I am a new pipe smoker started in Feb of 2017. I have one Briar, one Meerschaum, one pear bowl and one Brylon. When I bought the brylon, the clerk said it was wood, but on close inspection, it looked more plastic than not, so I researched it and found out what it really was and infused with wood powder. I never tasted plastic and it seems to burn nice and slow without frequent lights. So I am now burning a cake layer in it. As a novice pipe smoker, I really can't tell a big difference between it and my pear bowl. The more I smoke my brylon the better it smokes. I am wondering if you guys have any brylons and if building a nice cake will improve the taste. I use it as my hanger since it has a short stem. Tried to post an image but I guess I don't have the image code thing down lol