As I’ve mentioned before, I have no joy whatsoever with finely ground snuff no matter what technique of how gently it’s used, and this made me wonder if it’s down to nasal cilia … or lack of. If it’s not there in “normal” quantities, or not functioning properly, it would certainly explain the lack of “catchment” in the nose. My solution has been to stick to snuffs which work well in my nose - either in coarseness or moisture. I did wonder though if it was more then just “me”. The cilia is impaired/damaged with cigarette smoke, which I’ve been having plenty of for over 20 years. It also seems I struggle worse than other people in dusty environments over recent years, which again would suggest possible issues with cilia and ineffective filtration. I therefore wondered what correlations there are between cigarette smoking and tolerance of the finer grinds. Are there long term cig smokers here enjoying fine grinds, or are the fine grind enthusiasts cigarette free?

I’m a former smoker and I love the fine grinds, but everybody’s nose is different, maybe yours just isn’t right for finer grinds. Cilia should regrow within 24-48 hours of quitting smoking from what I’ve read.

Funnily enough, when I started snuffing I was a long term smoker (have given up burning my tobacco now) yet quite early on was able to cope with finer grinds pretty well, in fact I still prefer them over coarse or gros grinds now, which tend to make me sneezy and cause my nose to run. I have to take smaller pinches of these but am happy taking large pinches/bumps of toasts or other fine grinds such as scotches.

Well that’s totally poo-pooed that theory then =)) I’d still be very interested to hear from everyone else though :-bd

I’m a former smoker and I love the fine grinds, but everybody’s nose is different, maybe yours just isn’t right for finer grinds. Cilia should regrow within 24-48 hours of quitting smoking from what I’ve read.

Yup, pretty much came to that conclusion already, but wondered if it might be due to a broader phenomenon. The speed of repair sounds incredibly quick at 48 hours - not that I’m doubting it - just surprised

I had been a heavy smoker for many years (much less now… Yay! Thanks magic snuff) I think that it’s more than likely technique. I had a lot of issues with toasts initially and they still occasionally hit my throat. Strangely that how I found this forum actually; looking for tips - http://snuffhouse.org/discussion/2511/taking-toasts-properly - among other gems; have a search! The best tip I came across, was to pinch small and sniff like your smelling a delicate flower {apologies whoever said this I can’t find it to reference you directly – Thanks though; excellent advice!]. The other thing I do is what I term ‘popping it’ pinch a small bit press fingers to nose pop them back off as you inhale very gently. A wetter nose helps a lot too. There is a knack to this which you just ‘get’ with perseverance and practice. From reading the posts here no one gets this right all the time from the off; well worth the effort though I guarantee that in a short time you’ll be snuffing up toast like a seasoned professional

As soon as I gave up smoking (well after my lungs cleared out), I stopped coughing when snuffing fine grinds. Taking big pinches became MUCH easier. I don’t think smoking and fine snuffs go well together esp if you want to enjoy the (much nicer) snuff buzz which you don’t get if you smoke fags too. Ditch the fags to properly realise the benefits of snuff.

20 smoker, quit for snuff, won’t go back. I love love love, fine, dry, smoky, STRONG snuff. I prefer to spoon. I can take spoonfuls of any white, flick it up my nose, pinch, pause and exhale, just wonderful and minimal throat hit if any at all. To pinch and sniff, I would have the same burning problem as the majority of novices would. IMHO, its all in technique. Being an ex smoker, tobacco flavor is still the preferred flavor for me, but subtly flavoring with mixing snuffs as well as purchasing them all for your collection is highly recommended. moist nose+favored technique=most enjoyment of fine grind/ toast/ white and american snuffs! P.s. the sweets are sugared for oral use.

I use fine snuff, I smoked cigarettes 40 years and quit, still smoke 5 bowl of pipe tobacco, It take 3 months to heal your lungs from smoking ,with proper exercise. My lungs are shot from other containments. I often smoke mullein herb mixed with coltsfoot herb when I have problems along with lung wort herb in tea form. If you have fine snuff you can mix a moist snuff with it; at a ratio that your comfortable with. and gradually use less moist mixed.

Hmmm … the last four posts sound a little more like I expected (particularly @SnuffySnuff stopping smoking then fine grinds becoming easier). @basement_shamen You’re right - using a mix is the only practical way I’ve found for my nose, closely followed by the barely tolerable method of using a coarse snuff first to act as a filter - but I need a reasonably nose clogging amount of filtration that way @MisterPaul I’ve tried every technique I’ve seen listed here, plus some I haven’t, and my nose is simply incompatible with the finer stuff - what doesn’t hit my throat lands on my shirt. For clarification: I’m personally very happy with the coarser grinds and there’s more than enough options to keep me happy, so it’s really not an issue for me at all. Don’t worry I’m not missing out - I’ve found what I like and I’m happy with it I just wondered if the incompatibility was smoking (cilia) related … more for other noobs coming along than myself - not everyone is going to be compatible with every type of snuff, and I’d hate to think that new guys might abandon snuff altogether due to struggling with snuffs that simply don’t suit them. If there is anything in this theory, then some people are possibly going to continue to struggle until (personally I’m not ready at all ) they quit smoking cigs and their nose recovers … assuming they actually want to get into the fine stuff that is …

I wonder what the reason is for particular grinds of snuff. Why not just make them all medium for instance? Someone here probably knows or has a good idea. I think the finer grinds give a speedier hit, maybe thats just all it is, or just tradition? I wonder why @50ft_trad you say you are not ready at all to stop smoking? After a while using snuff I pretty much lost interest in smoking. Although there still seems to be a pshycological recollection of the habit it’s not enough to make me go buy any or accept one from a smoker which never was the case before I started snuff. I smoked for 30 years, to often to heavily, but I can use fine snuff ok (my lungs seem good still) although some does reach my throat/lungs but I even sort of like the taste of my toast blend. I think drinking water tea whatever helps with the dry fine stuff. Maybe just helps clear the throat. Could be something as simple as that might sort it for you? I would miss the finer grind snuffs.

@I_snuff_therefore___ I think it’s a combination of tradition and the nicotine hit. I bet the moisture effects the scent to a certain extent, and it certainly effects the strength. I was finishing off my SG KB tin this morning which had gotten quite dry and a couple of boxcars had me buzzing my face off, and it smelled different (in this case it had lost some scent). I think some blends of tobaccos/scents are better dry and some better moist. I’m with you on quitting smoking, when I first quit with snuff/snus I still missed them but honestly now I smoke cigarettes maybe once every month or two at parties and they just don’t hit me the same way anymore, I’ll smoke a cigarette and it just makes me crave a pinch of snuff even more, whereas before it was the opposite! I guess my brain’s adjusted to the “rhythm” of nicotine intake from snuff.

@I_snuff_therefore___ to be honest, I’m not as attatched to snuffing as I am to smoking … yet. In fact my smoking has been creeping back up again lately, which is one of the reasons I have ditched all the problematic ones - if I make snuffing a chore I won’t want to do it. I do enjoy the coarser grinds, but it’s not got to the level where it can compete with the ciggies yet. I actually enjoy smoking, I just don’t like being a slave to it. Snuffing gives me an alternative where I can choose to smoke or do something else instead, one craving at a time without having to completely give up something I enjoy

Cilia can be destroyed. Usually hot smokers destroy more cilia. The longer you have been smoking will also take tolls. However there are many millions and you will not likely miss those deaths. The bad news is that destroyed cilia cells can be replaced with cells that may become cancerous.

@I_snuff_therefore___ to be honest, I’m not as attatched to snuffing as I am to smoking … yet. In fact my smoking has been creeping back up again lately, which is one of the reasons I have ditched all the problematic ones - if I make snuffing a chore I won’t want to do it. I do enjoy the coarser grinds, but it’s not got to the level where it can compete with the ciggies yet. I actually enjoy smoking, I just don’t like being a slave to it. Snuffing gives me an alternative where I can choose to smoke or do something else instead, one craving at a time without having to completely give up something I enjoy

I see your point and no sense switching completely to snuff if you still prefer smoking but for me it was the fine toast that really got me off smoking. When I started snuff the first thing I wondered was could it replace my smoking and it took me a while to answer that. I just thougth snuff did not have enough nicotine and especially to get me going first thing in the morning when I crave the biggest hit. It’s like that NRT question were they ask you how quickly do you light up on waking and for me it was as soon as I could make a hot drink and I did love that first smoke. Now I love my first snuff. I just lay back in bed in the morning and let it do it’s thing. I love all my snuffs and I think my mood has improved a lot now that I switched from smoking to only snuff. Maybe this will happen to you eventually? Am noticing more now that when I am around smokers or see them on TV etc it affects me pretty much not at all. A sign I welcome. I have what I need and yet more great new snuffs on the way.

Good point, @i_snuff_therefore Drinking milky drinks like tea (the British way) helps against irritation because the milk lines your throat.

And the milk also binds up the tannin in the tea, resulting in lowered risk of throat cancer…

Indeed, @Mouse. A doctor told me just that, when I was a smoker.

@I_snuff_therefore___ to be honest, I’m not as attatched to snuffing as I am to smoking … yet. In fact my smoking has been creeping back up again lately, which is one of the reasons I have ditched all the problematic ones - if I make snuffing a chore I won’t want to do it. I do enjoy the coarser grinds, but it’s not got to the level where it can compete with the ciggies yet. I actually enjoy smoking, I just don’t like being a slave to it. Snuffing gives me an alternative where I can choose to smoke or do something else instead, one craving at a time without having to completely give up something I enjoy

I see your point and no sense switching completely to snuff if you still prefer smoking but for me it was the fine toast that really got me off smoking. When I started snuff the first thing I wondered was could it replace my smoking and it took me a while to answer that. I just thougth snuff did not have enough nicotine and especially to get me going first thing in the morning when I crave the biggest hit. It’s like that NRT question were they ask you how quickly do you light up on waking and for me it was as soon as I could make a hot drink and I did love that first smoke. Now I love my first snuff. I just lay back in bed in the morning and let it do it’s thing. I love all my snuffs and I think my mood has improved a lot now that I switched from smoking to only snuff. Maybe this will happen to you eventually? Am noticing more now that when I am around smokers or see them on TV etc it affects me pretty much not at all. A sign I welcome. I have what I need and yet more great new snuffs on the way.

@I_snuff_therefore___ For me the first nic fix of the day is always a ciggie. That might be just an automatic function though. First snuff is usually an hour or two later, and the ratio of the two throughout the day varies all the time. Getting the e-cig back on line (I misplaced the charging cable for a while) has helped too. I think if I wanted to try giving the cigs the heave-ho, I should stop exploring new snuffs for a while and just stick to the ones I know I like until the transition was complete, and keep the e-cig handy as back up … I just know there’s not much point at the moment as there isn’t enough desire for me to succeed with it. If I really wanted to I would … but I don’t yet. Just a matter of timing I think, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I did decide that I’m ready in the not too distant future