I am having trouble with some of the fine milled dry snuffs out there. Toque will be my example. I love the smell, nice nic hit. I CAN NOT manage to get this snuff to not rail the back of my throat lol. I try gently sniff a pinch to almost snorting it (and everything in between) and I just cant seem to get it right. Are there any tricks or pointers any of you experienced snuffer could give me to help me enjoy some of the fine snuffs I really feel like I am missing out on? Thank you

Do this; move your adams apple down with a pinch at your nose. You can also do apple ups in the gym for practice. To all the women out there, all I can say is that men can also do kegels too!

Try taking a deep breath and then a short shallow sniff in one nostril only - this prevents the snuff already present in the first nostril being drawn too far up when you snuff the second nostril. (To be democratic I use my nostrils alternatively!)

Ty both very much I think I got it now!

A quick lick of the finger and thumb, pinch and hold the snuff for a few seconds then take it to the nose. is another good method for fine snuff.

Ye, it works well with the American tubs, just lick your forefinger, then dip it in the snuff. Now roll your thumb as you take the snuff.

@SnuffHead I’m sure I’ve seen you make mention of that method before but it didn’t really register in the old white matter. Just gave it a shot with the Honey Bee, brilliant. Old dogs, new tricks… Thanks!

Many more great ideas! I almost feel dumb for not thinking a few of these up myself. Ive tried the taking a deep breath and short shallow sniff, that works pretty good. Im about to try a wet pinch and see how that goes. If you got more keep them coming I am a noob! Thank you all.

Another way to take American sweets. Do the lick thumb and finger bit, pinch, then just put it in your bottom lip.

Awesome Roderick!!! Just plain brilliant. What is it with snuff? Its just too much fun. i like to pinch the snuff harder than normal to compress it a bit. Then gently sniff the pressed chunk. Its dangerous though if it goes back to far so be careful. I read somewhere that holding the pinch for awhile was considered good snuff etiquette when partaking in company. One does not want to appear to eager. Although, another reason becomes apparent. The warmth and moisture generated when pinching the snuff helps with oversnuffing.

it also brings out some of the flavor too.

Never tried wetting my fingers before. Works great.

Edit: Meant to whisper lol

I had some snuff that I thought I wasn’t going to be able to enjoy because it was so fine that it would just fly right up my nostrils with the tiniest whiff. I used a wet paper towel stuck in the tin lid to hydrate it a bit and used the wet finger pinch. BAM perfect nose full. Saved my big ol’ tin! protip: unfold some “sterile pad” (check a first aid kit) and it becomes a large, loose “net”. Put a damp paper towel in the tin lid, put the “net” over the top of the tin and put the lid back on and it will keep the paper towel separate from the snuff without having to use any tape or anything. I hear you can also scent the snuff with a scented liquid in the paper towel, but I haven’t tried it.

At the moment Im hooked on Kamal which is as fine and strong as it comes pretty much, I take the pinch as ususal, slightly insert thumb and forefinger into the nostril and gently breathe in as opposed to sharply sniffing. I liken it to the way you breathe if you walk into the kitchen and something smells good - kind of a gentle savouring type inhalation. I find this also cuts down the burn of the strongest snuffs which even after 30 years snuffing Ive not got to like.

No trouble sniffing it, but it gets everywhere. It has ruined 3 shirts and two ties in the last month.

Only snuff I haven’t mastered yet is Dholakia White, man that stuff is brutal. I have noticed that it plays well with other snuffs, so I’ve mainly just been mixing it in with other snuffs to give them an added Nic boost. Anyone have any tips on how to take the White stuff without blowing off the top of my head?

For the most part is getting used to it, but have a go at the very gentle breathe in method.

For Dholakia White, someone else gave me this tip: You have to just hold your breath and then rub it into your septum until it all sticks. Any air movement at all can make it bite you. Once its sticks you can breathe normally again. I have managed to sniff it without pain, but the othr way is just easier for that one.

I need to try the wet pinch approach with the railroad mills I got. Awesome. Let me ask this somewhat crazy question, related to smoking tobaccos, particular RYO, I have heard a good technique for keeping them moist is to add an apple core to the bag or a slightly damp piece of paper towel, even dampening the paper towel with a touch of fruit juice vs water. Any thoughts on the results of this technique to maybe moisten a scotch and possibly impart a slight flavor to it. Obviously I will try this with sample portions. Just wanted to get people’s thoughts on such an idea. Ken

Hi Ken, I would not recommend the apple system for keeping tobacco moist. First, it imparts flavor to the stuff (and not fresh apple precisely) and second it releases moisture but doesn’t absorb any (tobacco could get too moist). I would recommend one of those clay discs in a metal casing that they sell at smoke shops and the like. They are like 2 bucks or less, release and absorb moisture and last forever. All you need to do is soak them in water before throwing them in the tobacco. For a big container, throw in more than one. Since taking to snuff, I have been smoking only a couple of cigs a day, and the tobacco has stayed fresh for a couple of months now with this method. Just put it in a mason jar. To the rest, please forgive the off-topic.

Maybe to clarify, I was not trying to be off topic, I was wondering about applying said RYO tobacco preservation techniques as a means to moisten or flavor dry snuffs? Ken

My bad! Read too fast. No idea about the use for snuff. Sorry abut that.

Only comment I would have is distilled water should be used. Tap water may cause mold. This is true with fruit, may cause mold.

I didn’t think of the mold equation. OK thanks. Ken

@brute force I do it to, read things too fast, no worries. Ken

I use vanilla beans or tonka beans with my Scotches.

Kudos to Roderick, have been trying the wet pinch since yesterday and it is brilliant. Thanks mucho, you’ve taught me a way to salvage my high dry’s. WW

Yeah, wet pinch rules! That’s the most useful tip around here.

Just tried it, weird but effective. I expect it looks a bit gross though, but who cares?

The wet pinch has not worked as well for me as the simple hold it in between my fingers a bit longer. Call it the savor before the flavor but it is working pretty well for me. Ken

Tried it a few times now and I’ve decided its gross.

@NIgel, I’m using your method of slightly moist fingertips and then just SMELLING the pinch. I find I can take HUGE pinches now and also enjoy a stronger aroma. I have hairy hands (not the palms) and battle to get hold of the last bit of snuff when I use back of the hand. My palms are always dry and so I’ve switch around and pinch from the inside of my hand now. Works perfect.

@Pieter: I’m glad to see you cured your hairy palm issue, I know that had to be embarrassing…

I had hairy palms as teenager and was also blind but was cured of those ills.

I agree with snuffster that the wet pinch kinda works but is gross.What seems to be working best for me is the “insertion” method mentioned before. Just get the pinch in the nostril rather than below it and breathe lightly. The only downside is that I can’t avoid the snuff sprinkling my shirt or pants.

I have found a variation of the insert method works, basically I try to bias the snuff and hence the airflow towards the front of the nostril. That seems to work well for keeping it from going to the back. Although on outward appearance it is not as elegant as other methods. Of course I am convinced that there can be little pinache when dealing with anything going in or out of one’s nose. Ken

I agree Ken, elegant it ain’t. But it beats licking your fingers.

Try slightly bending forward as you inhale. This seems to have been the way in the 18th century judging from a few old prints Ive seen over the years - with care and practice it shouldn’t go on the shirt. Also if you reduce the pinch size a bit (logically by the amount that escapes) that should also help.

Doesnt seem to have been mentioned, but i found this method that works for me after much messing about.

Take a pinch of snuff and put fingers right under nostril…then breathe out and on the in breath make it about 15 little staggred pulses on the inbreath…repeat until all snuff gone in that nostril and then do the other.

For some reason the short staggered in breaths never take the snuff too deep even after you are onto the second nostril …its like the staggered breath only has the power to lift into the bottom of the nose…and once it settles on the wet parts of your sinus…the tiny staggers cant pull it back further

after doing both nostrils…then take a nice good harder sniff just to pull the magic deep into the sinus

works well for me this technique even with some good fine dry toast.

trust me …this took a lot of trial and error to suss out.

what works for me is to inhale most of the way into the lungs before snuffing and then just using the nose to snuff not the lungs. I know it sounds weird but practice it a few times and it actually is really easy. Haven’t had any issues with fine snuffs hitting my throat or sinuses since then. And once you get it down it’s easy to do it without much focus. Also doesn’t seem to matter how fast or hard the nose sniff is. The thing is it’s easiest to do at first if you inhale first and hold your breath before just using the nose to sniff.