This invention provides tobacco and non-tobacco smoking compositions which contain a heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted carboxylate compound as a flavorant additive.In one of its embodiments, this invention provides tobacco compositions which contain a heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted alkanoate flavorant additive such as ethyl 2-(2-butyl)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-(3-pyridyl)propionate: ##STR1## Under smoking conditions the above illustrated heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted alkanoate additive and its pyrolysis products flavor the mainstream and sidestream smoke.