Why Do Aromatics Have a Bad Rap?

[yanoJL]

It is my (unsolicited) opinion that the popularity of aromatic blends is often overstated. I read comments and posts on threads like these that claim aromatic blends account for "90% of pipe tobacco sales". But I have been unable to find data to support this. That is not to say that these claims are wrong, but that my attempts to substantiate these figures have been, thus far, unsuccessful.

SP publishes lists on their site of the best selling blends. Best selling MacBaren blends, Best Selling Bulk Blends, Best selling tin blends, etc. And these lists are NOT dominated by aromatics.

Top 10 Best Selling MacBaren Blends
(3 of 10 are aromatics)

Top 25 Best Selling Bulk Pipe Tobaccos
(7 of 25 are aromatics)

Top 25 Best Selling Tinned Pipe Tobaccos
(3 of 25 are aromatics)

 

[shanez]

I'm not sure which book embers has but I specifically have "All About Tobacco" by Milton Sherman.

If adding after processing is the accepted definition then there are a lot more aromatics than anyone is willing to admit. Unless the additive is rum which for some reason doesn't count.

 

[telescopes]

I, along with numerous others on this forum, smoke aromatics throughout the day. I also smoke tobacco from all the other genres as well. I’ve never enjoyed goopy aromatic tobacco and I believe that is what most people are referring to when they speak about aromatic tobaccos. An example of goopy might be Peach Cobbler or Flaming Cherries. I personally subscribe to the broader definition of aromatics and believe we need a different category to describe the goopy grade of tobacco typically thought of as aromatics.

 

[Tate]

I, along with numerous others on this forum, smoke aromatics throughout the day. I also smoke tobacco from all the other genres as well. I’ve never enjoyed goopy aromatic tobacco and I believe that is what most people are referring to when they speak about aromatic tobaccos. An example of goopy might be Peach Cobbler or Flaming Cherries. I personally subscribe to the broader definition of aromatics and believe we need a different category to describe the goopy grade of tobacco typically thought of as aromatics.

What's one of your favorite aros?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I'm not sure which book embers has but I specifically have "All About Tobacco" by Milton Sherman.

If adding after processing is the accepted definition then there are a lot more aromatics than anyone is willing to admit. Unless the additive is rum which for some reason doesn't count.

Casings are added earlier in the process. Jeremy has a video that better details all of this for you. It may be on the smokingpipes blog page. i've only seen it on instagram, where I can't post here from there. It also may not be apparent to us on the consumer end when a flavor was added. But, they do stay pretty dead on with their categorization.

 

[yanoJL]

Casings are added earlier in the process. Jeremy has a video that better details all of this for you. It may be on the smokingpipes blog page. i've only seen it on instagram, where I can't post here from there. It also may not be apparent to us on the consumer end when a flavor was added. But, they do stay pretty dead on with their categorization.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I personally subscribe to the broader definition of aromatics and believe we need a different category to describe the goopy grade of tobacco typically thought of as aromatics.

See, on the other end of this, we also need a category for cased and uncased non-aromatic tobaccos.

 

[telescopes]

What's one of your favorite aros?

Lane BCA with a quarter addition of Sutliff Nougat. Lately I have been adding a small amount of Latakia and Perique to the mixture and allowing it to sleep for about 3 or more months before smoking it. I find it heavenly. Sometimes I add in a small amount of G&H Brown Flake to the first mix instead of the Latakia and Perique.

 

[telescopes]

See, on the other end of this, we also need a category for cased and uncased non-aromatic tobaccos.

+1

 

[Lumbridge]

aromatic

1 of 2
adjective
1
: of, relating to, or having aroma:
a
: having a noticeable and pleasant smell : fragrant
aromatic herbs
aromatic wines
b
: having a strong smell
The peat burns with a pungently aromatic smoke.
c
: having a distinctive quality
2
of an organic compound : characterized by increased chemical stability resulting from the delocalization of electrons in a ring system (such as benzene) containing usually multiple conjugated double bonds

2 of 2
noun
1
: an aromatic plant or plant part
especially : an aromatic herb or spice
2
: an aromatic organic compound

Respectfully, the word "aromatic" when used in the context of tobacco, is used to refer to tobaccos with flavoring (and often sugar) added during the processing. The dictionary definition of the word is moot.

 

[jaingorenard]

Respectfully, the word "aromatic" when used in the context of tobacco, is used to refer to tobaccos with flavoring (and often sugar) added during the processing. The dictionary definition of the word is moot.

Nowadays, yes. But the point is that in the past tobaccos described as 'aromatic' blends were often what we would now call 'English' blends with Latakia and orientals. I'll try and find an example.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Nowadays, yes. But the point is that in the past tobaccos described as 'aromatic' blends were often what we would now call 'English' blends with Latakia and orientals. I'll try and find an example.

See, language changes. We no longer smoke fags, nor talk about how queer we feel, or have a gay day, unless.... you know... The words change.

So, currently, if someone refers to a Balkan as an aromatic, they just confuse the situation, or look as if they don't understand the pipe world at all.

 

[Lumbridge]

Nowadays, yes. But the point is that in the past tobaccos described as 'aromatic' blends were often what we would now call 'English' blends with Latakia and orientals. I'll try and find an example.

I get your point. The usage of words changes over time. I just feel that the modern use of the word "aromatic" in regards to tobacco is the one most relevant to discussions on the subject in 2023. If we start referring to every English blend as an "aromatic" it will just confuse the newbies even more.

 

[jaingorenard]

See, language changes. We no longer smoke fags, nor talk about how queer we feel, or have a gay day, unless.... you know... The words change.

So, currently, if someone refers to a Balkan as an aromatic, they just confuse the situation, or look as if they don't understand the pipe world at all.

We still smoke fags in the UK, thank you very much!

But I do take your point. I just think it serves to further emphasize that the word 'aromatic' (or indeed many tobacco classifications) can be so broad that the genre needn't be written off by a smoker in their entirety (or the words need to be better-defined).

 

[cosmicfolklore]

We still smoke fags in the UK, thank you very much!

The term definitely wasn't ubiquitous in the US. Maybe small regional areas, or just the expatriated British and those in their circle.

 

[jaingorenard]

Just as a slight side-note, I'm in a pipe club in the UK with a couple of very elderly gents. They invariably refer to 'aromatic' blends as 'cavendish' blends. I wonder if that's some historical quirk to differentiate between aromatics and Lakelands. They all smoke almost exclusively G&H blends, and detest the aromatics brought by the one member who smokes them.

 

[telescopes]

We still smoke fags in the UK, thank you very much!

As well they do here in Palm Springs. Hmmmm, now you got me wondering about the UK, LOL.

 

[SBC]

Most tobaccos are topped somehow, but when I think of an aromatic I think of a tobacco with so much noticeable topping that, even though I'm not looking for it, I say, "Oh wow, this is definitely flavored."

There's more than one way to taxonomize these, but in my mind there are four functional categories:

1. Cavendish aromatics
2. Codger Blends
3. Lakelands
4. Others that are difficult to classify (e.g. Vanilla Roll Cake, Newminster 400, PH Dark Strong Flake, etc.)
   (Perhaps these are best classified by their leaf type, e.g. "aromatic VA" or "aromatic KY")

I really like Lakeland sauce, and I quite like some non-cavendish aros (like Vanilla Roll Cake).

But when the average pipe smoker today says "Aro," he means #1, cavendish aromatics. He may dislike those yet like Lakelands or some heavily topped VAs, etc.

Two experiences which deter me from some (not all) cavendish aros are:

1. The often cited "chemical" or "artificial" taste. I do not get this from all cavendish aros, but some.
   
   
2. A weird "playdoh" taste I get from some cavendish. I don't think it's the toppings in this case, but I could be wrong. I haven't figured this out yet. It's very prominent in some cavendishes, but not bad in some others.

I really like some cavendish aros. Many from Boswell's are fantastic, with neither chemical nor playdoh flavors. Some from Country Squire are fine, maybe not as good as Boswell's, but likewise free of these problems. I've had some good ones from Just For Him, as well. And every once in a great while, a cavendish aro from a major producer is also really good, e.g. C&D's Jolly Old St. Nicholas.

Finally, I will agree with some others that, counter-intuitively, aros require better technique than (for instance) latakia blends to taste good.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

They invariably refer to 'aromatic' blends as 'cavendish' blends.

Many aromatics do have a lot of cavendish blended in with them. And, in being on here and hanging out with my pipe club, most men associate cavendish with flavored tobaccos. But, not all. There are many aromatics that are merely topped Virginias, and some that are Maryland blends.

 

[telescopes]

@jaingorenard , The city of Palm Springs is very proud of the wide variety of pipes it’s citizens have. From what I understand, they come in all colors, sizes, and shapes. Some are covered in leather while others are adorned with various pieces of jewelry. I don’t think it would be a stretch to suggest our city is the pipe center of the world. I am sure that all forum members would be welcomed to come and experience them for themselves.