you can check out the Light Setup here: http://forums.cgsociety.org/showpost.ph ... stcount=35
The Ash of the Cigar is a simple texture with displacement, and a emitter texture for subtle glow:
The "Crystal spheres are have ash texture and stronger displacement for getting a rougher look, the DOF blur covers it nicly, so it doesn't need to be perfect.
The bottom of the ashtray has some ash covered texture blended in too, so its not perfectly clean too:
