Expert Review★★★★★ Click to read Tap to read
Vintage Velvet is a floral treat, but not much else. Floral lovers will find this easy. There is no menthol here, which, to me, can make this harder to enjoy, but in the wide, wide world of sports, there are people who prefer their snuff with no cooling agent. The moisture and grind are fairly consistent with the MC line. English through and through.
Made in the same style as the Original & Genuine but without camphor, menthol or eucalyptus, Vintage Velvet is a middle dark brown and offers a mix of floral and lightly sweet tobacco. This was my first time trying a nonmentholated or nonmedicated snuff, and I found it hard to enjoy even a single pinch without sneezing or coughing. Unlike the O&G, the floral notes fade quickly, leaving a weaker tobacco scent. The floral scent isn't like dried rose, but more of an earthy, robust blend; it almost reminds me of frankincense and myrrh, like what you'd smell at a Roman Catholic mass. If you sniff too hard, it can irritate your nose. For me, a pinch didn't cause much drip, but after a few sniffs my nose felt irritated.
The grind is fine, and it's hard to keep it in the snuff box, since even a small breeze can blow it away. It's medium-dry and barely clumps in the tin, drier than the Original & Genuine, and being on the drier side combined with the fine grind, it can be tough to enjoy. The nicotine hit feels moderate; maybe because there's no menthol, this snuff delivers its Vitamin N straight to your head.
I did find that mixing it with McChrystal's Glacier in a 2:1 ratio added a nice spearmint note, which made the floral notes stand out and made the Violet from McChrystals less harsh (two parts Glacier, one part Violet).
Another go to snuff for me. Has a very floral, perfumed fragrance. Not overpowering though, and can still pick up on the earthy tobacco. Decent nic content and great for a nightcap!
Great stuff! Happy I got the little baby samplers so now I know what I like and will be ordering the big boys soon!
McChrystals - Vintage Velvet
Maybe I'm accustomed to strong florals in Indian snuffs, but I kind of wish the violet scent was stronger in this. It's possible that would put off some people and why it's not done. The scent is nice though, and the tobacco is prominent. I'd say the scent is 50/50 tobacco and violet, unlike Indians snuffs where floral would be more like 90/10 or 80/20.
I like McChrystal's but this one is not for me. I don't pick up flowers or lavender. It reminds me a little of hand soap.
This was a snuff that I was champing at the bit to try. I am a huge fan of anything violet, so a violet snuff was something on which I could not pass. And I am happy to report that this snuff was worth the wait. It delivers a huge wallop of very floral, candied violet aroma. It is not a natural scent, but considering that it simultaneously reminded me of any number of old-fashioned perfumes and Anis de Flavigny Violette Pastilles, I didn't really mind. This snuff also displays qualities both creamy and soapy, giving it an interesting and not at all unpleasant juxtaposition of textures in the nose. The grind is fine with moderate nicotine content and moderate moisture, making it very easy to take. I enjoyed this snuff so much that I plowed through an entire tin in only a couple of days. While it likely will not be for everyone, this snuff is very much worth a try for anyone looking for something unique and different to put up their nose.
I am a fan of suburban strip mall barber shops. Not the hipster locales that look like Victorian apothecaries, but cheap places with linoleum floors, chipped laminate furnishings and flickering neon lights. Barber shops run by old Italian men who have stubble stuck under their nicotine-stained finger nails and shave you with a shavette rather than with a proper straight razor; places that smell of Barbacide and hot shaving cream from old electric dispensers. Admittedly it is a particular fetish, as is the case for Vintage Velvet, whose distinctive flavouring triggered the memory. A little dry and of medium grind, its nicotine levels are on the low side. Clean tasting, it offer’s a happy trip down amnesia lane.
I really enjoy this snuff during evening walks. It has a strong association for me with pleasant summer night strolls around the neighborhood and that's generally when I bring it with me. Strong floral scent grew on me and now I love it to the point I buy it with every order it seems.
Recommended for those who like floral scents or are at least willing to try them.
The floral scent is chemical and unnatural. No tobacco scent at all. Feels like an air freshener in the nose
The love from the first smelling the stuff from the tin.
It was long ago one of my first snuffs, so may be it's explains. But never the less the aroma is wonderfull, even emotional. Plain violet with calm, mild taste.
No problem with snuffing and nose after. Lasts exactly as it needs: not too long and doesn't fade after couple of minutes. Ideal for trips or pre-sleep.
May be one thing may be as a tiny minus - not enough on N. Have to take pretty big pinch. Although, the bigger pinch - more pleasant and full aroma which is not annoying at all. So I would not complain if I stay the whole day with only that snuff.
One of the best aromatics.
Let me start by telling you a bit about myself. Before the violet I had only ever used the McC's O&G, so I have nothing for compaison to violet. I must also say that I am a manly man, hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, building and the likes. With that said, I only ordered the violet asit seemed to intrique my woman, though she had no intention of sniffing it herself. So i recievered my order and opened the tin and as I thought it smelled of grandmas perfume, put not in a bad way. More of a reminisent scent from y childhood sort of way, so I took a sniff, WHOA! I drew it too far in as it was quite fine and rather dry, and what a burn! I loved it! That tiny little tin sure didn't last long. It's not an all day snuff, nor an every day snuff, but, good for occasions for relaxing. I can see myself on the porch on a summer eve sniffing this and enjoying the sunset with the hound. I can't say as though all would enjoy this product, but I believe most should at last try it. just get the minitin and its not a huge loss.
Of the floral flavors I have tried, McCrystal's Violet is my favorite but for one thing: the scent dissipates in a hurry. A pinch of this medium grind snuff (similar to the McCrystal's Clove and Mild Lemon I have tried) leaves a relaxing scent in the olfactory region. A technique that I have found to keep the flavor of violet longer is this: take a pinch indoors, let it sit for a moment and then go outside and enjoy. Outdoor air seems to help the scent last longer. Maybe that is just psychological on my part, relating the smell of violets to the peace of my back porch! This is also not a flavor I would want in my nose all day. When I purchase McCrystal's Violet again, I will contnue to buy the 4.4 gram tin as it will probably last me a while.
I was a little hesitant on trying this snuff because I am pretty much a dedicated menthol snuffer. I fell in love with O&G, and I wanted to see if McChrystal's made other snuffs that I could add to my "like" collection. This one is very pleasant. The grind is standard of what you would expect from McChrystal's. The moisture is a little on the dry side, but this does not take form the experience that one gets from it. Upon the first sniff, I got a nice sting to the nose along with and intense violet aroma. It did seem rather soapy at first, but it fades nicely into a long lasting scent. Others said that it faded away completely after 15 minutes or so, but after throwing another pinch on top of it, I could still smell it over a half hour later. Even after my nose dried up, I just mushed my nose around a bit and it seemed to "reactivate" the scent again for a further few minutes!! I would not recommend this as an all-day snuff, but I strongly agree with others that this snuff is perfect for relaxing with. I think every serious snuffer more than likely has at least one floral snuff in his/her collection. If not, then you should def add this one to it.