Cognac Vinyl & Leather Finish

4.85 out of 5

(131 customer reviews & photos)

Picture of leather chair showing Rub n Restore butterscotch Cognac color and triangular swatch in upper left corner for reference

Cognac is a rich tan saddle color. It is darker than Butterscotch and more golden than Cinnamon or Rust.

Get a Swatch of Cognac

Price range: $22 through $89

Size

Clear

Get a Swatch of Cognac

Product Details

Use our water-based finishes to restore and condition:

absorbent aniline and semi-aniline leather,
non-absorbent full-grain or top-grain leather,
and vinyl upholstery.

Our finishes won’t sunfade or backstain like leather dyes. They don't feel plasticky, flake or peel like spray paints.

Do not use on fabric, suede, nubuck, bonded or faux leather.

Store in a temperate, dark place away from children.

Click here for SDS (Safety Data Sheets) and ingredient information.

See here before changing color!

Changing color is more work and potentially more maintenance than restoring the original.

Add 1/2 teaspoon cross-linker per every 2 oz color to improve adhesion and durability. Adding 1 part Satin Sealer to 4 parts color is also recommended to seal bright colors.

Thorough cleaning and stress testing the color are critical!

The following are not good candidates and will require touch-up:

changing from red / dark to white / pale;
worn, cracking, scaly or thinning leather;
furniture with lots of wrinkles, folds, deep creases (and therefore stress);
pieces that are heavily used or harshly cleaned (kids, dogs, chemicals);
car or boat upholstery;
bonded, faux or polyurethane (PU) ‘leather’ which repel all finishes (including their own).

Learn more about changing color here.

How do I match a color?

How do I clean?

Do I need a sealer?

Answer these three questions to determine what clear finish, if any, is needed for leather:

Do unworn areas absorb water?

Yes

Are you applying a primary or secondary color (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)?

Yes

What kind of luster do you want?

Matte

Satin

Semi-Gloss

Shiny

Mix 1 to 2 parts Clear Prep+Finish™ + 1 part color for the first coat. Use one coat of Satin Sealer for a final topcoat.
Learn more about Satin Sealer here.

Use equal parts color and Clear Prep+Finish™ from start to finish. If it dries too shiny, reduce the amount of clear in the mix for your final coat. Conversely, if more shine is desired, add more clear to the mix or use alone as a topcoat.

Use equal parts color and Clear Prep+Finish™ from start to finish. If more shine is desired, add more clear to the mix or use alone as a topcoat.

Mix 1 to 2 parts Clear Prep+Finish™ + 1 part color for the first coat. Increase the ratio of color to clear for subsequent coats (approximately 4 to 1) for a satin finish.

Mix 1 to 2 parts Clear Prep+Finish™ + 1 part color for the first coat. Use color alone for subsequent coats. It will dry matte and does not need an additional sealer.

Mix 1 to 2 parts Clear Prep+Finish™ + 1 part color for the first coat. Reduce the ratio to equal parts for subsequent coats to get better coverage. If more shine is needed, use clear alone for a final topcoat.

Mix 1 to 2 parts Clear Prep+Finish™ + 1 part color for the first coat. Reduce the ratio to equal parts for subsequent coats for a semi-gloss finish.

Use Satin Sealer for a final topcoat.
Learn more about Satin Sealer here.

Apply a thin coat of Clear Prep+Finish™ and disperse quickly so it does not dry too shiny. You can also try equal parts color and clear.

Apply Clear Prep+Finish™ as a final topcoat.

The color will dry matte and does not need an additional sealer.

Mix 4 parts color with 1 part Clear Prep+Finish™ and use from start to finish (or alone as a final topcoat).

Mix equal parts color with 1 part Clear Prep+Finish™ and use as a final topcoat.

Use Clear Prep+Finish™ as a final topcoat.

Shipping Info

Orders received before 10 am MST on weekdays (excluding US holidays) are usually processed same-day.

Domestic orders are shipped via UPS or USPS ground unless otherwise requested and typically arrive in 2-5 business days.

All Canadian and international orders are shipped via UPS and typically arrive in 3-5 business days. Use coupon code internationalCLUB (case and space sensitive) to discount 8 oz. or 16 oz. bottles of color. We are not responsible for duties, tariffs or other expenses incurred.

We are not responsible for delays and cannot refund shipping costs except for UPS Next Day Air.

You will receive an automated email with tracking number. Please secure your package in a timely fashion to avoid freezing during winter months.

All orders are insured with Damage & Delivery Protection. Learn more here.

Returns & Exchanges

Colors Similar to Cognac

Butterscotch

Rust

Cinnamon

Tobacco

Many repair projects also need these items:

Handmade Color Swatches

$1 ea

Picture of Rub n Restore leather paint swatches arranged in circular wreath

Choose Colors

Clear Prep+Finish for Leather

Price range: $9 through $36

Size

Clear

Tool Options

Sandpaper Option

Clear

Leave a Review

131 reviews for Cognac Vinyl & Leather Finish

+1

Mary, Highland Park, NJ

5 out of 5

August 13, 2014

“I had this worn down and out leather sofa. I was skeptical of this or any product working. I was absolutely blown away with the results.”

Anonymous

5 out of 5

July 8, 2014

Love, love ,love theses products but cognac was a bit too yellow for me. Returned for a custom color match.

Mark

1 out of 5

June 22, 2014

Purchased product w/ high hopes based off of reviews from amazon. Couldn't be more disappointed! The color is terrible. Most cognac colors have a more brown tone to them. Too orange.

Reply from lesandre:

Rub and Restore on Amazon? Our products have only ever been available through our site, and folks can ensure they choose the right color by ordering swatches or sending a sample for matching.

Sherri Nielsen

5 out of 5

May 10, 2014

2nd year I have used Rub'nRestore products and it is like magic! How to take old and make it brand new! Easy to use, dry's fast, instant success! LOVE THIS PRODUCT! ;-)

Robert Morris

5 out of 5

May 10, 2014

Used this product to bring back life into my 1976 mercedes interior. WOW!!!! this stuff is amazing. Worked on all the vinyls, seats/door panels and even the bits of plastic trim like the handle and side pockets which are hard plastic.

This really is an above and beyond product. Super easy to use, great price, and fantastic results.

Jonathan

5 out of 5

April 26, 2014

I don't know how you did it, but you truly have a product that worked far beyond my expectations. I don't have any before photos, but the $115.00 we spent on two bottles of dye and one bottle of clear coat has successfully restored two couches, that I believe are valued at over $2000.00! These couches had ink, wine, and dog urine stains that we thought had rendered the furniture unsavable. They were faded, cracked, dry and ugly. Frankly, my wife and I were embarrassed to have guests see them. After six coats of cognac, and one coat of clear coat, they look like new! We have dye and clear coat left over for future patchwork because of...More
I don't know how you did it, but you truly have a product that worked far beyond my expectations.

I don't have any before photos, but the $115.00 we spent on two bottles of dye and one bottle of clear coat has successfully restored two couches, that I believe are valued at over $2000.00!

These couches had ink, wine, and dog urine stains that we thought had rendered the furniture unsavable. They were faded, cracked, dry and ugly. Frankly, my wife and I were embarrassed to have guests see them.

After six coats of cognac, and one coat of clear coat, they look like new! We have dye and clear coat left over for future patchwork because of the dogs and sun damage from the window.

I will recommend Rub N Restore to anyone who desires to resurrect their leather furniture.

Thanks again,

Daphne

5 out of 5

March 18, 2014

I admit, I was a bit skeptical when we purchased the Rub n Restore system, but with the results we've had I would recommend this to anyone looking to restore/dye leather furniture. 5 Stars!!!

Lynette

5 out of 5

February 19, 2014

I watched the instructional video before purchasing. It was really as easy as the demonstration. I bought the small bottle and started with an ottoman before the large chair and sofa. Can't wait to get started on the next pieces. The color was very close to the original color of the furniture. I did this to show my husband that I can change the color of my living room furniture that is an off white color. I want to make it darker.

Kim, Buda, TX

5 out of 5

November 2, 2012

“I received your products today and couldn't wait to get started. I was only able to do the seat cushions and ottoman tonight, but those are what needed the most work. I am thrilled! They look so good! The cognac color worked perfectly. I love it. And it was so easy! I'm going to do the chairs tomorrow to get the color to match the cushions and ottoman. Thank you so much!”

Jessica, Indianapolis, IN

5 out of 5

April 23, 2012

“First, I just used some Cognac dye and Clear Prep Finish to restore an imitation Eames chair and ottoman I found at a consignment store. It was pretty cracked and worn looking before, but now looks brand new thanks to Rub 'n Restore!! Everyone I've shown it to can't believe the transformation. The pictures don't do it justice but you can see a definite difference!”

Matthew, Jacksonville, FL

5 out of 5

January 1, 1970

“I used the cognac as a base with a small amount of walnut to darken it and then tinted that with a little organic yellow from ADV Leather. I then glazed the couch with that color first. I then used a slightly darker version (more walnut) to put a second print coat on top. I used a mixture of the clear and the dull topcoat from ADV Leather to create the matte glaze. To deal with the streakiness of the Adv product, I would apply the colorant with the sponge and then go over that tapping with a damp wax application sponge (the ones covered in terry cloth) to smooth the application. Buffing with a polishing cloth also helped. I then top coated t...More
“I used the cognac as a base with a small amount of walnut to darken it and then tinted that with a little organic yellow from ADV Leather. I then glazed the couch with that color first. I then used a slightly darker version (more walnut) to put a second print coat on top. I used a mixture of the clear and the dull topcoat from ADV Leather to create the matte glaze. To deal with the streakiness of the Adv product, I would apply the colorant with the sponge and then go over that tapping with a damp wax application sponge (the ones covered in terry cloth) to smooth the application. Buffing with a polishing cloth also helped. I then top coated the couches with a mixture of 60/40 clear/dull and once dried for a day buffed this to get the somewhat satin appearance. I am stoked! Having used the ADV color line to tint, I am very glad to have used your line to do the meat of the work. Looks really good to me. We will see how it holds up, but I think it should be good to go for awhile! Oh, I also added feet that I stained later on. No other improvements were made.”

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