I’ve got a tin of SP Scotch that was opened shortly after I started snuffing in earnest, and I don’t use it very frequently. However I just popped it open now and took a pinch when I noticed a bunch of little crystals that I never noticed before. Snuff smells/ feels the same, moisture is as I remember it, but never saw those crystals before. So the question is; has this snuff gone wacky, or is this normal for some tins? Also, and slightly more important, now that I’ve taken a pinch, am I gonna die? :-S
I could be one of the ingredients that settled together. It is possible that it is a mold/fungus also. I had some Domingo develop what can only be described as wispy- almost spider web formations in a container. As for your mortality- sadly I am unable to predict if, when or how anyone’s demise will come about.
I would say its salt or menthol (…which SP Scotch probably doesn’t have any…), but could you post a picture?
@SgtJon I believe the Santo Domingo crystals were explained as being aluminium oxidation and corrosion debris caused by the wet and salty rapée. I’ve noticed LOTS of crystals on a tin of GH Sea Breezes, perhaps wintergreen essence or salt or menthol crystals (and if the answer it’s the latter, should they be there?). Anyway, they scared the hell out of me so I use the snuff with caution, but I bet they’re a strange kind of salt crystals, just like filaments.
SP Scotch DOES have sodium carbonate (almost all snuffs do) which could break down into NaCL (table salt) crystals under the right circumstances ie heat and mild acid(lemon juice or vinegar left on the hands from lunch) plus water evaporation could do it.
Alright, here is a photo of the snuff in question. So far not too dead or sick.
If the tin is in no way corroded then you should be ok. Ive heard of mould in certain types ofsnuff but it seems pretty rare. The only time Ive seen crystal was in a Wilsons Princes and the tin was absolutely corroded/rusted shut so I tossed it.
Hard to tell if that is NaCL (table salt) or Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) from tin corrosion, look at a couple of individual crystals under a magnifying glass; Al203 looks like ax heads and NaCL looks like ice cubes. BTW Aluminum Oxide isn’t thought to be harmful if inhaled, but there is a degree of correlation in at least one study that links Aluminum concentration in human tissue to likelihood of dementia in older adults. Table Salt is completely harmless if insnuffalated. I would at least decant product into a airtight glass jar to prevent further degradation.