I was just writing a piece for the "Renewing Your Palate," a part of which dovetails with this thread. All humans are equipped with a shutdown olfactory response to the internal introduction of any type of burn-produced smoke (yes, even cigars.) The nerve endings of the nose, mouth and throat are literally paralyzed by smoke, in proportion to the intensity and duration to exposure. As "d day" stated above, the degree to which people can lose or regain their optimum ability to smell, and thereby taste, depends upon the individual. For a person who smokes a pack a day, the paralyzing effects of the compounds found in cigarettes leave little opportunity for "olfactory reset," since it takes about an hour and a half to regain optimum sensation along these nerve endings, even after only about ten minute's exposure. Olfactory recuperation also varies as to how many years an individual has been smoking (the amount of permanent damage - as the nerves can eventually be totally destroyed) and the type of material smoked.
I have also noticed that cigarette smokers I invite to smoke a cigar with me tend to occasionally inhale the smoke (perhaps out of habitual reflex to the draw, as learned from cigarette smoking.) Cigar inhalation is a sure impedance of the aromatic benefit from a good stogie. I recommend anyone who wants to get the best experience of a premium cigar to abstain from smoking anything for at least 3 months; and that next cigar can then be a quarter-anniversary reward. It will make a world of difference!
