As I misread your post I have been taking snuff only in the most blocked nostril and it works very nice; since its more blocked the snuff don`t get in the back of my throat and eventually the “nasal cycle” you mentioned takes place and the other nostril(the one that has not recieved snuff) gets more closed and I switch to that one.
I’ve been suffering with a heavy cold of late, and the congestion (and reduced airflow) has allowed me to enjoy my Tom Buck/Rustica Fine blend, which can otherwise set me off coughing unless extreme care is taken. You may find that different snuffs prefer an open or dormant nostril according to grind and moisture, but also scent. A subtle scent may be lost in a closed nostril, whereas a more potent scent that could be overwhelming in an open nostril may be toned down. Going back to the Tom Buck/Rustica Fine blend, I find the additional scent of the Tom Buck over some other SPs carries the Rustica scent well, and is still enjoyable with closed nostrils
I have solved a large difficulty I had with technique, and I thought I’d share. Like many people, my nose undergoes ‘nasal cycle’ whereby only rarely do I have two completely clear nostrils. This led to much discomfort when taking snuff, as I would invariably have to sniff harder to get the snuff up one nostril than the other. If the clearer nostril already had snuff in it, sniffing harder with the other nostril would make the already-placed snuff in the opposite nostril go further up and cause discomfort. I learned to snuff using the blocked nostril first, but even then, I would generally snuff too hard and end up with watering eyes. I have recently taken to snuffing with only one nostril. I get a large (pea-sized) pinch, inhale gently to determine which nostril happens to be most ‘open’ and shove the whole pinch up that nostril. Using this technique gives me a decent nic hit, because I’m using a big pinch, and I’m not making my nose and eyes water, so the snuff actually gets to do its job. I just took a large pinch of WoS SP, a snuff that I had never really gotten much of a nic hit from before. Now I’m not trying to snuff properly with both nostrils, I am finding that I am getting little to no sneezing, and much better nicotine uptake. That SP that used to deliver no discernable nicotine currently has me in a bit of a cold sweat! Anyone else use this technique? Might be a good suggestion for people new to snuff an having trouble getting the hang of it.
whats your exact technique? do you use your thumb or fore finger to push it up in there?
What made the difference for me was changing from using the forefinger to the middle finger. I can get much bigger pinches with thumb and middle finger and it made a huge difference to my enjoyment. It doesn’t matter what type the snuff is, including whites, I take the biggest pinch possible and inhale the same way. I don’t adjust my inhale for any type of snuff. Be brave. You can do it.
I have solved a large difficulty I had with technique, and I thought I’d share. Like many people, my nose undergoes ‘nasal cycle’ whereby only rarely do I have two completely clear nostrils. This led to much discomfort when taking snuff, as I would invariably have to sniff harder to get the snuff up one nostril than the other. If the clearer nostril already had snuff in it, sniffing harder with the other nostril would make the already-placed snuff in the opposite nostril go further up and cause discomfort. I learned to snuff using the blocked nostril first, but even then, I would generally snuff too hard and end up with watering eyes. I have recently taken to snuffing with only one nostril. I get a large (pea-sized) pinch, inhale gently to determine which nostril happens to be most ‘open’ and shove the whole pinch up that nostril. Using this technique gives me a decent nic hit, because I’m using a big pinch, and I’m not making my nose and eyes water, so the snuff actually gets to do its job. I just took a large pinch of WoS SP, a snuff that I had never really gotten much of a nic hit from before. Now I’m not trying to snuff properly with both nostrils, I am finding that I am getting little to no sneezing, and much better nicotine uptake. That SP that used to deliver no discernable nicotine currently has me in a bit of a cold sweat! Anyone else use this technique? Might be a good suggestion for people new to snuff an having trouble getting the hang of it.
whats your exact technique? do you use your thumb or fore finger to push it up in there?
No, I just sort of scrunch my nostril up by pressing into it with both my finger and thumb, and then release the snuff. I find that scrunching up my nostril restricts the air flow to a great extent, so I don’t have to be particularly careful with how hard I sniff.
Can someone post a picture of a “small” pinch vs a “big” pinch? Would be vey helpful for this newb. I understand when people say apple seed size but is that middle ground or way down from a large one?
Although I don’t pinch, I tap out what I consider a big sized amount and hoover it up. I pinch my nose gently to ensure good coverage. When I first started I would tap out a little bit and … was underwhelmed. The next nostril I sniffed too hard and sent that little bit into the back of my throat. I learned early to go big.
@gravel Another case of “size matters”. :)) I lean towards the bigger is better technique no matter how counter-intuitive that might be, especially with toasts. I just make damn sure the sniff is short, shallow and sharp so it doesn’t find its way past my nostrils and into sinus or throat. Or even deeper for a lung experience I’d rather avoid.
My only concern with bigger pinches is that with some snuffs like most schmalzers. I feel it hit my throat. And my biggest concern is that it will go down in to my stomach and cause some thing like what happened to me on Thursday. I got this migraine feeling. Like when you get a nic rush.
I find I like a big pinch. I have a Roman nose, unsurprisingly. A big pinch, raised to the very tip of my nostrils and inhaled con brio meets my needs. The problem, as I see it, is that my experiences can in no way help another snufftaker. We’re all plumbed differently and must needs find our own path to the comfortable pinch.