Come with me now on a journey through time and space

Everyone likes a bit of a history lesson and until recently, I was largely unaware of snuffs.

So some natives in South America in the 15th century were observed using it by the Spaniards, who brought it back to Europe with them where it quickly spread.  Most notable users were the French, Dutch and Spanish nobility as it became an expensive commodity; often distinguishing those of higher class from others who preferred to intake tobacco via smoking.  Snuff boxes became highly decorated, expensive accessories of the aristocratic elite and communal snuff boxes became common place; including the U.S. Congress and British House of Commons.  Nowadays, antique and ornately decorated snuff boxes sell for hundreds of dollars.

During the Great Plague of London 1665-1666 it was believed that snuff contained antiseptic properties and throughout much of it’s historical use it was seen to have positive medical effects on those who regularly used it.  Nowadays we know this to be false, including some early claims that snuff use predisposes one to nasal cancer.

Snuff use slowly declined as smoking became more common however with recent laws banning smoking, snuff use is beginning to make a comeback.

The love affair begins..

1894 Kinetoscope of Fred Ott taking a snuff and then sneezing, taken by Thomas Edison’s laboratory. Source: Wikipedia Commons

I was first introduced to snuff by my salesman at the Great Wall dealership, would you believe.  During a chat in the yard I rolled up a smoke and he pulled out a small tin of snuff and inhaled then and there, which fascinated me greatly.  He too used snus in compliment and when I finalised the deal and picked up the car, he gave me a couple of sample tins from his extensive collection; White Elephant by 41 Photo and Gingerbread snuff by De Kralingse.

I already had various tins on order from mistersnuff.com and along with snus, began my journey to break free of smoking.  It turns out that my dealer friend (of a car and now snuff!) gave me one of the driest, finest and strongest snuffs there is.  White Elephant is extremely fine and when I first started using it, my eyes watered like mad while my nose burnt terribly! After watching a couple of YouTube clips on the method of insufflation, I learnt pretty quickly that one does not need to ‘snort’ it as if doing a line of drugs, one instead ‘smells’ it; taking it gently into the front part of the nose.  If it hits the sinuses or the back of the throat, that is when the great discomfort occurs.  I also found that using the coarser Gingerbread snuff, though not as harsh on the nose seemed to cause me to sneeze more often though this is often considered a sign of a newbie snuffer.

anatomical snuff box

The most common method I’ll use for a bit of a bump, is to just take a pinch between thumb and forefinger before bringing it up to the nose and slowly releasing; smelling it as you do.  That way I know exactly how much I’ve got and it tends to be a bit more pleasant when warmed up with the fingers.  For a stronger hit I’ll use a tiny spoon and dish some out onto the back of my hand in the anatomical snuff box (pictured) and bring it to my nose, inhaling lightly.  I also have a small jar with a tiny spoon attached to the lid, which is easy enough to scoop a little out for a small bump.  I also have a little glass bullet which isn’t too bad to use however it can be hard to get a consistent flow of snuff out of the device; though they are handy to use whilst driving.

But just how much nicotine satisfaction does it deliver? Well, I would equate one big pinch or a small heap on the back of the hand (pictured right) as equivalent to about one 12mg cigarette.  It really hits the spot and although I tend not to get the rush from snuff as you would with say, the first smoke of the day; combined with snus (especially loose or a double white portion) it does the job nicely thanks.

A kind notice from the Customs and Border Protection department informing me my shipment was inspected but not seized. I did not have to pay duty either.

Snuff is extremely cheap nowadays compared to cigarettes/tobacco due to the wonders of online international retail as anything other than smoking tobacco isn’t available at the local shops.  This is probably a good thing because if it were it would be taxed to the hilt and become too expensive.  In Australia, a cheap pack of 30 cigarettes currently cost about $25 and a 50g packet of rolling tobacco is about $35.  Outdated health policies have kept smokeless tobacco products like snus, snuff, dipping tobacco and e-cigarettes out of shops as the Australian government doesn’t believe in ‘harm reduction’ techniques associated with such methods of nicotine intake; instead classing all forms as an addictive, harmful substance.  Some have called for a review of this public health policy.

Luckily, they don’t stop you from importing small quantities for personal use but from what I’ve read they will generally try to get you to pay duty on it if it exceeds more than say, 5 tins of snus.  If you’re unlucky enough to have it inspected, you may still be lucky to have it let through without having to pay more for it (pictured left)

Link: tobaccoinaustralia.org.au – Smokeless tobacco and harm reduction

Health impacts

Many studies have found that snuff (and swedish snus) have a very tenuous link to cancer, unlike smoking and american dipping tobacco which contain higher amounts of the carcinogen nitrosamine.  Nicotine itself is of course highly addictive and habit-forming and depending on how it is taken into the body, has been linked with pancreatic cancer, mouth and tongue cancer, oesophageal and gastric cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease; though no study that I’ve seen with snus and snuff can unquestionably confirm or deny this link.  Leave comments below with evidence if you disagree, please.

Nitrosamines can also be found in tobacco smoke, American dip snuff, Chewing Tobacco, and to a much lesser degree, snus. (127.9 PPM for American dip snuff compared to 2.8 PPM in Swedish snuff or snus.)^[6]
Source: Wikipedia “Nitrosamine”

I’m not sure if this lingering cough of mine is due to a protracted minor chest infection, a smokers cough or the fact that I’ve now been cigarette free for over a week and my lungs are simply clearing out.  I have noticed however that whenever I briefly use the e-cig, the lung butter becomes a bit thicker and chunkier; most likely due to the carrier medium of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin which deposits itself in my airways.  The Therapeutic Goods Association of Australia is currently undertaking a study into e-cigarettes that may inevitably lead to their legalisation and taxation.

Perhaps the most annoying immediate side effect of snuff usage is the continually blocked sinuses. As I’ve continued to use it, I find that it has created an inordinate amount of boogers which I am constantly cleaning out.  I’ve resorted to using a saline nasal spray (with occasional use of an Oxymetazoline spray for comfortably breathing in bed at night).  As it effects my ability to properly intake snuff, I am striking a balance between using snus as a means of giving my nose a break.  There are also available several so-called ‘medicated’ snuffs which include aromatic mint and camphor similar to a Vicks inhaler that seem to open up the nasal passages, though these are a temporary measure at best.  I’ve found that an initial morning bump of medicated snuff followed by a bump of traditional snuff seems to help with this issue.

As my snuff collection grew to what it is at the time of this writing, I find I have a penchant for the finer, stronger and drier varieties.  I will do a thorough write-up and review of some of the various snuffs and snus I own and have tried for those who are looking at starting out, complete with links to their product pages but for now a brief description follows of a few snus and snuff.

In the photo above it is divided with snus on the left and snuff on the right with various tools for each along the bottom.

Snus

I particularly like the small white, dry portions (pre-bagged) which have a hint of mint or eucalyptus and find that situating one on either side of the upper gum is great.  Most brands of this type are more or less the same  They’re not particularly strong (thus double loading) but aren’t nearly as messy as other moist or strong varieties in the way of disgusting spit production.  For a stronger morning or evening hit, I go for the loose snus using a pris master tool, which creates a small compacted prila or portion of tobacco to sit under the lip.  They tend to get messy with bits of tobacco floating around the mouth after about 20 minutes and lose strength at which point I spit it out and wash the mouth out with water.

One particular brand is the Africaine Platinum by Makla, which has the consistency of coarse clay and packs quite a nicotine punch.  Definitely not one to use too often or in too big a prila and when it starts to break down, it feels like mud.  Another mainstay is the Extreme Loose by Oden’s, quite a bit more pleasant in the tobacco flavour and presence in the mouth as it tends not to break down so easily.  Using loose snus however requires a bit of practice to get the density, shape and placement right but it makes for an authentic, pleasurable snus experience!

I’ve tried a few of the saltier moist and stark (strong) portions and alot of them contain salt to increase the pH and therefore the bioavailability of the nicotine, however this tends to generate quite a bit of spit which you definitely don’t want to swallow.  By carrying a small kids drink bottle with a flip lid in my pocket (and the full length label left on to hide the contents), I can pull it out and release a mouth full of spit discretely.  It’s not ideal and I’m self-conscious of doing it around other people but this is fine for driving, at home or when I’m not around a lot of people at work.

Snuff

Give it to me fine, dry and unscented.  But to mix it up a bit I quite like the Elmo’s Reserve and Apricot Snuff by Samuel Gawith, SP No. 1 by J & H Wilson and Original and Genuine by McChrystals.  When I get around to it (if I get around to it), I’ll do up some more detailed reviews.

Dip (moist snuff)

Copenhagen Fine Moist Snuff aka ‘Dip’

American dipping tobacco (also known as moist snuff) is fermented tobacco rather than pasteurised like snus and is commonly placed under the lower lip, rather than under the upper lip.  Due to the treatment process it undergoes during production, it has been linked to a greater n

umber of health problems like tongue and mouth cancer and for this reason alone I have tended to stay away from it.  Just for reference though, I bought a can of Original Fine Cut Snuff by Copenhagen (pictured right) to try out and it reaffirmed to me why I’ve never really taken to this form of smokeless tobacco.  Although it packs a nice nicotine punch and initially didn’t taste too bad, on subsequent uses I’ve found it to taste a bit like ashtray.. and I’m not sure why.  Asides from looking like a hick fuck with a big lump sticking out from your lower lip, the amount of spit it generated was ridiculous and if I were out on the street or at work constantly spitting, I would feel like a common degenerate.  I’ll hang onto it and may occasionally use it at home but that’s the extent of it.

Nasal snuff seems to me to still retain an air of refinement (no pun intended) alongside snus.

So I hope..

..you somehow found this article useful.  If you’re considering using e-cigarettes, snus, snuff or dip your experiences may vary and I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.  For a smoker like me who isn’t necessarily to give up on nicotine entirely, I’m really confident that I’ve found a solution in smokeless.  If you’re looking to do the same, I wish you all the best of luck.

Update, 10 Nov 2013 – I started a Facebook group aimed at furthering discussion, join up and share your thoughts and experiences!
Facebook: Snuff, Snus and Dip Users

-R