Nothing negative to say about DFSc and highly recommended, but as compared to BrFlSc, there seems to be a more chocolatey note with BrFlSc that I enjoy very much. However, if you want strong, DFSc will certainly satisfy. As srong as, if not stronger than, and different than, 1792 by way of comparison.

The producers Gawith and Hogarth mention the presence of Tonquin and liquorice as well as other flavourings as being present but some reviewers have compared this blend to Sam Gawith's 1792 which I feel is a little misleading. Tonquin and liquorice play a minor part in this blends flavourings and aroma, but in 1792 these ingredients have a more forward, dominant role and transfer to the smoke of that blend much more than any flavourings do in DFS. The main or dominant ingredient/aroma of DFS is a very different and lighter middle note of either (I think at least) Geranium or Rose Geranium which may well remind smokers of the Lychee fruit. Being a middle note and not as heavy as Tonquin which is regarded as a base note, the sweeter, lighter flavourings remain primarily in the back ground to the smoker who is rewarded with the quality taste and strength of the pressed virginia leaf rather than that of any over powering additives. I may well be wrong ofcourse and setting myself up for criticism but these are my humble observations regarding the matter of the otherwise only mentioned as 'other/miscellaneous' flavourings.

DFS stands alongside Dark Flake and others from the G&H house as a very good dark fired virginia and deserves in my eyes at least, simply on the strength of the tobacco's quality to come recommended. Although a favourite of mine there are others such as Conniston Cut Plug which I slightly prefer. If you find Conniston a little too strong for your tastes and / or prefer a lighter aroma to your smoke, then DFS will no doubt fit your needs.

overall this is a very good Va blend, but not as good as SG 1792 flake.

This would be a great tobacco for someone that loves the robust feistyness of Dark Flake Unscented but wants something they can smoke around others. Ok, "some" others! I got varied comments, but smoking DFU garnered one comment echoed umpteen times - "YUCK"! This had a heavily scented tin aroma that did not correlate to the flavor very much. What flavoring my batch possessed burned off within the first 20 or so puffs. From that point forward, it tasted exactly like my memory of DFU but gave off a more tolerable room aroma. In that sense, this could be the perfect tobacco for someone. I found it deep, dark and luxurious tasting, just like its unscented brother. Very nicotine-laden, and smaller bowls are recommended. This one lulled me to over-relaxation, both through the flavor and through the nicotine buzz.

I could not smoke this one all day or even everyday. Perhaps once per week. But this is a tobacco that I intend to have around for those times where it just fits in when nothing else will satisfy. This is a 3.5 star blend, downgraded due to its occasional status and not its flavor!

I got this as a sample and im glad i did because it is a bit to strong for me so I will stay with Kendal Flake, hence the three stars. However if you like youre Lakeland florals on the heavy side this is definutly for you.

Chac'un à son propre goût. (??)

Would one imbibe a fine red wine without letting it "breathe" ??

When I opened it, I got a whiff of that horrible landfill smell 1792 flake has (How I ever forced myself to smoke an entire tin of that sh!t was a miracle of biblical proportions) but it was not quite as foul to my nose, though at first I thought I wasted my money.

These are dark, very fragile flakes which fall apart to the touch, and smell bitter. Maple, yes, I smell that, licorice I smell, but the tonquin is by far the strongest. Fortunately, very little of the latter comes through in the taste, only if you puff fast and hard. The maple is nowhere to be found and the licorice takes the show. This tastes a LOT like rum flake, but is more strongly flavored and scented.

I loaded in an OD size pipe, but only a little past halfway since I hadn't eaten all day. About halfway through it I had to get back to work, so put it in my pocket and let it go out. I had a bit of a buzz going but it wasn't as strong as I remembered dark flake being, so when I got off I tried to dgt, but got an ashy taste so I just reloaded it with a larger amount.

Near the end of the bowl I got that skoal/grizzly chewing tobacco nicotine buzz.

This stuff is smooth in every sense of the word. Stronger than 1792 nicotine wise and without its vile taste and smell - this is what 1792 should have been, and is a better choice if you don't care for its overpowering tonquin. Much better than the unscented version, which is a bit boring.

Smells like cologne to a T, but with a strongly bitter note behind it to the scent, though not in the taste: smokes "licorice floral."

This is the Germain-Robin XO brandy of tobacco.

Just as good as rum flake but not something you want to smoke if you are being active unless you've eaten a lot. I'll rotate this as my afternoon smoke.

Another solid 4 star winner from Gawith and Hoggarth. I will keep this one stocked at all times.

*Update*

Tonquin is THE bubblegum flavor of yesterday. This tobacco has made a part of the daily rotation but it gets monotonous unless it's in a tall thin bowl like a cutty. Smokes best in a clay.

I gather it is only available in bulk. My order came drier than most GH flakes. In the bag the aroma is pleasant and inviting. Scented, but not "soapy". I have not tried folding it, but I will. Rubbed out it stays lit, if you want it to.

In the bowl it is pretty much as described by GH. At first cool and sweet with hints of maple and licorice, then I noticed the tonquin flavor, and then the very mild floral flavor. I smoke a lot of Lakeland essence tobaccos, and I allow that mild to me may be different for you. The toppings are dominated by the Malawi and Indian leaf, smoky and cigar-like. Yet, it retains its sweet VA character. It is strong, but not harsh to me. In fact, the bottom third is pretty darn mellow. It burns cool and dry to a powdery, white ash.

I give it 4 stars because I enjoy it very much and with full knowledge that many will not. I can highly recommend it to ligero cigar smokers wanting something comparable in a pipe tobacco.

Stronger that 1792 and much stronger than Peterson's Irish Flake, the scented version of GH Dark Flake is a dangerous and/but extreme pleasure. Arrived rather dry, so there was no need to further prepare it except for rubbing out, loading and lighting up.

I'll second loosewatches' opinion - although the DFS is scented, the taste and aroma when smoking is almost exclusively of the dark fired leaf. It's only when you smell it in the bag or wherever you prefer to keep it that you know it's scented. I would say I love the tin aroma, except that it's a bulk version in my case. And once lit up, the smoke reveals a hint of tonquin and a floral note characteristic of many GH flakes, but no other added flavors.

As with all weed of this kind, good drying and a small pipe is advisable.

The Dark Flake Scented is not as cloyed with tonquin as the acclaimed 1792 Flake by Samuel Gawith and more authentic and powerful than Peterson's Irish Flake, which makes DFS the right choice for me when I crave for a stronger tobacco.

I specifically asked about the bus stop restroom on Kärnterstrasse, because they were The Best. With a hint of mint, plenty of honeysuckle oil and a touch of rose madder (the real deal) they not only provided a great smoke, once dried, but also left a great scent in my Bo Nordh nautilus and a very pretty pink tinge to my cake. I found they tasted best when savored with a small glass of soap from rest-stop 3 on the A2 autobahn. But, since they are no longer being stocked in the urinals and the soap is all but gone, I am deeply saddened.

Enter Dark Flake Scented!

Of all the flakes Gawith Hoggarth offers in both scented and unscented versions, this is by far the least scented. I don't know if the scenting is less liberally applied or it's just a matter of Dark Flake being so damn powerful that nothing can cover its vital brutal huge flavor.

Whatever the case, I agree that this is a palate plasterer. The scenting for me is only slightly floral and nothing else. (and no match for a real urinal cake, let no one fool you). I don't taste any tonquin maple nor licorice.

Like the unscented version this is a true strong tobacco experience. Once burning well it's as smooth and rich a smoke as any. The light floral dusting here helps during light up to reduce harshness and then, for me at least, fades into the background. Nicotine is rather extreme, making this a bad candidate for a 'work smoke' should you be lucky enough to smoke whilst working.

All in all a great companion to the U/S version, but no replacement for bathroom products.

Dark Flake Scented is loaded with true tobacco flavor, and not advised for the wimpy tongued crowd. Dark Flake Scented plasters the palate with unrelenting flavor and strength. Nicotine in high doses is a good thing as far as I am concerned, so I really enjoyed the fullness of the leaf. It burns a little hotter than some of the Lakeland style flakes that I have smoked, but cooler than most.

It was not terribly difficult to rub out and once I got it going, it stayed lit very well. The unrubbed flakes are long, black and leathery. It looks as powerful as it tastes.

If a heavy Virginia leaf with sweetness of the Lakeland style is what you are after, you'd be hard pressed to find something better than this. So, it gets four stars from this member of the full strength crowd.

Although the underlying tobacco is undeniably good, there are way too many added flavorings/perfumes competing for this reviewers palate.

I enjoy a good flavored tobacco but this is ridiculous.

For my money, the unscented version of this is MUCH better.

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