Aromatic ? Or not aromatic ?

scotsjim · Mar 1, 2011

It seems to me that opinions vary depending what side of the pond you come from as to what constitutes an aromatic.
Growing up here in the UK, an aromatic to my mind is a tobacco that has a fragrant or sweet-smell room note. Many pipe tobaccos use the fact they are aromatic ( i.e. pleasant room note ) as their main selling point.
Yet I've seen many pipe smokers refer to certain pipe tobaccos as aromatics that do not meet this criteria. ( Erinmore Flake / University Flake / to name but a few )
Can someone please enlighten me ?
Regards,

Jim

collin · Mar 1, 2011

Under the assumption that each one of us may have a slightly different opinion of where the line is drawn between the two, and not knowing where to draw that line myself,…..I often resort to looking at either the blender's notes or smoker's reviews for the word "Aromatic".

I’ve always been told that any blend of tobacco that has had something other than a tobacco added to enhance the flavor/room-note, it’s classified as an “Aromatic”.

cortezattic · Mar 1, 2011

I'll second Tommy's definition of an aromatic:

"...any blend of tobacco that has had something other than a tobacco added to enhance the flavor/room-note..."

.

.

By this criterion even the addition of deertongue or a liqueur topping transforms a natural blend into an aromatic. In the UK the Lakeland / Cumbrian style's addition of rose-geranium, heliotrope, and other scents certainly qualify as aromatics, IMO.

pipetrucker · Mar 1, 2011

Tommy's definition is also my own understanding of an aromatic.

hessenland · Mar 1, 2011

I think of it as an aromatic, when the tobacco leaf has been cased in a flavor enhancing substance, not by a natural process such as fermentation or smoke.

sparroa · Mar 1, 2011

Jim,
The only downside to your theory about the necessity of a pleasant room note is that it's such a variable factor; what smells good to you may differ sharply from what smells good to me, and in the case of an old blend like Erinmore Flake it may even be the result of a generational difference in perception. (Lakelands are also fairly old-fashioned and may bring unpleasant associations of soap and perfume to newer smokers used to sweet casings) A pleasant room note is more like one side of the coin; it is definitely easier to tell which blends aren't aromatics, though! In line with what the others have said, I think the addition of a generous topping to play a leading role in flavour and aroma is the defining characteristic of an aromatic tobacco.

marmal4de · Mar 1, 2011

As far as my travels have taken me, Tommy's definition holds true in my opinion as well.

scotsjim · Mar 8, 2011

Thanks for the reply guys

I've just never associated the word aromatic with any else except aroma. The idea of applying it to a flavor enhancing substance, whatever that may be, added to a tobacco never occurred to me.
Regards,

Jim

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