E-Cigarette Liquid vs. HEETS Tobacco Sticks

One of the core differences between IQOS and e-cigarettes or vaping is the use of HEETS heated tobacco sticks instead of e-liquids.

E-cigarettes and tobacco heating products share one very important thing in common: they can provide an alternative to adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking or use other nicotine products. These smoke-free products accomplish this by eliminating combustion, which occurs when tobacco burns, such as when a cigarette is lit.

However, the way that e-cigarettes vs. tobacco heating products deliver this distinction over cigarette smoking is quite different. E-cigarettes utilize a liquid, while tobacco heating devices utilize tobacco sticks.

What are e-cigarette liquids?

To begin, e-cigarettes do not utilize real tobacco. Rather, they utilize e-cigarette liquid, sometimes also called e-cig liquid, e-liquid, or vaping liquid. E-liquid often comes in a variety of flavours, and may contain nicotine (some are nicotine-free).

What are HEETS Tobacco Sticks?

Unlike e-cigarettes, IQOS tobacco heating products utilize real tobacco, processed and formed in specific ways to work seamlessly with their corresponding devices. HEETS are to be used with IQOS devices.

HEETS are made of real, processed tobacco leaf, and therefore, deliver real tobacco flavour. They are specially designed to last around 14 puffs, which is around the same amount of time as a cigarette. HEETS tobacco sticks are not risk free and are addictive; they contain nicotine, which is naturally present in tobacco.

What’s the difference between HEETS and e-liquids?

The main difference between HEETS tobacco sticks and e-liquids lies in the overall experience.

E-liquid is drawn from the tank of e-cigarettes and put into contact with a battery powered heating component. Heating the liquid makes it evaporate, and when that happens, vapor can be drawn from the device through a mouthpiece. There is no smoke nor ash created, only the vapor. The adult user of the product is able to taste the specific flavour of the e-liquid that was inserted.

HEETS tobacco sticks, on the other hand, are inserted into an IQOS tobacco heating device and heated to specific temperatures. With IQOS, HEETS are heated from the inside using a special heating blade. The heating temperature is controlled to reach 350 degrees C, which provides a high-quality tobacco experience with no fire, no ash, and no smoke. Once again, only a vapor is created.

While both options have their differences, the most important thing that using HEETS or e-liquids have in common is this: they are both better alternatives to continued smoking for adult smokers. If you are an adult smoker who would otherwise continue smoking or use other nicotine products, and you are looking for a smoke-free alternative that does not involve tobacco, e-cigarettes and e-liquids may be of interest to you. However, if you are looking for a smoke-free tobacco experience that has a similar ritual and taste profile of smoking, IQOS is a better choice than continued smoking.


Important information: IQOS is not risk-free.

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