Kool (cigarette)
KOOL is a brand of menthol cigarette currently produced by the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, introduced in 1933, that has marketed itself towards the "sophisticated man". Originally introduced as an unfiltered "regular" size (i.e., short) cigarette, filtered 85 mm king-size versions were later added to the lineup as filtered cigarettes gained popularity in the 1960s. Since then, mild (milder menthol flavor), light (reduced tar), and 100 mm long varieties have been introduced. As a menthol flavored cigarette, the tobacco taste is dulled, and the menthol numbs the mouth, which allows for a less harsh inhalation. This does not translate into a healthier cigarette, as the numerous carcinogenic and other harmful agents are still present; Nat King Cole, for instance, was known to chain-smoke Kool cigarettes, a major factor that contributed to his death from lung cancer at the age of 45.