Apparatus and method for collecting sidestream smoke produced by a cigarette is disclosed. The apparatus includes a chamber that has upper and lower portions between which smoke may freely move. A cigarette holder is attached to the lower portion so that substantially all of the sidestream smoke produced by the cigarette is released into the chamber means. Smoking means is connected to the cigarette holder means to intermittently draw air through the cigarette and segregate the mainstream smoke from the sidestream smoke. The total relative amount of sidestream smoke may be measured by measuring the opacity of the collected sidestream smoke.