Nov 25, 2025
Last Modified: Nov 25, 2025
Cigars are often linked to cigarettes, with their similarities being obvious. They both contain tobacco and nicotine, and need to be lit to be enjoyed. However, the purpose, the sensations, and the methods of smoking are different.
Cigars are designed to be savored, with flavors allowed to circulate your mouth. This doesn’t involve direct smoke inhalation.
Read on to find out how a cigar should be smoked, answering the question ‘are you supposed to inhale cigars?’. We’ll also dive into the health risks of cigar smoke inhalation to keep you safe while smoking.
How is a Cigar Smoked?
Smoking a cigar requires preparation and patience. The focus is much more on flavors and relaxation than on achieving a quick nicotine hit. As a result, the first step is to pick a cigar with a flavor profile that suits your taste.
Preparing Your Cigar
You’ll then have to cut the cap of the cigar. The type of cut will affect the amount of air and smoke that pass through the cigar. Smaller cuts result in concentrated flavors, while large cuts create milder flavors.
Once your cigar is cut, toast the foot of the cigar with a lighter and rotate it slowly. You’ll create an orange glow around the end of the stick. Take gentle puffs of the cigar during this process to draw the lighter flame towards the cigar.
The Smoking Process
Once your cigar is lit, draw the smoke into your mouth. Do you inhale cigars? It’s not recommended. Instead, let the flavor and the aromas develop in your mouth. This is when you’ll truly experience the joy of cigar smoking. After a few seconds, exhale slowly.
A slow puff on the cigar every minute is a steady speed to smoke at. This will keep the cigar lit without overheating it. Knock excess ash off the cigar into an ashtray and repeat until you come to the end of the cigar.
What Happens if You Inhale a Cigar?
Cigar smoke is thick, meaning it can cause discomfort when inhaled. It can lead to a harsh sensation on the lungs. This can result in a burning sensation or a potential coughing fit. Because of the strength of the smoke, inhaling it may also lead to light-headedness and nausea.
Inhaling a cigar will ultimately dampen your smoking experience. Cigars are crafted with flavor and aroma in mind. The aim of smoking a cigar is to let the flavors linger in your mouth as you notice their complexity.
By inhaling the cigar, you’ll bypass the main benefits of cigar smoking. After all, your taste receptors are in your mouth, not in your throat and lungs.
Retrohaling
For those who want more intensity of flavor, there is a technique known as ‘retrohaling’. This involves drawing smoke into your mouth. Then, exhale a portion of the smoke through your nose.
This technique triggers receptors in your nasal cavity. As a result, your perception of the cigar’s profile and body will be enhanced. This technique does not require any inhalation of smoke into the lungs.
The Effects of Inhaling Cigar Smoke
Inhaling cigar smoke can cause immediate discomfort and longer-term health issues. It is a thicker, more alkaline-heavy smoke than that produced by a cigarette. This will lead to a burning sensation and coughing after inhalation.
By inhaling the cigar smoke, you’ll intake a lot of nicotine at a quicker rate. This can speed up the addiction process. That’s because cigars can contain between 100-200 milligrams of nicotine per stick. A cigarette only contains around 10-12 milligrams of nicotine.
All that said, inhaling can give you a more intense ‘buzz’. This is a result of the nicotine as it enters your system.
Health Risks of Inhaling Cigar Smoke
Inhaling cigar smoke increases associated health risks, aligning it with cigarette smoking. Inhalation draws toxic compounds into the lungs, negatively affecting your body.
Heart disease, lung cancer, and lung disease are all associated with smoke inhalation. However, inhaling cigar smoke once or twice is very unlikely to bring about such problems. Instead, they are usually a result of repeat inhalation over the course of many cigars.
Why Most Cigar Smokers Don’t Inhale
As well as avoiding discomfort, most smokers don’t inhale as it can reduce the quality of the experience. The main enjoyment of a cigar lies within its distinct flavor. To access this taste, you need to hold the smoke in your mouth. It works in a similar way to tasting food, with taste receptors in your mouth sending signals to your brain.
Holding smoke rather than inhaling it doesn’t prevent access to the cigar’s nicotine content. The nicotine will be absorbed through the lining of your mouth, meaning you’ll still get a buzz from your cigar.
Why Do Some People Inhale Cigars?
While inhaling cigars isn’t recommended, some smokers still adopt the technique. This can be for a variety of reasons, including faster nicotine consumption. You’ll consume nicotine without inhaling. However, breathing in the smoke will satisfy the craving quicker.
Again, this process isn’t recommended due to the quantity of nicotine in the cigar. 100-200mg of nicotine is substantial, especially when compared to 10-12mg found in cigarettes.
In many cases, inhaling cigar smoke may be a result of improper smoking technique. If you have experience with smoking cigarettes and switch to cigars, it’s fair to think the process is the same. As we’ve discussed, however, this is not the case.
Experience World-Class Flavors With Swiss Cuban Cigars
When smoked with the right technique, cigars are incredibly flavorsome and complex. This is especially true when you sample premium produce from the finest manufacturers.
At Swiss Cuban Cigars, we stock the best cigars from around the world. We also promise hassle-free delivery and excellent customer service. Shopping for cigars online has never been simpler. Browse our selection today to see what the world of cigars has to offer.
