Paper wrapper and smoking article with reduced ignition proclivity characteristics

A paper wrapper for a smoking article (10) is disclosed, the paper wrapper comprising: a paper web; and treated discrete areas (18) on the paper web formed by applying a film-forming composition to the paper web, the treated discrete areas (18) being separated by untreated areas (28), the treated discrete areas (18) having a permeability of less than 25 Coresta, the treated areas (18) reducing ignition proclivity of a smoking article (10) incorporating the paper wrapper (14). The paper wrapper according to the invention is characterized in that the paper web has a permeability of greater than 60 Coresta and that the treated areas have a BMI of less than 8 cm -1 and wherein the treated areas (18) comprise a plurality of discrete circumferential bands (24), which when incorporated in said smoking article are disposed longitudinally along said smoking article and wherein the bands (24) are spaced from each other from 5 mm to 30 mm.