many smokers I know stick to the same brand / package of cigs or handrolling tobacco all their lives. They never try or buy anything else. The same with some cigar smokers. Pipe smokers seem to differ some more. From this forum I pick up that nearly all snuffers have a draw (or whatever) full of different brands and flavours. What is this with snuff that makes the snuffer differentiate? I’m very much from the standpoint to empty a tin first before I start another, I buy bulk of a snuff I like and not a lot of different tins. With 2 particular snuffs I am developing the habit of taking them all day without changing to something different. Is that a shame? I am the opinion that if a brand of coffee suits you you never take another. That is exactly what is going on now with these 2 snuffs. And I can tell you it doesn’t get boring. I don’t know how it was in the history of snuff, if people always refilled their snuff boxes with the same recipe they loved? I’m very curious about the thoughts of sticking to one snuff (for life!).
What I think about the cigs, it’s just because they are not that different from each other. When I smoked, I always smoked the same brand, but if it was not available, I just took the next. They all tasted the same and it was never about the taste. The hit on the throat was the most important factor. I did experiment later between RYOs and different brands, but in the end it all seemed like an illusion of difference. Well, that’s just me, but I’ve read about blind-tests on different cig brands and how people cannot even recognize their own favourite. Snuff is so much more about the scents as well as pipe tobacco (I do not know any particular cigar smoker, but as an occasional cigar smoker myself, I like to test new ones in this area too), that I find it natural that people continuously try out new ones.
When I smoked, I rolled my own and would change up tobaccos occasionally for variety, and could definitely tell the difference between tobaccos. Mostly though, I smoked for the nicotine, not the enjoyment of smoking. Snuff taking is different. I do enjoy the effect of the nicotine, but even more than that, I enjoy the fragrances of the snuff. I find the fragrances themselves seem to elicit an effect, most likely psychological in nature. For instance, taking a pinch of sandalwood scented snuff prior meditation really seems to enhance the experience. I’m sure part of of that comes from the increased ability to focus and concentrate provided from the nicotine, but I believe the sandalwood scent provides a soothing, calming component. This is probably why it is a common ingredient in incense and incense is so often used during meditation. I’m pretty new to snuff taking, and for the most part see myself as sticking to two or three snuffs for daily use, and I am also intrigued at sampling vast variety.
No cigs for eight years now but when I did smoke them I did occasionally move to a different brand but only because over the years the smaller brands such as Sobranie, Sullivan & Powell, Fribourg & Treyer, ceased production. With cigars I have always smoked a variety of them - it is rare that I have the time to enjoy a decent sized Havana so I vary the cigar to the time available and to the time of day. When I got into pipes there were so many brands and blends available that I ended up sampling quite a few until settling down with a few regulars but even now I do try different blends. With snuff there is a vast range and then we have the artisans regularly producing fantastic new blends that just have to be sampled and I can’t say that I have a regular all day snuff. My tastes change depending on my mood, the weather, the season, the time of day, etc, so I can’t imagine ever sticking to only one snuff. That would be like eating the same food day after day!
I stick to one type of tobacco cause its unique compared to the rest… and one of the strongest on the market. Would def be able to tell it from another.
The only habitual snuff-takers I have known in real life were/are firmly attached to one particular brand - S.P. No.1. Only one is still with us, and although he will very happily take a pinch of whatever I have with me, his line is that he is no longar interested in experimenting! When I smoked cigarettes, provided that I could find a reliable source of Disque Bleu filters, I smoked them exclusively - it was supply issues that generally made me switch between brands at first, followed by the fact that the EU started to ban anything that tasted of tobacco. But that’s another rant for another place…
i could recognise most cigs ive tried up to now, especially my marlboro, with the exception of some over the counter virginia blends. to me they just all end up smelling like urine soaked stairwells. and i do stick to one brand usually- marlboro red, ill occasionally dip into drum blue, black russians, gitanes or cheap turner rollies if im offered since its popular where i am and cheap, but stinks. same with snuff- ill mostly use firedrac, and mcchrystals O&G while occasionally dipping into others.
I find my snuff taking goes in phases according to various things, not least how I’m feeling and what I’ve been taking a lot of recently. For example, I was all over the WoS Best SP last week and destroyed about half a tin, but the last few days have been all about Viking Blond and Fubar Medic. Even though Best SP would probably still be my ‘desert island’ snuff, I’ve been off it for a few days now. Sticking to one snuff for life would not only be a pity but also completely unnecessary.
When I was a smoker some 6-7 years ago it was Kools only. 2 1/2-3 packs a day everyday. I have been jumping snuffs a lot to see what suits my nose best but I think I’ve found it in Viking. I didn’t realize how great the coarser snuffs were. Awesome
@sprongd, you tried the Dark yet?
Not yet and now that I’ve found both the blonde and brown so pleasant I think I’ll put an order in today. Is it like the others or a whole new ball game? Do they consider the brown or dark a rapee? I’m interested in trying some of that too.
@sprongd, probably more similar to Brown than Blond.