I'm fairly new to pipe smoking.  I've done it off and on for 20 years, smoking Half & Half or other commercial tobacco.  

I bought a few blends from pipesandcigars.com and some taste like soap.  Am I better off sticking to H&H or Cherokee from the convenience store?

What P&C blends did you get?

Some aromatic blends smell amazing but taste like crap.

Peter Stokkebye 80 Norwegian Blend

Sutliff Heavy English

Larry's Blend Bulk

Anniversary Kake Bulk

Newminster No. 400 Superior Navy Flake

Sutliff Vanilla Custard



Larry's and the Heavy English taste like soap, but also seem too wet.  I can't keep them lit, so I'm letting them dry before trying the rest.

My go to is Blue Note by Sutliff.  Mild aromatic with a good room note so the wife doesn't complain.

I also like Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake.  I keep that and Blue Note around most all of the time.  

You may want to also look at some VaPers.  Escudo or Bayou Morning by C&D are go-to.  

If you are still experimenting you may want to buy a bundle of cheap seconds from Missouri Meerschaum to test different tobaccos.  I keep a few (dozen) around especially in the garage and in the car since they are not so precious if one gets damaged.

What flavors are you after? More on the pure tobacco side, more smoky like a campfire, or artificial flavored? A good Burley blend is probably close to the Cherokee you’ve smoked, Cornell and Diehl Big n Burley is a good one that I enjoy. If your anywhere near Gwinnett, I’ve got a ton of Virginia, English, Periques and Burleys your welcome to sample. I try to avoid anything with flavored casings.