leather seat care

Ronzi, patinas do form on leather, but only aniline dyed, not pigment dyed. Pigment dyed leathers (which most auto leathers are) simply get worn and dingy and look ratty. The pigment is a lacquer sealer coat that is essentially like painting the leather. It does not allow the penetration of stains from spills, but it also does not allow oils or conditioners to soak in. At least until the finish begins to crack.

A patina on leather is something that must be seen; it is hard to explain. It is a warmth and mellowing of the leather, as it darkens with use and time. Not unlike an old piece of unsealed wood that has been rubbed and polished by human hands over the decades.

[Ronzi]

I suppose we could argue ad infinitum about the definition of "patina", but wear marks on leather would seem to me to qualify as patina, regardless of the type of finish put on the leather. One man's dingy, worn, and ratty, is another man's patina.
In any event, my point was that absolutely as-new seats in an otherwise appropriately worn automobile mileagewise brings to mind the picture of the pig in a tutu.
You bring up an interesting point with your observation that pigment dyed leathers essentially have an impermeable finish. If this is the case, then seat treatments that promise to restore natural oils, soften the leather, etc. are just so much hogwash, not so? The stuff's not going to penetrate the finish, anyway.
So, the redoubtable MNBox is right again! Save your money, boys, and use the dish detergent from the kitchen instead of buying leather conditioners at $20 a bottle.

You bring up an interesting point with your observation that pigment dyed leathers essentially have an impermeable finish. If this is the case, then seat treatments that promise to restore natural oils, soften the leather, etc. are just so much hogwash, not so? The stuff's not going to penetrate the finish, anyway.

I mentioned this before, back in December...
http://www.986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=32395#post32395

The products WILL restore natural oils, etc., if they could actually get TO the leather. But the pigment dye is a protective sealer. It keeps the leather from getting stained from spills. It keeps the oils and conditioners out, too.

So, the redoubtable MNBox is right again! Save your money, boys, and use the dish detergent from the kitchen instead of buying leather conditioners at $20 a bottle.

I'd use Murphy's Oil Soap myself....