How to Tell if Something Is Real Leather: An Easy Guide

The first way to tell if something is genuine leather is through your sense of smell. The leather scent has a distinct and memorable aroma. Leather has a pleasant earthy scent. It's not a strong smell, but it's one you'll recognize after the first time you smell it. Some people say real leather has a sweet undertone scent, while others say it smells like old oak.

Faux Leather vs. Real Leather

Aside from your sense of smell, your sense of sight can help you determine whether your bag is faux leather or real leather. The various types of leather can help you determine whether or not the bag you're considering is made of genuine leather. A full grain leather purse, for example, should have visible pores. Because full grain leather is an animal hide, these pores will be obvious. Some full grain leather hides will also have hair follicles, which can be seen with a magnifying glass.

Other Types of Leather

Not every leather bag is full grain or has visible pores. In many leather finishes, however, imperfections are common. When you use another sense, you can tell if a bag is made of genuine leather.

Difference Between Real and Faux Leather

You can use your sense of touch to determine the authenticity of a leather bag. When comparing real and faux leather, you'll notice that both can be soft, coarse, or textured. The texture of real leather, on the other hand, is grainy in comparison to the sleek plastic-perfect appearance of faux leather.

Grain Consistency of Real Leather

The grain of the hide is another way to distinguish real leather from faux leather. A genuine leather bag will have a grain pattern that is random. The pattern imprinted on a faux leather bag will give it a consistent grain. This pattern uniformity indicates that you are looking at a faux leather bag. Many genuine leather bags will have imperfections, discolorations, and other blemishes. Because faux leather is manufactured rather than tanned leather, it has no blemishes or imperfections.

Flexibility of Real Leather

If you're having trouble telling the difference between real leather and faux leather, you should test how flexible the bag material is. Genuine leather is pliable and can be slightly stretched. When you pull on the purse's walls, the leather will give slightly. Faux leather, on the other hand, is not malleable. When you gently pull on the walls of a faux leather purse, there will be no give in the material. This is another telltale sign to look for when determining whether a handbag is real leather or faux leather.

Warmth of Real Leather

The feel of faux leather is pleasant. Real leather, on the other hand, will feel slightly warmer. Because leather is a natural material, it will absorb heat under the right conditions, such as exposure to sunlight or a heat source. Faux leather does not absorb heat; rather, it reflects it.

Bag Label

The label is the most obvious way to tell if a purse is real leather or faux leather. If the handbag label says "man-made materials," the bag is not made of leather. When you examine a real leather handbag, the label will usually identify it as such. Manufacturers of genuine leather purses want to advertise the true worth of their product so that customers know the bag they are buying is genuine leather.

Conduct a Thorough Examination of Handbag

If the purse does not have a label, the handbag is most likely faux leather. However, you should thoroughly inspect the purse to determine the differences between a genuine leather bag and a faux leather bag.

Price Tag of Real Leather

The price tag is another good way to differentiate between faux and real leather. Real leather is significantly more expensive than faux leather. If the bag you're looking at has a very low price tag that seems too good to be true, it's most likely faux leather.