Leather Types
What Is Greasy Leather?
Greasy leather is full-grain leather impregnated with oil for a matte, supple, water-resistant finish. How it differs from greasy grain, Hi-Shine and pull-up.
Greasy leather is full-grain leather impregnated with oil, which gives it a matte, supple, water-resistant finish that cannot be polished to a shine. The definition here comes from the bootmaker NPS Solovair, which sells boots and shoes in greasy and greasy grain leather.
This definition is part of our guide to leather types, textures and finishes. For the wider family of oily finishes, see what is pull-up leather?.
Greasy leather meaning
Oiling is one of the standard finishing steps a tannery can apply, and oiled leather resists water better. In greasy leather the oil goes into the full grain rather than sitting on top as a coating. The maker says it tends to be easier to break in than its coated Hi-Shine leather.
Sources from the same maker word the water claim differently. Its leather page says "water resistant"; a 2022 post said "waterproof". Treat it as water-resistant unless a product page says more.
Greasy vs greasy grain vs Hi-Shine
The maker's descriptions of greasy and greasy grain overlap: both are oiled full-grain. Its pages read in October 2026 give no further technical difference, so we do not invent one.
| Leather | Surface | How it is made | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greasy | Matte, oily, full grain | Full-grain impregnated with oil | – |
| Greasy grain | Matte, full grain | Full-grain with impregnated oil; marks removed with Dubbin wax or grease | – |
| Gaucho | Matte, shows crease marks | Same oil qualities, different tanning technique | – |
| Hi-Shine | Glossy, smooth | Corrected grain sanded, then coated with resin and polyurethane | – |
Greasy vs pull-up and waxed leather
A shoemaker describes pull-up as a finishing technique: leather packed with oils, waxes or both, which shift when the leather is bent and leave lighter streaks. Pull-up aniline is aniline leather with extra oil or wax. Greasy leather sits in the same oily family, but its maker does not describe a pull-up color change; its Gaucho leather is the one said to show marks along creases. Compare waxed leather.
How to care for greasy leather
The maker says greasy, Gaucho and waxy leathers need feeding with Dubbin wax, oil or grease, applied sparingly to avoid a dull look. Keep Dubbin off suede and nubuck, where it can stain.
Whether such dressings make leather last longer is disputed. The US National Park Service says dressings have no preservative effect, though it accepts dressing items still in use, such as work boots.
Where to see an oiled or waxed finish
Nothing called greasy turns up in the Leather Collection catalog. The Leather Collection crazy horse travel bag uses waxed crazy horse cowhide, a related but different finish whose color shifts when bent.
FAQ
Is greasy leather real leather?
Yes. Its maker describes it as full-grain leather with oil worked in.
What is the difference between Solovair greasy and greasy grain?
Both are described as oiled full-grain leather. See the table above.
HitKB Editorial Team
HitKB articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.