You have to start somewhere, and when it comes to smoking cigars, that somewhere is more of a somehow. Regardless of what the hobby or interest may be, familiarizing oneself with the basics is vital in building the foundation around which your passion will be constructed.

This is precisely why we have the Klaro Cigars 101 section, and why discussing the small stuff matters so damn much. Hell, we've all made our fair share of stogie mistakes and experienced cigar mishaps along the way. It is just a painful part of the growing and learning process. 

So, in order to help reduce the growing pains associated with smoking and collecting cigars, we have put together the following five cigar smoking tips for beginners. All intended to keep that pocketbook of yours from imploding, and to help you get the most out of every stogie you spark. Let's get to it, shall we?

1. Go Slow & Start Small

If you're new to cigar smoking, start small. We aren't just talking about the size of the cigars you smoke, but the pace at which you purchase smoking gear and the frequency at which you puff. Yes, smaller vitolas, or cigar shapes/sizes, do tend to be more manageable from a single smoking session standpoint. They also tend to be more affordable and don't pack nearly as much nicotine as their larger ring gauge siblings. Gradually becoming familiar with the smoking process takes time, and jumping in the deep end too early on can result in regret.

The same can be said for collecting cigar gear, which can quickly spiral out of control if you are not careful. Not only is going big on a full-size humidor completely overkill for the novice cigar smoker, but it is also financially draining and takes up a fair deal of real estate. Starting with the holy trinity of a torch lighter, a cutter, and a cigar ashtray, followed by a small desktop humidor, is all you really need to get going. Remember, you can always add to a collection and upgrade your cigar accessories as needed, so keep it simple and start small instead of overcommitting. 

2. Smoke Around & Take Notes

With so many unique premium cigar blends up for grabs, smoking around isn't just an option; it's a mission. Taking the leap and trying an array of different cigars is the fastest way for you to find out what suits you and your palate best. This is precisely why we put together Klaro-Exclusive Cigar Bundles, because you never know what you might like until you give a certain cigar style a shot. That being said, some new cigar smokers may find full-bodied, stronger-tasting, nicotine-heavy cigar blends to be a bit too much, so look for those mild-to-medium ratings when making a purchase.

While you are at it, try smoking the same cigar blend but in a different vitola, for this will oftentimes influence aromatics and flavor. Smoking a variety of different cigar shapes and sizes (without going too huge) will allow you the ability to determine what feels best in the hand and is most suited to you and your personal style. Finally, don't forget to take notes during the smoking process, paying extra attention to the aromatics of the cigar smoke and how it feels on the tongue. There is a reason why Klaro's Bucksaw Cigar Journal remains one of the highest-rated products we sell, and why every cigar review we conduct relies upon this simple yet incredibly useful leatherbound book.

3. Embrace the Flavor, But Don't Forget to Focus on Aromatics Too

Pay attention to the flavors and sensations you experience when smoking a cigar. Cigar flavor profiles will often shift from one note to another during the smoking experience, a common occurrence that is referred to as a "transition" in the cigar world. Try to think of foods and drinks that produce comparable tastes and/or sensations on the tongue and take note. While you are at it, think about non-consumable everyday items that exude aromas that can be translated into a taste. In a premium cigar blend, you may encounter flavors and smells that are floral, leather-like, soil-centric, paper-oriented, hardwood-heavy, and barnyard-based, all of which you would never consume or sample on the tongue.

So take the time to explore and embrace the aromatics of the cigar smoke, and don't just think that flavors pulled straight from the kitchen are the only thing that matters. By slowly exhaling the smoke through your nose, a process called retrohaling, your olfactory senses are exposed to a kaleidoscope of aromatics that can be translated to tasting sensations. Hell, even if it doesn't translate to a specific flavor all that easily, being able to enjoy the aroma of a certain tobacco strain is one of the greatest joys of smoking and should be embraced in full.

4. Pay Attention to How You Feel

When first getting into the leisurely activity of smoking cigars, it is important to remain mindful of how your body responds to all that tobacco. Cigar smoke can be incredibly potent stuff, and even without inhalation, a potent blend can make even the most seasoned stogie smoker feel woozy. That is because the typical premium cigar nicotine content levels hover in the 200mg range, with larger and/or stronger blends providing even more of the head-spinning stuff.

So if you experience discomfort, nausea, dizziness, or a general sense of ill-being while smoking a cigar, set that stick down and reach for a packet of non-artificial sugar or a spoonful of honey. This is a proven anecdote for nicotine sickness that works for a lot of people, and it usually starts working within minutes. If this doesn't work, there is always the power nap approach, which will usually remove any of nicotine's ill effects.

That being said, we must mention that nicotine does holster the power to make you feel really good when delivered in controlled amounts. We won't dive into the scientific explanations for the sake of saving blog real estate, just note that the link above will tell you everything you need to know about nicotine and the chemical effects of cigar smoke.

5. Herf it Up With Some Seasoned Cigar Smokers  

Our fifth and final bit of advice for new cigar smokers is to smoke with experienced stogie enthusiasts when possible. This act of smoking cigars with others is called "herfing," or being a part of a "herf." May it be a cool uncle who has been puffing blends for years, a neighbor with a couple of years of cigar collecting under their belt, or a group of guys down at the local cigar shop who trade stories while smoking after work, playing the apprentice is only going to help you in the long run. 

This is an incredibly nuanced niche hobby we share, with a history that dates back thousands of years, and a modern evolutionary movement that is filled with creativity and complexity. Having someone you can turn to for advice about smoking etiquette, humidor maintenance, large ring-gauge cigar sizes, preferred cigar travel accessories, and any other cigar-oriented detail is a massive boon for those looking to get into collecting and puffing cigars. Plus, this is one of those hobbies that pairs best with friends, so having someone to smoke that stogie with is only going to make your early years all the more memorable.