highly absorbent — it takes up spills and stains within seconds.
Aniline leather is dyed through with soluble dyes and carries no pigmented surface coating. The natural grain and markings of the hide remain visible, and the handle is soft and warm.
Because there is no coating, it absorbs liquids and stains very easily. A drop of water darkens it. A hand resting in the same place darkens it over time. A spill is taken up within seconds rather than sitting on the surface.
Semi-aniline carries a light protective coat and sits between aniline and pigmented. Pigmented (finished) leather carries a pigmented surface coating, is far more uniform and robust, and is what most family sofas actually are.
Identifying which you have is the first step in any cleaning decision, and a drop of water on a hidden area discriminates: absorbed and darkening means aniline or semi-aniline; beading and sitting means pigmented.
Care requirements:
- Never use standard household cleaners, solvents or detergents. These permanently damage the finish and colour. Washing-up liquid, baby wipes and saddle soap are all common and all wrong.
- Protect rather than clean. Because absorption is so rapid, a protection cream that creates a barrier is more valuable than any stain remover — it buys the seconds needed to blot.
- Dust weekly with a soft cloth or brush so grit does not abrade the surface.
- Condition every three to six months to keep the leather supple and reduce the appearance of fine cracks.
- Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.