Do Cigars Give You a Buzz? Effects Explained

It’s a common misconception that people simply smoke cigars to “look cool”. And while it is undeniably boss to puff on a stogie, there are other benefits too, one of which is the cigar buzz. As you will see below, this is a pleasurable experience and is one of the main reasons cigar aficionados keep coming back for more. So, do cigars give you a buzz? Most definitely, and this is what I explore in the below article.

The Cigar Buzz - Explaining the Phenomenon

Let’s jump straight in and look at the phenomenon now we know it’s real. A cigar buzz is caused because of the nicotine content. Nicotine is a chemical present in tobacco and cigars are made from tobacco leaves.

When you ingest nicotine, it provides stimulation in your brain via the release of dopamine and noradrenaline which are two of the “pleasure chemicals”. The exact sensation varies depending on the individual, but it’s common to feel incredibly relaxed and generally happy or positive. It’s why cigars are so popular and why many people enjoy them regularly.

It’s interesting to note that the ingestion of nicotine that causes a cigar buzz is primarily via your mouth and palate - not the actual smoke. The process of smoking though increases the ingestion as you increase the rate at which nicotine enters your mouth.

How long does a cigar buzz last?

When looking at do cigars give you a buzz, most people want to know how long it lasts and while this depends on how much you smoke and your type of cigar, there are some rules.

Generally, a nicotine hit has a half-life of two hours (no I don’t mean it’s radioactive!). So when you use a quality cigar lighter and start puffing, after two hours the amount in your body has decreased by 50%, and so on. So, you can expect to feel the buzz for quite some time after, but as the hours pass, the buzz dies off and decreases.

Cigar vs Cigarette - Is the Buzz Different?

Surely if you want that nicotine buzz you can just smoke a cigarette you may ask? And yes, cigarettes do contain nicotine, but the quantity of nicotine in cigars and cigarettes is vastly different.

On average, a cigar contains between 100 to 200 milligrams whereas a cigarette only contains 8 to 12 milligrams. From this, we can see that cigars are much more potent and you will experience a more pleasurable buzz.

Additionally, cigarettes are usually smoked quickly within a few minutes whereas cigars are there to be savored and enjoyed. This means that you usually get a short limited buzz from a cigarette, whereas a cigar is much longer lasting.

Factors That Affect Your Cigar Buzz

Not all cigar buzzes are created equal and there are many factors that affect your smoking experience including the type of cigar, the quantity of nicotine, and your tolerance.

Your nicotine tolerance

Similar to alcohol, different people have different tolerances to nicotine. Where one person might feel tipsy after one beer, another person might take 4 to 5 beers to feel anything and this is exactly the same for nicotine and the cigar buzz.

Your nicotine tolerance relates to how much you need to intake to feel a buzz. Usually, people who smoke infrequently or who have never smoked a cigar before only need a small nicotine hit to get that blast so smoking a cigar could be something of an intense revelation to them.

In contrast, if you enjoy stogies regularly your tolerance is increased and your buzz will most likely not be as intense as your body starts to build up some resistance to it. In these instances, you need a stronger cigar!

How much of your stogie you smoke

This one is obvious, but if you smoke your cigar for longer, the buzz should increase compared to if you only take a few puffs. The longer you smoke, the more nicotine you take into your system and the quicker it is absorbed.

The quantity of nicotine in the cigar

There is a direct correlation between the amount of nicotine in a cigar and the strength of your buzz. More nicotine stimulates a larger release of dopamine in your brain and thus that glorious buzz is more intense and lasts longer.

The cigar type

Part of exploring cigar enjoyment benefits includes understanding the cigar type and they can be broken into two main categories - light and heavy. Light cigars have a lower nicotine content and thus result in a lesser buzz whereas heavy cigars have a higher content and thus are much more pleasurable to smoke.

Enjoy The Cigar Buzz and That Pleasurable Relaxed State

So, do cigars give you a buzz? Oh yes! The nicotine is buzz-inducing and the relaxation and pleasure are palatable. Of course, always consider the health implications associated with nicotine and smoking to, and be responsible when enjoying your stogie!