One of the blending tobaccos that you either love or hate is Latakia. Strong of aroma, woodsmoky, outdoorsy, and leathery. The aroma reminds most rational people of armchairs in English clubs, distant Alpine vistas while drinking chilled Elbling on the veranda of Hotel Höflichfroschansicht in mid-summer, or private libraries with row upon row of ancient tomes.
With perhaps a little sherry on the side table.
Unfortunately non-smokers and many women tend to run screaming into the underbrush yelling "unclean, unclean" in shrill falsettos. Before setting the hounds loose and calling the health department.
The smell of Latakia is "traumatic" to the modern sensitive soul.
Which is sad. There are so many lovely associations the mind can make with a fragrance possessed of terpeneols, terpenes, pyrolytics, aromatic hydrocarbons, vitamin A, and minute traces of pyrene.
The modern sensitive soul abjures all that.
Being, basically, a wussy vegan.
Wheatgrass wearing.
This blogger is incredibly fond of smells like hot tar, hay, pine resin, smoldering oak scrub, forest fires, roses, peaches, hot rubber tires, machine oil, strong tea, coffee roasting, smoked meat, and leather.
No, I do NOT own a cowskin full-body sheath.
Nor would I recommend purchasing one.
Unless you are monastic.
And depraved.
You can, however, buy some very nice tasteful leather items.
Fine leather crafts, made in the U.S.A.
William Shaw Leather.
Click here.
Yes, this indeed a shameless commercial plug. I happen to know that the leather artisan in question is a fervent pipe-smoker, and am consequently pleased to mention him favourably.
Go, spend money.
There used to be a leather goods shop on University Avenue in Berkeley just below Shattuck, a few doors down from the Xanadu Pleasure Dome. While the latter 'sounded' more exciting, the leather shop was infinitely more attractive. Understated elegant objects.
Belts, wallets, bags, and, if memory serves me, coats.
Or were they bomber jackets?
Whatever.
Leather and Latakia naturally go together.
They perfectly compliment the person.
Gonz riezig und geshmak.
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