Smoking articles have a mouth end portion that includes a central filter plug having an outer surface. The mouth end portion further includes a peripheral region disposed about the outer surface of the central filter plug. The peripheral region may include one or more channels through which smoke may flow. The smoking article includes an exterior wrap that is disposed about the peripheral region of the mouth end filter portion. The permeability of smoke through the peripheral region is five times or more greater than the permeability of smoke through the central filter plug. By increasing the permeability of smoke around the central filter plug, less smoke travels through the central filter plug in the mouth end portion and less staining of the mouth end of the central filter plug results.