The man, the book & the cigar

[jmasterj]

Can you relate?

I pass by a Starbucks Coffee house every morning on my walk to work from the subway system. I usually stop in for a tall cup of ‘wake me up’. Without failure, on any halfway decent day, meaning no detectable rain in the vicinity, I find a guy that I work with sitting down and enjoying a delectable cigar with his morning 'Red Eye' espresso drip and a book. Here’s where I get jealous. Every atom in my body wants to be doing that same thing, every halfway decent day.

But then reality sets in, I find my way to work and about an hour later, when this gentleman arrives at the office, you don’t even have to be within ear shot of him and WHAMO that post cigar stench and stank envelops the entire office and cubicle area. I, as a cigar FIEND, understand the consequences of our pleasure, but is it that bad for everyone?

Now trust me, my better half will swear up and down that she loves me implicitly no matter how much I smoke but I have to think that in some way, shape or form, I am probably that WHAMO for others around me when I smoke. I’ve been told that I smell like I just smoked ten cigarettes, my breath smells like garbage, that cigar is coming out of my pores and on and on. But to me, once I light that cigar and take a few puffs from it, I don’t smell the delicate aroma that often lingers and tantalizes around the block nor do I smell the after effects that are the ‘Instant Show Stoppers’ when it comes to pillow talk. All I find, and love by the way, is that after taste in my mouth of something pure and organic that can go a full twenty-four hours after I’ve smoked my cigar. Then reality sets in and I have to reach for that morning after pill, a box of Altoids, so that I can conform to society’s expectations.

So with that short story told, does anyone else have a similar story or hold a similar disposition?

What do you do as your normal post cigar etiquette and/or behavior? How does it affect those close to you?

Do you give a rat’s arse about what the others around you are experiencing when you smoke? Tell your story.

[Puros Y Vino]

Given that our climate allows us few smoking opportunities and I'm forbidden from smoking in the house due to 3 floors of carpeting. I tend to save my cigar smoking for the end of the day. I find that if I brush my teeth, wash my face and change my clothes my wife is OK with me being around her post cigar. When I'm out I find that the odours blow off for the most part. I've had the odd cigar at lunch and come back into the office with very little odour stuck to me. I brush & wash and all is good.

When I'm on a bar or restaurants' patio deck where smoking is allowed, I don't care what anyone else thinks. It's fair game. People should be more conerned about the crap being pumped into the air from cars and industry in general. Dried, cured tobacco leaves are a respite from the smog in the big city IMO.

[bolivr]

I don't smoke that often after dinner and so the smoke taste is all gone by eating food and drinking some tasty beverage. Brushing teeth fixes the rest. I often notice the smoke smell on my clothes a bit but herself doesn't mind that and I quite like it myself. A reminder of enjoying a good smoke. Those who don't like it, well, I can't help them. They need to get over their need to be surrounded by a perfect little world.

[Colt45]

I mainly smoke outside as well which helps with the clothing smell. I will also wear my beat up chore coat which really helps - I can grab that

coat the next day or a couple days after and smell the cigar smoke on it.

I also agree with washing, brushing teeth, mouthwash, mints. If I'm staying at home after smoking, I'll often enjoy the aftertaste for a while.

As for going out in public, to work, etc, I wouldn't go out stinking of body odor, or breathe on someone after eating onions or the like, so I feel

cigar odors not really any different - stale cigar smoke can really stink.

I wonder if your coworker smokes in his car on the way to work?

[FireDigger]

What does your co-worker smoke, Gurkhas?!

All kidding aside, he probably smokes a few cigars per day. If that is your smoking habit as well, then it will be hard to get rid of the stench. However, if you are a casual smoker, around 3-4 a week, the smell won't linger that much. It's not always feasible to change clothes, but rinsing your mouth and drink some water (those altoids definitely help) is always recommended.

I only smoke in my back porch a few times a month, so I don't really bother anyone with the "cigar smell". However, I do have an 8-month old daughter, so I would change my shirt and brush my teeth before tending to her after a smoke.

[thechenman]

I typically wear an old jacket when I smoke...it helps keep the smell off my shirt, and well...I don't really sniff my pants, and I do hope others arent' sniffing them either. After a cigar I will brush and rinse with mouthwash if it is possible to do so. When it is hot out, well, I'll probably take a nice cool shower after my cigar, so I don't really care.

I do know of some friends who smoke cigars during their lunch break. They use a deodorizing spray like Febreeze...there are actually several brands...and some kind of scented spray for their hair that they say gets rid of most of the smell. For them it works.

[edameff]

Believe it or not Citric Acid is amazing as far as killing the aftertaste. I use it in between cigars to clear my palate and have given it to several other members of our cigar club...they love it! Swepps Bitter Lemon is a great mineral water with citric acid in it that works, but pure citric acid is cheap and easy.

[FireDigger]

Believe it or not Citric Acid is amazing as far as killing the aftertaste. I use it in between cigars to clear my palate and have given it to several other members of our cigar club...they love it! Swepps Bitter Lemon is a great mineral water with citric acid in it that works, but pure citric acid is cheap and easy.

I will have to try that some time, thanks!

[jmasterj]

Yeah, I just find it interesting that while I'm smoking, my senses take in the experience in much a different way then if I'm not smoking and I encounter someone who is. That delicate aroma that wafts in the air as someone is smoking near by is very much a pleasant scent. On the contrary, when I'm not smoking and someone else has just finished, they smell like a trash can. (Probably Gurkhas! )

This guy at work does only seem to smoke in the open air.

I've tried the citric acid thing and it never really worked for me. I bet everyone has a different way that their body gets rid of the nicotine/toxins.

[davidl]

When smoking indoors, nothing short of a shower, full clothing change, brushing my teeth + Listerine will cut it. I do this myself, as I do not like the smell the lingers (wife also appreciates it).

However, most of my smoking is done outside in my garden, which changes the whole situation. Most of the smell goes away and I can even get away without brushing my teeth.

Smoking at a restaurant is something that I would love to do, but never do, unless it is a cigar lounge. I find that even when there is a smoking designated area, that does not refer to cigar smoke. Asking the restaurant owner\ hostess if they mind doesn't matter, as the complaint from another customer could come halfway through the cigar. It's no fun smoking when you have others that are turned off by the smoke. That's why I prefer my garden.

In general, cheaper cigars smell a lot wost then the better stuff.

Regarding your friend, all I can say is that some smokers smell and some do not. My brother is a chain cigarette smoker, but never smells. Others, smoke less and reek of smell.

[michael69]

I'm probably in the minority, but I find the "second hand" smell quite comforting... guess it's because it brings back nice memories of childhood time spend with my grandfather though

[Holysmokes]

Here's my before work ritual:

It's 1 hour and a half before I start work, I get in my car, light a Bolivar PC or a Siglo II and drive very slowly to the nearest drive-through Tim Hortons coffee shop. Then I slowly, very slowly, smoke my cigar as I listen to some of my fav tunes. I get to work... It's all downhill from there. Just kidding, but honestly, this part of my day is consistently one of the best, I always look forward to it. My car is the only car I can smoke my cigars in, my gf drives the other vehicle and that is where we keep the car seat for our daughter which means NO SMOKING IN THAT CAR.

[Cohiba007]

I smoke early each morning on my front porch with a cup of coffee. I shower and get ready for work after. When I have a cigar at night, it is usually at a cigar bar , where people are either smoking, or piss drunk. I used to smoke a cigar in my car on the way to work each day, but have not since I got a new ride last year.

[Fuzz]

After a night of smoking, I go home and eat some dry crackers and drink a cup of tea to get rid of some of that ashtray mouth after taste (eating a kebab with lots of chilli sauce or a greasy slider are just as effective). Then before bed I grab a quick shower, brush my teeth and use some mouthwash. Come the morning I have very little to no after taste and my bed doesn't reek of cigar smoke.

[BradNC]

I've found BreathRx to be some great stuff (as is their gum) for post-cigar prep for potential fun with a lady friend (hired or not).

[Ghabanos]

I usually smoke after work at a cigar lounge. I get home and shower and change my clothes immediately. I have a couple of young kids too. What works for me is a jot shower and a good teeth brushing, which includes a good scraping of the tongue. Never tired to smoke before work, but might give that a try.

[Chewz0507]

I typically smoke outside on my porch, but I do still have to brush my teeth, shower and change clothes afterwards. That was all for my wife's benefit, but now that I have a newborn, the routine must be followed if I want to be around my daughter.