Nicotine Buzz: How much do you like it?

[The Dude Abides]

There has been some talk of preferred levels of nicotine buzz lately, so I was interested in getting some more specific answers.  I could have started a poll, but it might have discouraged some people from offering more details.  Basically what I want to know is, and this is merely out of personal curiousity, are you a big fan of a ma'assel buzz?  We can use a 1-10 scale, with 10 being a vomitous fetal-position-inducing Nakhla buzz, and 1 being a single non-inhaling puff of Al-Amir buzz.
I'd say that after a 30-45 minute sitting I'm pleased with a buzz in the range of 4-5.  A little light-headedness and muscle relaxation is nice, but anything that approaches the nicotine poisoning level (feeling sick) is something I want to stay faaaar away from.  I have no desire to re-capture the feeling I'd get after smoking a full cigarette when I was 13 yrs old. 
What about you? Why? Does your preference impact your choice of ma'assel?

[web250]

I like a nice relaxation, even some lightheadedness.I got sick (a "10") from Nakhla once, and it sucked. I never want that ever again

[Joey32b]

I like getting a little lightheaded, I'd say in the 6-7 range, but if I go beyond that point, it defeats the purpose for me because I just start feeling sick instead of good.

[mushrat]

I prefer no "buzz" if i can help it. I want to get a buzz I'll drink some booze with my smoke. I'm in it purely for the flavour. A little relaxation is ok mind you, so i'd say my preference is usually around a 2.
That being said, the buzz level DOES effect my choice of smoke for a given event. If I don't mind a buzz, i will smoke a little Nakhla, Al Waha, or Tangiers. I just watch what I drink and don't plan on driving for a while.
If I have to go back to work (lunch time smoke) or if I have something else to do i'll stick with AA,AF,or Starbuzz.
 

[steve07]

I don't really like the buzz like mushrat said if I want one I'll dip into my port stock. I smoke generally at night while I'm watching a movie and chilling after a hard day of work. kinda stress relief for me. But mostly I just smoke for the flavor and I don't inhale. I do chew tobacco, through out the day though, and I go through about 1 can every 4 days so if there was a buzz I probally wouldn't know.

[SanguineSolitude]

nakhla does not deliver a 10 buzz. maybe a 9 depending on flavor. pharaohs is a 10 buzz.

i like my buzz around 2-3 right where its relaxing but no real buzz
going. if my head hurts after smoking thats not a good thing.

[The Dude Abides]

It seems like when people do reviews they rate ma'assels higher if it provides a massive buzz.  I don't get that.  For me the nicotine need only give me a bit of relaxation, other than that its all about a great flavor and smooth, entertaining smoke.

[smokinshisha4life]

I dont like nicotine buzzes

[DownZero]

I would have to say I like a buzz around a 5. 

[steve07]

When I review tobacco I never review on the buzz to me it is irrelavant.

[web250]

I feel that a lot of kids who really enjoy that heavy buzz are often cigarette smokers...using hookah for nicotine, rather than the relaxation and flavor.

[EliteHookah.com]

I'm all about the flavor.  I enjoy the occassional nicotine buzz,
but if it gets to the point where I feel nauseous it just seems dumb.

I would have to say that I enjoy a nicotine buzz around 4, but not to
exceed 6.  I'll take a tobacco with a great flavor over one with a
great buzz any day.

[EliteHookah.com]

Sorry for the repeated posts.

But, has anyone ever gotten the kind of buzz you get off a cuban cigar
or something like that off of hookah?  I've gotten close with
Nahkla, but cubans are an entirely different caliber.

Just curious.

[HookahDuck]

Smoking a pre-embargo for the purpose of a buzz?? (shudders)Any full body cigar with a wrapper/binder/filler made in similar conditions will carry a strong buzz. Nicaraguan cigars are often similar to the characteristics of cubans. Look into Ashon VSG series and La Gloria Serie R if you want a full bodied smoke that wont break the bank. As a general rule, the darker (maduro/osuro) the wrapper, generally the 'heavier' flavor. Though some cigars differ from this heavilly (such as the Fuente Fuente Opus:X which is extremely full bodied despite its MSG wrapper).Im not a big fan of Nicotine buzzes. Sometimes it can be a nice accent to a slight alcohol buzz, but other than that I try to avoid it. As many have mentioned, I base my tobacco selection for the session on how much buzz it provides (i.e, if I plan on driving a long distance in 30 minutes, some Tangiers Kashmir apple probably isnt the best idea). A few steps can be taken to limit the ammount of buzz you recieve. Using water which is slightly warmer(and thus more soluable) than room temperature, and the use of a diffuser seem to help greatly. As always, take many breaths between puffs and provide adequate ventilation if you are inside.

[The Dude Abides]

You know, "buzz" aside, I think a really good thing about the existence of nicotine in ma'assel is that it creates a natural limit on how much you can smoke.  For myself and people like me who choose to smoke on a very limited basis (once or twice on Fri or Sat ONLY) due to health considerations, I am quite glad that I am simply unable to smoke for a terribly long session because the nicotine prevents me from doing so.  Without the nicotine and the threat of getting sick, I have no doubt that my enjoyment of the shisha would result in me never wanting to put the hose down.  I might like that, but my lungs would indubitably protest.
Now, that doesn't mean I should choose a tobacco that will hit me with a "wicked buzz" in under 3 minutes, but it does mean I should appreciate the overall and unintended positive effects that the nicotine provides (me not smoking too much). Bless you nicotine! 

[HookahCaterpillar]

I dont like a buzz. In fact when i started smoking id get incredibly
powerful buzzes where i couldnt even think of getting up and almost to
the point of puking. Now I can smoke naklah all day long 5-6 bowls a
day and barely get any buzz at all. I hate when i goto the hookah bar
and im buzzed real bad where i dont even feel like driving home
afterwards. So id say a 1-2 for the buzz. Like mushrat i smoke purely
for the flavor.

[The Dude Abides]

I don't smoke that often so I still get a major buzz from ma'assel.  In fact, last night I got 15 minutes into a bowl of some really really really nice homemade canteloupe from a hookah cafe in NYC, and then had to put the hose down because of the nicotine.  I was happy about it though, because my lungs are better off.

[c4r80n]

I pseronally don't like getting more than a subtle buzz. If the buzz requires me to sit down, then it's too much.But then again, I like to feel a little something when smoking. So I guess I like around 2 to 4 buzz. Nothing strong, just noticable.I put down the hose quite frequently to take a few minutes for certain tobaccos like tangiers, romman, and layalina (i stay away from nakhla).

[thepyrofish]

[quote name='HookahDuck']Smoking a pre-embargo for the purpose of a buzz?? (shudders)Any full body cigar with a wrapper/binder/filler made in similar conditions will carry a strong buzz. Nicaraguan cigars are often similar to the characteristics of cubans. Look into Ashon VSG series and La Gloria Serie R if you want a full bodied smoke that wont break the bank. As a general rule, the darker (maduro/osuro) the wrapper, generally the 'heavier' flavor. Though some cigars differ from this heavilly (such as the Fuente Fuente Opus:X which is extremely full bodied despite its MSG wrapper).[/quote]Aw, poor Americans.  Someone says Cuban and the first thing you think of is pre-embargo. Did you know that there are European and Caribbean mail order places that sell Cubans to anyone... Better prices than obtaining them 'legit' back home in Canada too.  Like 3-4 times cheaper.

[thepyrofish]

Oh and to be on-topic...I like to feel a little something by the end, but nothing terribly strong. I have had some sickly vomit-y 'buzzes' from a cigar before, but I haven't had a hookah hit me like that yet thank God. Off-topic again.   A great flavourful cigar that's about medium in strength (cheap too!) is either the Extra Fuerte or the Double Maduro by Sancho Panza.  I'm still not sure which of the two I prefer.

[Joseph]

I like it when it starts with a strong buzz, and mellows as the bowl goes on.Because it has come up, my favroite cigars are the full body ones such as partagas black, La Gloria Cubana Serie R, Punch, and bolivar.

[mushrat]

Dude: You have pointed out an interesting thing back there...people usually DO give a ma'asell a higher rating during a review for the buzz.
Now, there has been a huge turn around of people of late, so those reviewers may not be the same people who are replying now, i'll do a little research. It COULD be that folks don't want to admit that they are smoking for the buzz, like its WRONG or somthing.
$.02

[steve07]

I like full body cigars also with a maduro ar dark sumatra wraper. But I still don't get the buzz part of it. It has never been the cause of why I smoke.

[Sonthert]

Worst buzz I ever got was from a Arturo Fuente Anejo panatella cigar. I could barely move, as in my arms were frozen, let alone walking.

[NEO_WRX]

I wouldn't say i smoke for the buzz, but it's definately a welcomed side-effect(?).
I will typically smoke late at night(past 9) and i like the buzz to be very relaxing. There have been a few occasions where i was a little shakey when standing up but thats definately the way i like it. The first time i ever smoked Tangiers tobacco i actually got a very nice buzz. It was very bold at first, but than slowly plateaued and become a very mellow, relaxing and flavorful experience. I was also watching the film "Scar Face" for the first time so it was an interesting night.