Cigarette smokers typically draw smoke into their lungs, while cigar smokers deliberately avoid this practice. This difference in smoking behavior is dictated by fundamental differences in the tobacco’s chemistry and the resulting physiological response. The way cigar tobacco is processed alters the smoke’s chemical properties, enabling an entirely different route of nicotine absorption.
The Chemistry of Highly Alkaline Smoke
The contrasting smoking methods stem from the alkalinity of cigar smoke. Cigar tobacco undergoes air-curing and fermentation, resulting in low sugar content and a relatively high aqueous pH, often ranging from 6.9 to 7.8.
When this tobacco is combusted, the resulting smoke is highly alkaline. Conversely, cigarette tobacco, which is flue-cured and high in sugar, produces acidic smoke with a pH typically between 5.5 and 6.0. This difference in pH determines how nicotine is delivered.
Nicotine is a weak base, and its form changes based on acidity or alkalinity. In alkaline cigar smoke, nicotine remains in its uncharged, “freebase” form. This freebase state allows the molecule to pass easily across biological membranes for absorption into the bloodstream. Acidic cigarette smoke converts most nicotine into a charged salt form that cannot pass through membranes easily.
Nicotine Absorption Through the Oral Cavity
The freebase nicotine generated by alkaline cigar smoke is readily absorbed through the mucous membranes lining the mouth, a process called buccal absorption. When the smoker holds the smoke in their mouth, the nicotine dissolves into the saliva and is absorbed directly through the cheeks, gums, and under the tongue. This pathway allows nicotine to enter the bloodstream without reaching the lungs.
Because efficient oral absorption is possible, the cigar smoker does not need to inhale deeply to achieve a psychoactive effect. Cigarette smoking, conversely, requires the much larger surface area of the lungs’ alveoli for substantial nicotine uptake due to the acidic smoke. Since the oral mucosa provides a sufficient absorption surface for freebase nicotine, inhalation is physiologically unnecessary.
Physiological Effects of Attempted Inhalation
Beyond the chemical necessity, there are immediate physical reasons why cigar smokers avoid drawing the smoke into their lungs. The highly alkaline nature of the smoke is inherently irritating to the delicate tissues of the trachea and lungs. This alkalinity causes an immediate, harsh, and burning sensation that triggers a reflexive cough.
Cigar smoke is generally denser and produced in a much larger volume than cigarette smoke. Attempting to draw this large volume into the lungs is overwhelming and causes significant physical discomfort. Therefore, the decision not to inhale is a practical one, driven by the body’s immediate rejection of the irritating chemical properties and physical volume.