No chemicals added to a good cigar. They should burn according to the quality of the tobacco and the roll job. It burns slow because of the amount of tobacco and the tightness of the roll. I don't think they add chemicals to make cigarettes smoke longer necessarily. I always thought the majority of the chemicals were to make it burn even, and not go out. *shrug* Any chemical is too much chemical for me now a days:)

Cutting the cap with a swiss army is fine. I'd make sure it is sharp:) And try not to cut past the "cap" of the cigar. If you look at the closed end closely, it is wrapped down only a certain amount. Cut past that point and you might risk unraveling the cigar. Inhaling is purely opinion. Some do some don't. But I personally don't recommend it. I couldn't smoke one of my big cigars if I even inhaled a few puffs of it. I would be smoked out in no time. I smoked cigarettes for a long time and I also smoked a lot of pot:) Still, inhaling cigars is too much. I'd put it on par with tasting wine or chewing tobacco. It's about the taste....