Camel "SNUS" vs Marlboro "snus".

[chadizzy1]

I did a new article for my blog today and thought I'd share it. It was pretty fun to write.

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Some of my long time readers may be asking, "Why, Chad, Why?" Why would I devote a whole article to write about two attempts to bastardize REAL Swedish Snus? Speaking of these two in a head on head is about as useless an argument as the ultimate question itself - "Which is a better mascot? A turd sandwich or a giant douche?" To explain, I track keywords which bring people to this website. Most of them include things like "Camel Snus Reviews, Marlboro Snus Reviews, Camel Snus, Marlboro snus, Robust, Winterchill, Frost, Mellow, Rich, Spearmint, Marlboro Snus vs Camel Snus", etc. etc. Well, to satisfy those looking for an answer to the battle of Marlboro "snus" vs Camel "SNUS", this article is just for you. Be prepared - I'm not nice when it comes to these two topics.


In October 2009 I wrote about Marlboro "snus" for the first time. In April 2010 I wrote about the National Release of Marlboro "snus". In November 2009 I wrote about the first release of Camel Robust & Winterchill and then followed it on August 2010 with the National Release of Camel "SNUS" Robust & Winterchill. I've written about BS articles by RJR that say they "revolutionized snus", and I even wrote a full length article comparing American "snus" vs Swedish Snus. So I haven't been silent on the subject of American knock-offs. But this being a site/blog about Swedish Snus, maybe 5% of my articles have been about these bastardized versions. When it comes to these American products, how different are they? Well, they both have one thing in common. They both fail at snus.


When you compare portion size, you can see that the Camel "SNUS" portion is much bigger than the Marlboro "snus" portion. The material is different too - with the Camel "SNUS" portion being a little softer in the lip than the Marlboro "snus" portion, which is much dryer. The packaging is much different. The Camel "SNUS" tin is easier to use/store your snus, the Marlboro "snus" tin is a clustermess when it comes to accessing/storing your snus. In this area, I give the advantage to Camel "SNUS". Though I will note that Camel "SNUS" potions are too damn big. Seriously.


One of the things I always like to mention when writing on this topic is just how dry these American "snus" products are. One of the things I love the most about REAL Swedish Snus is how moist and comfortable the portions are. It seems like the question Altria and RJ Reynolds asked themselves when it came to making snus is, "How can we get cigarettes in their lip without them eating them?" And the logical answer was "Unroll a cigarette, put it in a pouch, and re brand it as snus!" After all, looking at the picture to the left of the tobacco used in Camel "SNUS" shows you it looks a lot like cigarette tobacco. Both companies completely missed this point when attempting to release snus in America. After all, RJR, if you revolutionized snus, shouldn't your tobacco be moist? That's what makes a snus great. A good, moist product.

Continued....

[chadizzy1]

Part 2....


I will, however, give the advantage in this area to Camel "SNUS". If you look at the picture to the right of Marlboro "snus", you can see how much dryer it truly is than the Camel "SNUS". Marlboro "snus" has between 11%-12% moisture, while Camel "SNUS" has 33%, and Swedish is between 50%-55%. Though both are quite dry when you look at the them, the Camel "SNUS" is slightly more moist. What about nicotine strength? The nicotine content of each is listed as 7.61mg for Rich, 6.33mg for Mild, 6.45mg for Peppermint, and 6.45 for Spearmint. Camel "SNUS" (American) is listed as having 8mg. However, when you look at free nicotine (usable nicotine), that number drops dramatically, between 2-3mg. When it comes to Swedish Snus, nicotine levels are between 5mg and 19mg (estimated). Much higher than the American knock-offs, of course. I found remarks by David Howard of RJ Reynolds recently to be rather interesting. "A lot of adults make a decision to quit smoking this time of the year," Howard said. "For those making that attempt, but still wanting the pleasure of tobacco, we're saying, 'Here's an option.'" What's interesting about that is for a product they think can help people quit smoking, they sure didn't put much nicotine in it! The fact of the matter is this. Camel "SNUS" and Marlboro "snus" aren't designed to help people quit smoking. They're a product designed to supplement your cigarette use and to buy another product from their product line. That's the hard truth. Swedish Snus can, and does, help people quit smoking. That's a proven fact. People who have quit smoking with Camel "SNUS" have done it by finding Swedish Snus through Camel "SNUS" and quitting smoking with that. Trust me, I know hundreds of them. Check out SnusOn.com. They talk about it quite regularly.


Wait, this is an article about Marlboro "snus" vs Camel "SNUS", why am I bringing up Swedish Snus? Alas - I had my own motives! I won't go into full details, but check out my recent article about Swedish Snus vs American "snus". When it comes to Marlboro "snus" vs Camel "SNUS", well, they both suck. I hate to say it, but that's the cold hard truth. If you're finding this article and hoping to find an answer to that question - I don't have one for you. They're both terrible knock-offs of a great product in Swedish Snus. If you're using either one of these, or interesting in either one to help you quit smoking - don't bother. Get online at GeneralSnus.com to find a store near you that carries REAL Swedish Snus, or check out a webstore that carries snus and have snus shipped direct to you from Sweden and experience a product with a rich 200 year history that can truly help you quit smoking.

[GoVegan]

You could have saved yourself a lot of work and just summed up your review by asking, Would you rather get kicked in the crotch or in the face?

[chadizzy1]

You could have saved yourself a lot of work and just summed up your review by asking, Would you rather get kicked in the crotch or in the face?

I was trying to at least satisfy some people who wanted to know the difference. My giant douche vs turd sandwich reference was my fun.

[tom502]

They both suck, but if I had to pick one, it'd be the Camel Robust.

[rickcharles606]

Have you tried Camel recently?

It seems to be getting better, IMO.

Sometime between last April and now, I think they changed the formulation a bit.

I'm pretty sure you're correct on this..I tried the new Robust, still not great though. To me it smelled like instant lipton tea..lol

[lxskllr]

The Robust, while closest to real snus, is my least favorite of the bunch. I find the flavor very disagreeable. I prefer the candy flavors of the other 2 I've tried. I used a couple portions, and put the tin in the freezer.

[Roo]

Still never tried any of it and I'm happy keeping it that way. The first time I heard of snus it was from a friend telling me about the Swedish product, so I don't want to taint my first impressions and memories of discovering the wonder of snus through a big brown envelope from the Swedish Post.

[Mykislt]

sorry but I love to play devils advocate

The fact of the matter is this. Camel "SNUS" and Marlboro "snus" aren't designed to help people quit smoking.

it feels like you are implying here, that Swedish snus is designed to help people quit smoking. If you are, you would be wrong for the most part. Furthermore, they are not claiming that is is designed to help people quit smoking, so what you are saying is irrelevant.

They're a product designed to supplement your cigarette use and to buy another product from their product line.

Then why would they have ads like the one with "2011 smoke-free resolution" instead of the ones with the "if you can't smoke, use snus" mentality?

And I think I know what you are going to answer to the second one. Something along the lines of "it's a conspiracy".
To that I would propose a more probable situation: they are idiots, and just don't know how to make snus.

[snusjus]

I find Camel Snus more tolerable than Marlboro. However, real snus is worlds better than either brand.

[Owens187]

One thing I'll definately agree with is the size. Freakin' panty-liner huge! We bitched about the portions being too small, and boy did they really take that one and run. I can hardly stand to even have one in my mouth due to the size alone, and thats even before the gag-inducing taste kicks in.....

[tom502]

I know people think they were junk, but as far as American snus goes, I still think the Tourney Original was the best, yes, it wasn't good, but I thought it was bearable, and it wasn't sweet candy "snus", and it was available at local gas stations for like 2 bucks.

[CultLeaderLettuce]

Interesting, I have recently seen signs at Kroger that say "Marlboro Snus, coming soon," and shows two regular sized round cans (like dip cans, or swedish snus cans), and appears to just come in two flavors (looks to be a regular and a mint). Are they planning on reformulating their snus, and change the way that they make/market it? Has anyone heard any actual news about this, or had a chance to test these?

[chadizzy1]

Interesting, I have recently seen signs at Kroger that say "Marlboro Snus, coming soon," and shows two regular sized round cans (like dip cans, or swedish snus cans), and appears to just come in two flavors (looks to be a regular and a mint). Are they planning on reformulating their snus, and change the way that they make/market it? Has anyone heard any actual news about this, or had a chance to test these?

Last I heard was that the recent national release was the format Marlboro Snus would be in through the summer of 2011.

Can you get a pic of the sign? I'm curious to see it.

[chadizzy1]

Then why would they have ads like the one with "2011 smoke-free resolution" instead of the ones with the "if you can't smoke, use Snus" mentality?
And I think I know what you are going to answer to the second one. Something along the lines of "it's a conspiracy".
To that I would propose a more probable situation: they are idiots, and just don't know how to make snus.

Two things.

1. Marlboro Snus packaging. You can tell just by looking at it, heck - even measure it. It slides right into the film around a
Box of cigarettes. There are just a few portions per package. It is an accompaniment to cigarettes, not a substitute. That much is obvious.

Two. The free nicotine levels in the portions are ridiculously slow. Between 2-3mg which simply isn't enough to become a substitute. Even by the standards of nicotine gum. If they wanted people to quit smoking with their product, they would increase those levels which we know they can. The fact that they haven't shows their intentions.

Okay, here's a third. The 2011 Smoke Free Resolution is simply reactionary. Here's why.

Remember the original Camel "SNUS" marketing campaign. It was about breaking free, boldly going wherever, saying no to people saying no. This marketing campaign showed the intention of their product was to get you nicotine when you couldn't smoke. Plain and simple. This new campaign falls after a lot of info has come out about harm reduction and even they 60 Minutes Story. It's simply RJR attempting to sell products based on a movement that is gaining momentum. Plain and simple.