a Scott snip...
None of this gets at _how and why it works_ however, which is what interests me. The pacifying effect is the most relevant" 
  
and my question...
I would think what you burn in your smoker may have some impact on the net effect of smoking bees.  certainly some smoke seems to tame the savage beast and some smoker fuels imho seems to greatly agitate 'the girls'.  I do know that hot smoke will get the girls greatly agitated and some fuels I have used 'the girls' seem to find quite pleasing.  As far as quantity of smoke in practical application some things don't require much smoke and some require lots and lots of smoke.  The kind of bees you are working and what you are trying to accomplish drives a great deal of this decision.

  

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