Fribourg & Treyer - Princes

I do love black snuffs and this one is fantastic. This is one of my all day snuffs. I compare the scent to American Copenhagen moist snuff. Strong tobacco scent with perhaps a touch of citrus. The nicotine is high so be aware if you are a chain snuffer. Typically I go 1-2 hours between snuffs but I find myself sniffing less with the same effect of sniffing more of other snuffs. Coarse grind, high nicotine, great scent. What's not to love? Suck it up Princess!

The first sensation to hit you when opening a tin of Princes is that of dark, earthy moisture. Some reviewers have characterized this snuff as floral, but I find its primary properties to animal and mineral rather than vegetable. The animal component is a strong yet pleasant musky odour, like the kind used in making fine perfumes. The mineral component is graphite, almost akin to pencil shavings. Strong yet not overpowering and with a moderate hit of nicotine, Princes is a snuff that's easy to take but perhaps best enjoyed in moderate doses.

In A Movable Feast, Ford Maddox Ford tells Ernest Hemingway that: “A gentleman will always cut a cad.” According to the makers of Fribourg &Treyer, the recipe for Princes dates all the way back to the Regency period. A likely concoction for Prinny himself, it is bracing like a slap across the face by a pair of bespoke gloves. Black like a used espresso puck, this high moisture snuff leaves the throat clear of any unpleasant residue and has no burn or fever to speak of. Its uniquely clean flavouring is a blend of cat urine and civet that is refreshingly pleasant. Martial, the high nicotine content drills your senses to full attention like a Regimental Sergeant Major.

As a first review I chose this particular product because of its unique characteristics.

The 2 reviews I read here touch on the earthiness, although neither makes mention of the ammonia sensation I get from it. Reading elsewhere, I believe this may dissipate if left open.

The grind and moisture do in fact make it an easy snuff to take, if one can value a beginner's opinion. Having shared with coworkers, some really take to this, others do not. Those that don't seem to agree that it is the ammonia sensation. Personally, I would buy this again.

I start every day with a generous pinch of this fine snuff. I can remember being struck with the uniqueness of the aroma when I first opened a can of this. It is highly floral, like a flower garden in springtime. The snuff is also course and dark. The nicotine content I would describe as medium. You will quickly develop a taste for this fine snuff and will smile every time you reach for a pinch. Princes has become my favorite snuff.