Ashes to Attitude

The Fundamental Divide Between Cigar and Cigarette Smokers

They both inhale smoke. They both set fire to dried leaves. And they both evoke strong opinions. But make no mistake, cigar smokers and cigarette smokers inhabit entirely different worlds, not only in terms of habit and ritual, but in mindset, style, and social standing. It’s the difference between sipping a centuries-old cognac and pounding a can of gas station energy drink. Technically the same category but a wildly different experience.

Let’s start with the most obvious: the ritual. Cigarette smokers light up in haste. It’s about quelling stress, boredom, or nicotine cravings. A quick hit between meetings. A drag outside a dive bar, near the building entrance, behind the restaurant.  It’s utilitarian, often subconscious, sometimes desperate. Cigarette smokers don’t typically gather to celebrate smoking, they smoke out of habit. Addiction wears the crown here.

Cigar smokers, on the other hand, tend to be all about the ceremony. Lighting a cigar is a slow, considered process involving a cutter, a lighter (never, ever a Bic), and often a drink in hand. There’s no rush. No frantic puffing behind a building. You sit down for a cigar. You plan for it. It’s a statement of intent: I have time to burn. For this reason, cigars are associated with success, leisure, and reflection. They are not a break from life, but rather they are a part of living well.

Now let’s address the social optics. Cigarette smoking, for all its film noir romance in the 1950s, has taken a nosedive in public perception. It’s been linked to everything from poor health to poor decision-making, and many modern smokers find themselves doing it under a cloud of judgment (both literal and figurative). It’s not just unhealthy… it’s unfashionable.

Cigars, though still subject to health scrutiny, have managed to retain a sense of elegance and prestige. Think Montecristo, Cohiba, Davidoff. They’re not just smokes, they’re luxury items. You’ll find cigars in gentlemen’s clubs, at weddings, in corner offices, and at poker nights in the Bahamas. No one hands out celebratory Marlboros when a child is born. Cigars mark moments. Cigarettes mark nerves.

There’s also a stark difference in culture. Cigarette smokers are rarely part of a community. Sure, there’s small talk outside office buildings, but there’s no pride in collecting cigarette packs or debating the nuances of a Marlboro Light versus a Camel Blue. Cigar smokers, however, are often part of a passionate subculture, reading tasting notes like wine connoisseurs, curating humidors, attending cigar dinners, and forming bonds over vitolas and ring gauges. It’s a hobby not a habit.

From a health standpoint, both are harmful, but in different ways. Cigarette smokers typically inhale directly into the lungs, leading to greater risk for certain cancers and cardiovascular disease. Cigar smokers tend to puff rather than inhale (good Lord!), and less frequently. That doesn’t make cigars healthy, but it does mean the average usage is often less compulsive and less frequent. One lights up a cigar for an occasion, not every 45 minutes.

Let’s not forget aesthetics. Cigarette packs are crumpled and stuffed into coat pockets or car consoles. Ash is flicked, not admired. Cigars, meanwhile, are nestled in lacquered humidors, banded with intricate labels, and handled with care. A cigar is just as much an accessory, like a fine watch or a tailored blazer. Cigarettes are a fix.

The difference between cigar smokers and cigarette smokers boils down to this: cigarettes are about need. Cigars are about want. One is compulsion, the other is choice. One looks hurried and haggard in a cold parking lot, the other reclines in a leather armchair with a glass of Armagnac and an hour to spare.