The majority of our leathers are naturally conditioning and on their own and should not need to be treated with a conditioner right off the bat! As you begin to use your leather, you'll notice that it will naturally condition itself from the inside out, developing a beautiful sheen and naturally buffing scuffs and scratches. We encourage you to resist the urge to treat or clean minor stains and surface marks, as these will become less noticeable over time and contribute to the character of an authentic leather bag.
That said, our lighter colored leathers may be more prone to stains or discoloration from oils, water, and everyday dirt & grime. If you'd like to be extra precautious we recommend applying a leather protectant to help prevent stains and make cleaning the leather easier in the future. Our favorite is our Natural Leather Protector!
After 6-12 months of use, you may notice that you'd like to restore the luster and overall patina of your leather. We use The Ultimate Leather Conditioner in our workshop every day and are able to use it on even our lightest colors without any noticeable darkening. In our experience, the leather will look a bit darker when you first apply the conditioner, but will return to the original color when dry. Of course, take care to use a reasonable amount, as a super heavy coat may have different effects on the leather, and test any treatment on an inconspicuous area of your item at first.
Finally, some customers choose to add an extra waterproofing spray to their leather so it will better wick raindrops and moisture. We'd recommend going this route if you live in a particularly rainy or humid climate.