New Snus-er: First Impressions

[Old Frothingslosh]

Welcome to the forum and snus, Meta. I too am fighting the battle of getting off cigarettes. Snus is the best thing I've come across--far better than any of the other nicotine substitutes. Sometimes it almost feels like you're cheating when you're walking through a store enjoying some snus, especially since it is someplace you wouldn't be able to smoke.

I think some of the stronger snus is helping me more than the regulars. You might want to try some of the sterks in the future.

Best of luck in your endeavors!!

[meta]

Update

It's been about a week, and I suppose it's time for an update.

Regarding smoking, I took Sagedil's advice and just didn't worry about it. I smoked when I wanted to, which amounted to 1 or 2 a day. After 4 days of that, I stopped getting the urge... until today (4 days smoke-free). I had to make a 4-hour drive and I guess I just got bored. I bought a pack of Camel Lights and smoked 2 of them. When my next nic-craving hit, I found myself wanting a snus instead. The smokes were a bit nasty in that the taste was awful and the nic hit was satisfying for only a few minutes. Even so, I still want one... right now, in fact.

Anyway...

Since my last post, I finished my Ettan and Offroad Original. I also placed and received my 2nd order just before heading out of town for a few days. On my trip I took a new tin of General Original portions, some Offroad Coffee/Vanilla and Jacobson's Ice Fruit. While I liked the Offroad C/V and J's Ice Fruit when I first tried them... the flavors got a bit annoying after a few days. Yesterday, I found myself using those just to conserve my General's to make sure I had enough to get home.

Unfortunately, at home, as a result of my second order, I mostly only have flavored snus. I'm sick of flavored snus already. I just want some tobacco!

I put the Offroad C/V and J's Ice Fruit back in the fridge with the Goat Rape 2 left-overs. Then I pulled the Grov White and Phantom Blue out of the freezer and will let them thaw while I finish the General's. (Roda Lacket and General Wintergreen are just going to have to wait.)

My next (3rd) order will likely consist of 3 or 4 tins of Ettan and some Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, and Skruf Original portions to see if I like one of those better than Ettan, General or Grov (which I have yet to try).

I'm sure others have recommended it before, but if I had it to do over again, I would have put off trying any "flavored" snus until trying and finding one or two plain staple/"go to" snus'es that I really liked.

[burningcow422]

Keep trying other flavors. Welcome to snus!

[ShaulWolf]

Good job on cutting down on smoking. Kind of strikes you when you realize just how bad cigarettes taste, doesn't it? I remember my cousin offering me one as a kid to take a taste. Ended up handing it back to him looking greener than a pasture. He just grinned at me and said, "Makes you wonder why I do it, doesn't it?" Jackass. XD

I ordered a tin of Lucky Strike White and I hear good things about Retro White, so when I get them in I'll put up a thread on my thoughts about it. I hear they have a nice tobacco taste with few bells and whistles if any. And if you liked Ettan you might also like Grov. I've found most people enjoy both, but usually one over the other. With me it's all dependent on what I'm drinking at the moment.

[Svarthvitt]

Just a small tips, I'd rather chose Skruf Stärk instead of the originals, because in my opinion they taste awful. :P Most of my friends that uses snus also think so, and as someone else said here, a strong portion might feel even better when you want a good nic hit.

[harpdog]

I too have come of cigarettes. However since using snus i have not craved a cigarette at all.

My story is similar to yours. I started out with oliver twis. tropical and original. They did not burn but mildly stung a little but that passed quickly.

I enjoyed the nicotine content of OT only when using 2 pieces at a time. But like you I got sick of the flavour after a day or to. I liked them best after an hour when the flavour died and you could taste the tobacco leaf.

I then found snus when googling for more OT flavours. I got a match sample box of 8 loose and 8 portion.

On my first day i used general portion I too noticed a burn more like a sting and I enjoyed a pleasant nicotine rush. After an hour I notice the inside of my top lip had become really wrinkly.

I found from another snuser that this was a normal reaction to the salt content in the snus and that my mouth would become accustomed to it in a few days. it did. I no longer get the sting and my lips dont become wrinkled.

I miss the sting.

Then i tried loose snus, I use the plastic pris master to bake a pris. I found though that as I have a small mouth and the pris were too big and as i was constantly moving them up I put too much pressure on my gums and the next day the gums were very sore. I did enjoy using loose a much more intense nicotine rush.

I learned how to make smaller pris. then used the other side of my mouth in order for my other sides gums to heal. Using salt water I rinsed and my gums were back to normal next day.

next day I found I could not get a hit from any snus at all. So smoke my pipe a few more times than normal.

next day I was baking pris by hand and the nicotine buzz was back.

next day I tried the true hilbilly method and just took a big pinch and shoved it up there. I then had to sit glued to my chair as I got the most intense nicotine rush I have ever experience and for someone that used to shoot speed in my teens it was almost comparable the intensity of it. The snus lost its juice very quickly using this method.

I did not need any more snus for about 4 hours after that. then I tried the pinch method again and it blew my head again although it is a little too intense and I was close to the nauseous headache. I am going to use smaller pinches from now on.

I have since ordered the small 3ml icetool.

I have not had this much fun in a long time. I no longer need 30 cigs a day and really really really love snus.

I have some thunder snus on the way. dare i take a big pinch of that.

I think i am going back to baking pris as the experience is slower and more measured.

oh i too dont go much for the fruity flavours I like the tobacco flavour of general loose and grov snus. for some reason i did not get on with etan.

I hope this thunder does not disappoint my decision to buy it was based on a simple review on this forum 'it tastes great and its strong'

[sagedil]

You won't be disappointed in Thunder, I promise. :wink:

Meta, what you described is EXACTLY what it was like for me as I was making the transition. Ocassionally, I wanted a cigarette, but more and more, I just reached for the snus instead. Nothing concious, just what I seemed to prefer.

For about the first month, I kept a pack of cigarettes in the car all the time. Had between 2 - 6 , then 2 - 4, then 1 -3, and one day, I simply stopped buying them anymore. Over the next few months, I bought about a pack a month. Then it was a pack every two months, now it is about a pack every 4 months.

The snus just nudged the cigarettes out. Again, no planning on my part, I just came to prefer the snus nicotine delivery big time over the cigarteet version.

BUT, I am out with friends and theya re smoking, i might have one. 7 months ago, a woman briefly moved in with me, she smoked, so suddenly, I was right back to 5 or 6 a day. Once she was gone, I no longer had any desire to smoke.

Also, my first few months of snus, I used almost only flavored snus, I have gotten far and fartheraway from that these past 2years, and am now about 90% non flavored.

[harpdog]

You won't be disappointed in Thunder, I promise. :wink: .

Yeah in my teens i loved Thunderbird wine, My favourite car is a Tbird, my favourite band are the fabulous thunderbirds. Thunderbolt n lightning very very ...

well you get the picture.


oh btw I have friends in Wilmington you near there?edit i just googled mapped and see raleigh and wilmington.

[Smeagol21B]

ive smoked cowboy killers (marb reds) for about 2-3 years,about 2-3 packs a day. in one 3 day weekend ive smoked over a carton. i love the whole spittles aspect of snus and the taste aint half bad,but i just dont seem to get a buzz off it...maybe i need something stronger or something......but other than that its some pretty good shit

[Old Frothingslosh]

..maybe i need something stronger or something......but other than that its some pretty good shit

Try General Ekstra Sterk or the new Thunder.

[jamesstew]

Welcome Meta, I would also like to agree that you should get a few strong portions. You'd probably like General Extra Sterk, Cla Qui, and Grov black since they all have strong tobacco notes like Ettan. The Cla Qui has what I'd describe as subtle hints of strawberry and licorice and the Grov Black has a slight vanilla flavor. The General Extra will probably get rid of any cig cravings you may have.

[meta]

Ocassionally, I wanted a cigarette, but more and more, I just reached for the snus instead. Nothing concious, just what I seemed to prefer.

After the few I had yesterday, I woke up this morning with the nastiest film and taste in my mouth. The weird part is that I recognized it as the same film and taste I woke up with every morning for the past 15 years!

So even today, when the urge to smoke (more than just a nic craving) hit me, I remembered that taste. Blech.

I brushed my teeth, then threw in a Phantom Blue (for the first time). Quite pleasant.

[meta]

The General Extra will probably get rid of any cig cravings you may have.

Thanks for the tips. I don't have any "Extra Sterk", but I do have some General Sterk White portions... and I'm about to have one now. We'll see how that does.