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- Jan 25, 2014
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There has been quite a bit of talk about Retrohaling in this great forum, and even a Retrohale topic started by Kann a few years ago, it is both funny and interesting, you can read it here.
The reason I started this topic is because I was fascinated by the process when I first learned about it a few years ago. I had already been smoking cigars for about a dozen years, and did not realize how much I had been missing… At first, I gathered information about retrohaling online, a LOT of information. Also, in doing this search, I realized that there is sound scientific reasoning for learning this technique.
The reasoning:
The most experienced cigar smokers will tell you that the flavors in a cigar completely change when you release smoke through the nose along with the mouth. I believe 100% that if you have never retrohaled, you are missing out on MOST of the nuances (and enjoyment) in the cigar you are smoking, as I did also.
First of all, I want to mention that this is not inhaling the smoke into your lungs, this is unhealthy and will probably cause you to cough your ass off.
The term Retrohale is a combination of two terms: “Retronasal Olfaction” and “Exhale” thus Retro-hale.
It is a known scientific fact that when you taste something with your mouth, you only have 4 distinct flavors: sweet, sour, salty and bitter. When you combine the taste from the mouth with the nose, you have hundreds of different flavors and combination of flavors. That is why when you have a cold, or a stuffy nose, that you have a hard time tasting your food… (Remember holding your nose so you could take your medicine as a kid?)
Retrohale Olfaction is the process of “sensing” the aromas or flavors that travel through the mouth to the back of the throat, then up and out through the nasal cavity. Our bodies designed this to be a warning system in case you are about to swallow something nasty or harmful, such as soured milk… Us cigar aficionados (I said modestly) use it to taste the nutmeg, leather, cedar, earth, grass, white and black pepper, chocolate, and on and on…
Some might ask what the difference is if I just sniff the smoke while I am smoking… That is a great question, I’m glad you asked: The difference is how our bodies are designed, by having the smoke (mixed with air) go from your mouth then through your nose, your mind can sense all the flavors available, this is because the mind perceives the aroma coming from the mouth through the nose as a taste (in the mouth), compared to the “smell” sensors perceiving the aromas as something in the outside environment, and not in the mouth. Another good point is that when you sniff the smoke, it is almost impossible to keep it from going into your lungs.
How the Hell do I Retrohale?
The way I learned, was to simply take a puff from a cigar (preferably an ISOM, but definitely start out using milder and smoother cigars), let out most of the smoke, leaving just a bit left, then, with your mouth closed, let the air in your lungs go out through your nose. For example, if you are swimming underwater, and you have air in your lungs, you can blow it out through your nose without opening your mouth.
Another way is easier for some people and harder for others: take another puff from your great cigar, blow out most of the smoke, then push the smoke to the back of your mouth with your tongue and force it out through your nose. Ex cigarette smokers will be able to do this very easily….
One more way is to: take another puff from your great cigar, blow out most of the smoke, then while holding the smoke in your mouth, pull your jaw in an upward direction, while keeping your mouth closed, forcing the air that was in your mouth through your nose.
Try all of these methods and see which one suits you the most, and after successfully doing this, you will develop a technique for each cigar you smoke. For example, I may retrohale 3 to 4 times on a stronger peppery cigar, where as a smoother creamier cigar like a Behike 52, I may retrohale every other puff.
The first few times you do this correctly, your nose will burn, your eyes will water and you will think that I am nuts. BUT when you perfect it, you will thank me by sending me all of your best cigars :whistling:
The reason I started this topic is because I was fascinated by the process when I first learned about it a few years ago. I had already been smoking cigars for about a dozen years, and did not realize how much I had been missing… At first, I gathered information about retrohaling online, a LOT of information. Also, in doing this search, I realized that there is sound scientific reasoning for learning this technique.
The reasoning:
The most experienced cigar smokers will tell you that the flavors in a cigar completely change when you release smoke through the nose along with the mouth. I believe 100% that if you have never retrohaled, you are missing out on MOST of the nuances (and enjoyment) in the cigar you are smoking, as I did also.
First of all, I want to mention that this is not inhaling the smoke into your lungs, this is unhealthy and will probably cause you to cough your ass off.
The term Retrohale is a combination of two terms: “Retronasal Olfaction” and “Exhale” thus Retro-hale.
It is a known scientific fact that when you taste something with your mouth, you only have 4 distinct flavors: sweet, sour, salty and bitter. When you combine the taste from the mouth with the nose, you have hundreds of different flavors and combination of flavors. That is why when you have a cold, or a stuffy nose, that you have a hard time tasting your food… (Remember holding your nose so you could take your medicine as a kid?)
Retrohale Olfaction is the process of “sensing” the aromas or flavors that travel through the mouth to the back of the throat, then up and out through the nasal cavity. Our bodies designed this to be a warning system in case you are about to swallow something nasty or harmful, such as soured milk… Us cigar aficionados (I said modestly) use it to taste the nutmeg, leather, cedar, earth, grass, white and black pepper, chocolate, and on and on…
Some might ask what the difference is if I just sniff the smoke while I am smoking… That is a great question, I’m glad you asked: The difference is how our bodies are designed, by having the smoke (mixed with air) go from your mouth then through your nose, your mind can sense all the flavors available, this is because the mind perceives the aroma coming from the mouth through the nose as a taste (in the mouth), compared to the “smell” sensors perceiving the aromas as something in the outside environment, and not in the mouth. Another good point is that when you sniff the smoke, it is almost impossible to keep it from going into your lungs.
How the Hell do I Retrohale?
The way I learned, was to simply take a puff from a cigar (preferably an ISOM, but definitely start out using milder and smoother cigars), let out most of the smoke, leaving just a bit left, then, with your mouth closed, let the air in your lungs go out through your nose. For example, if you are swimming underwater, and you have air in your lungs, you can blow it out through your nose without opening your mouth.
Another way is easier for some people and harder for others: take another puff from your great cigar, blow out most of the smoke, then push the smoke to the back of your mouth with your tongue and force it out through your nose. Ex cigarette smokers will be able to do this very easily….
One more way is to: take another puff from your great cigar, blow out most of the smoke, then while holding the smoke in your mouth, pull your jaw in an upward direction, while keeping your mouth closed, forcing the air that was in your mouth through your nose.
Try all of these methods and see which one suits you the most, and after successfully doing this, you will develop a technique for each cigar you smoke. For example, I may retrohale 3 to 4 times on a stronger peppery cigar, where as a smoother creamier cigar like a Behike 52, I may retrohale every other puff.
The first few times you do this correctly, your nose will burn, your eyes will water and you will think that I am nuts. BUT when you perfect it, you will thank me by sending me all of your best cigars :whistling:
