Oh-Oh, the Retrohale
- Thread starter judcasper
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Interesting discussion. Retrohaling pipes and cigars was easy for me since I had years of experience doing so with cigarettes and... well, jazz cigarettes. So I really can't remember a time when I didn't or couldn't blow smoke through my nose. It's an important part of the all-around olfactory experience for me, but I would dispute the idea that it's mandatory for a good smoke. So don't sweat it too hard.
One suggestion that might help is after taking your puffs, don't immediately try to retrohale. Start by slowly blowing smoke from your mouth as you would normally and halfway through the stream switch to the retrohale. I suspect having a certain amount of airflow from the lungs already going makes the process easier.
One suggestion that might help is after taking your puffs, don't immediately try to retrohale. Start by slowly blowing smoke from your mouth as you would normally and halfway through the stream switch to the retrohale. I suspect having a certain amount of airflow from the lungs already going makes the process easier.
Read this thread, gave it a whirl tonight with some HH ODF. That was one of the most unpleasant things I've ever done. Felt like a nose full of pool water, stung for about a minute, and now I'm pretty sure I have coronavirus. This is an action probably best left to the pros.
I'm going to work my way up to it by progressing through (in order):
Anthrax
Gasoline
Bleach
Pure quill skunk essence
100% capsaicin
After a few weeks of training on these substances, I should be good to give ODF a try again.
You need to "almost" inhale the smoke. It needs to go back a bit further to your throat to where your nasal passage is. So you need to relax your throat a bit and let the smoke go back like you are almost about to inhale but then blow it out your nose.
The biggest thing it to relax. If your throat is tight and your mouth is keeping the smoke towards the front then it won't work. You'll probably accidentally inhale and choke a few times, so don't worry about if you are going to inhale or not, because you probably accidentally will haha.
The biggest thing it to relax. If your throat is tight and your mouth is keeping the smoke towards the front then it won't work. You'll probably accidentally inhale and choke a few times, so don't worry about if you are going to inhale or not, because you probably accidentally will haha.
I retro hale every puff and kind of simultaneously push the smoke out of my mouth and breath out my nose at the same time.
You actually may be doing it correctly you just don't know it. When I first began I was in your same situation. I was retrohaling I just wasn't getting the flavors I was expecting. The problem wasn't my retrohale, it was my technique. I was smoking too hot and the flavors were pretty much burnt out of my puff. Once I learned to slow down and smoke cool and dry I began experiencing flavors I had no idea were there.
There was also a period when I was experiencing some sinus blockage and while I was still able to taste, the flavors were faint. If you are congested or having sinus blockage that may also have a negative impact on your ability to taste.
Good luck and keep searching my friend!
You actually may be doing it correctly you just don't know it. When I first began I was in your same situation. I was retrohaling I just wasn't getting the flavors I was expecting. The problem wasn't my retrohale, it was my technique. I was smoking too hot and the flavors were pretty much burnt out of my puff. Once I learned to slow down and smoke cool and dry I began experiencing flavors I had no idea were there.
There was also a period when I was experiencing some sinus blockage and while I was still able to taste, the flavors were faint. If you are congested or having sinus blockage that may also have a negative impact on your ability to taste.
Good luck and keep searching my friend!
I never thought about how to do it i just always have. I probably retrohale about every 3 puff. I did it when i use to smoke cigarettes and the reverse when you let smoke out of your mouth and inhaled it through your nose as well. Trying to impress the ladys along with blowing smoke rings. Well good luck in figuring it out i think it helps me enjoy my blends more and slow down while puffing.
Lol, well good advice is good advice, what can I say?I am betting you have used this information before, on a chick...
In addition to being the Captain of the Black Frigate, chasing embers is the guru of the retrohale. Indeed, what he said, that's how it's done.
I don't retrohale, but I do inhale every once in a while through my nose; there's a term for it, can't remember it right now. Basically, you let the smoke come out of your mouth gradually and breath in through your nose, inhaling a small amount of smoke. It doesn't go deep enough to really get to your lungs and you don't get much of it so its probably safer than retrohale, but to me, its more enjoyable than retrohaling because the smell is more pronounced meaning the flavor will be to...it's just what I do, everyone has their own way.
Just slow down take it easy and don't try so hard and it will come to you , your smoking cadence will evolve as your pipe smoking does , slow down , relax and enjoy .