Ghosting

Ghosting is when a pipe holds onto the flavor and smell of a previously smoked tobacco and carries it into later smokes. Expecting a mild Virginia and instead tasting last week's smoky Latakia in the bowl is considered most smokers' first encounter with "ghosting."

The culprit is the tobacco's oils, tars, and aromatic compounds soaking into the porous walls of the chamber, the smoke channel, and the layer of carbon (cake) built up inside. A light ghost is considered character rather than a flaw by most smokers; but for those who switch between opposing tobacco families, it can become a real problem that spoils the smoke.

Which Tobaccos Leave a Ghost?

Every tobacco leaves some trace; a few are notorious for it:

• Latakia and English blends: The smoky character of fire-cured Latakia soaks easily into the chamber and lingers a long time.
• Aromatic blends: Top-note flavorings such as vanilla or cherry leave sugary residues, producing a pronounced ghost.
• Lakeland-style floral tobaccos: Pressed flakes scented with rose and geranium, produced in England's Lake District, are known in the community as the owners of the most stubborn ghost of all.
• Perique and dark Virginias: Milder, but reportedly still capable of leaving a trace.