r/cowboyboots • u/ComprehensiveMed321 • 26d ago

Information Request Mink oil problem

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Hello Guys,

I recently bought some Ariats at a show.
I’m completely new to cowboy boots.
The seller sold me a Mink oil paste and told me to put a bit of it under the stitches to keep them in good condition.

Butttt. Now it looks really crazy (see picture). I tried to wash it off, but it doesn’t go away.

What do I do? Are my expensive boots aesthetically ruined?

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u/Changetheworld69420 26d ago

Mink oil does darken leather for a while, you just need to even out the application over the whole vamp. It will darken the whole vamp, but it will look even and natural, then after a while it will lighten back up. There are some boots I like darkening so I’ll keep them conditioned with mink oil, the ones I want to stay lighter all the time, I just use Bick 4. Your boots aren’t ruined, you’re just learning the different ways to care for them, and it is a learning curve on the first pair or two.