Best Leather Conditioners (2023)

When it comes to leather care one of the best things you can do is condition your leather products with a leather conditioner.

You can think of a leather conditioner similar to the way we moisturize our skin. Leather can dry out, making it too stiff and eventually crack without it.

Leather conditioner will typically can range from $15 - $25.

Ingredients to look for are:

• beeswax, a natural wax that offers a protective barrier while maintaining the leather's suppleness;
• lanolin, a moisturizer that prevents drying and cracking;
• mink oil, its conditioning properties and ability to keep leather soft and hydrated.

In this post I rounded up some of the best leather conditioners and their use cases:

Best leather conditioner for high-end leather goods: Saphir Medaille d'Or Renovator

A high-end choice that’s favored for luxury or premium leather items. It’s a mink-oil based conditioner that's known for its softening and nourishing properties.

While the Saphir Renovator boasts the ability to clean, condition and shine, it's their combination of mink oil and lanolin that creates a light conditioner that works perfectly for higher end leather goods such as exotic leathers.

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Best Leather Conditioner for a Leather Couch: Otter Wax

Our top pick for this category is Otter Wax Leather Oil. It's a well-loved product praised for its ability to deeply condition, rejuvenate, and restore leather furnishings.

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Best leather conditioner for a Leather Jacket: Leather Honey

Leather Honey Leather Conditioner:

Leather Honey is a well-regarded conditioner that has been on the market for decades. It’s known for deeply penetrating leather pores to protect new leather and rejuvenate old leather.

This is perfect for leather jackets and other leather products that get heavy usage.

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Best for Restoring Dried Leather: Obenauf's Leather Oil:

This conditioner is great for restoring dried, cracked, and scratched leather. Added bonus is it helps repel water.

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How to Apply Leather Conditioner

You can use a microfiber cloth like this one from Leather Honey or you can even use your hands.

Whether you're using a cloth or just your hands, the application is straightforward and effortless. Add a dime size amount to your cloth or hands and rub it in.

If you are using your hands, keep in mind the natural oils from your skin will also go into the leather.

Conclusion

Each of these conditioners has its own unique qualities. Some are better for restoring crackers leather while others are softer and more ideal for high end leather products.

If you're unsure about using a specific leather conditioner, apply a small amount to a discreet area of your leather item first. This will help you see its effect, particularly in terms of any potential shifts in color, ensuring the outcome meets your expectations.

Keep in mind leather conditioners will typically darken leather at first. This change will only be temporary. After the conditioner "sets" your leather products patina will go back to their original color.