Obenhaufs is a fine leather preservative but like it does tend to darken leather but so do most that actually penetrate dried hide. I have used many different products over the years on hiking boots and other leather products and it is hands down the best. Brooks saddles are funny beasts, for example I found the "broken in" b17 model to be the hardest rock of a brooks I have ever sat on. It also soaked up obenhaufs like crazy due to whatever process they used to age it. Leather does need some type of preservative if used actively but a little goes a long way.