I have gotten to the point where nothing but English menthols does it for me. Everything else is just for variety, but English menthols are a necessity (I take snuff for medicinal purposes. I can’t breath through my nose otherwise). I had mostly good experiences with ordering online in the past, but recently for whatever Big Brotherish reasons I find myself scraping my tins with a spoon while waiting extra weeks for my packages. I am also moving to a place where I can’t get shipments easily, and while they do have their own snuff traditions out there, I still need something like Hedges or Wilsons. How can I replicate this on my own? I have tried various essential oils, and no matter what I do it still doesn’t give me the same throat-chilling nose-clearing icy burst I get from a real English mentholated snuff. Any suggestions?
Perhaps see a Ears Nose and Throat Specialist? If that is not an option be it financial or something else you should look into over the counter remedies. While this may sound strange even though Menthol feels like it is helping with congestion menthol actually causes inflammation and swelling of the sinuses which in turn leads to congestion.
My problem has nothing to do with congestion but thanks for the tip. Of course I’ve looked into everything available and for now mentholated snuff is the best remedy for me. Can anyone help with the menthol question?
You can order menthol crystals and camphor granules off of amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Natural-Brands-Menthol-Crystals/dp/B000UY874W http://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Natural-Brands-Camphor-Granules/dp/B000UYIQYI/ref=pd\\_sim\\_hpc\\_2 Don’t overdo it and don’t poison yourself with camphor. I believe I read in the archives somewhere you can mix menthol crystal with water and spritz onto snuff or mix a sparing amount directly into it.
Yep, menthol crystals. I’ve never experimented with them though. You may have to grind them down in a mortar. Where are you off to Matero? Back to Qatar?
Nope. Mongolia(!).
Mongolia?!?!? Bloody hell Matero you don’t half travel to some obscure countries lol! Stefan
Obscure is my middle name.
Lol fair enough. Why are you going to Mongolia? Is it for work or pleasure if so wtf do you do to take you to these countries, and have you got a job going lol? Stefan
You don’t need to grind menthol crystals. They melt under a low heat…
Thank you mattsnuffs and snuffhead for the information about menthol crystals. Good to know about the melting. I was wondering about powdered crystals mixed in with my snuff.
You can crush the menthol crystals, real easy, then add it to snuff. Shake it around then let it stand for a short time. Or drop the melted crystals in the snuff. The latter I would recommend, Melt them with a very tiny bit of hot water. WARNING:- You wont need many crystals, or water, as starters, but if the menthol is not strong enough, then just add more.
I am an old fart who snuffs daily. started using Dr. Rumneys mentholyptus way back in 1968 or so. I bought really good Toque menthol which is excellent and very reasonable in price. NOBODY here is as cheap a guy as me, and I have tried numerous times making it with WE GARRETT sweet snuff which is locally in Missouri USA about $3.65 a 1.13 oz cylinder container. I found that you can buy 500gm batches of Mentholated snuff from Wilsons of sharrow for I think about $30 plus shipping. That is about one pound. Really cheap. There are so many types of mentholated snuffs that wilson carries I cannot tell you which one has all the eucalyptus and menthol and camphor. I too love the medicated types. Some have some citrus etc. Do a lil research and come up with the one you really like. For that kind of money, do yourself a big big BIG favor and buy it ready made. It is a special ‘habit’ so indulge and buy the good stuff.
@matero: I’d be much obliged if you could retrieve some Mongolian snuff for me to try. Don’t bother about postage from there, it can wait until you come back.
Menthol crystals dissolve quite nicely in Everclear too; just a drop will do. If you want some, I have a great stock of menthol crystals and would be happy to send enough to you to flavor a great amount of your own snuff.
@ Xander-I’ve actually put the Mongolia trip on hold, but if I went it would be a long-term teaching stint. ddavelarsen- thanks for the offer. I would have ordered from you had I not already sent for 1/2 a pound from amazon.
btw-Everclear is illegal in New York
Yeah, I’ve heard about Everclear and New York. I think about everything pleasant is illegal in New York! They’re trying to outlaw ecigs there too.
Menthol crystals arrived today. I’ve tried both grinding them up with my tobacco and melting with and without water. It’s OK, but greybeard is right. There’s really nothing like the good stuff.
I’ve found grain alcohol like everclear is handy for cleaning my pipes.
@Xander, how often do you smoke your pipes?
At first when I was coming off cigarettes, about once a day. Now, maybe 3 or 4 times a month. I find I need to have 2 hours to set aside for a smoke, when I don’t have to do anything else. I don’t have that kind of free time often.
Smoke mine e few times a day plus.
Okay…Snuffhouse classic!! We have somehow gone from making homemade English menthol to smoking pipes…hahaha! But to stay off topic, i usually enjoy 2 bowls in the evening. An aromatic while snuffing, and a regular right before bed.
ha! “but to stay OFF topic”…THAT’S classic. Gonna use that with a relative who always cuts me off and takes me for 600 mile due-West conversational detours.
I found a source for you for Eucalyptus, probably too much but it is in bulk. Source is FRONTEIR HERBS FROM NORWAY IOWA USA…not far from Cedar Rapids Iowa usa and the amana colonies. Been there, done a lot of biz with them. Nice folks. OR go to the local hobby store and pick up some eucalyptus leaves. These are used frequently for display purposes…but would add the eucalyptus smell to your homemade snuff. I myself would go to GOOGLE and check for eucalyptus oil most likely would be a lot cheaper…but here it is anyway for you. Hope it helps. http://www.frontiercoop.com/products.php?ct=hchhaz&cn=Eucalyptus+Leaf
I’ve bought products from Frontier before, and have always found them to be of excellent quality. But you’re probably right, those bulk packages would be way too much for Matero’s needs. Half a dozen leaves would likely serve to flavor a few hundred grams of snuff.
Thanks for the info. Here in NYC, eucalyptus sprigs are for sale at many grocery shops which sell flowers. I have been grinding them up as well as using eucalyptus oil for some time, but it just didn’t have a very strong kick to it. The crystals do work nicely. It’s still not the same as good old O&G or Hedges, but the way things are nowadays you just place an order and forget about it for a month, and I need snuff.