Some I like … some I like a lot … some I love. Same for the non-aromatics.
Aromatics are Not for the Pipe-Smoker
- Thread starter jdlander
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I don't smoke things I don't like. Period.
Now there is an aromatic or two that I like, Autumn Evening being the main one. And I do reach for it when the wife is out on the patio with me because she doesn't mind the smell. But I enjoy the tobacco, and often smoke it when I'm alone as well.
Now there is an aromatic or two that I like, Autumn Evening being the main one. And I do reach for it when the wife is out on the patio with me because she doesn't mind the smell. But I enjoy the tobacco, and often smoke it when I'm alone as well.
Just the term "aromatics" is, in my view, painting with too broad a brush. So now we have the PG laden "goopers" being lumped in with something like Ashton Winding Road, for example. A very light and mild blend, having a vanilla topping that is certainly on the fainter end of the spectrum. Yet if we go strictly by branding, that blend is indistinct from CAO Eileen's Dream, which is erroneous to say the least.
All that said, I smoke aromatics about 40% of the time, and within that, almost all of them are quite mild, a far cry from the types that give aromatics a bad name in some circles. I don't do it for the olfactory benefit of others (I'm alone or with wifey virtually all of the time), but for my own enjoyment. I'm in agreement with @Arkansas Paul on this: I don't smoke anything I don't like. Anything like that which might've been in my cellar got sold or traded out long ago.
Fun fact: of the half dozen or so blends wifey has ever verbally complained about regarding room note, all but one of them were aromatics.
All that said, I smoke aromatics about 40% of the time, and within that, almost all of them are quite mild, a far cry from the types that give aromatics a bad name in some circles. I don't do it for the olfactory benefit of others (I'm alone or with wifey virtually all of the time), but for my own enjoyment. I'm in agreement with @Arkansas Paul on this: I don't smoke anything I don't like. Anything like that which might've been in my cellar got sold or traded out long ago.
Fun fact: of the half dozen or so blends wifey has ever verbally complained about regarding room note, all but one of them were aromatics.
So I hadn’t posted since my first after signing up where, as a new pipe smoker, I posted a list of newbie reviews of the tobacco I’d smoked.
It’s funny I came across this. With the exception of Cult Blood Red Moon, I just don’t taste (or even smell) the aromatics in the aromatic tobacco I’ve tried.
That being said, as OP mentioned, my wife DOES love the smell of the aromatics.
With the exception of Eileen’s Dream. She doesn’t dislike it, she just can’t really smell it. And neither can I - I get a hint of the aromas mentioned while it’s sitting in the jar, and while it doesn’t taste gross to me anymore, it still ranks at the bottom of all I’ve tried.
It’s funny I came across this. With the exception of Cult Blood Red Moon, I just don’t taste (or even smell) the aromatics in the aromatic tobacco I’ve tried.
That being said, as OP mentioned, my wife DOES love the smell of the aromatics.
With the exception of Eileen’s Dream. She doesn’t dislike it, she just can’t really smell it. And neither can I - I get a hint of the aromas mentioned while it’s sitting in the jar, and while it doesn’t taste gross to me anymore, it still ranks at the bottom of all I’ve tried.
I love “codgery” aromatics like some Sutliff matches and some of Ernie Q’s brilliant blends like American Cut Plug, Old Black Magic, Quint’s Own, #7, and my latest shiny new thing, Bada Bing.
I also really enjoy Milan Tobacconist’s “Our…” line of match blends.
I used to be in the “aros aren’t for me” camp until I realized I was only constricting my own piping experience which is not the goal for me.
I also really enjoy Milan Tobacconist’s “Our…” line of match blends.
I used to be in the “aros aren’t for me” camp until I realized I was only constricting my own piping experience which is not the goal for me.
Love Lakeland aromatics. I can actually taste it. Also mcclellands had really good aromatics.
Funny thing is, originally, the term was used to refer to blends with latakia, not to stuff like BCA or Creme Brulee.
My favorite aromatic is Pennsylvania Dutch Treat by Boswell's. Rum and Maple, Piper's Pleasure, Eileen's Dream, Peretti's Original Mixture, DD, and No Name are high up on the list as well. That's not even counting aromatic Englishes like Countryside, And so to Bed, Pembroke, Epiphany, PP Burbon Barrel, or all of the lakelands I love. This is coming from a guy who primarily smokes non-aro English and Virginia Flakes,
There's a lot out there that's really really good. I wouldn't close yourself off to anything. The only thing I've found I don't really like is Dark Fired Kentucky, which is weird because I love Latakia.
There's a lot out there that's really really good. I wouldn't close yourself off to anything. The only thing I've found I don't really like is Dark Fired Kentucky, which is weird because I love Latakia.
Nonsense. Painting with a broad brush is easy. But it is also lazy. Tobacco makers would soon go out of business if the tobacco they made was formulated primarily for the nonsmoker. Over 2/3 of my cellar is aromatic - and has been for 4 decades. And I smoke alone.
Most pipe tobaccos are cased in some form and the line between aromatic and non-aromatic can blur with certain blends, at least in my opinion.
As someone that came to pipe smoking by way of cigarettes, I tend to smoke non-aromatic blends. My wife much prefers the room notes of non-aromatic virginias or burleys. I think this is because her family and I all smoked cigarettes, so it's what she's used to. The only blends that illicit negative comments from my wife are blends that are either very high in perique or aromatic blends. I could barely believe it when she told me she hated the smell of Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic. Haha.
As someone that came to pipe smoking by way of cigarettes, I tend to smoke non-aromatic blends. My wife much prefers the room notes of non-aromatic virginias or burleys. I think this is because her family and I all smoked cigarettes, so it's what she's used to. The only blends that illicit negative comments from my wife are blends that are either very high in perique or aromatic blends. I could barely believe it when she told me she hated the smell of Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic. Haha.
I consider myself a pipe smoker and mostly smoke aromatics…
He literally opened his sentence by suggesting aro smokers smoke them for the wife. Making aro smokers sound like a bunch of under-the-thumb patsies. If that's what you guys are, fair enough, you won't hear another word from me.
Gawith produce some awesome aromatics. Ennerdale, Rum Flake, Spirit of Scotland, Mahogany, Black Cherry Cavendish, their special edition Christmas and summertime blends and their flavoured twists are all in my regular rotation.
Thinking more about this, I remembered that MOST of the compliments I've got were while smoking "non" aromatics.
When my friends or family are around, they generally like the "old timey" smell of Virginias. A couple of the weirdos like Latakia.
A few years ago my wifes friend liked the smell of Latakia so much, she asked me to pack her a bowl.
I not only packed her a bowl, but I gave her a lightly smoked Brigham pipe and an ounce of C&D SOTE for her ride home to Florida.
A week later she sent me a list of a few Latakia blends asking if these were good. I remember...Ten Russians, Gaslight, and Ashton Artisan on the list. She bought tins of all of them.
Last year they came back here. She still was smoking the Brigham, but settled on SOTE as her one and only blend. She smokes maybe 3 bowls a week to this day. She carries tobacco in a Tupperware container, dry as dust, but loves it that way.
I told you only the weirdos liked the smell of Latakia.
When my friends or family are around, they generally like the "old timey" smell of Virginias. A couple of the weirdos like Latakia.
A few years ago my wifes friend liked the smell of Latakia so much, she asked me to pack her a bowl.
I not only packed her a bowl, but I gave her a lightly smoked Brigham pipe and an ounce of C&D SOTE for her ride home to Florida.
A week later she sent me a list of a few Latakia blends asking if these were good. I remember...Ten Russians, Gaslight, and Ashton Artisan on the list. She bought tins of all of them.
Last year they came back here. She still was smoking the Brigham, but settled on SOTE as her one and only blend. She smokes maybe 3 bowls a week to this day. She carries tobacco in a Tupperware container, dry as dust, but loves it that way.
I told you only the weirdos liked the smell of Latakia.
Couldn't disagree much more. One thing I have found that aromatics are a pretty broad category first off. And many are quite enjoyable without any company. Also have noticed that non-aromatics will also get the that smells great from random strangers and home owners.
I wouldn't put much stock in such recommendations. At least not without understanding what the criteria these websites are using. Also aromatics in my opinion contain some of my favorite and least favorite blends.
Back to where I started what makes it the best aromatic? Is it the ones that taste the most like candy have the best room note? Is it the ones that are well crafted to bring out and highlight nuances in the base leaf? Or are they looking for the type of aromatic that could be on any type of leaf including cardboard?
That's probably at least partially a you issue also that's what some people would call a five star blend. I say it's probably at least partially you since personally I find many aromatics are more sensitive to how they're packed how hard and hot they're smoked. If you don't leave some space for the tobacco to breath it will dull them if you smoke in a way to get the smoke hotter it will kill the flavor i.e. make them boring and bland.
Which is a good thing to note in any review, what perspective is the reviewer coming into the review with. And if the you need a certain room note to even smoke at home then that's going to add a star or two to the review. And frankly that's legit. There are situations where pleasing the people in the room is important and for those times there are some aromatics I prefer (C&Ds "A Corncob Pipe and Button Nose [I think I got that right] is not bad but sorta sameish through out the whole bowl it's basically hot cocoa, the room note is great]). Might not be what I reach for regularly but sometimes that's an important consideration.
Some people. I recommend aromatics because I think the people I am recommending them to will enjoy them. Gold Rush by Ashton is a great example of this. It's an amazingly good blend, the aromatic qualities aid and high light the leaf. It's lemon and honey and just like in black tea it modifies the base product and allows for the tobacco to be the star of the show. On the other hand Rainy Day by Ashton is very tasty but it's the added flavors that are the star of that show. It reminds me of a tropical cocktail like a Mai Tai. It stays the same from start to finish I couldn't tell you from taste what leaf is used. The second isn't really my thing, it's great for what it is but while I enjoy it. It's in a small bowl and rarely smoked. But for some people it hits the spot.
I smoke primarily on strolls outside and my girlfriend can't deal with smoke at all so yeah every aromatic I smoke is because I enjoy it. And I do get a kick out of people enjoying the scents of the pipe too but it's not my primary concern.
Kind of reminds me of the people who insist the only reason people listen to Jazz or Classical music is to look smart and sophisticated. Which that nonsense is usually applied as an insult.
Don't let people who have trouble understanding human interaction dictate what you say here.
That‘s exactly what I was thinking.