Buttercream Leather Balm

Buttercream Leather Balm by Fieldwork Goods

I’ve been making my own leather balm mixtures for years, and I have finally made enough pots of it to offer in my shop. Every bag and case that leaves my studio has had at least two coats, and you should continue to treat your leather at least twice a year or whenever feels like the leather is starting to get a bit dry. This is beautiful stuff. It’s rich and smooth, made with natural food-grade and cosmetic-grade ingredients, and it will make your leather so happy. It’s important to keep the fibers of natural vegetable tanned leather moisturized and pliable, because dry leather will crack and flake. We have all seen old belts and cases that have split and cracked. You can prevent that with an occasional treatment of leather conditioner that will replace fats that are lost through age, wear, and water exposure.

Gently wipe any dust or debris from the leather with a damp cloth. Scoop out a bit of Buttercream Leather Balm with your fingers or a soft un-dyed piece of cloth (a square of an old white t-shirt is perfect). Apply a film of balm to the surface, much like the thickness you'd expect to apply of lip balm to your lips. The first few times you apply balm you will likely see dark blotches in the leather. Don’t be alarmed! It will soon disperse in to the fibers and the tone will even out. This is most likely to happen on new bags, and the leather will soon build up a nice structure of protective fats and waxes in the fibers.

Allow the balm to penetrate for 30 minutes or so, then gently wipe away any excess. Don’t rub too firmly, however, because that would burnish a shiny and permanent dark patch onto your leather. Just a gently wipe is all that’s needed. If balm residue lingers in the corners, you can soften it with a hair dryer on very low heat for a few seconds and then just rub the melted balm right back in to the leather.

HELPFUL TIP: You can store that balm-infused cloth in a ziplock bag for quick future touch-ups.

If your leather gets wet
If you get caught in a downpour, allow your leather to dry naturally, away from heat. It’s a good idea to first pack the wet bag with crumpled newspapers to hold its shape. Wet leather is prone to shrinkage as it dries, and it might also feel stiff when it’s dry. Apply a normal coat of leather balm as instructed above, and it might be a good idea to apply a second coat a day or two later. You can soften firm leather by gently rolling it around a bit, much like you might soften a brand new pair of sturdy leather boots.