Mothball Smell?

[Jack Straw]

I have noticed this on different cigars that have been tucked away in cello or are "fresh out of the box" in cello - smells like a combination of mothballs and rum, in a good way. What is this? Fermentation/aging byproduct?

[royhubbs]

Oh those must be Cigars rolled by my Grandmother.

[Buddha024]

I believe you are smelling the ammonia coming out of the cigars. It's a natural reaction as the tobacco ages. That's part of the reason you should let your smokes rest for a bit once you get them. Not sure about the rum smell.

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by royhubbs

Oh those must be Cigars rolled by my Grandmother.

Originally Posted by Buddha024

Not sure about the rum smell.

Stop spilling your drink on 'em!

And I'm not sure mothballs smell good ...

Have you opened them in downtown Vegas?

Sorry; Buddha's probably right though. Only thing I can think of.

[GlockG23]

Originally Posted by royhubbs

Oh those must be Cigars rolled by my Grandmother.

hahahahahahaha good god that struck me funny!
.

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

I have noticed this on different cigars that have been tucked away in cello or are "fresh out of the box" in cello - smells like a combination of mothballs and rum, in a good way. What is this? Fermentation/aging byproduct?

Mothballs? man never had that before with my cigars!
Are you sure it wasn't sabotagh?

[slyder]

Ive had a few different boxes get the ammonia smell. They come out of it.

[Jack Straw]

I've smelled it on a few different cigars. It always goes away when you take off the cello for a day. I think the rum smell must have been the ammonia mixing with the rich smell that these particular cigars have. Good to know it's natural!

[Jack Straw]

Well, two weeks later and the box of cigars I was referring to still smells like ammonia/mothballs/rum. I decided to email the manufacturer (Camacho), and am playing it cool rather than griping.

[OracleSmoke]

I've noticed this phenom on quite a few purchases lately. I've got some Nepalese Warriors that I've had for 6 months that still give off ammonia when burned, moreso than some older sticks I had.

Since they don't taste the same at the moment one can only wait it out and hope they come back to the flavor I purchased them for in the end.

[Coop D]

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

Well, two weeks later and the box of cigars I was referring to still smells like ammonia/mothballs/rum. I decided to email the manufacturer (Camacho), and am playing it cool rather than griping.

Which series we talking about here???

[Nickerson]

Originally Posted by royhubbs

Oh those must be Cigars rolled by my Grandmother.

I laughed. Me and my buddy always would say "old peoples houses smell like urine and moth balls".

[Jack Straw]

Originally Posted by OracleSmoke

I've noticed this phenom on quite a few purchases lately. I've got some Nepalese Warriors that I've had for 6 months that still give off ammonia when burned, moreso than some older sticks I had.

Since they don't taste the same at the moment one can only wait it out and hope they come back to the flavor I purchased them for in the end.

I noticed a very slight ammonia smell to the Arganese Nicaraguans I bought at a similar time, but it is very very faint (have not smoked one yet though to test that end of it), whereas the Nepalese Warriors I got a week ago had absolutely no ammonia smell, and don't seem to be picking it up from the other cigars (all boxed separately within a cooler).

Originally Posted by Coop D

Which series we talking about here???

Coyolar Super Toros, bought from CI.

I suppose if I left a few of them naked in my desktop for a few days, the smell would dissipate faster, maybe it's just taking a while because they are in cello/original box.

I guess I'm just being impatient because I like em so much!

[Buddha024]

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

I suppose if I left a few of them naked in my desktop for a few days, the smell would dissipate faster, maybe it's just taking a while because they are in cello/original box.

I think this is a good idea. I know that cello breathes and all, but it can't breathe as well as when the cigars have nothing on them. Especially in this situation.

[Jack Straw]

Well, having decided that the smell in the box had mellowed, although it was still there, I pulled one out of the cello and it smelled ok.

Smoking it now, and it is delicious. Also drawing burning so perfectly, you wouldn't believe it.

Thanks for the help fellas!

[Phantom57]

That is an ammonia smell, and is indicative of tobacco that has not been fully fermented before rolling the cigar, and should not be tolerated. Cubans have long put forward the idea for their cigars to be "aged" a year or two, but that is because they are rushing to production all the tobacco their land will produce, and they don't want to take the time to properly ferment the tobacco. This should never be a problem with NCs.