Stanwell Melange

I like Melange for it's unique apricot cheesecake flavor. But there are some drawbacks...

Extreme ghosting of the PIPE (pleasant though). Hot burning tobacco with occasional flare up. Flavor fades substantially after tin is opened. High sugar content makes for a messy pipe.

What I do with Melange....

Mix Melange with Black Cavendish for an interesting but easier smoking experience.

Layer Melange under Virginia for a milder yet sweet smoke.

Open the can and smell Melange when there isn't any dessert around.

Another quality product from Stanwell. Aromatic puffers will delight in the fruity and sweet flavor in the smoke that is too light to "ghost" your fine briars.

I found the cut a little difficult to manage, but despite the added ingredients, it did stay lit well. It leaves your palate feeling fresh and back to back bowls can be enjoyed without worry of getting nipped.

In the world of aromatics this one is a keeper. (IMO, of course).

Stanwell - Melange.

I don't know why it's labelled Broken Flake, it's clearly a mid-size ribbon. The majority of the blend's light, and medium browns, with only a small amount of black. A sniff of the tin makes for no confusing what this has been flavoured with. Although it smells strongly aromatic the moisture's just right.

Onto the smoke: not bad, I'm a little surprised I like it! The apricot pushes the vanilla aside, easily, especially for the initial part of a bowl. It's not that the vanilla's absent, it's just nowhere near as heavy. To be fair, as a bowl's smoked it gains more recognition, seeming much surer of itself toward the end. The apricot keeps the tobacco flavours quite repressed, making for a smoke where it's difficult to decipher the constituents from one another. The burn from it's good, giving a bite-free smoke.

Nicotine: mild. Room-note: pleasant.

I couldn't have this in the slot for my afternoon aromatic, but it's a good enough smoke for three stars:

Recommended.

I bought this because it sounded interesting. The tin smell is definately apricot but with the tobacco still coming through. I did have trouble with keeping it burning initially so I set it out to dry for a few hours. That seemed to fix that issue. It lights up easily with plenty of smoke. The apricot is subtle in the smoke but there. Gentler smoking makes the fruit more pronounced but I tend to puff too much for that. The bowl got quite hot so I had to force myself to slow down, which is against my nature.. I think. The flavor eventually goes away and leaves an uninteresting tobacco smoke that is not bad.

I have smoked 4 or 5 bowls of this over the last few weeks. I kinda forget about what it was like, fill up a pipe and then go "oh yeah". This is a good blend and I will probably keep a tin around so that I can keep going back to it. I think they hit the mark of what they were blending for. It just doesn't make 4 stars for me.

This came in a starter pipe gift pack that I gave to a friend who wants to give up cigarettes, so I loaded my pipe with it as I showed him how to load his. This is perhaps one of the best aromatics I have ever tried and my favorite in its genre by far. The tin note was of butterscotch with a hint of orange (they say apricot). It packed well and took to the match beautifully. It tasted as it smelled throughout the smoke and never became goopy, never smoked hot, nor was it harsh or bitter. It reminded me a bit of Troost Aromatic Cavendish, but better. The flavor doesn't really translate throughout the entire bowl with Troost, and there is a tendency toward bitterness at times. Not so with Melange. A pleasant smoke that retains its tobacco essence. Recommended to newbies and seasoned vets alike. The room note was fantastic! For a bit more body, I mix some with half a flake of Wessex Burley Slice or Aged Burley Flake for a truly delicious smoke.

I don't smoke a lot of aromatics but I do enjoy the good ones. This one rates right at the top. Packs ok, a little moist but not goopy, amazing room note, no bite, fruity yet with a sound tobacco taste. Is there a pipe tobacco group of Aromatic English blends? If so, this would be one of the pack leaders. My plan is to keep this on hand, cellar some for aging and find a pipe to devote to this blend. Not because it ghosts but because I don't want anything to ghost it. My angel wife gives this one two thumbs up.

Sweet, but not too much. Like that pie that's balanced on sweetness so you want to keep going. Somewhat earthy too.

I like more pungent tobaccos, so I can't give it the maximum rating.

Also, the room note is non-existent. I can't detect it at all. It's not weak, it just doesn't seem to exist. Maybe it's so weak that I don't notice it, which is the same thing.

Anyway, it really is better than drugstore aromatics like 7 Seas etc. A step above them, I would say.

For those who like mild but quality aromatics, go for this.

QUITE...A...SURPRISE! I got a tin of this due to a "passaround-tobacco-box" we have going on, and when I grabbed the tin I was sure: Nope.. this aromatic isn't for me (not an Aro-guy at all), but I dared to take a sniff... and fell in love with the scent!

First I thought it was the wrong tobacco and I got the "Classic" Stanwell, because the tin note is mostly of vanilla and coffee with a generous spoon of cream. Apricot? Yea, slightly in the background! JimInks mentioned 'peach' as one of the flavorings, and I think this is not too far fetched!

What I find interesting about the Stanwell aromatics: They often are not the "Virginia/BUrley/B.Cavendish" tobacco base, but often add Turkish/Orientals to the mix, which I like! Couldn't help myself but too fill a generous clay-pipeful of this blend.

In the smoke the apricot flavoring is more obvious than in the scent. Apricot and vanilla take the main stage, deliciously accompanied by a very tasty coffee/latte-ish aroma in the background. It's a full-grown aromatic, but leaves a bit room for the tobaccos as well. What I notice most is the toasty, nutty burley. The Orientals tend to shine through by times with a smooth exotic, dry spice. Has quite some body for an aromatic!

The flavourings are rich, yet smooth, unobtrusive and natural-feeling. The tobaccos do shine through and perfectly melt with the smooth flavourings to create one unique smoking experience and an aromatic, that appeals even to me, as someone, who get's highly sceptical when it comes to flavored blends. But this one just works. Great morning smoke, great after-dinner treat along with coffee, tea, or a hot chocolate..., yup, 3,5 stars!

This is somewhat similar to Blue Note as far as flavor. I do however enjoy it more than Blue Note, as it doesn't bite like Blue Note can.

Lights and packs easy, tin note and room note are superb. I recommend this to any and all aromatic smokers. Good job to Stanwell.

Pairs well with an iced tea.