Smoke Shop Glossary: 450+ Terms Explained

Rolling papers, cones and wraps

Papers come in more sizes, materials and styles than most people realise. Here's what every word on the booklet means.

Shop:Rolling PapersBlunt WrapsFilter TipsRolling MachinesRolling Trays

Rolling papers

Thin sheets for rolling, made from wood pulp, hemp, rice or flax.Shop rolling papers

Rizla

A rolling paper brand whose name many people in Kenya use for any rolling paper.

Booklet

One pack of rolling papers. Depending on the brand it holds anywhere from about 32 to 300 leaves.

Leaves

The number of papers in a booklet, printed on the pack.

Display box

A box of booklets, commonly 24 or 50, bought by shops and heavy rollers.

Paper rolls

A continuous roll of rolling paper you tear to any length.Shop RAW 5m Rolls

300s (bulk booklet)

An extra-large booklet of 300 leaves.Shop RAW 300s

Single wide (regular)

The smallest common paper size, about 70mm long. Good for small, solo rolls.Shop Korobo Regular

1¼ (one and a quarter)

About 78mm long and a little wider than single wide. The most popular size.Shop RAW Classic 1¼Read: the rolling papers guide

1½ (one and a half)

The same length as 1¼ but wider, for a fuller roll.

King size slim

About 110mm long and narrow, for longer, slimmer rolls.Shop RAW King Size Slim

King size

About 110mm long and wider than king size slim, for big rolls.Shop HoneyPuff King Size

Bleached papers

White papers that have been whitened during production.Shop Korobo White

Unbleached papers

Natural brown papers with no whitening, often chosen for a cleaner taste.Shop Korobo Brown 1¼

Hemp papers

Papers made from hemp fibre. RAW is the best-known hemp paper.Shop RAWShop RAW Organic Hemp

Rice papers

Ultra-thin papers that burn slowly and have almost no taste of their own.Shop Elements rice papersShop WeTop rice papers

Flax papers

Papers made from flax fibre, thin and even-burning.

Flavoured papers

Papers infused with a flavour such as strawberry, mango or chocolate.Shop Hornet flavoured papersShop Zig-Zag Chocolate Liquorice

Clear (cellulose) papers

See-through papers made from plant cellulose.Shop Hornet Gold Transparent

Ultra-thin papers

Lighter papers that burn slower and add less paper taste.Shop RAW Ethereal

Watermark

The pattern pressed into some papers, such as the criss-cross on RAW, to help the burn stay even.

Gum line

The strip of glue along one edge of a paper, usually natural gum arabic.

Papers with tips

Booklets that come with filter tips in the same pack.Shop RAW ConnoisseurShop WeTop Luxury with tips

Cone (pre-rolled cone)

A paper already rolled into a cone with a tip at the narrow end. You fill it, pack it and twist it shut.Shop RAW conesShop RAW King Size cones

Pre-roll

A cone or joint that comes already filled and ready to smoke.

Filter tip (crutch)

A small card mouthpiece rolled into the end. It holds the roll open, keeps it firm and stops bits reaching your mouth.Shop filter tips

Glass tip

A reusable glass mouthpiece that cools the smoke.

Roach

The leftover end of a joint.Shop RAW Black roaches

Roach clip

A small clip for holding the last bit of a joint.

Joint

Herb rolled in a rolling paper.

Spliff

Herb mixed with tobacco and rolled in a paper. In some places spliff simply means a joint.

Blunt

Herb rolled in a tobacco leaf or cigar wrap instead of paper. It burns slower and tastes of tobacco.

Pinner

A very thin joint, also called a "slim shady".

Fatty

A very thick joint, called a "koroboshta" in Kenya.

Blunt wrap

A ready-made wrap for rolling blunts, made from tobacco leaf or hemp.Shop blunt wraps

Hemp wrap

A tobacco-free blunt wrap made from hemp.Shop Twisted Hemp wrapsShop Royal Blunts Hemparillo

Leaf wrap

A whole natural tobacco leaf cut for rolling.Shop Backwoods True WrapsShop Al Capone leaf wraps

Fronto leaf

A large, whole leaf of dark tobacco used for wrapping blunts.Shop Fire Grabba fronto leaf

Grabba

Pieces of dark tobacco leaf, usually fronto, crumbled into a joint or blunt for a stronger tobacco taste. The name comes from Jamaican slang.Shop Fire GrabbaShop Grabba Leaf GreenShop Zaza GrabbaShop Zaza Grabba Dark

Palm leaf wrap (leaf cone)

A tobacco-free cone rolled from a natural leaf, often Cordia leaf, with a corn-husk filter tip.

Rolling machine

An apron roller you load, close and turn to roll an even joint every time.Shop rolling machines

Apron

The fabric or plastic sheet inside a rolling machine that shapes the roll.

Cone filler

A gadget that fills and packs several cones at once.

Cone rolling machine

A handheld roller that shapes a paper into a cone for you.Shop cone rollers

Rolling tray

A flat tray with raised edges for prepping and rolling without losing anything.Shop rolling trays

Packing stick (poker)

A thin stick for packing herb down into a cone.

Doob tube

A small sealed tube for carrying a pre-roll without crushing it.Shop joint holder tubes

Tuck and roll

The basic hand-rolling move: tuck the edge of the paper under the herb, then roll up and lick the gum line.

Canoeing (running)

When one side of a roll burns faster than the other.

Cherry

The glowing, burning tip of a joint, cigar or cigarette.

Grinders, kief and prep

An even grind makes everything burn and vape better. These are the words you will see on grinders and prep gear.

Shop:Herb GrindersWeighing Scales

Grinder

A tool that breaks herb into an even grind.Shop grinders

Crusher

A common Kenyan word for a herb grinder.Shop crushers

2-piece grinder

A lid and a base with teeth, and nothing else. Simple and easy to clean.Shop the Zilla 2-part

3-piece grinder

Adds a collection chamber under the teeth, so the grind drops through.Shop the RAW 3-piece

4-piece grinder

Adds a mesh screen and a kief catcher at the bottom.Shop the Zilla 60mmRead: which grinder to buy

Kief

The fine, sticky powder that falls off herb as you grind it. It is made of the plant's resin glands.

Kief catcher

The bottom chamber of a 4-piece grinder, where kief collects.Shop the clear-base Lightning grinder

Pollen screen

The mesh in a 4-piece grinder that lets kief through and keeps the grind above.

Scraper

A small tool for collecting kief from the catcher.

Diamond-cut teeth

Sharp, angled teeth that cut herb rather than crush it.Shop the Zilla 50mm

Shark teeth

A sharp tooth shape that shears herb for a fluffy grind.Shop the RAW shark teeth grinder

Magnetic lid

A magnet in the lid that keeps the grinder shut in a bag.

Aluminium grinder

A metal grinder that keeps its edge for years.Shop the Zilla 75mm

Acrylic grinder

A light, low-cost plastic grinder. The teeth wear down over time.Shop the Korobo acrylic grinder

Zinc alloy

A heavy metal used for some grinder bodies and electric grinder blades.

Electric grinder

A battery-powered grinder that grinds at the press of a button.Shop Yocan iShredShop the Yocan Veke

Pollen press

A small press that squeezes kief into a solid puck.

Pocket scale

A small digital scale, usually accurate to 0.01g or 0.1g.Shop scalesShop the Zilla Top-Flip

Tare

The scale button that zeroes the reading with a container on it.

Calibration weight

A weight of known mass used to check a scale is accurate.

Humidity pack

A sachet that keeps the air in a jar or humidor at a set humidity, such as 62% for herb or 65 to 69% for cigars.

Bongs, pipes and glass

The parts of a bong, the types of pipe and the words glassblowers use, from downstem to percolator.

Shop:Pipes & Bongs

Bong (water pipe)

A pipe that pulls smoke through water to cool it before you inhale.Shop pipes and bongsShop the 11 inch glass bong kit

Bubbler

A small hand-held water pipe. Part pipe, part bong.

Hand pipe (spoon pipe)

A small dry pipe with a bowl, a carb and a mouthpiece.Shop the Grav spoon pipe

Dry pipe

Any pipe that doesn't use water.Shop wooden pipes

Chillum

A straight, cone-shaped pipe smoked end to end.Shop glass chillums

One-hitter (bat)

A thin straight pipe that holds one small hit.Shop the OG one-hitter

Dugout

A box that holds a one-hitter and a stash of herb.Shop the Cookies 4-in-1 jar

Steamroller

A straight tube pipe with the bowl near one end. The open end works as the carb.Shop the XL steamroller

Sherlock

A pipe with a long, curved stem.

Chalice

A traditional Rastafari water pipe, often built from a coconut shell.

Gravity bong

A bong that pulls smoke into a chamber when a bottle is lifted out of water, or when water drains out of it.

Oil burner pipe

A thin glass tube with a hollow ball at one end.Shop oil burner pipes

Bowl (slide)

The removable piece that holds the herb. You pull it out to clear the bong.Shop bowls and downstems

Downstem

The tube that carries smoke from the bowl down into the water.Shop bowls and downstems

Diffused downstem

A downstem with slits or holes at the end that break smoke into smaller bubbles.

Carb (carburettor)

A hole you cover while lighting and uncover to clear the smoke. On many bongs the removable bowl does this job.

Base (water chamber)

The bottom of the bong that holds the water.

Beaker base

A cone-shaped base that is very stable.

Straight tube

A bong whose base is a straight cylinder.

Bubble base

A round base, common on smaller pieces.

Neck

The long section between the base and the mouthpiece.

Mouthpiece

The opening at the top that you draw from.

Percolator (perc)

A built-in diffuser that splits smoke into many bubbles for a smoother hit.

Tree perc

A percolator made of several slotted arms, like branches.

Honeycomb perc

A flat disc full of small holes.

Showerhead perc

A tube with slits around the bottom, like a shower head.

Matrix perc

A round perc with many fine slits for heavy diffusion.

Inline perc

A horizontal tube with slits along it.

Swiss perc

A perc with open holes that let smoke and water swirl through.

Recycler

A design that keeps water cycling between chambers for a smooth pull. Common on dab rigs.

Ice catcher (ice pinch)

Small notches in the neck that hold ice to cool the smoke.Shop ice bong sets

Splash guard

A section that stops water reaching your mouth.

Ash catcher

An add-on chamber between the bowl and the bong that keeps the main water clean.

Joint size

The size of a glass fitting: 10mm, 14mm or 18mm. A bowl and downstem must match the bong.Shop 14.5mm bowls

Male and female joints

A male joint slides into a female one. Check both before you buy a new bowl.

Adapter (drop-down)

A piece that joins glass of different sizes or angles.

Keck clip

A plastic clip that holds two glass joints together.

Glass on glass (GoG)

Glass pieces that join directly, with no rubber grommets.

Grommet

A rubber seal that holds a downstem in place on some bongs.

Borosilicate glass

Tough, heat-resistant glass used for quality pipes and bongs.Shop borosilicate pipesRead: bongs and pipes guide

Scientific glass

Clean, functional, lab-style glass pieces.Shop Grav glass

Heady glass

Artistic, hand-made glass, often one of a kind.Shop handcrafted glass

Fumed glass

Glass coated with silver or gold vapour so it changes colour as you use it.

Silicone pipe

A near-unbreakable pipe or bong made from food-grade silicone.

Acrylic bong

A light, tough and low-cost plastic bong.Shop the 10 inch acrylic bong

Pipe screen

A small metal or glass mesh that stops ash being pulled through the bowl.

Resin

The sticky tar that builds up inside pipes and bongs over time.

Concentrates and dabbing

Wax, shatter, rosin, rigs and bangers: the language of concentrates, explained simply.

Shop:Wax pens

Concentrate (extract)

A concentrated form of the plant's active compounds and terpenes.

Dab

A small dose of concentrate vaporized on a hot surface.

Dabbing

Inhaling a dab.

Wax

A soft, sticky concentrate.

Shatter

A hard, glass-like concentrate that snaps.

Budder (badder)

A creamy, whipped concentrate.

Crumble

A dry concentrate that breaks apart easily.Shop CBD crumble

Sauce

A runny, terpene-rich concentrate, often with crystals in it.

Diamonds

Crystals of THCA that form in sauce.

Live resin

Concentrate made from fresh-frozen plants, known for strong flavour.Read: live resin vs liquid diamonds

Rosin

A concentrate pressed out with only heat and pressure, no solvents.

Live rosin

Rosin made from fresh-frozen material, usually by pressing ice water hash.

Hash

Pressed resin glands from the plant.

Bubble hash (ice water hash)

Hash separated from the plant with ice water and filter bags.

Charas

Hand-rubbed hash, traditional in South Asia.

Distillate

Highly refined oil, usually with flavour added back in.

Solventless

Made without chemical solvents. Rosin and hash are solventless.

Dab rig

A small water pipe made for concentrates.

E-rig

An electronic dab rig with a battery and temperature control.

Banger

A quartz bucket that you heat before dropping in the dab.

Nail

The heated part of a dab rig. Bangers are the most common type; titanium and ceramic nails also exist.

E-nail

An electric heater that keeps a nail at a set temperature.

Carb cap

A cap that covers the banger to trap heat and control airflow, so you can dab at a lower temperature.

Terp pearls

Small balls that spin inside the banger to spread heat and use up every bit of oil.

Terp slurper

A banger with a tall column and marbles for an even, flavourful dab.

Dab tool (dabber)

A small metal or glass tool for picking up concentrate.

Dab mat

A non-stick silicone mat for working with sticky concentrates.

Silicone container

A small non-stick jar for storing concentrates.

Nectar collector (dab straw)

A straw-shaped piece you heat at the tip and touch to the concentrate.

Dab pen (wax pen)

A portable pen that vaporizes concentrates on a coil.Shop the Yocan Evolve Plus

Quartz coil

A coil wrapped around quartz rods, used in wax pens for clean flavour.Shop the Yocan Evolve Plus

Low-temp dab

A dab taken at a lower temperature for more flavour.

Cold start

Putting the dab into a cool banger, then heating it.

Reclaim

Leftover oil scraped back out of a rig or banger.

Dry herb vaporizers

Heat, don't burn. The terms you need to compare dry herb vaporizers.

Shop:Dry Herb Vaporizers

Dry herb vaporizer

A device that heats ground flower into vapour without burning it.Shop dry herb vaporizers

Vapour vs smoke

Vapour comes from heating below the point of burning. Smoke comes from burning.

Conduction

Heating the herb through contact with a hot chamber. Quick to warm up.Shop the PAX 2

Convection

Heating the herb by pulling hot air through it. More even heat.Shop the Yocan Hit 2Read: conduction vs convection

Hybrid heating

A mix of conduction and convection.

Oven (chamber)

Where you pack the ground herb.

Loading

Filling the oven. Pack loosely for convection and a little firmer for conduction.

Temperature control

Setting how hot the oven gets. Lower temperatures taste more of the herb; higher ones give thicker vapour.Shop the Yocan Hit 2

Session vaporizer

Heats for a set time and stays hot, made for sharing or longer sessions.

On-demand vaporizer

Heats only while you press the button or draw.

Lip-sensing

The device saves heat when it doesn't feel your lips on the mouthpiece, as on the PAX 2.Shop the PAX 2

Haptic feedback

A buzz that tells you the device has reached temperature.Shop the Yocan Vane 2

AVB (already vaped bud)

The brown, toasted herb left after vaping.

Dosing capsule

A small pre-loaded pod that drops into the oven.

WPA (water pipe adapter)

A piece that connects a vaporizer to a bong for cooler draws.

Nicotine vapes and e-liquid

Puff counts, nic salts, coils and MTL: the nicotine vape terms in plain English.

Shop:Nic Vapes

Vape (e-cigarette)

A battery device that heats e-liquid into vapour.

Disposable vape

A pre-filled, pre-charged vape you throw away when the liquid runs out.Shop nicotine vapes

Puff count

The number of puffs a disposable is rated for. A BC5000 is rated for 5,000.Shop the Bang Beast 36000Read: BC5000 vs TE6000

Cigalike

An early vape shaped like a cigarette.

Pod system

A small vape that runs on pods.

Pod

A small cartridge that holds the liquid and the coil. Some are refillable, some come pre-filled.

Pod mod

A pod system with more power and settings.

Mod (box mod)

A larger battery device with adjustable power.Shop the Jomo Lite 40W

Open system

A vape you refill with any e-liquid.

Closed system

A vape that only takes its own pre-filled pods.

AIO (all-in-one)

A vape with the battery and tank built into one body.

Tank (clearomizer)

The part that holds the e-liquid on a refillable vape.

Atomizer

The part that turns liquid into vapour: the coil and its housing.

Coil

The heating wire inside a vape.

Mesh coil

A flat mesh heating strip that heats evenly for more flavour.Shop the Bang Metal Gears

Wick

The cotton that soaks up liquid and feeds the coil.

Priming

Soaking a new coil with liquid before first use so it doesn't burn.

Ohms (resistance)

A coil's resistance. Lower resistance usually means more power and more vapour.

Sub-ohm

Coils under 1 ohm, made for big clouds and lower-nicotine liquid.Shop the Jomo Lite 40W

Wattage

The power setting on a mod.

mAh

Battery capacity. The higher the number, the longer it lasts between charges.

Drip tip

The removable mouthpiece on a tank.

Airflow

How open the draw is. More airflow gives a looser, cooler draw.

MTL (mouth-to-lung)

Drawing into the mouth first, then the lungs, like a cigarette.

DTL (direct-to-lung)

Drawing straight into the lungs, for big clouds.

RDL (restricted direct-to-lung)

A draw between MTL and DTL.

Draw-activated

Fires automatically when you inhale.

Button-activated

Fires when you press the button.

E-liquid (e-juice)

The liquid in a vape: PG, VG, flavour and usually nicotine.Shop CBD e-liquids

PG (propylene glycol)

A thin base liquid that carries flavour and gives more throat hit.

VG (vegetable glycerin)

A thick base liquid that makes bigger, smoother clouds.

Nicotine strength

Shown as mg/ml or %. 20mg/ml is 2%, and 50mg/ml is 5%.

Nic salts

A form of nicotine that is smoother at high strengths, used in pods and disposables.Shop the Elf Bar BC5000

Freebase nicotine

The classic form of nicotine in e-liquid. It is harsher at high strengths, so it is used at lower ones.

Zero nic (0mg)

E-liquid with no nicotine.

Throat hit

The catch in the throat from nicotine. Higher strength and more PG increase it.

Ice

A flavour label meaning a cooling, menthol-style finish, as in "watermelon ice".

Cloud chasing

Vaping for the biggest possible clouds.

Chain vaping

Taking puff after puff without a break.

Dry hit (burnt hit)

A harsh, burnt taste when the coil has no liquid.

Flooding

Too much liquid in the coil, causing gurgling.

Spitback

Hot drops of liquid spitting into your mouth from a flooded coil.

Coil gunk

Residue that builds up on coils, especially with very sweet liquids.

Nicotine pouches

Small pouches placed under the lip. No smoke or vapour.

THC vapes, carts and 510 batteries

Carts, disposables and batteries explained, including every word on the box.

Shop:Vapes & CartsDisposablesExotic Carts510 Batteries

THC vape

A vape filled with cannabinoid oil instead of nicotine e-liquid.Read: dry herb vs disposable vs cart

Cart (cartridge)

A small glass tank of oil with a coil and mouthpiece. It screws onto a battery and isn't refillable.Shop carts

510 thread

The standard screw fitting used by almost every oil cart and cart battery.

510 battery

The reusable battery that a cart screws onto.Shop 510 batteries

Variable voltage (VV)

A battery setting that lets you choose the power.Shop the Tik40 ULTRA

Preheat

A low-power warm-up that loosens thick oil before you draw.Shop the TIK30

Voltage

The power a battery sends to the coil. Thin oils suit about 2.4 to 2.7V, thick oils about 3.0 to 3.4V.

Concealed battery

A battery that hides the cart inside its body.Shop the Cigar Style battery

Magnetic adapter

A ring that screws onto a cart so it clicks magnetically into some batteries.

All-in-one disposable

Oil, coil and battery in one sealed device.Shop disposables

Dual chamber

A disposable with two separate oils you switch between.Shop the Cali Clear dual chamber

Triple tank

A disposable with three separate oils you switch between.Shop the Boutiq Switch

Ceramic coil

The ceramic heating core used in most oil carts for clean flavour.

CCELL

A well-known brand of ceramic heating technology used in many carts.

Clog

Oil thickening in the airway so the cart won't draw. Preheat usually clears it.

Distillate

Refined oil with terpenes added back. Smooth and consistent.Shop Trap House Exotics carts

Live resin

Oil from fresh-frozen plants, known for flavour.Shop the Sherbinskis Quattro

Liquid diamonds

THCA crystals melted back into terpene-rich sauce, known for strength.Shop Mellow Melts carts

Live diamonds

THCA crystals extracted from fresh-frozen plants.Shop Whole Melt Extracts

Diamond sauce

THCA crystals sitting in a terpene-rich sauce.Shop Ace Ultra Diamond Sauce

Rosin cart

A cart filled with solventless rosin.

Botanical terpenes

Flavour terpenes taken from other plants rather than from cannabis.

Strain-derived terpenes

Terpenes taken from the cannabis strain itself.

mg on the box

The total oil or cannabinoid content. 1000mg is 1g.

Full-spectrum

Contains the plant's full range of cannabinoids and terpenes.

Broad-spectrum

The full range of compounds except THC.Shop the Sensi CBD tincture

Isolate

A single, pure cannabinoid, such as CBD.

COA (certificate of analysis)

A lab report that shows what is in a product and how strong it is.

Hemp-derived

Made from hemp plants rather than marijuana.

Cannabinoids, terpenes and the plant

What THC, CBD, Delta-8, terpenes and the strain labels actually mean.

Shop:THC GummiesCBD Gummies

Cannabinoids

The active compounds found in cannabis, such as THC and CBD.

THC (Delta-9 THC)

The main intoxicating compound in cannabis.

Delta-8 THC

A close relative of THC, usually described as milder.Shop Delta-8 carts

Delta-10 THC

Another close relative of THC, found in smaller amounts.

THCA

The raw, non-intoxicating form of THC in the plant. It turns into THC when heated.

Decarboxylation

The heating step that turns THCA into THC.

THC-P

A newer cannabinoid sold as much stronger than THC.Shop Wake&Bake

HHC

A hydrogenated form of THC, usually described as similar but milder.

HHC-P

A newer, stronger relative of HHC.Shop Wake&Bake

THC-JD

A newer, lesser-known cannabinoid used in some strong blends.Shop Wake&Bake

CBD (cannabidiol)

A non-intoxicating cannabinoid.Shop CBD gummies

CBN

A minor cannabinoid that forms as THC ages.

CBG

A minor cannabinoid, sometimes called the "mother cannabinoid" because others form from it.

Terpenes (terps)

Aroma compounds that give each strain its smell and taste. They are also found in fruit, herbs and flowers.

Common terpenes

Myrcene (earthy), limonene (citrus), pinene (pine), linalool (floral) and caryophyllene (peppery).

Entourage effect

The idea that cannabinoids and terpenes work better together than alone.

Strain

A named variety of the plant, such as Blue Dream or OG Kush. On vapes it often just means the flavour profile.

Indica

A strain label usually linked with relaxing, evening effects.Read: indica vs sativa vs hybrid

Sativa

A strain label usually linked with uplifting, daytime effects.

Hybrid

A cross between indica and sativa.

Kush

A family of strains originally from the Hindu Kush mountains.

Flower (bud)

The dried flower of the plant, the part that is smoked or vaped.

Nug

A single bud.

Shake

Small, loose bits of flower.

Trichomes

The tiny resin glands on the flower that hold most of the cannabinoids and terpenes.

Cola

The main cluster of buds at the top of a stem.

Curing

Slowly drying flower or tobacco after harvest to improve its smell and smoothness.

Hemp

Cannabis bred to be very low in THC.

Edibles

Food and drinks infused with cannabinoids, such as gummies. They take longer to kick in, often 30 minutes to 2 hours, and last longer than smoking.Shop THC gummies

Gummies

The most common edible, dosed per piece.Shop gummies

Tincture

Cannabinoid oil taken in drops.Shop CBD tinctures

Potency

How strong a product is, usually shown as a percentage or in mg.

Cigars: sizes, wrappers and anatomy

Ring gauge, vitola, maduro and more. Everything you need to read a cigar band and a cigar menu.

Shop:Cigars & CigarillosBackwoods

Cigar

Tobacco rolled in a tobacco leaf wrapper.Shop cigars

Premium cigar

A handmade cigar made with long filler.Shop the Arturo Fuente 8-5-8Read: premium cigars guide

Machine-made cigar

A cigar made by machine, usually with short filler.

Hecho a mano

Spanish for "made by hand".

Totalmente a mano

Spanish for "made totally by hand", seen on many cigar boxes and bands.

Cigarillo

A small, thin cigar.Shop Swisher Sweets cigarillos

Little cigar

A cigarette-sized cigar, often with a filter.

Cheroot

A cigar with both ends cut open and no cap.

Backwoods

A brand of natural-leaf cigarillos with a rustic, unfinished end.Shop Backwoods Russian CreamRead: Backwoods flavours guide

Woods

Slang for Backwoods.Shop Backwoods

Infused cigar

A cigar flavoured with something like vanilla, honey, rum or bourbon.Shop White Owl grape

Sweet tip

A cigar with a sweetened cap.

Stogie

Slang for a cigar.

Stick

Cigar smokers' slang for a single cigar.

Wrapper

The outer leaf. It gives the cigar its look and much of its flavour.

Binder

The leaf that holds the filler together under the wrapper.

Filler

The tobacco inside the cigar.

Long filler

Whole leaves running the full length of the cigar.

Short filler

Chopped tobacco, used in machine-made cigars.

Mixed filler

A blend of long and short filler.

Puro

A cigar whose tobacco all comes from one country.Shop the Cohiba Puro Dominicana

Ligero, seco and volado

Filler leaves from the top, middle and bottom of the plant. Ligero is the strongest; volado helps the cigar burn.

Primings

The levels of leaf on the tobacco plant, counted from the bottom up.

Shade grown

Wrapper grown under cloth for a thin, smooth, mild leaf.

Sun grown

Wrapper grown in full sun for a thicker, darker, bolder leaf.

Wrapper shades

From light to dark: Candela (green), Claro, Natural, Colorado (reddish brown), Maduro and Oscuro (near black).Shop the Chateau Fuente Natural

Maduro

A dark brown wrapper, usually richer and sweeter.Shop Bahia Maduro

Connecticut Shade

A light, smooth wrapper grown under shade.

Connecticut Broadleaf

A thick, dark wrapper used for many maduros.

Habano wrapper

A Cuban-seed wrapper grown outside Cuba, known for spice.Shop the Black Ops Habano

Corojo and Criollo

Classic Cuban-seed tobacco varieties.

Cameroon, Sumatra and San Andrés

Wrapper types from Cameroon, Indonesia and Ecuador, and Mexico.

Habanos

Cuban cigars. Habanos S.A. is the company that sells them worldwide.

Vuelta Abajo

The region of Cuba most famous for cigar tobacco.

Estelí

The cigar capital of Nicaragua.

Ring gauge

A cigar's thickness in 64ths of an inch. A 50 ring gauge cigar is 50/64 of an inch across.

Vitola

A cigar's size and shape.

Parejo

A straight-sided cigar.

Figurado

Any shaped cigar, such as a torpedo or perfecto.

Corona

A classic size, roughly 5½ to 6 inches by 42 to 44 ring gauge.Shop the Bahia Corona Gigante

Petit corona

A shorter corona, around 4½ to 5 inches.

Robusto

Short and thick, about 5 inches by 50.Shop the Perdomo Fresco Robusto

Toro

About 6 inches by 50 to 52.

Churchill

Long, about 7 inches by 47 to 48.

Double corona

Around 7½ inches by 49 to 52.

Lonsdale

Long and slim, about 6½ inches by 42 to 44.

Lancero (panetela)

Long and very thin, around 38 to 40 ring gauge.

Gordo

Very thick, 60 ring gauge or more.Shop the Bahia Brazil Gordo

Torpedo

A cigar with a pointed head.

Belicoso

A cigar with a short, tapered head.Shop the Bahia No. 2 Belicoso

Pyramid

Tapers evenly from the foot up to a pointed head.

Perfecto

Tapered at both ends.Shop Swisher Sweets Perfecto

Culebra

Three thin cigars braided together.

Box-pressed

A cigar with squared-off sides.

Head

The end of the cigar you smoke from.

Cap

The piece of leaf glued over the head.

Triple cap

Three layers of cap, a hallmark of Cuban-style rolling.

Flag tail (pigtail)

A small twist of wrapper finishing the cap.

Shoulder

Where the head starts to curve.

Foot

The end you light.

Band

The paper ring that shows the brand.

Barber pole

A cigar with two wrappers spiralled together.

Tubo

A cigar sold in its own tube.

Cellophane

The clear wrap that protects cigars on the shelf.

Bundle

Cigars sold in a simple pack without a box.

Half wheel

A bundle of 50 cigars.

Box code

A code stamped on the box that shows where and when the cigars were made.

Cutting, lighting, smoking and storing cigars

The tools and habits that make a cigar smoke well, from the first cut to the humidor.

Shop:Cigar CuttersCigar LightersHumidorsCigar StorageCigar Ashtrays

Cigar cutter

A tool for opening the cap before you smoke.Shop cigar cutters

Guillotine cutter

Makes a straight cut across the cap. Comes with one blade or two.Shop the Tri-Cut

Double-blade cutter

Two blades close from both sides for a cleaner cut.Shop the S.T. Dupont Maxijet

V-cutter (wedge cutter)

Cuts a V-shaped notch for a deeper, more concentrated draw.Shop the double-blade V-cutterShop the Flag Series V-cutter

Punch cutter

Punches a small round hole in the cap.Shop the Tri-Cut

Cigar scissors

Scissors made for cutting cigars.

Torch lighter

A windproof jet flame, the usual choice for cigars.Shop cigar lighters

Cedar spill

A thin strip of cedar wood used to light a cigar.

Toasting the foot

Warming the foot evenly before you light it.

Cold draw

Drawing on a cut cigar before lighting to check the draw and taste.

Draw

How easily air passes through the cigar.

Plugged

A cigar that is too tight to draw.

Purging

Blowing gently through a cigar to clear stale smoke.

Retrohale

Letting smoke out through your nose to pick up more flavour.

Burn line

The edge where the wrapper is burning. You want it even.

Canoeing

One side of the cigar burning faster than the other.

Tunnelling

The middle of the cigar burning down while the wrapper doesn't.

Relight

Lighting a cigar again after it goes out.

Humidor

A box or cabinet that keeps cigars at the right humidity, around 65 to 70%.Shop humidorsShop the Cohiba cedar humidor

Hygrometer

A gauge that shows the humidity inside a humidor.

Humidifier

The device or pack that adds moisture to a humidor.

Two-way humidity pack

A sachet that adds or absorbs moisture to hold a set level, such as 65% or 69%.

Spanish cedar

The traditional wood for lining humidors and cigar boxes.Shop the Cohiba cedar humidor

Seasoning

Preparing a new humidor's wood with moisture before adding cigars.

Distilled water

What humidifiers should be refilled with. Never tap water.

Cigar case

A portable case for carrying a few cigars.Shop cigar storageShop the Cohiba leather case

Travel humidor

A sealed carry case that keeps a few cigars humidified on the move.Shop the Cohiba travel case

Cigar tube

A sealed tube that protects a single cigar.Shop the Cohiba tube

Cigar jar

A ceramic or glass jar for storing cigars. Many hold 25.Shop the Cohiba jarShop the Montecristo jar

Plume (bloom)

Harmless white crystals from oils on aged cigars. Mould, by contrast, is fuzzy and blue-green.

Aging

Resting cigars in a humidor so the flavours mellow and blend.

Tobacco beetle

A pest that can hatch in a warm humidor and bore holes in cigars.

Cigar ashtray

An ashtray with wide rests made for cigars.Shop cigar ashtrays

Cigar lounge

A bar or club made for smoking cigars.

Herf

Slang for a get-together to smoke cigars.

Tobacco pipes

Briar, meerschaum and the vocabulary of the classic tobacco pipe.

Shop:Pipes & Bongs

Tobacco pipe

A pipe made for smoking loose pipe tobacco.

Briar

The hard, heat-resistant root wood that most good pipes are made from.

Meerschaum

A light, white mineral pipe that slowly colours as you use it.

Corn cob pipe

A light, low-cost pipe made from a corn cob.

Chamber

The inside of the bowl, where the tobacco goes.

Shank and stem

The wooden part leading from the bowl, and the mouthpiece that joins it.

Billiard, bent and churchwarden

Classic pipe shapes. A churchwarden has a very long stem.

Tamper

A small tool for pressing tobacco down while you smoke.

Pipe tool (3-in-1)

A tamper, pick and spoon in one.

Charring light (false light)

The first light that settles the tobacco before the true light.

Cake

The carbon layer that builds up inside the bowl over time.

Dottle

The unburnt tobacco left at the bottom of the bowl.

Ghosting

When a pipe keeps the taste of a tobacco smoked in it before.

Pipe cleaners

Fluffy wire cleaners for the stem and shank.

Pipe filter

A small filter, often 9mm, that fits inside the stem.

Tobacco cuts

The way pipe tobacco is cut: ribbon, flake, plug or rope.

Virginia, Burley, Latakia and Perique

The main pipe tobaccos. Virginia is sweet, Burley nutty, Latakia smoky and Perique peppery.

Aromatic vs English blend

Flavoured, sweet tobaccos versus blends built around smoky Latakia.

Shisha and hookah

Hookah, shisha, nargile: the words for the water pipe, its parts and the flavoured tobacco smoked in it.

Hookah

A water pipe for smoking flavoured tobacco heated by charcoal.

Shisha

The flavoured tobacco smoked in a hookah. In Kenya the word is also used for the hookah itself.

Nargile (argileh)

Other names for the hookah, used in Turkey and the Middle East.

Hookah lounge (shisha lounge)

A bar or café where hookahs are served.

Molasses

The sticky, sweetened tobacco mix that shisha is made from.

Double apple

One of the oldest and best-known shisha flavours: anise with red and green apple.

Herbal shisha

A tobacco-free mix, usually sugarcane fibre or tea leaves, soaked in flavour.

Steam stones

Absorbent stones soaked in flavour and used instead of tobacco.

Shisha pen (hookah pen)

A vape pen sold in shisha flavours.Shop nicotine vapes

Hookah bowl

The bowl at the top that holds the shisha.

Phunnel bowl

A bowl with a raised centre so juices don't drip down the stem.

Egyptian bowl

The traditional bowl with holes in the bottom.

Vortex bowl

A bowl with a raised centre hole and a channel that collects juices.

Fruit bowl

A bowl carved out of real fruit, such as a pineapple or apple.

Foil

Pierced aluminium foil stretched over the bowl to hold the coals.

HMD (heat management device)

A metal lid that replaces foil and makes heat easier to control.

Coconut coals

Natural coals made from coconut shells. Cleaner and slower to light.

Quick-light coals

Coals that light in seconds but give off more taste.

Coal heater

An electric burner for lighting natural coals.

Tongs

For moving hot coals safely.

Wind cover

A cover that keeps coals burning evenly outdoors.

Stem

The tall pipe between the bowl and the base.

Hookah downstem

The part of the stem that sits under the water.

Diffuser

Breaks up bubbles to make the hookah quieter and smoother.

Base (vase)

The water-filled bottom of the hookah.

Purge valve

A valve that lets you blow out stale smoke.

Hookah hose

The hose you draw from. Washable hoses can be rinsed.

Mouth tips

Disposable tips so each person uses their own mouthpiece.

Grommets

Rubber seals between the parts that keep the hookah airtight.

Hookah tray

The plate under the bowl that catches ash and coal.

Fluff pack

Loading shisha loosely into the bowl.

Dense pack

Loading shisha firmly for a longer, thicker session.

Ice hose

A hose with a chilled section for a cooler draw.

Harsh hit

A burnt, sharp taste from too much heat on the bowl.

Lighters and fire

Butane, flints, torches and the right flame for every job.

Shop:Lighters & RefillsCigar Lighters

Butane

The gas in refillable lighters and torches.Shop butane refill

Refined butane

Butane filtered to burn cleanly.

Lighter fluid

The liquid fuel (naphtha) used in wick lighters.Shop Bull Brand lighter fluid

Wick lighter

A flip-top lighter that burns fluid from a wick.Shop the Zippo Classic

Torch (jet lighter)

A windproof, very hot blue flame, used for cigars and dabs.Shop the single jet lighter

Single, double and triple torch

How many jet flames a torch lighter has.Shop the Cohiba 4-torch lighter

Soft flame

The normal yellow flame of a regular lighter.

Flint

The small stone that makes the spark.Shop flints

Flint wheel

The wheel you spin against the flint.

Piezo ignition

A click-button spark with no flint.

Plasma (arc) lighter

A rechargeable, flameless lighter that makes an electric arc.

Refill valve

The opening on a lighter where butane goes in.

Adjustable flame

A wheel or slider that changes the flame height.

Hemp wick

Hemp string coated in beeswax, used to light a bowl without breathing lighter gas.

Clipper

A refillable lighter whose removable flint housing doubles as a packing tool.Shop Clipper lighters

Replacement flints

Spare flints that bring a refillable lighter back to life.Shop flints

Cigar matches

Long wooden matches made for lighting cigars.

Storage, smell control and cleaning

Keeping everything fresh, discreet and clean.

Shop:Storage EssentialsAir Filters & Odour ControlAshtrays

Stash jar

An airtight jar for storing herb.Shop the Cookies 4-in-1 jar

UV glass

Dark violet glass that blocks light to keep herb fresh for longer.

Smell-proof bag

A bag with a carbon lining or tight seal that traps smell.Shop storageShop smell-proof bags

Zip-lock bag

A resealable plastic bag.Shop clear zip-lock bags

Stash box

A box that keeps papers, grinder and lighter together.Shop the RAW tin case

Sploof

A filter tube you exhale into to cut the smell of smoke.

Personal air filter

A pocket filter you breathe out through to trap smoke and smell.Shop air filtersShop the Smoke Buddy

Odour eliminator

Sprays, gels and candles made to remove smoke smell rather than cover it.Shop odour eliminator candles

Incense

Sticks or cones burned for their scent.

Ashtray

For ash and butts. Some have lids or windproof bowls.Shop ashtrays

Bong cleaner

Isopropyl alcohol shaken with coarse salt, or a ready-made solution, for cleaning glass.Shop bong cleaner

Pipe brushes

Small brushes for scrubbing stems, downstems and bowls.

Smoke session slang

The words you will hear in any session, from 420 to puff, puff, pass.

420

A code word in cannabis culture. 20 April (4/20) is its unofficial holiday.

710

"OIL" written upside down. 10 July (7/10) is the concentrate community's day.

Sesh

A smoking session.

Rotation

Passing around a circle.

Puff, puff, pass

Two hits, then pass it on.

Toke (hit)

One inhale.

Rip

A big bong hit.

Blaze (spark, light up)

To light up.

Greens

The first hit of a freshly packed bowl.

Corner

Lighting only one corner of the bowl so others get greens too.

Cashed

The bowl is finished.

Clear

Inhaling all the smoke in a bong.

Bogart

Holding the joint too long instead of passing it.

Hotbox

Smoking in a closed room or car so the smoke builds up.

Cotton mouth

Dry mouth.

Munchies

Sudden hunger after smoking.

Couch-lock

A heavy, can't-get-up feeling.

Greening out

Feeling unwell after having too much. The rule: go low and slow.

T-break (tolerance break)

Taking time off to bring tolerance back down.

Wake and bake

Smoking first thing in the morning.

Dank

Strong-smelling, high-quality herb.

Exotics

Slang for premium, rare strains and the products made from them.Shop Exotic Carts

J (doobie)

Slang for a joint.

Slim shady

Slang for a pinner, a very thin joint.See: pinner

Koroboshta

Kenyan slang for a fatty, a very thick joint.See: fatty

Shop and buying terms

Useful words for buying smoking gear, online or over the counter.

Shop:Best SellersNew In & Trending

Smoke shop

A shop for smoking accessories: papers, grinders, glass, lighters, vapes and cigars.Shop 420 Smoke Shop Essentials

Head shop

A smoke shop that leans towards glass and cannabis accessories.

Vape shop

A shop focused on vapes, pods and e-liquid.

Tobacconist

A traditional shop for cigars, pipes and tobacco.

Same-day delivery

Delivery on the day you order. Royal Mist delivers across Nairobi the same day on orders placed before 6pm.

Countrywide delivery

Delivery outside Nairobi to towns across Kenya.

Discreet packaging

Plain packaging with nothing on the outside to show what's inside.

SKU (variant)

One specific version of a product, such as a colour, flavour or size.

Bundle (kit)

A set of products sold together.Shop gift sets

Wholesale (bulk)

Buying by the box or case, usually to resell.

Carton

10 packs of cigarettes.

MOQ (minimum order quantity)

The smallest order a supplier will accept.

Back in stock

A sold-out item that has been restocked.

Authentic vs clone

A genuine branded product versus a copy. Check the scratch code or QR code on the box.

Scratch code (QR verification)

A code on the packaging you check on the brand's website to confirm it is genuine.

Batch (lot) number

A code that links a product to its production run and lab test.

Lab-tested

Tested by a lab for strength and purity. Ask for the COA.

Age verification (18+)

Checking that customers are adults before selling.