Holbrook's Nat and Fonz Corbett get set to launch their magic leather-care balm at Henty Field Days

Its basis? A 100-year-old recipe “scratched on a piece of old paper”, obtained by a persistent young shearer who “kept asking around” about what he could use to preserve and protect his saddle.

“I’ve since discovered it was a very familiar recipe to many pre-WWI and at the time was very commonly used in the colonies,” said Fonz, who is well known in the local equine industry for his hoof-trimming services.

“A part of the product was derived from rendered animal tallow so essentially it was made up from what a lot of people had on hand at the time.”

That was around eight years ago and the success Nat and Fonz had with using it on their own products, and then selling it in small batches alongside candles and other products at local markets, gave them the impetus to dream big.

They believe the all-natural and traditional product will revolutionise the way people look after their leather goods – whether it be saddles, handbags, work boots, furniture or car, boat or aircraft interiors.

“I got the recipe from a really good horseman and shearer who had been given it by another knockabout,” said Fonz.

“What we love about this product is that it uses all-natural ingredients. It’s what really interested us; the recipe didn’t contain any petroleum-based carriers, paraffin waxes or any of those things that contain micro-plastics.”

The other remarkable thing about the leather conditioner is that it works three ways: to clean, condition and protect, all in the one application.

There have been a few minor tweaks, plenty of tests and some carefully considered fine-tuning along the way to finally be ready to launch the product at southern Australia’s largest agricultural event, in Henty.