Reddit mentions of FRYE Leather Conditioning Cream, Neutral, One Size (Product packaging has been updated and may appear different from images)

Oh man, I love when people ask stuff like this on Reddit. I bootblack, and have worked on countless leather boots! Frye boots are lovely.

First off, what kind finish do your Melissa Buttons have, or did they have when you got them? For instance, looking at the current line, Antiqued/Polished can take polish, Rugged should not be polished, and Suede will have an entirely different cleaning/care routine from the other two. I'll assume it's closer to the first two for the following.

For any leather that's not suede or nubuck, the first step is cleaning. You can pick up some saddle soap (Kiwi exists in your local drug store or grocery store and is totally fine) or use just about any mild soap - I regularly use diluted Dr. Bronners. You want to create a lather and scrub that into the leather, and then wipe the boot down with a damp, not wet, rag. Be sure to get all the suds off the boot, but don't soak it either. If it's really dirty, feel free to repeat this step!

Then, I would choose a conditioner. I'd actually stay away from an animal-based oil like neatsfoot oil or mink oil, as well as less-stable oils like olive oil, since those could go rancid with too much humidity. I'm a big fan of Obenauf's, which gives good deep conditioning with just a bit of product (seriously, a little goes a long way) and has a pretty neutral scent. Frye actually sells a conditioning cream of their own, which I imagine would also be fine. Pretty much anything with a beeswax base is also good. Apply with your fingers so you can really rub it into the leather - the heat from your hands will help work it in.

Finally, if your boot is the sort that would look better with some shine, I would wait a day or two to let the conditioner soak in and then apply a bit of cream polish - this will give your boots some shine, but it won't be like, patent-leather mirror shiny, which I feel would be the wrong style for Frye boots. Kiwi also sells these, but Meltonian is my go-to. With cream polish, you apply a light coat and then buff the boot with a shoe brush in light, fast strokes. You can use your fingers to apply the polish, but it'll dye your fingertips, so either wear gloves or use a rag or a polish brush. Buff the boot until it's shiny to your liking!

Don't worry too much, it's pretty hard to ruin a good pair of boots while taking care of them. They'll definitely be happier with a bit of TLC!

Nice! I would still clean it, even if it doesn't look dirty. I mix a little dish soap (about a quarter size) in with warm water. I then use an old white t-shirt or rag to clean it -- I dip the rag into the mixed solution and then wipe off the entire bag, typically in a circular motion. I highly recommend this conditioner that I buy from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042NI86E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I have used it on all of my vintage Dooney and Coach bags and all my leather boots. I again use a piece (a new piece) of white rag and apply the conditioner pretty generously -- but you don't want any globs anywhere and wipe off anything that's noticeably sitting on any stitching. I then let it sit for about 10-20 minutes and wipe everything off in a circular motion with a clean rag piece. You'll then want to allow it time to dry. I'd say mine are typically dry within an hour. If you find any spots that still feel oily, just wipe them off again in a circular motion. Hopefully this helps! It's a process, but I did this today with this one I posted and it looks so much prettier!

Will this Frye Weatherproof Dressing be good for conditioning my leather shoes?

Hi there, sorry to bump an old post but had a quick question. How does the venetian balm differ from this Frye waterproof dressing? I have a pair of boots made in the same material and Frye recommended I use this wax, but I much prefer how your boots look treated with the Venetian.