Which is the Best Leather Conditioner on the Market?
We’re here to put leather’s condition to the ultimate test. Now, Leather Honey, Chemical Guys, Weimer, and Fibrenew collide in a leather conditioning battle royale that will shake the very Earth to its core.
Who will come out on top? Let’s find out.
Note: This article is as follow-up to our “Best Leather Cleaner” article. Please read that one first if you haven’t already!
So, when we first set out to determine the best leather care products, we were laughably remiss in our approach. But that’s what made it fun.
That being said, although elements of this process come off a tad haphazard, what we can guarantee is that we followed the exact same steps for each product and gave each leather conditioner an objective, fair run. We followed an identical process in our best leather cleaner comparison as well.
With that out of the way, here’s how we got after it.
Introducing your leather conditioning contenders
We picked our top three competitors based on this list.
The high-quality leather conditioning brands we’ll compare are our own (obviously), Leather Honey, Chemical Guys, and Weiman. All are available for sale through Amazon or their brand websites.
Leather Honey was founded in the ‘60s and is all-in for leather care. Their products include Leather Honey leather conditioner, leather cleaner, leather wipes, suede and nubuck cleaner, accessories, and more. Their limited product line keeps the focus on quality over quantity and has led them to become the #1 selling leather care kit on Amazon.
Chemical Guys, on the other hand, has a much wider range of products from car interior care to exterior power washing kits. Chemical Guys leather conditioner is manufactured in California and their vast array of car care products boasts an international customer base.
Weiman takes the cake for sheer SKU volume. Being that they offer products for cleaning and maintaining stainless steel, granite and stone, hardwood, metal, and more (on top of Weiman leather cleaner), means more multifunctional, combo products rather than dedicated leather cleaners and conditioners.
Last but not least, Fibrenew’s leather conditioning products are made in-house from proprietary chemical formulae suitable for old leather furniture, leather car seats, leather seats, upholstery, and all other leather surfaces and leather items.
Next, let’s go over the best leather conditioner judging criterion.
How we judged the best leather conditioner
The judging here is similar to how we examined each leather cleaner but with cleaning efficacy substituted with the lasting effect the conditioner has. This is important because conditioner is much thicker and prone to leaving residue behind than cleaner, so the experience changes from the bottle to the actual spreading of the product on the leather—and how it feels long after drying.
We’ll start each assessment with some general comments about packaging and branding, but what we’re truly focussed on gauging is the experience of using each product and the end result.
For this, we’re scoring each product out of 40 possible points comprised of four 10-point scales for:
- The lasting effect of the conditioner after application
- How impactful and pleasing the visual polish is
- How the product feels to the touch
- The scent of the product
Finally, let’s outline the process we followed when comparing each type of leather conditioner.
The conditioning process
When we began, we figured demonstrating each product used on a car’s leather interior made the most sense. Four products; four seats.
However, we quickly realized that it was difficult to discern the visual impact that each leather conditioner had through photographs. So the car seat experiment will be more to convey the scent and feel, rather than an apparent visual change.
The car seats in question
We used a soiled, segmented scrap of red leather to first show the cleaning effects in our “Best Leather Cleaner” article, then applied the leather conditioners afterwards to show the polish and feel.
The segmented scrap of red leather
FYI: if you’re planning on using leather conditioning products to fully care for your leather items at home, take note of the simple steps below for best effect.
DIY basic leather conditioning steps for at home
- Prepare the Leather Surface: Start by cleaning the leather surface. Use a mild soap or leather cleaner to remove any dirt, dust, or residues. Wipe the surface dry with a clean cloth. Make sure the leather is completely dry before proceeding.
- Test the Conditioner: Before applying the conditioner to the entire surface, it’s a good idea to test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the leather to ensure compatibility and to check for any adverse reactions.
- Apply the Conditioner: Pour a small amount of leather conditioner onto a clean, soft cloth. You don’t need a lot; a little goes a long way. Gently rub the conditioner into the leather surface using circular motions. Make sure to cover the entire area evenly.
- Work in Sections: If you’re treating a large leather surface, such as a couch or a car seat, it’s best to work in small sections. This ensures that you can evenly distribute the conditioner and prevent it from drying out before you have a chance to buff it.
- Allow Absorption: Let the conditioner sit on the leather for a few minutes to allow it to penetrate and moisturize the leather fibers. The exact time may vary depending on the product you’re using, so refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for guidance.
- Buff the Leather: After the conditioner has had time to penetrate, use a clean, dry cloth to buff the leather surface. This helps to remove any excess conditioner and gives the leather a nice, smooth finish.
- Repeat as Needed: Depending on the condition of the leather and the recommendations of the conditioner manufacturer, you may need to repeat the conditioning process periodically to keep the leather looking its best.
For more detailed tips for taking care of your leather products, check out the video below and our article on how to clean leather furniture.
Now, onto the leather conditioner clash of the titans!
Leather Honey Leather Conditioner
First off, we loved Leather Honey’s branding and packaging.
The box and bottles look like something straight out of an old-west frontier-town general store. Definite top points for style and brand there—it generates excitement upon receiving and opening the package.
Leather Honey’s leather conditioner doesn’t come in a spray bottle, which in this case is a benefit because of how viscous the product itself is.
We snagged the Leather Honey leather care kit for a price of USD $43.99 on sale (regular $70.99), and it comes with both 8 oz. bottles and two microfiber cloths neatly nestled in the aforementioned stylish box.
You can buy the leather conditioner by itself for $27.99.
Lasting Effect: 8/10
Leather Honey’s conditioner definitely softens the leather. The problem was that that finish lingered long after the product had been applied. That raises concerns that the residue might transfer to clothing or your hands long after you’ve conditioned the leather surface.
If you can overlook the possibility of oil remaining on the surface, the suppleness and softness of the leather are very nice.
Visual Polish: 9/10
Leather Honey left a nice shiny finish.
Scuffs, grime, and other visible imperfections were overpowered by the elegant sheen left by this product. I quite liked it, plain and simple.
Feel: 6/10
Unfortunately, Leather honey loses points here.
The conditioner was very thick and greasy. It almost felt like a moisturizing lotion and left a lot of residue behind. This wasn’t ideal and was a bit offputting when compared with the other products.
Scent: 8/10
The same as the leather cleaner, There was quite literally no detectable scent aroma from Leather Honey leather conditioner.
This is a distinction that sets it apart from all the other products we tested and will really come down to personal preference in the end. Because this is highly subjective as well, we’re giving mid-high points for this.
To some it’s a benefit, to others it would be a drawback.
Total: 31/40
Chemical Guys Leather Conditioner
Chemical Guys leather care kit came in a non-descript package with a single microfiber cloth, and two 16 oz. bottles of products—one cleaner, one conditioner.
We picked up the leather conditioner for USD $19.99. You can also pick up their leather care kit, which comes with three cloths, two sponges, and a brush for $59.99.
Let’s get to the scoring.
Lasting Effect: 9/10
Really nice effect from Chemical Guys here.
The leather felt very clean and supple. It was shiny after the first application, but dried quickly with a noticeable hydrated and lush quality to the surface long after. Nice.
Visual Polish: 8/10
Chemical Guys left behind a more matte finish.
Again, this may be something that appeals to you, or maybe not. But in this case, we like it. Identical score as Leather Honey for visual impact.
Feel: 8/10
Much better to the touch than the leather cleaner test.
This product was much milder and felt like lotion without any oiliness or residue left behind when touched. Glad to see the finishing product made up for the less-than-perfect performance of the leather cleaner.
Scent: 8/10
A similar scent was present here as with Chemical Guys leather cleaner, albeit with much less prominence. Chemical Guys continued the improvements from our previous test pretty much across the board here.
Would recommend.
Total: 33/40
Weiman Leather Cleaner and Conditioner Spray
Next up is the most budget-friendly leather conditioner solution on our list.
Being that Weiman manufactures such a robust range of products, it makes sense that they went for a combination spray. What doesn’t make sense, is that—seeing as leather cleaner and leather conditioner have two very different purposes—how this will work.
Spoiler alert: it doesn’t, really.
Regardless, this product is not without its merits at its USD $7.99 price point. For example, the large spray mechanism feels great and applies the product very effectively. But that doesn’t make up for a lackluster performance on the leather surface.
Let’s dig in.
Lasting Effect: 5/10
As far as moisturizing, protecting, and adding that plush softness to the leather after use, Weiman falls short.
this is a very surface-level product and unfortunatly won’t make a huge impact on the health and condition of your leather long-term.
Visual Polish: 7/10
Not a bad sheen, at all. But the problem is that the area where this product has been used remains very apparent due to the residue left behind.
Feel: 4/10
Weiman left a very waxy residue, even long after drying.
This isn’t fun and makes you want to instantly wash your hands off, which doesn’t bode well if you’re using this product for any length of time (which you will likely need to).
Scent: 8/10
This was actually a pleasant one.
Weiman’s adds a fresh citrus scent to the product—think a lemon-scented air freshener. There’s no offensive chemical odor or harshness here.
Pleasantly surprised, so high score here.
Total: 24/40
Fibrenew
Finally, we’re loud and proud about our own proprietary leather care kits.
This combo pack comes with a 16 oz. bottle of both leather cleaner and leather conditioner for around USD $43.69 (CAD $59.00). It’s the very same product used exclusively by every member of the Fibrenew franchisee family. It’s tried and true.
Lasting Effect: 7/10
We didn’t leave quite the same silky smooth suppleness as we’d been hoping for, especially when compared to Chemical Guys and Leather Honey.
Definite room for improvement here, but it still has a solid effect.
Visual Polish: 9/10
A beautiful sheen that didn’t linger excessively after drying.
This was the winner in visual appeal.
Feel: 8/10
Fibrenew’s conditioner had a slitghly lotion-y feel, but it didn’t remain on your hands and make you feel like you needed to wash it off.
Scent: 9/10
Here’s where Fibrenew’s leather care products really shine.
We’ve added leather extract to every bottle, giving it the scent of brand new leather. And its not just pleasing, but the added scent has a function as well. When the smell fades, that signals that it’s time to clean your leather products again—so you’ll never forget.
I’ve taken off one point because I acknowledge that not every person on the planet enjoys the scent of new leather.
Total: 33/10
And the winner is…..
It’s a tie?!?!
Yes! We fairly assessed all products, and we came up with a draw between two remarkable leather conditioners. Neither is perfect, but both are excellent at the same time.
When making your choice, consider the Fibrenew benefits:
- Same price point as Leather Honey, but double the size.
- A wonderfully pleasing leather scent that serves as a reminder of when to clean and conditioner again—something none of the other products have.
- Two dedicated products with the perfect blend and no residue.
- Non-toxic, professional-grade, and super easy to use.
We know there’s always room for improvement, and we look forward to continuing to develop our leather care products in the future.
We want everyone to try our leather care products for themselves, so we’re putting our money where out mouth is with 25% off your first care kit. Just enter the coupon code “Carekit25pOff” at checkout.
Remember to get in touch with your local Fibrenew professional for all your leather care questions and needs. Stay tuned!
