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Sir Walter Scott back in stock

Amber snuff

volungevolunge Member
edited December 2019 in General
These three snuffs contain Baltic amber (succinite). Has anyone tried any of them?

Kaszebsko tobaka Zolti kam (Kashubian Golden Stone (i.e. amber) snuff),
Paul Gotard Bursztyn z mieta (Amber with mint)
and Pobrzeze Kaszubskie Tabaka Bursztyn i mieta (listed at mrsnuff.com and snuffstore.co.uk as Paul Gotard Kashubian coast, omitting the translation of "bursztyn i mieta" part, which stands for "amber and mint".

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I'm interested about amber scent in these snuffs. I have some hand-collected pieces of Baltic amber, it's quite abundant along the shores of the Baltic Sea at some places after sea storms. Amber in solid state (hardness in Mohs scale is between 2 and 3) is scentless, but it can be used as an incense, placed on a heated surface or burned over charcoal. I read it can be used for scenting snuff and there's a special way to prepare amber for this purpose - it should be melted, then cooled, powdered and dissolved in pure alcohol. Before procuring small melting pot and running a small batch of amber-scented snuff, I'd like to know if it's worth the hassle...


20191214_181700


Comments

  • expersexpers Member
    edited December 2019 PM
    it's used in a lot of perfumes, wouldn't have any idea what the actual scent is though.  speaking of resins, I think copal would make an interesting snuff, it's wonderful as an incense
  • volungevolunge Member
    edited December 2019 PM
    "Although when burned, amber does give off a characteristic "pinewood" fragrance, modern products, such as perfume, do not normally use actual amber due to the fact that fossilized amber produces very little scent. In perfumery, scents referred to as "amber" are often created and patented to emulate the opulent golden warmth of the fossil." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amber (Scent of Amber and Amber Perfumery).

    I would guess copal (even hardened) is way more fragrant than the true amber.
  • bobbob Member
    PM
    amber snuff is amazing. It's on my list of bespokes for next time.
  • rostanfrostanf Member
    PM
    @volunge a "better" way to use real amber in snuff may be a dry distillation method. If Amber is heated in a certain way it yields an oily fragrant liquid with a viscous molasses like consistency which can be dissolved in grain alcohol. The dry distillation would yield a more concentrated scent I'd bet. Some companies sell it as well. Here's a link to one. https://www.edenbotanicals.com/amber-oil-fossilized.html
  • volungevolunge Member
    edited December 2019 PM
    @rostanf, this is interesting, thanks a lot! Customer reviews are promissing. I'm bookmarking this. I'll try the old method first, if it's any good, I might proceed a step further.

    @bob, the aromatic profile of fossilized amber oil is described as "smoky, resinous, leathery, tar-like, woody-dry notes and hints of pine and balsamic undertones; extremely tenacious". Would you second that?
  • rostanfrostanf Member
    PM
    My pleasure. I'm interested as well. If I find any information on the process I'll update. IDK why but I kind of doubt that paul gotard is using the distillate.
  • rostanfrostanf Member
    PM
    Here's some more info. I'm not sure if the third link will be helpful or not. Dry distillation would probably take specialized equipment as it indicates heating in an air or oxygen free environment. With further consideration Gotard might use the distillate as sources in Poland are present.

    https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/ambra-flav.html

    https://www.natural-baltic-amber.com/baltic-amber/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=78

    https://archive.org/stream/distillationofre00schwrich/distillationofre00schwrich_djvu.txt
  • n9inchnailsn9inchnails Moderator
    PM
    I have a bunch Baltic Amber with fossilized insects inside, didn't know you can make snuff with the stuff.
  • volungevolunge Member
    edited December 2019 PM
    Amber with insect inclusions is considered of greater value.

    There was a yahoo group, dedicated to snuff making. I'm not sure if all the content is still there, but someone has shared instructions of making amber snuff there. It differs from the method described in other source, so summing up there are quite a few ways to proceed, including direct addition of amber oil.

    You can procure small pieces of Baltic amber for as little as 7 EUR per 50 grams. http://galidejas.lt/index.php?route=product/product&path=69&product_id=150 It can also be used for tea (aqueous infusion).
  • snuffmillersnuffmiller Member
    PM
    Mind the diffence between Amber gris from the sperm whale and the amber from the baltic sea = fossillised plant resin.

    Jaap Bes. 
  • mrmanosmrmanos Member
    PM
    I have the gotard kashubian coast. It's nice, mint undertones, but amber? Don't know about that. I had SWS snuff scented with amber a few years ago but I can't remember the name. It was excellent. If I could get amber essence I'd make my own version using Viking Brown as the base.
  • volungevolunge Member
    PM
    @mrmanos, I think it was ambergris-scented SWS Roslein.

    @snuffmiller, lupus in fabula!
  • snuffmillersnuffmiller Member
    PM
    @mr manos; @volunge: You can use ambroxan as an artificial subsitute for amber gris. You can use very little of it because it has a very powerful scent;

    @ volunge: 
    ;)
  • rostanfrostanf Member
    PM
    @mrmanos here's one source. https://www.edenbotanicals.com/amber-oil-fossilized.html
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