Luxury. Power. Sexuality. These are the basic feelings cigar smoking gives you. Being seen with a cigar is rapidly becoming a fashion statement. And savoring aromatic Cuban tobacco is no longer the prerogative of men. More and more females display their appreciation for cigars. Smoking one has been added to the list of the ultimate signs of women’s liberation. Women celebrities like Madonna, Demi Moore, Linda Evangelista, Whoopi Goldberg and Sharon Stone have become public endorsers of cigar smoking, declaring deliverance from the stereotype that only powerful men smoke cigars. Over the past few years the increase of cigar use among the fair sex has been impressive. Comparing to 1980s, when women bought less than a tenth of a percent of all cigars, today’s women buy over five percent of all cigars, accounting for more than forty percent of the retail cigar dollars. And, according to The Cigar Association estimates, there are now half a million women cigar smokers.

Restricting the privilege of cigar-smoking to men is a relatively recent historical trend. After emerging in the XVI-century Spain, cigar industry had become an inseparable part of local culture, just as flamenco and corrida, and cigar-smoking was perceived gender neutral. As related travelers who visited conservative catholic Spain, they were surprised to see women looking and feeling absolutely natural with a cigar in the mouth. Russian Empress Catherine the Great, born in 1729, loved smoking fine cigars, and bands were invented for her to keep her fingers from getting stained with tobacco.

So why do women choose to smoke cigars? Critics say that they do it for glamour purposes and an intention to become the focus of men’s attention. But there are plenty of reasons and each woman has her own.

The cigar has been a symbol of power and prestige. Just the feeling of a cigar between her fingers can give a woman a certain sense of freedom, strength and independence. “To me the cigar is an element of my image. A woman, smoking a cigar, emphasizes her individuality and even femininity, and confirms a certain mindset,” said Julia, a boutique executive director and a member of a cigar society. Some women really do like smoking cigars. They enjoy the flavor of good tobacco, the ritual of lighting a cigar, the savoring of the tastes of a well aged and properly treated smoke, and the relaxation and meditative reflection brought by the whole process. As said one middle-aged woman, the owner of a travel company, “The cigar to me is a pleasure, a passion, and a lifestyle. It opens a whole world to me, where it’s interesting, comfortable and relaxing.”

Quality cigars are delicious in and of themselves. But they can also enhance the taste of food and spirits when properly matched. Enhancing your tasting experience or detracting from it depends on a few factors such as your personal palate, the age and the strength of the cigar. Paired with fragrant cognac, red wine or roasted aromas of coffee, a good cigar offers an abundance of flavor nuances. Dip the head of the cigar into cognac, brandy or a fine port wine. As you draw on the cigar, you'll be able to taste the flavor. Some companies sell cigars that have been dipped in liquors and wines. Flavors like chocolate, vanilla and cherry are also appreciated by female smokers.

All cigars vary in color, shape and size. There are six basic colors of a cigar wrapper, from lighter shades that usually have milder taste to darker wrapper that has a full-bodied flavor and is sweeter. The two dimensions are length and ring gauge. Cigar’s length is measured in either centimeters or inches, and ring gauge, also called girth or diameter, is measured by 64th of an inch. Cigars can also be straight-sided (parejo) and irregular-shaped (figurados) with foot or head open or closed, and pointed or rounded. In 1967 Zino Davidoff outlined a protocol for cigar aficionados, which remains valid today for cigar smokers everywhere. According to his directives, you should hold the cigar between your index finger and thumb, warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it without asking someone else for a light, take your time smoking it (a puff a minute is about right), and should not smoke more than half the cigar. Some women may prefer the more feminine petite smokes that resemble cigarettes. But bigger cigars are usually better. The important thing to remember: don't inhale.

Gerry McKenna, the owner of Bar Cuba in England, shared his feelings about the growing trend of female smokers: “It’s obvious that some do it to be the focus of attention. The ones that treat the cigar with respect definitely add to their sex appeal. It makes them appear confident, dominant, sexier and in control.”

A woman with cigar stands out. She projects the image of a strong, self-confident and secure femme fatale or independent thinker, who is not afraid to break rules and take risks. And that’s what makes them so alluring.

Woman and cigar… There will always be something sensual and intriguing in this combination.