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Review on Leather Journal Cover For Field Notes, Moleskine Cahier Notebook, Handmade Vintage 3.5" X 5.5" Leather Cover, Coffee by Tristan Graham

Revainrating 2 out of 5

Leather is not supposed to smell like this.

Well, it's what I paid for. A leather cover for my field notes note pads. It's got a pen sized loop that holds a variety of pen sizes, just don't try to use a Bic after having a Sharpie in there. It lies flat when open, it's got a small business card/credit card/id card slot on the front. I was also able to add a length of elastic cord to further secure the Field Notes pad within the cover. It gets 2 stars being exactly what it's supposed to be. It should have gotten 5 stars, but I can't. The first time I stuck this in a pocket, something bothered me. Pulling it out to take a note during a phone call, something bothered me. I thought I'd stepped in something, but that wasn't it. I didn't really figure out what it was until I got home.It was the odor from the tanning chemicals used on the leather. And it was not a pleasant smell.So after giving it good scrub down with a lot of coffee grounds, letting it sit outside for a couple of days, and then repeating the process a couple of more times, there no longer a lingering odor of ammonia from whatever was used during the tanning process.I'd have sent it back, but I missed the return window, so it's currently sitting in an old cigar box made of cedar in hopes that come the fall, it will have at least become odor neutral.Under 'rate features'One star for not wanting to be the person who recommends this as a gift.Four stars for durability in that I scoured it with damp coffee grounds 3 times over the course of a week, and it was sitting outside in the sun for most of 6 days over the course of a week, and is still a reasonably pliable note pad cover.Three stars for durability because it appears to be none the worse for wear after my cleaning and drying process to remove the odor soaked into the leather.

Pros
  • It’s easy to personalize or customize
Cons
  • Can be difficult to match with your personal style