Why Tobacco Flavors Don't Taste Like Analogs

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OwnedByAGrey

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Jan 30, 2011
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Having been a pipe smoker, I wanted to address this issue which is a common concern for new vapers.

Pipe smokers are a different breed of smoker. They tend to be tobacco connoisseurs, writing passionate and very detailed reviews of tobaccos and their flavors using terms like "tongue bite", and go on and on about upper notes, low notes, middle notes, and palate hit. Now, I'm not saying that I'm one of these venerated and dedicated connoisseurs, but having smoked pipes (I'm the proud owner of some lovely churchwardens and a few estate pipes), I know the definite differences between tobacco flavors and cigarette tobacco.

If you want to appreciate the difference, I'd suggest you look for your local tobacconist. Most of these shops are very dedicated to tobaccos, and will have jars and jars and humidors full of pipe tobaccos of all kinds, flavors, and origins. Stick your face into one of these jars and you'll get a snotter full of rich, complex, sweet, fragrant, and moist tobacco that makes your mouth water because the scent and the moisture is prime.

These tobaccos are so heavily flavored, steeped, and carefully aged and prepared that lighting them takes away some of that nose bouquet, but only to a certain extent. Pipes have no filter, as do analogs. (Some pipe smokers add filters to their pipes, however, this isn't common.) This allows a good amount of the flavor to stay in the tobacco and translate to the tongue and palate.

The flavor is further enhanced by the moisture content in the tobacco, and it's common to exhale through the nose and the mouth in order to bloom the flavor throughout.

If you have ever been in a pipe smoker's home, the odor of it is completely different than that of an analog smoker's. It has the rich, tangy, sweet aroma of the tobacco, and very little, if any, smoke or ash aroma at all. Even the ashtrays of pipe smokers smell nice.

This is tobacco, and this is what tobacco flavored e-juice is trying to replicate, on the whole.

There are pipe tobaccos which are deliberately cured to create an "ashy" taste. I don't know why, but many pipe smokers enjoy that tingle of ashy essence in the overall bouquet of their bowl.

When it comes to vaping, I'm finding it very similar to pipe smoking. The draw (slow, steady, and light) is the same. The moisture from the vapor has the same mouth feel as pipe smoke. Most importantly, the tobacco flavors that I've tried are fragrant, flavorful, sweet, full, and rich, just like pipe tobacco smells, unfired, in the shop. Best of all, there is no "tongue scorch" (pipe tobacco can sometimes burn the tongue ... not pleasant), and the flavor is pure and untouched.

Analog tobaccos, on the other hand, are very dry, generally unflavored, and smoked in a completely different manner. They have to be; it's a completely different animal. They tend to taste ashy and flat on the whole, even though we might not notice it unless we stop smoking them for awhile and come back to them. Most of the tobacco flavor we smell in a freshly-opened pack is lost through the burning paper and the filter.

So, when trying to "match" your analog with an e-Juice, keep in mind that, besides a few juices, most tobacco flavors are mimicking that of pipe tobacco, and this is why there is such a difference to what you're used to.

Instead of fixating on your "brand", think of the pure taste of that tobacco and the wonderful little notes and flavors combined in the vape. Exhaling both through the nose and mouth, slowly, is the best way to fully appreciate the tobacco flavors, IMO.

Just my dollar's worth. :)
 
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OwnedByAGrey

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Jan 30, 2011
207
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Pennsylvania
I'm a pipe smoker as well and will remain for as long I can. I just love it. I have a few different blends and when I first started, I was blown away by how different they all were. What tobacco flavors do you vape?

I just started, so I'm just beginning to explore the tobacco juices. With my original order, I got some Hotel blend and a cherry tobacco blend from LibertyFlights. The Hotel blend reminds me of a delicate black/gold tobacco, with a very, very light vanilla exhale and a palate linger of honey. Very, very good if you're a straight gold tobacco lover.

The cherry? Well, what can I say. It's a girly flavor (I'm a chick, so it suits. LOL). A sweet cherry hit with a liquor-type exhale that tingles a wee bit on the tongue. I cheat and stick my tongue really close to the pull to get that tongue bite I used to LOVE when tamping a mild cherry black tobacco.

You're going to find some very good e-Juices, trust me. I'm looking forward to trying some of the liquor-type tobaccos. Remembering my brandy 'baccy .... *sigh* .....
 

Red Skare

Moved On
Jan 19, 2011
27
0
ventura
Pipe smokers are a different breed of smoker. They tend to be tobacco connoisseurs, writing passionate and very detailed reviews of tobaccos and their flavors using terms like "tongue bite", and go on and on about upper notes, low notes, middle notes, and palate hit. Now, I'm not saying that I'm one of these venerated and dedicated connoisseurs, but having smoked pipes (I'm the proud owner of some lovely churchwardens and a few estate pipes), I know the definite differences between tobacco flavors and cigarette tobacco.
So in other words pipe smokers are somehow "above" regular smokes? Kind of the same way a person can throw 2 bottles of wine down their throat and they are in no way drunks, they are "wine connoisseurs" ?
But anyways, you know why liquids dont taste like what you used to smoke? Because they are PG/VG with artificial flavoring in it, it is the same reason why when you drink a grape soda or candy it tastes nothing like a grape.
 

OwnedByAGrey

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Jan 30, 2011
207
55
Pennsylvania
So in other words pipe smokers are somehow "above" regular smokes? Kind of the same way a person can throw 2 bottles of wine down their throat and they are in no way drunks, they are "wine connoisseurs" ?

Not at all. I'm saying that pipe tobacco is "above" cigarette tobacco. But, you can take my comments as you wish. Or not. It's your universe. :thumbs:

But anyways, you know why liquids dont taste like what you used to smoke? Because they are PG/VG with artificial flavoring in it, it is the same reason why when you drink a grape soda or candy it tastes nothing like a grape.

Yep. And some people like that artificial candy flavor and some like the natural flavor. I prefer the taste of pipe tobacco over that of analog tobacco. It's all grape soda and tobacco, and neither the twain shall meet. Unless you mix them together on purpose, that is.
 

Lisa66

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Jan 23, 2011
4,729
25,555
Florida
Thanks for a great post. My dad stopped smoking a pipe years ago but I still remember his various tins and jars, the rack he made for his different pipes and all the little tools like tampers that he made himself. Whenever I smell pipe smoke it brings me back to childhood.....

You are right about the associated smells..... even the ash tray smelled pretty good.
 

OwnedByAGrey

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Jan 30, 2011
207
55
Pennsylvania
My father-in-law was a pipe smoker for years. The house always smelled wonderful. Then, for some reason, he switched to cigars. Was quite a shame.

I have an order of all kinds of flavors coming, all of them are non-tobacco flavors. I'll be ordering more Hotel and Cherry, though, and will certainly consider the Copenhagen as Bradder suggested. (Thanks, Bradder!)

If anyone else has some good pipe-style tobacco juice suggestions, please feel free!
 

Katatonik

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Jan 14, 2011
1,547
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Dallas, TX
Having been a pipe smoker, I wanted to address this issue which is a common concern for new vapers.

Pipe smokers are a different breed of smoker. They tend to be tobacco connoisseurs, writing passionate and very detailed reviews of tobaccos and their flavors using terms like "tongue bite", and go on and on about upper notes, low notes, middle notes, and palate hit. Now, I'm not saying that I'm one of these venerated and dedicated connoisseurs, but having smoked pipes (I'm the proud owner of some lovely churchwardens and a few estate pipes), I know the definite differences between tobacco flavors and cigarette tobacco.

If you want to appreciate the difference, I'd suggest you look for your local tobacconist. Most of these shops are very dedicated to tobaccos, and will have jars and jars and humidors full of pipe tobaccos of all kinds, flavors, and origins. Stick your face into one of these jars and you'll get a snotter full of rich, complex, sweet, fragrant, and moist tobacco that makes your mouth water because the scent and the moisture is prime.

These tobaccos are so heavily flavored, steeped, and carefully aged and prepared that lighting them takes away some of that nose bouquet, but only to a certain extent. Pipes have no filter, as do analogs. (Some pipe smokers add filters to their pipes, however, this isn't common.) This allows a good amount of the flavor to stay in the tobacco and translate to the tongue and palate.

The flavor is further enhanced by the moisture content in the tobacco, and it's common to exhale through the nose and the mouth in order to bloom the flavor throughout.

If you have ever been in a pipe smoker's home, the odor of it is completely different than that of an analog smoker's. It has the rich, tangy, sweet aroma of the tobacco, and very little, if any, smoke or ash aroma at all. Even the ashtrays of pipe smokers smell nice.

This is tobacco, and this is what tobacco flavored e-Juice is trying to replicate, on the whole.

There are pipe tobaccos which are deliberately cured to create an "ashy" taste. I don't know why, but many pipe smokers enjoy that tingle of ashy essence in the overall bouquet of their bowl.

When it comes to vaping, I'm finding it very similar to pipe smoking. The draw (slow, steady, and light) is the same. The moisture from the vapor has the same mouth feel as pipe smoke. Most importantly, the tobacco flavors that I've tried are fragrant, flavorful, sweet, full, and rich, just like pipe tobacco smells, unfired, in the shop. Best of all, there is no "tongue scorch" (pipe tobacco can sometimes burn the tongue ... not pleasant), and the flavor is pure and untouched.

Analog tobaccos, on the other hand, are very dry, generally unflavored, and smoked in a completely different manner. They have to be; it's a completely different animal. They tend to taste ashy and flat on the whole, even though we might not notice it unless we stop smoking them for awhile and come back to them. Most of the tobacco flavor we smell in a freshly-opened pack is lost through the burning paper and the filter.

So, when trying to "match" your analog with an e-Juice, keep in mind that, besides a few juices, most tobacco flavors are mimicking that of pipe tobacco, and this is why there is such a difference to what you're used to.

Instead of fixating on your "brand", think of the pure taste of that tobacco and the wonderful little notes and flavors combined in the vape. Exhaling both through the nose and mouth, slowly, is the best way to fully appreciate the tobacco flavors, IMO.

Just my dollar's worth. :)

Pipe Smokers unite!
Love pipe tobacco.
Prefer Virginia based blends.

If you find anything that actually tastes like a pipe tobacco, let me know.
All the tobacco flavors I've tried taste more like coffee than tobacco. Not bad flavor, just not tobacco.
 

Sandpit

Senior Member
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Jan 20, 2011
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1
Arkansas
I thought it was definitely a well thought out post and really makes a point. I have smoked a few pipes here and there in my time and can definitely see the similarities. It's a different type of smoke experience than cigarettes. Red I don't know why there is such hostility in your post. I don't think it was his intention to degrade cigarette smokers just giving a new perspective that many enw users might actually find helpful
 

Bradder

Am I Chip or am I Dale?
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Jan 12, 2011
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If anyone does the Copenhagen Snuff extraction be sure to set it age for a few days before vaping it. When I first tried it, right after the extraction, I thought I had made a terrible error. A few days later I tried the juice again and was amazed at the change in flavor- much h richer and tobaco(y) if that is a word... guess it is now. Always loved that Cheshire cat.
 

OwnedByAGrey

Senior Member
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Jan 30, 2011
207
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Pennsylvania
I thought it was definitely a well thought out post and really makes a point. I have smoked a few pipes here and there in my time and can definitely see the similarities. It's a different type of smoke experience than cigarettes. Red I don't know why there is such hostility in your post. I don't think it was his intention to degrade cigarette smokers just giving a new perspective that many enw users might actually find helpful


Thank you, Sandpit. Indeed, I was a heavy analog smoker for 25 years until just recently. :)
 

PaulB

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Feb 12, 2010
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Fascinating post! I dabbled with pipe-smoking long ago in my 20s. I rather liked it but felt self-conscious as I didn't know any other pipe-smokers in my age group. Kind of forgot about, even as I crossed the age threshold I associated it with. I suspect if I'd switched entirely back then I would have been better off for it, although perhaps less likely to have turned to e-smoking (although I know we have some former all-the-time pipe smokers in our ranks).

While I pretty much agree that what you say about tobacco flavored liquids more resembling pipe tobaccos, I think a really good, rich one in either the pipe or cigarette category is an atom yet to be split. The ones that come closest for me are the ones that involve extraction from tobacco and they tend to play nasty with atomizers and cartos.
 
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