Thats two of you who like MB Vanilla Cream flake. Wow, i'll check it out.
What It "Smells" Like
- Thread starter Pipelady20
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I very much enjoyed LJ Peretti's Tashkent, Latakia and Orientals with no Virginias.
Believe me, you won't regret it. Try the loose cut first.
Yes very much so. There is almost zero “smoke” in the room note.
@BROBS turned me on to Vanilla Cream as well, good stuff. It's also mostly VA so don't eschew that leaf completely. Frog Morton has plenty of VA in it as well. Certain blends from some brands are just more cigarette like. Bright gold VA can be cig like, especially if it hasn't been pressed or processed much. Many C&D blends and virtually all D&R blends have a reputation for being a bit more rough, dry, natural, and cigarette like. Only a few of the D&R offerings aren't meant for dual use as roll your own cig tobacco. Same with a few Lakeland blends such as Kendal Gold, Kendal Mixture, Kendal Menthol(of course).
Also, there are different types of cigs... some tobaccos I love because they smell and taste like Turkish cigs while others I dislike because they taste like stale knock off Marlboro reds to me... I used to smoke camels so I enjoy that Turkish flavor but not so much the flue cured bright va and burley combo closer to a Marlboro. Although flue cured Va is associated with cigarettes, the burley underneath some heavily cased aros is more akin to gas station cigars and blunts like Black&Mild or White Owl. Those may have an aroma of candy while burning but inevitably smell like stale cheap cigar an hour later. Just my 2?.
Also, there are different types of cigs... some tobaccos I love because they smell and taste like Turkish cigs while others I dislike because they taste like stale knock off Marlboro reds to me... I used to smoke camels so I enjoy that Turkish flavor but not so much the flue cured bright va and burley combo closer to a Marlboro. Although flue cured Va is associated with cigarettes, the burley underneath some heavily cased aros is more akin to gas station cigars and blunts like Black&Mild or White Owl. Those may have an aroma of candy while burning but inevitably smell like stale cheap cigar an hour later. Just my 2?.
Have you tried briarworks sweet tea? I think it hits all 3 of the “wow” points. I am only a little into pipe smoking, but really like that blend.
I've not tried that one, I'll look it up. Thanks.
I have to agree that some Virginia heavy blends do have a cigarette after-aroma. I'm not too fond of that myself but am drawn to more of the English blends.
Maybe try Haddo’s Delight. When I started a few months ago I was in the camp of finding that smoking a blend could never approach how delicious it smelled when the tin was popped, a bit like coffee... as time went on what I started to get out of smoking a pipe transformed beyond smell in the conventional sense. It’s a hard thing to explain. Also, something about pipe tobacco to me is how one enjoys aspects of in a sort of separation which manages to unify the experience in memory: researching blends, the smell of the tin once opened, the rubbing out of the tobacco, the actually smoking. It’s combines a few different pleasures under the umbrella of a personal ritual which extends beyond something as simple as consumption.
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Not sure I personally would call it a good one but it's definitely high quality, consistent and not cigaretty... C&D Gentleman Caller.
They market it as being worthy of using as potpourri. Strong Deer Tongue / Bison Grass, non artificial vanilla, in both tin and room note.
To me the smell is close to that of Somali incense (frankincense) which I find almost nauseating. But YMMV and some people like it and it has quite cool tin art imho.
They market it as being worthy of using as potpourri. Strong Deer Tongue / Bison Grass, non artificial vanilla, in both tin and room note.
To me the smell is close to that of Somali incense (frankincense) which I find almost nauseating. But YMMV and some people like it and it has quite cool tin art imho.
@rushx9 ... I have seen you mention the Balkan Supreme and Firedance combination several times and I have been very intrigued by the recommendation because I love Balkan Supreme. I managed to get an ounce of bulk Firedance from tobacconist while traveling earlier this year and finally sat down to try the combo this morning mixed in the proportion you recommended. It wasn't bad, but I didn't get much - if any - of the blackberry from the Firedance coming through, but I don't get much of anything in the Firedance aroma from my jar either. I suspect that the bulk from the tobacconist jar may be quite old and has lost some of its essence over time or maybe it's just a weak batch as I tried Firedance on its own previously and was quite underwhelmed with its lack of flavor.
I still like the idea of this combination and might just give it a try again using Devil's Holiday and Balkan Supreme.
I've only had Firedance from a tin and I've had the same opened tin for 6 months (not jarred and opened about twice a month, I have a very wide rotation) and it still has loads of flavor. I taste brandy first, then blackberry, then a hint of vanilla. I've heard others say they didn't taste much topping so I'm assuming there is a significant difference between bulk and tinned offerings. I've heard the same about a number of Gawith blends so it wouldn't really surprise me. Sorry my recommendation didn't turn out as advertised! I've read that the base of Firedance is Best Brown, so I feel like I'd like it even if the topping evaporated, but I could still see it being a big letdown if I was expecting a heavy dose of blackberry brandy.@rushx9 ... I have seen you mention the Balkan Supreme and Firedance combination several times and I have been very intrigued by the recommendation because I love Balkan Supreme. I managed to get an ounce of bulk Firedance from tobacconist while traveling earlier this year and finally sat down to try the combo this morning mixed in the proportion you recommended. It wasn't bad, but I didn't get much - if any - of the blackberry from the Firedance coming through, but I don't get much of anything in the Firedance aroma from my jar either. I suspect that the bulk from the tobacconist jar may be quite old and has lost some of its essence over time or maybe it's just a weak batch as I tried Firedance on its own previously and was quite underwhelmed with its lack of flavor.
Another huge fan of vanilla cream. I only have a small starter cellar and 6 pounds of it is this tobacco. Amazing taste, room note and tin note. Its my wifes favorite and she will actually ask for me to puff a pipe of this blend while she crochets near me because she enjoys the smell.
I really think that it was the bulk of indeterminate age versus a fresh/sealed tin, but I have been unable to source a tin of Firedance and decided to grab the bulk option when I came across it. I will keep my eye out for Firedance tins though as I really do think the recommendation sounds fantastic!
the base of Firedance is much lighter than BB... So it might be Golden Glow topped and not rubbed out?
which I should add is technically most likely BB as well............. 
Could be... the tin I got from JFH was 3 or 4 years old and the flakes are maybe a shade darker than your BBF sample, but that could be just from the age. I take these with a grain of salt, but this is the manufacturers description on TR:
Developed with one of the U.S.A.'s lady smokers, FireDance is Our Best Brown 6" Flake subtly flavoured with a combination of blackberry, brandy and vanilla. The smoke is a mild, cool experience with the blackberry the predominant flavour, the brandy in the background and rounded off with the vanilla. A mild and fruity smoke with the strength of Best Brown and a very pleasing room aroma.