Pipe tobacco and cigars are made from the dried leaves and stems of the tobacco plant, Nicotiana tabacum . Originally native to North America, the plant is now cultivated and grown around the world. One of the chemicals contained in tobacco is nicotine, a powerful and toxic nerve stimulant. Two or three drops of nicotine, if taken all at once, could kill an average person. Pipe tobacco is shredded tobacco leaf in loose form, it may be aged, it may also be sprayed with chemicals or flavorings.
Some cigars have filter tips or plastic holders built in, some are long and narrow.
A large cigar may have as much tobacco in volume as an entire pack of cigarettes. Celebrities smirk publicly about smoking illegally imported Cuban cigars. Slick magazines, such as Cigar Aficionado combine advertising copy with articles on gambling, sports, alcohol, and interviews of celebrity cigar smokers. Cigars are smelly, and the breath, hair and clothing of smokers as well as their surroundings reek of the odor. When compared to non-smokers the cigar smoker has about a four times greater risk of dying of lung cancer.