I won't go into a big rant here, but do understand the difference between an aromatic onto which a scent/flavoring has been sprayed as the final step in the blending process...many of which have propylene glycol added to keep things moist (gurgling wet sometimes). This is 'as opposed to' a blend, often a flake format, like University Flake by Peterson, in which a scent has been incorporated along the pathway, but not just sprayed on at the end.
Know that ALL PIPE TOBACCO has had flavoring and/or sweetener added at some point in the process of being transformed from something that would likely smoke about as well as road tar into the glorious blends you know and love. If a blender claims that a product is 'all natural' - your duty as an informed pipe guy is to immediately think 'mostly natural'.
We are coming up onto the start of Summer. As you get ready for this remember that blends that smoke like a dream when it's 60 F outside may indeed turn into fire belching beasts when it's 85 F.
I've heard any number of things about what having a pipe smoke hot is due to...fast puffing, poor packing technique, high ambient temps (as mentioned above), steam (caused I guess by the moisture in the tobacco going from liquid to vapor as part of the smoke you repeatedly take into your mouth where it contacts your tongue and the roof of your mouth) and a highly alkaline content in the smoke causing a kind of chemical burn like the steam above doing the same thing via a temperature burn. And of course a combination of the above.
Given all this, do everything possible to minimize the likelihood of your pipe heating up. Such as:
1. Avoid aromatic blends...that sugar can burn hot.
2. Avoid packing your bowl tight and/or tamping your bowl too much or too heavily.
3. Avoid bowls with extra large capacity, thinking that a small fire is more easily controlled than a big one.
4. Along this line, try things that give you better control in slowing down the burn...like smoking flakes where you can adjust the burn by rubbing out more or less...like using a windscreen when outside so that little breeze doesn't act as a bellows.
5. Cobs are always a good idea. They are inexpensive...last a long, long time...if left natural on the outside they breathe better than anything out there...they absorb moisture...etc., etc., etc. Summer and cobs are a match made in, well...Missouri! lol Why burn the heck out of that expensive briar when a cob will smoke cooler and better?
6. Let's see, what else? Use a smaller bowl? I guess that's the same as #3.
7. Use some common sense, you guys can figure out this stuff.
Good luck and good puffing.
