Adam,
This
link has good descriptions of the various tobaccos used in pipe blends as well as the various cuts of tobacco (flake, shag, plug, ...).
When you hear "English blend" it is not aromatic, and has latakia as a main "flavor" of the blend.
VaPer is a mixture of Virginias and Perique (I like these blends. peppery).
Aromatics can taste like anything (maple pancakes, rum, berries, ...).
OTC blends are great go-to blends for everyday smoking. (Prince Albert, Captain Black, Half and Half ...) They are typically Burley blends (which go great with a cup of coffee).