Of all the snuffs I’ve tried over the last month, the one that has the most incredible olfactory appeal to me is de Kralingse Macuba. It’s nothing like the F&T Macouba, which I also love; the de Kralingse is a completely different scent. I was expecting it to be strongly flavored with rose, but Macuba’s scent is very difficult to pin down, and unlike anything else I’ve ever had except maybe the Prins Regent. It reminds me of brown sugar, warm salt air, sweet, freshly sawed wood, some kind of warm-weather spices, rope and maybe rum or brandy. It makes me feel like I’m aboard a ship of war in the Caribbean during the late 18th century. On the Quarterdeck, of course. A snuff that might well have been used by Captain Jack Aubrey. At any rate, I had to lock it up two nights in a row, as I was in serious danger of OD’ing on it. It’s too delicious.
I agree, but it is Rose. It has the same base as Prins Regent, both of which include some cognac. You aren’t the first to think they give a nice old ship smell. Very ropey, I would say.
@ Xander The “old ship” association is strange, since I’ve never been on an old ship. It smells to me like what I fantasize an old ship would smell like, having read the old Patrick O’Brian and C.S. Forester books when I was younger (and older too, if the truth be told). I would never have been able to detect “Rose” if I was sniffing blind, but it seems to be the consensus that Rose is in fact the basis of Macuba’s scent. In any case, a lot more of my snuff budget is going to de Kralingse from now on. This is the third that I’ve tried (the A/P and Prins Regent being the other two) and all have been absolutely unique and inspired. I’m very much looking forward to trying the Latakia Ao and the Hollandse since my tastes are running more in the direction of straight tobacco these days. Which is strange because for all the years I smoked, I never smoked anything but full flavored menthols except for the odd Camel and Lucky Strike Straight.
Good books. Good snuifs too. Pompadour has the same base as Macuba and Prins Regent. I don’t think it has the cognac. One you may want to try. All have descriptions on their website: snuifmolenslist of snuffs
@ All, Thanks for the kind words. The Macuba is flavoured with rose oil and Dutch cognac, called Vieux. Prins Regent is based on the Macuba supplemented with extra rose oil, bergamot oil and some lemon flavour. Pompadour is flavoured with bergamot oil, clove oil and some lemon flavour. For all three Brazilian Virginia tobacco is used. Jaap Bes.
That Brazilian Virginia is awesome. Your not so bad yourself there Mr Bes.
@ snuffmiller There is also some serious mystical, magic going on in those snuffs. Also, the Brazilian Virginia tobacco used is SWEET! I just can’t wait to try the Latakia’s.
TO LHB: You should go on an old ship if you have the inkling for old smells and history. Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_museum\_ships There are various types. The largest contingent are US Navy WW2 vessels. There are some other exotic presences. Depending on where you live, maybe you can find a sailing ship near you. I will say, I am a big fan of museum ships and frequent such museums from time to time (someone posted a Wilmington photograph of their “faces” and it had the USS North Carolina in the back-ground!!!). Most ships smell of something you’re not used to, including those battleships. But the smell of those wooden ships is quite something. Have you ever been to Mystic seaport? Interesting place, has some old sailing ships you can board, I highly recommend it if you ever pass by the area.
Ah, the smell of an old ship…it had been a while since I’d been on an old ship, and then 2 years ago I took a tour of the USS Silversides (a Gato-class submarine on display in Muskegon, MI). My, do I love that smell…I’d have given anything to see those massive Fairbanks-Morse opposed-piston diesels rumble to life! But then again, that goes to my other passion, which is old engines of any kind…