We are getting various questions from newer members about keeping snuff, containers etc and so the following are a few points from 30 years of snuffing. I never claim my way is the right way and of course there are many differing views, however… Storage ********* This has been debated ad infinitum, and you can take it to extremes (we had a member a couple of years ago who was linking a humidor to a lap top with digital humidity measuring) but it’s very simple. Fresh snuff stored in an airtight, non-tainting material will stay in perfect condition for decades. I can guarentee at least 30 years because my oldest snuffs are from around 1980; a boxed set of Smith’s snuffs in glass jars that are in absolutely mint condition. You don’t gain anything from refrigeration and whilst it does no harm it doesn’t add to the preservation process. The thing that will detract from its condition, however, is the amount that you open the bulk storage container, which means that whatever the quantity it pays to decant… Snuff tins and snuff boxes ******************************* The old adage is to fill a snuff box each day with what you need, to preserve the bulk supply. This even applies to small bulk amounts. If you have a 25g tin of Toque and use 2g a day spread over 20 pinches, then that 25g will be dry more quickly than if you use a snuff box or tin for your daily needs. Even with a 10g tin I will always decant straight to a storage jar, and there is definitely a difference. Also, with the exception of FandT and Toque tins - which have good seals, most other round tins will allow the snuff to start drying out as soon as the adhesive strip is removed. So with something like a large tin of WoS or O&G I would decant straight away. For me a decent snuff box is essential and I’m lucky enough to have some good ones, but there are some very good cheap boxes out there at the moment which do a fine job and just make the whole experience a little more elegant. I’ve used all types of material from silver, to horn and papier mache, pewter and even one made from a sea shell. The very best has to be silver for keeping snuff in great condition (I don’t know why) but pewter, although not hard wearing, is a good second place. However, you can’t go wrong with a Pat Collins box and they are very good value. Anyway, just a few personal thoughts…
Very nice thread, Nigel.
You beat me to it! I’ve started preparing a page on my site for that very subject. I’m still at the draft stage which is why there isn’t much there yet.Link
thanks guys
Wel, it looks like it will be good Tony!
I hope so! While I was at it I also started a Snuff and Pipe blog, the idea being that I can ramble on in a blog whereas such ramblings might not be entirely suitable for a more normal web site. Comments appreciated of course.
Looks nice. By the way that snuff box of yours is a thing of real beauty. It looks just like the one that Vivien Rose is using in the clip below (towards the end of the piece) http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=p7YZ9RRLC\_M
Ah… must be a wrong URL - that’s the Flog It video on snuff boxes. Some really nice ones there.
@Ermtony I’m looking forward to reading some of your abnormal ramblings. There’s a few folks on this site, you being one of them, that adds so much good information and organization to this hobby. Makes a person feel like he’s involved in something worthwhile. These people don’t get thanked enough for what they do. I appreciate it! Glad to here plain old glass is a good storage choice. I’m just using pints and half pint canning jars and storing them filled to the brim,sealed and labelled in the cool cellar. It gives me a nice feeling to go down there and look at them and lift them, feel their weight, and know they will be used down the road.
@ Bart - those jars sound perfect. Your snuff will keep just fine in those. I also try to keep my bulk snuff in a place that avoids too much temperature variation. It seems to help. And thanks for the kind comments!
Found it! At about the 4.20 mark. Yes, that box is quite similar to mine, though the lid is more recessed on mine.
I also love the amount he has in there, it just looks so tempting and delicious! If you don’t mind me asking, what would the cost of a box like that be?
It really depends on the maker. A Nathaniel Mills box in good condition could sell for as much as £1,000. My Edward Smith box is rather more modest. I think I paid around £140 for it. It was my treat to me so that I had a smart box to use at my daughter’s wedding a few years ago. I got it on Ebay and was lucky in that the hinge is good and the box closes well. Whether I would dare take a chance like that again I don’t know. I would much rather actually see and hold a box before spending that amount.
£140 strikes me as a very good price indeed, as it looks to contain a fair amount of metal. Do you use it as a day to day box?
Not usually day to day and I don’t take it to the pub with me. It’s quite heavy (80g +) so I tend to use it as a table box at home or for special occasions. BTW, I’ve got my snuff storage page in place. Any comments, feel free. Think I caught all the typos
Okay, there is something I’m just not understanding is, and I mean besides flavor because I am talking mostly about snuffs that mostly either: a: I think are too strongly flavored to begin with and would benefit from easing up a bit in the flavor department, or b: things I I have just discovered I can re-flavor (Toque grapefruit, st clements, Toast and Marmalade) c: are plain unflavored already which is a good and desired thing for that snuff, good for using as is or mixing) (eg: Toque Quit etc) d: meant to and start out be really dry all ready (US scotches, Dholakia White, etc) so aside from flavor… just why is it bad for an already dry snuff to get even drier? (this is not meant to be an argumentitive question I seriously would like to know, I have not had anything long enough to find out for myself, would rather ask and learn this way than a hard way) do you lose nicotine or is there a specific reason this is undesired for these snuffs? Thanks in advance for patiently explaining this.
their flavor will change (which could be bad or good) and something that already dry will become nearly unsnuffable without it going into your throat. With toasts that I’ve intentionaly dry out to bone dry the scent became less tobaccoy and more nicotiny (somewhat of a chemical bitter smell). Also after snuffing it it didn’t really stick but would get in to my nose fine and a few minutes later fall into my throat not plesant at all by the way (at least you know it may happen while snuffing but while your doing something else, terrible).
Spot on Bob. Dry snuffs are not 100% moisture free, there is a residual moisture level. As Bob says, Scotch or HDT’s will simply turn into a harsh, dust-like powder that will be extremely irritating, with only the slightest ‘over-sniff’ sending it straight to your lungs. Strangely, in my experience a dry snuff becomes spoiled almost as quickly as a moist one. A better approach for toning down a snuff that you find too flavoured (dry or moist) is to, in effect, dilute it with a plain or neutral snuff. I love WoS Royal George but like a lot of people find it far too strong as a flavour. The same goes for Dholakia Kamal. I dilute with Toque Natural (plain, pure tobacco) to the desired level of flavouring. With a bit of practice you get the feel of the ratios and the dilutant is not noticeable.
Spot on what Bob and Snuffster said.
I recently found a smoking deal on some glass flip top spice jars. 4 bucks heavy glass not sure about size but I would guess 50+ grams. The only one I have concerns about is the cork topped one … Only reason I picked that one up is a nifty small wooden spoon and holder attached.