Tobacco smoke also contains monoamine oxidase inhibiting compounds, which are believed to drastically increase the addictive potential of nicotine. Rats are largely indifferent to nicotine alone, but will compulsively self-administer nicotine in combination with an MAOI.
Cigarettes do give a more immediate and intense nicotine 'hit'. Ammonia compounds are added to cigarette tobacco, which increase the proportion of freebase nicotine to nicotine salts. Cigarettes are, in a very literal sense, the crack cocaine of nicotine delivery.