Shaving Product Review - L&L Grooming "Darkfall"
Value (Cost, Packaging and Performance)
Lather (Density, Glide and Feel)
Post-shave (Healing, Moisture and Feel)
Scent (Quality, Strength and Longevity)
Everything you love about the original L&L Grooming Darkfall #soap and #aftershave scent - now with MOAR - thanks to a matching #EdP!
This EdP is not an exact duplicate of the scent in the soap and aftershave. We reduced the birch tar to allow the agarwood and amber to come through much earlier during drydown. The birch tar serves as the top note straight out of the bottle but mellows reasonably quickly, leaving behind the treemoss on top of the benzoin, amber, and agarwood.
I did a very extensive review of Darkfall last year when it made its debut. I won't get into all that again, especially since I recently revisited Darkfall not long ago... But the news for today is the matching Eau de Parfum (EdP) strength to go with it! At long last, for all the fans (of which I am definitely one). This is something I feel more artisans should be doing. I've adjusted the chart above for "Scent" to match my feelings on the EdP. It was released on September 26, 2017. Do not dawdle, as it's a seasonal:
Autumn 2017 Seasonal - stock will be added in batches based on demand until December 31st.
As the quote above mentions, this isn't exactly like the soap and aftershave... But it's not allthat different, either. It's still the scent you know and love, but tuned slightly for the EdP treatment to provide a more balanced accord. Birch tar smells like, well, tar - but more so charred wood and smoke, reminiscent of a campfire. It's pungent and at EdP strength can be a bit much. So basically, the smokiness was dialed back to allow the other notes to shine - and that they do! This is a warm, woodsy accord that's sure to delight fans of this genre, much like the original.
I was both disappointed and delighted with how the EdP performs. While the sillage is a bit on the lower side of things, longevity is outstanding at 8+ hours. I definitely expected more presence considering both the suggested EdP strength and the amount I spritzed on. It does go on a bit strong, but mellows quickly. What remained, however - I can still smell well into the day.
The packaging is gorgeous, and clearly reflects the Darkfall branding - literally and figuratively... Not just the clear bottle itself (revealing the amber goodness within) but the equally clear label affixed to the bottle that lets it shine through. It features a simple tree graphic that recalls the shaving software labels/artwork - yet adds an elegant flair. Minimal writing on the label continues that trend, and simply states L&L Grooming along with the website on one side, and "50ML," Darkfall and "Eau de Parfum" on the other.
I find the overall presentation to be among the best in the artisanal space... Executed a little better than Chatillon Lux (which has some label fit issues) but not quite on the order of Barrister and Mann that comes in a custom cardboard box. This Darkfall EdP did not have a box but the spray bottle itself is probably my favorite of the three. Pricewise, it's less expensive than Chatillon Lux offerings by $5-25 and Barrister and Mann standard offerings by $10... Even $55 compared to Fougére Gothique - but that comes in a comparable 50ml size... Speaking of quantity; Chatillon Lux offers 59ml, while Barrister and Mann offers only 30ml (aside from the aforementioned Fougére Gothique). So all things considered, this EdP represents a very good (or at least comparable) value.
Hardware today consisted of the #TimelessRazor with a titanium #Stork handle and a #PolSilver blade on shave three while the #ThatDarnRob brush provided an irresistible visual balance to the Darkfall colors, including the wood of the trees - and lathered up this fine goodness in the #GTP scuttle.
The Darkfall trifecta is complete! All fans of this excellent scent can now rejoice. The EdP treatment has done the accord proud and should make them happy. As mentioned, the sillage is a bit on the low side, but the longevity is right up there among the best of them... And at a very reasonable price. Highly recommended.