I did a good bit of research looking for a leather softener/restorer. I needed to treat some very expensive western boots that had sat on the shelf for years, as well as a vintage heavy duty motorcycle jacket that had become unwearable.
I came upon this product "Obenauf's Leather Oil", and found nothing but glowing reviews. It absolutely worked miracles on my boots and jacket, they just drank up the oil. It made them as soft and pliable as new! So I thought about the leather front seats in my 911. After years in the ravages of the sun, heat and dryness, they just had that stiff "cardboard feel". So I slathered the right seat in my car with a generous coat of the oil.
It took a day, but it soaked it all up. I then repeated the treatment twice more over a weeks time. The seats now feel as soft and pliable as the day the car was new!
I previously tried multiple treatments of the well known and very expensive "Leatherique Leather Rejuvenator" which never gave me any satifactory results!
One caution on some of the reviews was that on some lighter colored leather, it may cause darkening. It indeed somewhat darkened some tan boots that I applied it to, but my seats are the light tan color (Cashmere) and it didn't change the color a bit.
I think the boots were just a much more porous leather. This would also be a great treatment for a leather dash!
This stuff is awesome!
Here's the description:
Use Obenauf's Leather Oil for regular maintenance and preservation of leather items, specially when warm, dusty, or dry conditions are dehydrating your valuable leathers. Our Leather Oil is a gentle blend of natural oils, waxes, and propolis that extends the life of leather and also rejuenates neglected, dried, faded leather. Easier to apply than our Heavy Duty LP, it provides fast, convenient protection that also preserves. Obenauf's Leather Oil:
Restores dried leather to a soft and supple condition.
Restores sun-faded leather.
Repels water.
Resists cracking, scuffing, and dry rot.
Applies easily with the applicator cap or with a clean cloth.
Penetrates deeply into leather.
Can be buffed to shine or polished over.
Excellent for touch-ups between applications of Heavy Duty LP.
Contains no harmful silicones, petroleums, solvents, or neatsfoot.
Gentle on the leather, but remarkably tough in it's preservation qualities, Obenauf's Leather Oil is perfect for leather furniture, exotic dress boots, saddles & tack, motorcycle leather (provides outstanding protection against wind, sun, and water), garments, baseball gloves, work boots (firefighters use it to protect their boots from scorching heat of forest fires),
automotive seat leather (protects it from the baking sun) , and much more.
Amazon.com: obenauf's leather oil