What is E-cigarettes?
An electronic cigarette (also known as e-cigarettes) is an alternative to smoking, just like IQOS is. The electronic cigarette does not contain any tobacco but uses an e-liquid that evaporates instead. IQOS is not an electronic cigarette as it heats up tobacco instead of e-liquid, which means that you still get the taste of tobacco but avoid fire, ash and smoke smell. Here, we will tell you more about what electronic cigarettes and IQOS are, as well as the difference between these two smoke-free alternatives.
What are e-cigarettes?
An electronic cigarette is a so-called evaporator that converts an e-liquid, a mixture of water, propylene glycol and glycerol as well as flavorings, into a vapor. You can choose whether it should be with or without nicotine. The electronic cigarette is usually battery-powered and has a heating element that heats e-liquid from a tank and converts the liquid into a vapor. When you inhale the vapor via a mouthpiece you get the taste of the liquid. The vapor from electronic cigarettes contains far less harmful substances than the smoke from ordinary cigarettes does. The fact that the ingredients in the e-liquid are made with good quality control plays an important role in minimizing the number of harmful substances that end up in the vapor. Electronic cigarettes can contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance.
E-cigarettes heat up an e-liquid which turns into vapour. The vapour is inhaled through the mouthpiece of the device.
Each e-cigarette consists of a mouthpiece, a liquid container, a burner and a battery. You pour the e-liquid into the liquid container.
There is no difference between a vape and an e-cigarette. These are just different names for the same thing.
The vapour from an e-cigarette is created from the e-liquid which contains, among other things, propylene glycol, nicotine and flavourings.
No, electronic cigarettes are not illegal in Sweden. However, they are subject to the same rules as ordinary cigarettes as far as the age limit and their use in certain public places is concerned. The age limit for buying electronic cigarettes is 18, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or not. It is forbidden to use electronic cigarettes in the same places as it is forbidden to smoke cigarettes, cigars, and hookahs. You can read more about the rules for smoking in public places here.
IQOS is not an electronic cigarette
IQOS is an alternative to smoking but is not an electronic cigarette. Instead of e-liquid, IQOS uses HeatControl technology and real tobacco in the form of HeatSticks. The tobacco is heated instead of being burned, which means that you get a cigarette-like experience completely without fire, ash and the smell of smoke. IQOS is the result of many years of research and modern technology aimed at offering adult smokers a smoke-free alternative. IQOS, when used with Heatsticks, is subject to the same rules as cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, and hookahs as far as smoking in public places is concerned.
Try IQOS ILUMA for 60 days
Discover a better alternative by heating tobacco instead of burning it.
With IQOS there is no fire and therefore no smoke or ash follows - and no cleaning required, ever, with our latest ILUMA series!
Try IQOS ILUMA for 60 days
Discover a better alternative by heating tobacco instead of burning it.
With IQOS there is no fire and therefore no smoke or ash follows - and no cleaning required, ever, with our latest ILUMA series!
Heated tobacco with IQOS
An ordinary cigarette burns tobacco and reaches temperatures creating fire. Thanks to HeatControl technology, IQOS instead only heats the tobacco. By so doing, the tobacco taste and nicotine are released, but there is no fire, ash or smoke smell. Your IQOS has a ceramic blade that heats the tobacco from the inside, which results in a consistent taste and in less tobacco being needed than with ordinary cigarettes.
This is how IQOS works
1. Carefully insert a HeatStick into your IQOS and turn on the heat by pressing and holding the button on the holder. The device is activated when you feel a vibration and the lights are lit up with a pulsating light.
2. When the lights turn solid white and the holder vibrates twice, your IQOS has been heated and is ready to use.
3. Your HeatStick lasts just as long a time as an ordinary cigarette does, which is up to 14 puffs or 6 minutes.
4. When your IQOS vibrates twice and the white light starts pulsing, you have 2 puffs left or 30 seconds.
5. Take out your HeatStick and charge the IQOS in your pocket charger. It will be ready to use again in three and a half minutes.
What is the difference between electronic cigarettes and IQOS?
Both electronic cigarettes and IQOS are alternatives to smoking, but they function in different ways. The big difference between the two is that IQOS uses heated tobacco that gives a real tobacco taste, while an electronic cigarette uses e-liquid. The idea behind IQOS is that you as an adult smoker should be able to have both the taste and sensation of a cigarette-like experience without the tobacco being burned and spreading the cigarette smoke that ordinary cigarettes do. This is one step towards achieving our vision of Sweden becoming one of the first smoke-free countries in the world.