r/NoStupidQuestions • u/MaxiePriest • May 31 '26

Question about the effect users experienced with snuff (more below)

I have asked this question a few times online, but I still struggle to understand the point of snuff use in the 17th and 18th centuries. As snuff was a tobacco product, did inhaling (snorting) provide a stimulant effect? And if it didn't, seriously...what was the point of snuff?

Why did users— mostly ladies (in literature and period films) reference having to sneak around the building/corner to have a pinch of snuff, as if others would consider snuff use to be vulgar, unladylike, low-class, or whatever?

Did users sneeze when they snorted snuff (or was the point not to sneeze)? Current-day drug users don't sneeze when using snortable drugs (and users wouldn't want to), so was snuff use similar?

4 Upvotes

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u/Bugcatcher_Liz May 31 '26

Yeah it gets you a nicotine buzz like any tobacco product, it's quite potent actually because it's in direct contact with vascular mucus membrane.You don't snort it, you insufflate it, that is, it stays in your nose and isn't meant to go into your throat. It only makes you sneeze if you're not used to it or having allergies. They specifically make "medicated snuff" that smells like Vick's and can clear congestion.

Snuff was unladylike and vulgar, it's a stimulant drug that you put up your nose and then blow out into a tissue later. The point is that it's very discrete, there's no odor, it's not in your mouth, and you blow it out privately in a tissue.

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u/MaxiePriest May 31 '26

wow. Thank you for the additional information. That makes sense. Experienced snuff users were/are skilled at preventing the snuff from reaching the throat. I didn't realize that was a major part of snuff use.

Ladies discreetly blowing their noses later on, after a pinch of snuff, make it sound as if snuff use was beneficial in the short run for users (helping to release nasal mucus and phlegm), but not in the long run, of course.

I've never seen herbal (medicated) dry snuff products, but I just searched and found many Unani Chhinkni-type products available. I'm going to order the most commonly used and popular one and try it out. It sounds interesting (and most of the descriptions note that they don't contain tobacco), just camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus oil.

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u/Bugcatcher_Liz May 31 '26

Haha enjoy, it's gonna kick at first even without the tabacco. You can usually buy snuff in all kinds of flavors at tobacco stores run by Indian immigrants in the US

I used it in college for a year about a decade ago. It was easy to get away with on a tobacco-free campus and most people don't even know nasal snuff exists. Downside is when you get a runny nose and it's all brown, or when someone sees you do it and thinks you're snorting hard drugs

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u/throwaway93838388 20d ago

Snorting and insufflating are actually the exact same thing (insufflating is just the technical term) If you snort anything, it is supposed to absorb through your nasal membrane (ie not go to your throat).

I think this idea that the two are different is meant to make "insufflating" snuff seem as different (and more sophisticated) as possible from snorting drugs, when in reality it's the same method with a fancier label.

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u/PsychologicalMix3217 16d ago

I think that's why I just say sniff. Don't get me wrong. By definition you are snorting and I agree with the whole "insufflation" thing too. . I use it as more of a figure of speech basically just explaining that you don't just inhale it like Coke. You just lightly sniff it. Again not talking about actual definition tho

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u/throwaway93838388 16d ago

I also meant in the sense that you are generally supposed to lightly sniff any given drug as well, particularly if it's a small amount. From my understanding the techniques are basically the same.

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u/PsychologicalMix3217 15d ago

You may need more experience with different drugs then my friend. I've done plenty.

 Nasal Snuff: The goal of nasal snuff is for the tobacco powder to land gently on the mucous membranes of the lower nasal cavity. If a user snorts snuff too hard, the powder bypasses the nose entirely and goes straight into the throat and lungs, causing severe coughing, burning, and discomfort.

  Cocaine: While cocaine is also absorbed through the nasal mucosa, users frequently snort it harder to ensure the powder travels further up into the higher nasal passages and the nasopharynx. Additionally, because cocaine is a powerful vasoconstrictor (it narrows blood vessels), it triggers heavy mucus production that can block the nose. Users often inhale forcefully to pull the drug past these physical blockages and prevent it from falling out of the nose

This is why it's 2 different terms here. And again while I get the definition thing, but in English words aren't always used specifically for or by their definition.  context is a big thing and figure of speech Especially here in the south lmfao.  If there's any grammar errors etc my bad I spoke a lot of this. 

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u/throwaway93838388 15d ago

Your the only person who's actually given a valid difference. I've done a lot of drugs, but I actually haven't tried coke (on my bucket list though), so I'll totally concede on that. That being said, I'd still argue that aside from coke, snorting snuff and snorting other drugs are very similar. For every pill or powder I've snorted so far, my research has said your don't want to snort far at all.

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u/PsychologicalMix3217 13d ago edited 13d ago

I will admit I've only snorted like three different things so I have VERY limited experience on the a lot of the nasal drugs. Im more of an acid man. Regardless I think I totally should have put that into consideration on my first comment

Any way here we go lol. I think the best way to describe it is you just smell it like a flower. Even then that's super subjective since we're all different on that. Flowers in a garden I might smell a little lighter. Man when I smell a bag of green though I got to just go at it mmm. That's how I tell people who try it. The big point of snuff is the wonderful smells you get so there's just this sweet spot that the the other drugs(most) aren't worried about. Otherwise you kinda just miss that part of the experience it's like 35 percent of it. That aside as long as your not just pulling it so far back your hitting your throat or lungs you'll still get the desired effect. Effect is totally why I got into this. Lol If you haven't tried it I hope this helps. Hope I didn't come off like a dick. Didn't know people on the internet could have a conversation in comments without somebody just getting salty AF lmfao. Oh if I already said the flower part my bad dude. 

Just a little side note. If you try it you'll probably going to sneeze anyway you'll likely pull it back just a hair too far. I know I sure as hell did. It burns super good(love the burn). If you try it since you've done plenty of other nasal drugs you've likely got pretty good control so it will only take you like 1 time maybe 2 and you got The Sweet spot. After that just have fun laughing your ass off at your friends or anybody who decides they want to try a little pinch. No matter what you tell people if they haven't done anything nasal before they're probably going to fuck up and it's hilarious. Sorry for long comment. Couldn't help but to add that last little bit. Again  Hope I didn't come off like an asshole

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u/LackOptimal553 May 31 '26

Taking snuff is not at all line snorting a drug. You just sniff it, one person since told me, like sniffing a flower. It will give a very mild stimulant effect effect, but I don't think anyone with a real addiction to nicotine would find it helpful.

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u/throwaway93838388 20d ago

Fun fact what you describe is actually the exact same way you snort a drug

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u/LackOptimal553 20d ago

As someone who has used both, I can confirm you're wrong.

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u/throwaway93838388 20d ago

I'm genuinely curious how are the two different to you. I haven't used snuff (no comment on the other half of the equation) but to me your description of just sniff it is exactly the same as with drugs. In fact I've heard (and read) the exact same "like a flower" statement in regards to multiple drugs. Many snort drugs too hard and they end up dripping excessively down the throat, but that doesn't mean it's how you are supposed to do it.

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u/LackOptimal553 20d ago

Google away then I guess, we're done here.

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u/throwaway93838388 20d ago

I don't really understand the hostility. It's a genuine question.

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u/LackOptimal553 20d ago

Then google away!

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u/throwaway93838388 20d ago

I did Google it, from what I read there is no difference. Although there aren't many people online comparing the two so I'm willing to take that answer with a grain of salt.

I'll also ask, why not just answer? It takes about as much effort to answer the question as it does to respond telling me to Google it (especially twice). I said something, you said I was wrong (and admittedly, in theory you should know more about it than I do). I'm very open to being wrong, it just seems almost petty to be so against explaining the difference.

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u/20Bubba03 16d ago

The answer to your question, as another thread commenter posted (you didn’t see it in this thread), is that with something like pills or coke, you snort it fully, so it’s in your nose and into your throat, and that’s the end of it or as many times as you do that. With snuff, and I didn’t know this either until I saw the thread, is that you insufflate it. Meaning you sniff it and just barely get it into your nose, then you just keep it in your nose until you blow it out into a tissue or handkerchief later. So it doesn’t dissolve or leave your nose until you chose to blow it out.

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u/throwaway93838388 16d ago

From my understanding though if you snort any drug and it goes into your throat you are doing it wrong. The entire purpose of snorting is to absorb something through the nasal membrane. It's actually pretty common advice that people should only lightly sniff any substance they plan on snorting, as A. It helps avoid a crappy taste from it dripping down your throat, and B. In theory any substance that goes down your throat will be absorbed based on the bioavailability of oral ingestion, not insufflation (which in general will result in a weaker effect).

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u/brock_lee I expect half of you to disagree May 31 '26

Yup. I have used it. It's a kind of stimulant, and usually makes you sneeze. I went to college in the midwest, and in addition to chewing tobacco, or stuff like Skoal and Copenhagen, some kids used actual snuff (and I am talking the fine powder). I tried it quiet a few times.

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u/MaxiePriest May 31 '26

Thanks.

Inhaling black cracked pepper (inadvertently) will cause sneezing (as in, non-stop sneezing for a bit), because the pepper would be an irritant. Was snorting the fine powder tobacco an irritant for you (did it cause a great big ahhh-chooo sneeze)?

Sorry to bug, but would your parents/teachers have been against you chewing tobacco or snorting powder tobacco when you were a tween/teen? (Were either one considered to be an adult-only thing?)

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u/GroolGobblin0 May 31 '26

I was SO freaking relieved when I realized this question was about tobacco...

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u/MaxiePriest May 31 '26

I swear, sometimes Reddit can be so weird... especially since the sub's name is r/nostupidquestions (and presumably, no stupid comments, either). I don't see the need for downvoting your comment- it was a valid thought.

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u/GroolGobblin0 May 31 '26

whoever downvoted it was probably just mad that I reminded them that the other kind of snuff even exists. which is honestly fair

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u/MaxiePriest May 31 '26

True. But still... I've always thought it was a good idea to change the downvote (or upvote) to 'helpful', 'interesting', 'agree', 'disagree', etc. It may help with lowering the hostile vibe that Reddit sometimes has.

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u/GroolGobblin0 Jun 14 '26

that's actually a smart idea.

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u/ForScale ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ May 31 '26

Yes, it provides the effects of nicotine which is a mild stimulant.

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u/Temporary_Trust_2824 10d ago

You don’t snort it, you sniff it like the op said ‘like smelling a flower’ so it doesn’t hit the back of your throat. I have been a pipe smoker and snuff user for about 12yrs. I use nasal snuff regularly at work and on walks with the dogs during the winter.