You can, but you are not supposed to. Cigar smoke goes into the mouth, gets tasted, and goes back out. Most cigar smokers never inhale, and they do not need to: the nicotine reaches them through the lining of the mouth. Pulling it into the lungs is a cigarette habit.
Why cigar smokers don't inhale
The reason is chemistry, not etiquette. The National Cancer Institute's Monograph 9 on cigar smoking (1998) explains it through pH. Cigarette smoke is more acidic. Its nicotine is in a form the mouth absorbs poorly, so cigarette smokers must inhale to get a real dose.
The smoke of most cigars is alkaline. The monograph says its nicotine "can be readily absorbed across the oral mucosa without inhalation into the lung." That is why a cigar smoker feels the nicotine without ever inhaling.
| Cigarette | Cigar | |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke pH | More acidic | Mostly alkaline |
| Nicotine absorbed | In the lungs | Through the mouth |
| Do smokers inhale | Most do | Most don't |
Source for the table: NCI Monograph 9. In the American Cancer Society's CPS-I study it cites, over three-quarters of men who had only smoked cigars said they never inhale.
[The nerdy version: acidic smoke leaves nicotine protonated, which crosses the mouth's lining poorly. The lungs' much larger surface does the absorbing instead.]
What happens if you inhale cigar smoke
Inhaling changes where the smoke goes and how fast the nicotine lands. NCI Monograph 9 describes three effects.
| What changes | What the monograph says |
|---|---|
| Lung exposure | Substantially increased |
| Carbon monoxide | More of it absorbed |
| Nicotine | Absorbed as readily as from cigarette smoke |
That nicotine load is large. The NCI cigar fact sheet says a single cigar can potentially provide as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes.
For a new smoker, that usually means coughing, then feeling sick. The National Capital Poison Center's tobacco and nicotine page lists nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating and an increased heart rate among the signs of nicotine poisoning.
I watched this once on a patio in Napa. I handed a friend who only smoked cigarettes a mild Connecticut and told him not to inhale. He inhaled anyway, turned green, and we spent ten minutes on a bench.
Over the long run, the CDC's cigar page says heavy cigar smoking and inhaling cigar smoke deeply may increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
What to do if you inhale cigar smoke
The fix is to stop taking in more nicotine and let your body catch up.
- Put the cigar down. Do not finish it to prove a point.
- Sit. Dizziness plus standing is how people fall.
- Get fresh air and water. Step away from the smoke.
- Wait it out before relighting, or call it done for the day.
- Get help if it is more than queasiness. Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for fainting, a seizure or trouble breathing.
The Cleveland Clinic calls nicotine toxicity a medical emergency and lists both the Poison Control line and 911.
Not inhaling does not make cigars safe
This is the part people miss. The FDA's required cigar warnings include this one word for word: "Cigar smoking can cause cancers of the mouth and throat, even if you do not inhale." Another reads: "Cigars are not a safe alternative to cigarettes."
NCI Monograph 9 explains why. The mouth gets similar smoke exposure whether or not you inhale. Smoke constituents in saliva are swallowed, which the monograph links to the raised risk of oral and esophageal cancers.
| Risk | Source |
|---|---|
| Mouth and throat cancer, even without inhaling | FDA warning |
| Oral and esophageal cancer risk similar to cigarettes | NCI fact sheet |
| Gum disease and tooth loss | CDC |
| COPD with heavy smoking | CDC |
What the NCI fact sheet adds: regular cigar smokers and cigarette smokers have similar risk for oral cavity and esophageal cancers. Cigar smokers have lower rates of lung cancer and heart disease than cigarette smokers, but higher rates than non-smokers.
The CDC says cigar smokers are exposed to nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals, and that this "is also true for people who report they do not inhale cigar smoke." The NCI fact sheet puts it flatly: there is no safe level of tobacco use. For more on the research, see cigar health: what every smoker should know.
How to smoke a cigar without inhaling
Treat a draw like tasting wine, not like finishing a glass of water. Pull smoke into the mouth, let it sit on the palate, then let it out.
- Draw: short and gentle, like sipping through a straw.
- Hold: a moment in the mouth, long enough to taste.
- Pace: one puff every 30 to 60 seconds is plenty.
- Grip: hold the cigar at the lips. Clenching it in your teeth tightens the draw.
- Stop: if your mouth burns or your stomach turns, the cigar is done.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Draw into the mouth | Pull into the lungs |
| Rest between draws | Chase a nicotine hit |
| Put it down if sick | Power through nausea |
Puffing too fast overheats the tobacco and turns it bitter. A cigar is a 30 to 90 minute smoke, not a 5 minute one. For timing by size, see how long a cigar takes. For cutting and lighting, see how to cut, light and smoke a cigar.
Retrohaling is not inhaling
The people who look like they inhale are often retrohaling. You draw smoke into the mouth, close it, and push a little out through the nose. The smoke passes the nose on the way out and never goes to the lungs.
| Move | Where the smoke goes |
|---|---|
| Inhale | Lungs |
| Regular puff | Mouth, then out |
| Retrohale | Mouth, then nose |
It is optional. Skip it until the mouth taste is easy, then start with a small amount on a mild cigar. Expect a sting in the nose the first few times.
I still skip the retrohale on anything full. James thinks that is cowardly. I retrohale every few puffs on milder cigars, and that is where most of the aroma shows up. The retrohale and three-thirds guide covers the technique step by step.
If you came from cigarettes
You will inhale by muscle memory. That habit carries a measured cost. NCI Monograph 9 reports that cigar smokers who used to smoke cigarettes inhale more often than cigar smokers who never did. They also have higher rates of most smoking-caused diseases.
- Take smaller draws than feel natural.
- Hold the cigar farther from your face between puffs.
- Sit down for the first few cigars.
- Pick a mild cigar, not a full-strength one.
Strength labels from Mild to Full are the closest guide we have. They describe how a cigar smokes, not a measured nicotine dose. For a first cigar that stays mild, use best cigars for beginners. For how often to smoke, see how often should you smoke a cigar. For the wider comparison, read cigars vs cigarettes.
Do you inhale cigars?
No. Draw the smoke into your mouth, taste it, and let it out. Cigar smoke is mostly alkaline, so the nicotine absorbs through the lining of the mouth without inhaling, according to NCI Monograph 9. In the large American Cancer Society study it cites, most men who smoked only cigars said they never inhale.
What happens if you accidentally inhale cigar smoke?
Usually a coughing fit, then nausea or dizziness as nicotine reaches the blood faster through the lungs. Put the cigar down, sit, and get fresh air and water. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if symptoms go beyond brief queasiness, or 911 for fainting, a seizure or trouble breathing.
Is it safe to smoke cigars if you don't inhale?
No. The FDA-required warning says cigar smoking can cause cancers of the mouth and throat even if you do not inhale. The NCI says regular cigar and cigarette smokers have similar risk for oral cavity and esophageal cancers.
What is retrohaling?
You push a little smoke from the mouth out through the nose. It does not go to the lungs. It is optional, and it is not the same as inhaling.
Why do cigars make some people nauseous?
Usually smoking too fast, too much smoke, or an inhale. Each delivers nicotine faster than the body expects. Nausea is one of the signs of nicotine poisoning on the National Capital Poison Center's list. Put the cigar down, drink water and sit.