Natural American Spirit
Encyclopedia
Natural American Spirit is a brand of cigarette
and tobacco
products manufactured in the United States
by the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company
, a wholly owned independent subsidiary of Reynolds American
, in turn 42% owned by British American Tobacco
. The company was founded in 1982.
Their products are marketed as being "100% Additive-Free Tobacco
", though they are required to include the standard generic Surgeon General tobacco warning on the packs and the company is required by federal regulation to state "no additives in our tobacco does NOT mean a safer cigarette." This was part of an FTC
ruling and agreement resulting from allegations that the advertisement of additive-free cigarettes made consumers feel that the product might be less addictive than regular cigarettes. Research by US and German government health agencies has found significant levels of toxic chemicals even in pure additive-free tobacco and its smoke.
California Attorney General Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr.
announced on March 1, 2010, that his office has secured an agreement with Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Inc., the manufacturer of American Spirit tobacco products, that requires the company to clearly disclose that its organic tobacco is "no safer or healthier" than other tobacco products. Attorney generals from 32 other states and the District of Columbia signed onto the agreement: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
The logo uses the typeface
Neuland Inline
.
The Original and U.S. Grown blends are available in both 40g pouches and 150g tins. The Organic and Perique blends are available only in 40g pouches. Pouches include regular cut tobacco and 50 rolling papers whereas tins include medium shag cut tobacco and 200 rolling papers.
, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Tesco, Asda, specialist tobacconists, and occasional newsagents.
In Germany, Switzerland and Italy more varieties are available.
Germany:
Blue (Tar 9 mg / Nicotin 1.0 mg / Carbon Monoxide 10 mg)
Green (Tar 7 mg / Nicotin 0.8 mg / Carbon Monoxide 8 mg)
Yellow (Tar 5 mg / Nicotin 0.6 mg / Carbon Monoxide 6 mg)
Orange (Tar 3 mg / Nicotin 0.4 mg / Carbon Monoxide 4 mg)
Perique (Tar 9 mg / Nicotin 1.0 mg / Carbon Monoxide 10 mg)
Organic (Tar 5 mg / Nicotin 0.6 mg / Carbon Monoxide 7 mg);
plus rolling tobacco (Original blend, Perique blend and Organic blend).
Switzerland: The same as in Germany except for the Organic Blend products.
Italy: Blue, yellow and orange packs plus rolling tobacco (Original blend and Organic blend).
In 2003 the European Union enacted legislation that set the maximum values for tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide in cigarettes to levels much lower than those found in the United States. Cigarettes can contain no more than 10 mg of tar, 1 mg of nicotine, and 10 mg of carbon monoxide. This legislation also banned the use of the terms "full flavour", "mild", "light", and "ultra-light" in relation to tobacco products. Proponents believed the terms mislead consumers about the dangers of cigarettes using such labels. The same legislation forced producers to prominently feature the warning "smoking kills", in the official language of whatever country they were sold in, on all packs.
Some Natural American Spirit products are also sold in several other European countries, as well as in Australia and Japan.
, Elle Driver can be seen lighting a cigarette bearing the iconic American Spirit eagle logo while speaking to Budd.
In Escape From L.A.
, Snake Plissken
finds a pack of American Spirit cigarettes on the ground at the end, and his last act in the film is to light one.
In Season 6 Episode 8 of the Showtime show Weeds
, titled "Gentle Puppies", Nancy Botwin is seen smoking American Spirits from a yellow pack, indicating that they may be the Filter Light variety.
In rap music video by Mac Miller "Nikes On My Feet" there is a brief cut scene showing a green, menthol pack during the beginning parts. He can also be seen smoking a menthol American Spirit in his video "Wear My Hat".
In the pilot episode of LOST, Sawyer can be seen lighting an American Spirit.
In He's Just Not That into You
, Bradley Cooper
smokes Natural American Spirits, a fact that he hides from his wife (played by Jennifer Connolly).
In various episodes of the FX Drama Sons of Anarchy
many cast members are visible smoking Natural American Spirits.
In The Perfect Storm
.
In Definitely, Maybe
, April schools Will (played by Ryan Reynolds
) in the benefits of smoking Natural American Spirits versus another major American brand.
Tony Soprano of The Sopranos is seen smoking an american spirit in his psychologists car.
KMFDM
founder and vocalist Sascha Konietzko
, when asked in a few interviews, has stated that he smokes Natural American Spirits exclusively.
In the TV series Breaking Bad
, various cast members can be seen smoking Natural American Spirits.
Singer Eddie Vedder
is known for smoking Natural American Spirits-Yellow
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
and tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
products manufactured in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company
Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company
The Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company is a tobacco manufacturer based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, best known for its production of the Natural American Spirit cigarette brand....
, a wholly owned independent subsidiary of Reynolds American
Reynolds American
Reynolds American, Inc. is the second-largest tobacco company in the United States. Its holdings include R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, American Snuff Company , Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company and Niconovum AB...
, in turn 42% owned by British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
. The company was founded in 1982.
Their products are marketed as being "100% Additive-Free Tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
", though they are required to include the standard generic Surgeon General tobacco warning on the packs and the company is required by federal regulation to state "no additives in our tobacco does NOT mean a safer cigarette." This was part of an FTC
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
ruling and agreement resulting from allegations that the advertisement of additive-free cigarettes made consumers feel that the product might be less addictive than regular cigarettes. Research by US and German government health agencies has found significant levels of toxic chemicals even in pure additive-free tobacco and its smoke.
California Attorney General Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr.
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
announced on March 1, 2010, that his office has secured an agreement with Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Inc., the manufacturer of American Spirit tobacco products, that requires the company to clearly disclose that its organic tobacco is "no safer or healthier" than other tobacco products. Attorney generals from 32 other states and the District of Columbia signed onto the agreement: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
The logo uses the typeface
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
Neuland Inline
Neuland
Neuland is a German typeface that was designed in 1923 by Rudolf Koch.Koch designed it by directly carving the type into metal. The original typeface thus had a great deal of variance between the sizes...
.
Varieties
There are currently 5 blends of tobacco found in Natural American Spirit products: original, 100% US Grown, 100% Organic, Perique Rich Robust and Perique Rich. The 13 different pack varieties are distinguished by which blend of tobacco is used as well as the thickness of the filter, the porosity of the paper and the presence or absence of menthol in the filter.Packs
| Type | Package Color |
| Full-Bodied | Blue Blue Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal... |
| Balanced | Celadon/Sage |
| Mellow | Yellow Yellow Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green... |
| Smooth Mellow | Orange Orange (colour) The colour orange occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum at a wavelength of about 585–620 nm, and has a hue of 30° in HSV colour space. It is numerically halfway between red and yellow in a gamma-compressed RGB colour space, the expression of which is the RGB colour wheel. The... (previously yellow and white) |
| Non-Filter | Brown Brown Brown is a color term, denoting a range of composite colors produced by a mixture of orange, red, rose, or yellow with black or gray. The term is from Old English brún, in origin for any dusky or dark shade of color.... |
| Organic Full-Bodied | Maroon Maroon (color) Maroon is a dark red color.-Etymology:Maroon is derived from French marron .The first recorded use of maroon as a color name in English was in 1789.-Maroon :... |
| Organic Mellow | Gold Gold (color) Gold, also called golden, is one of a variety of orange-yellow color blends used to give the impression of the color of the element gold.... |
| Perique Perique Perique is a type of tobacco from Saint James Parish, Louisiana, known for its strong, powerful, and fruity aroma. When the Acadians made their way into this region in 1776, the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes were cultivating a variety of tobacco with a distinctive flavor... Rich Robust |
Black Black Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light... |
| Perique Perique Perique is a type of tobacco from Saint James Parish, Louisiana, known for its strong, powerful, and fruity aroma. When the Acadians made their way into this region in 1776, the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes were cultivating a variety of tobacco with a distinctive flavor... Rich |
Gray Grey Grey or gray is an achromatic or neutral color.Complementary colors are defined to mix to grey, either additively or subtractively, and many color models place complements opposite each other in a color wheel. To produce grey in RGB displays, the R, G, and B primary light sources are combined in... |
| U.S. Grown Full-Bodied | Dark Blue |
| U.S. Grown Mellow | Tan Tan (color) Tan is a pale whiteish, tawny shade of white. The name is derived from tannum used in the tanning of leather.The first recorded use of tan as a shade name in English was in the year 1590.... |
| Menthol Menthol Menthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned... Full-Bodied |
Dark Green |
| Menthol Menthol Menthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned... Mellow |
Green Green Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered... (previously green and white) |
Roll-Your-Own tobacco
| Type | Package Color |
| Original Blend | Blue Blue Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal... |
| U.S. Grown Blend | Dark Blue |
| Organic Blend | Maroon Maroon (color) Maroon is a dark red color.-Etymology:Maroon is derived from French marron .The first recorded use of maroon as a color name in English was in 1789.-Maroon :... |
| Perique Perique Perique is a type of tobacco from Saint James Parish, Louisiana, known for its strong, powerful, and fruity aroma. When the Acadians made their way into this region in 1776, the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes were cultivating a variety of tobacco with a distinctive flavor... Blend |
Black Black Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light... |
The Original and U.S. Grown blends are available in both 40g pouches and 150g tins. The Organic and Perique blends are available only in 40g pouches. Pouches include regular cut tobacco and 50 rolling papers whereas tins include medium shag cut tobacco and 200 rolling papers.
Worldwide availability
In the UK, only two cigarette varieties are commonly available, in yellow or blue packs, plus the rolling tobacco. American Spirit tobacco is available in the UK in OddbinsOddbins
Oddbins is a United Kingdom-based wine and alcohol retail chain, established in 1963 by Ahmed Pochee.-History:In 1963, entrepreneur Ahmed Pochee starts up a small business delivering bin-ends and oddments of wine to the restaurants and clubs of London's West End...
, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Tesco, Asda, specialist tobacconists, and occasional newsagents.
In Germany, Switzerland and Italy more varieties are available.
Germany:
Blue (Tar 9 mg / Nicotin 1.0 mg / Carbon Monoxide 10 mg)
Green (Tar 7 mg / Nicotin 0.8 mg / Carbon Monoxide 8 mg)
Yellow (Tar 5 mg / Nicotin 0.6 mg / Carbon Monoxide 6 mg)
Orange (Tar 3 mg / Nicotin 0.4 mg / Carbon Monoxide 4 mg)
Perique (Tar 9 mg / Nicotin 1.0 mg / Carbon Monoxide 10 mg)
Organic (Tar 5 mg / Nicotin 0.6 mg / Carbon Monoxide 7 mg);
plus rolling tobacco (Original blend, Perique blend and Organic blend).
Switzerland: The same as in Germany except for the Organic Blend products.
Italy: Blue, yellow and orange packs plus rolling tobacco (Original blend and Organic blend).
In 2003 the European Union enacted legislation that set the maximum values for tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide in cigarettes to levels much lower than those found in the United States. Cigarettes can contain no more than 10 mg of tar, 1 mg of nicotine, and 10 mg of carbon monoxide. This legislation also banned the use of the terms "full flavour", "mild", "light", and "ultra-light" in relation to tobacco products. Proponents believed the terms mislead consumers about the dangers of cigarettes using such labels. The same legislation forced producers to prominently feature the warning "smoking kills", in the official language of whatever country they were sold in, on all packs.
Some Natural American Spirit products are also sold in several other European countries, as well as in Australia and Japan.
In Popular Culture
In the film Kill BillKill Bill
Kill Bill Volume 1 is a 2003 action thriller film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It is the first of two volumes that were theatrically released several months apart, the second volume being Kill Bill Volume 2....
, Elle Driver can be seen lighting a cigarette bearing the iconic American Spirit eagle logo while speaking to Budd.
In Escape From L.A.
Escape from L.A.
Escape From L.A. is a 1996 film directed by John Carpenter. The sequel to the action film Escape from New York, the film follows former war hero Snake Plissken, played by Kurt Russell...
, Snake Plissken
Snake Plissken
S.D. Bob "Snake" Plissken is a fictional character in John Carpenter's films Escape from New York and Escape from L.A., played by Kurt Russell. He is an ex-special forces commando/war hero in World War III turned criminal...
finds a pack of American Spirit cigarettes on the ground at the end, and his last act in the film is to light one.
In Season 6 Episode 8 of the Showtime show Weeds
Weeds (TV series)
Weeds is an American television comedy created by Jenji Kohan and produced by Tilted Productions in association with Lionsgate Television. The central character is Nancy Botwin , a widowed mother of two boys who begins selling marijuana to support her family after her husband dies suddenly of a...
, titled "Gentle Puppies", Nancy Botwin is seen smoking American Spirits from a yellow pack, indicating that they may be the Filter Light variety.
In rap music video by Mac Miller "Nikes On My Feet" there is a brief cut scene showing a green, menthol pack during the beginning parts. He can also be seen smoking a menthol American Spirit in his video "Wear My Hat".
In the pilot episode of LOST, Sawyer can be seen lighting an American Spirit.
In He's Just Not That into You
He's Just Not That into You (film)
He's Just Not That Into You is a 2009 American romantic comedy film directed by Ken Kwapis, based on the self-help book of the same name by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, which in turn was inspired by a line of dialogue in Sex and the City...
, Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper is an American film, theater, and television actor. He is known for his roles in the films The Hangover, The A-Team, and Limitless. In 2011, People magazine named Cooper "Sexiest Man Alive".-Early life:...
smokes Natural American Spirits, a fact that he hides from his wife (played by Jennifer Connolly).
In various episodes of the FX Drama Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California...
many cast members are visible smoking Natural American Spirits.
In The Perfect Storm
The Perfect Storm (film)
The Perfect Storm is a 2000 dramatic disaster film directed by Wolfgang Petersen. It is an adaptation of the 1997 non-fiction book of the same title by Sebastian Junger about the crew of the Andrea Gail that got caught in the Perfect Storm of 1991. The film stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg,...
.
In Definitely, Maybe
Definitely, Maybe
Definitely, Maybe is a 2008 romantic comedy film directed by Adam Brooks, and starring Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Rachel Weisz, Elizabeth Banks, Abigail Breslin and Kevin Kline.-Plot:...
, April schools Will (played by Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Rodney Reynolds is a Canadian film and television actor, best known for his roles in such films as National Lampoon's Van Wilder, Waiting..., The Amityville Horror, Just Friends, Definitely, Maybe, The Proposal, Buried, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Green Lantern.One of his best known...
) in the benefits of smoking Natural American Spirits versus another major American brand.
Tony Soprano of The Sopranos is seen smoking an american spirit in his psychologists car.
KMFDM
KMFDM
KMFDM is an industrial band led by German multi-instrumentalist Sascha Konietzko, who founded the group in 1984 as a performance art project...
founder and vocalist Sascha Konietzko
Sascha Konietzko
Sascha Konietzko , also known as Sascha K and Käpt'n K, is a German musician and producer. He is the founder, frontman, and "anchor" of industrial rock band KMFDM. Konietzko jokingly purports himself to be the father of industrial rock...
, when asked in a few interviews, has stated that he smokes Natural American Spirits exclusively.
In the TV series Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
, various cast members can be seen smoking Natural American Spirits.
Singer Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
is known for smoking Natural American Spirits-Yellow