I too favour well rotted hessian sacks, the ones I can no longer keep
potatoes in because the mice have chewed too many holes.  I also raid the
underside of old furniture as bonfire night approaches.  From time to time,
when in the apiary I have run short of fuel I have used dry grass clippings,
horse dung, moss from trees or pieces of rotten dry wood.  All seem equally
effective but some smel beter than others.  I havee tried flavouring the fuel
with herbs: rosemary was popular with me and the bees but the only time I
used sage a normaly very peaceable colony boiled over at me and the smoker.
By all means play with different flavours but wear a bee tight suit when you
try something new.
Chris Slade