I first tried snuff back in 1982. Got heavily back into it just over two years ago. My nose and sinuses are extremely sensitive (probably should not take snuff). There is no way in the world I can take fine dry snuff. I can’t take heavily scented snuff either. One way around this is for me to make sure I get very moist snuffs or use distilled water to make snuff more wet. Coarse wet snuff I can do, or finer snuff that is almost past like from distilled water. Anyone else do this?
It took me a while to get used to fine dry snuff, and I also prefer coarser, moister snuffs like Viking, however with trial and error and adjustments to my technique I can now enjoy the likes of White Elephant. From what I’ve read, everyone seems to differ in their approach, but if it’s something you want to enjoy, my unprofessional advice is to keep trying and adjusting!
See this thread http://www.snuffhouse.org/discussion/9613/tips-for-taking-white-elephant-and-other-fine-snuffs I snuff HDT since yesterday and it works just fine, because i learned pinching fine(r)grind snuffs with WoS CoC before. Mentholated fine snuffs should be suitable for this, because it instantly hurts when u r doing something wrong.
It’s not a complete disaster if you like coarser snuffs! I don’t like snuff that gets to the back of the throat either. Therefore I prefer F&T, De Kralingse and my home ground snuffs. I add salts to them but didn’t dare distilled water yet. Where can I buy that?
@Salmiak: distilled or demineralised water can be bought in a drugstore and even some supermarkets sell it. But why don’t you use just tapwater. The Dutch tapwater is of high quality. Jaap Bes.
Okay thanks Jaap I’m giving it a try. Leaving the snuff now for overnight and see again in the morning.
To me snuff is about enjoyment not trying and trying until I can bear something.
@ausDave When your nose seems to be too sensitive maybe you should try chew, dip or snus to enjoy.
To me snuff is about enjoyment not trying and trying until I can bear something.
Sometimes it can be about both. I’m still fairly new to snuff and I have not enjoyed all the snuffs I have tried by any stretch. I’ll continue to try new snuffs and will probably find that I don’t really enjoy a number of them, usually just because they don’t agree with me for one reason or another. Try different snuffs and stick with the ones that do bring you enjoyment. If you don’t get enjoyment from fine dry snuffs don’t keep trying them or limit yourself to those that you really believe you might like; and try to hunt down samples so that it’s free. I tried a lot of coarse snuffs and had a hard time finding any that I liked, with exception to a few of the artisans. I rarely try coarse snuffs because I don’t enjoy them much. This may change with time, but it’s fine with me if it doesn’t because I have so many snuffs that I truly enjoy.
I really like Red Taxi, Viking Dark and NTSU Black. Here’s a funny thing as much as I like NTSU Black it always makes me sneeze but not in the same way as fine dry snuffs, I think it is the amount of ammonia in it but it never gets too far up my nose.
Right, @ausDave I have happened upon a method quite by accident which seems to work with fine snuffs quite well. I’ll try and explain as best I can. I don’t have much of a pronounced anatomical snuff box personally, so one of my preferred methods for taking snuff at home is off the back of my hand. I find that if I use a snuff spoon, and spread the snuff, using my finger, across the back of my hand perhaps 1 to 1.5 inches by about half an inch (almost like a strip of snuff, but very very thin) I can sniff that (almost akin to “doing a line”) with a very gentle sniff, it all goes where it should, and I don’t get any irritation in the back of my throat all. I hope my explanation above makes sense, if so give it a try.
Try this method. It seems to work well. Go to youtube video below and visit Uncle Squinty who has a nice technique that may be of value to you. Paul covers several good techniques but the one that works best for me starts at 3:15 into the video. I apply this technique by grabbing my nose with my thumb and forefinger to slightly pinch my nose and apply slight pressure to especially close the nostril that is doing the snuffing. Paul uses only his index finger for the appropriate nostril and that works well too, as you can see in the video. Whatever works best for you is best, of course. But don’t give up. Some pleasures have a learning curve that develops into a skill, and doing the whites properly is one of those skills. I am betting that you will be glad you didn’t give up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z\_NDgVSAHl4&list=UUmJm-qVnOdumdJOnI0\_lYfw
There’s no shame in moistening dry, fine snuffs. I add a soaked tonka bean and it really helps and adds a beautiful fragrance. Snuffing big boxcars of white elephant isn’t the definition of macho.
Try this method. It seems to work well. Go to youtube video below and visit Uncle Squinty who has a nice technique that may be of value to you. Paul covers several good techniques but the one that works best for me starts at 3:15 into the video. I apply this technique by grabbing my nose with my thumb and forefinger to slightly pinch my nose and apply slight pressure to especially close the nostril that is doing the snuffing. Paul uses only his index finger for the appropriate nostril and that works well too, as you can see in the video. Whatever works best for you is best, of course. But don’t give up. Some pleasures have a learning curve that develops into a skill, and doing the whites properly is one of those skills. I am betting that you will be glad you didn’t give up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z\_NDgVSAHl4&list=UUmJm-qVnOdumdJOnI0\_lYfw
I think the technique used at 3:15 looks interesting. I’ll give it a go.
@Salmiak: distilled or demineralised water can be bought in a drugstore and even some supermarkets sell it. Jaap Bes.
If you have a dehumidifier in your home, it’s also in there. And it’s free. 
I use the drop-jaw method (that’s just what I call it) - close your throat, keep your lips closed, and then open your jaws as if you’re trying to look amazed, and that should draw just enough air into the nose to take the fine snuff up to where it should go.
Not everyone can. And it doesn’t matter. There’s a plethora of snuffs out there for your delectation.
A bendy straw helped me with fine dry Nunu before my nose got used to it, place a bit of snuff in the straw then put one end into your nose & the other into your mouth & blow, positive pressure in throat stops it going in too far.
I really like Red Taxi, Viking Dark and NTSU Black. Here’s a funny thing as much as I like NTSU Black it always makes me sneeze but not in the same way as fine dry snuffs, I think it is the amount of ammonia in it but it never gets too far up my nose.
I must admit, my personal favourite, Thor’s Hammer, sometimes makes me sneeze but also in a different way to the fine dry snuffs (if that makes any sense at all!) and it’s not bad at all. The coarse Viking grind stays in my nose even after a wee sneeze, and I love it!
Experimented a little with this problem last night and some Wille Pete. Take a mouthful of water prior to your sniff and swallow it as you inhale, bit of a convoluted way of doing it but did prevent the throat hit and sneezing and after some practice of the technique you’ll be able to do away with the water. Give it a go! 
Simultaneous drinking and snuffing, @EZSaddler? You must be rather dextrous. I’m sure it works, if you can manage it. Don’t think I ever could!