Why did nobody tell me leather conditioners have a break-in window

For 5 years I was slathering conditioner on my bags right after buying them, thinking I was protecting them. Then last March I brought a new tote to a shop in Chicago for a hardware repair and the guy asked why the leather felt so stiff. He explained that fresh leather needs to breathe and flex for a few weeks before you seal it, otherwise you trap the oils and it never softens properly. I went home and wiped down my older bags that I had treated immediately and sure enough, they had this weird hard shell feel compared to the one I waited on. Anyone else ever mess this up or do I just have bad timing with my purchases?

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oscarm728d ago

Thirty years of leather goods here, and that Chicago guy is exactly right. I learned this the hard way in the early 90s with a briefcase I waxed too soon, and it never lost that board-like feel. Give new leather at least three weeks of normal use before you put anything on it. That lets the natural oils work through the hide. I also stopped conditioning everything on a set schedule and now only do it when the leather actually looks dry. Most people overdo it, not underdo it.