11-Sep-2025
Questions on IQOS, Vape, and Heated Tobacco
Many adult users in Egypt are looking for smoke-free alternatives to continued cigarette smoking. IQOS, heated tobacco products, and vapes are some of the most discussed options — but with so many terms and devices, it’s normal to have questions. This article brings together the most common FAQs about IQOS, heated tobacco products, and vapes.
What Is IQOS?
IQOS is a heated tobacco device developed as a smoke-free alternative for adult users who would otherwise continue smoking. Instead of burning tobacco leaves, IQOS uses a controlled heating tobacco system that warms specially designed sticks (sometimes referred to as HEETS sticks) to release a nicotine-containing aerosol.
This process delivers a real tobacco flavour without combustion, ash, or lingering smoke. IQOS devices, such as the IQOS ILUMA and IQOS 3 DUO, belong to a category called heat-not-burn products or heated tobacco products.
How Does IQOS Work?
IQOS functions as a nicotine delivery system by using an electronic heating element to warm the processed tobacco that is made from tobacco leaf. Unlike cigarette smoking, there is no fire involved.
The heating system precisely controls the temperature of the tobacco sticks to generate a nicotine-containing aerosol. Some induction heated tobacco products like the IQOS ILUMA i have been designed with advanced features compared to earlier blade-heated tobacco products.
How IQOS Works vs. How Cigarettes Work
Cigarettes rely on combustion, where burning tobacco leaves produce smoke, ash, and lingering odour. IQOS, on the other hand, uses heating tobacco to release an aerosol without fire. This distinction makes IQOS a heat-not-burn device, part of the broader family of heated tobacco products that provide a tobacco experience without traditional smoke.
Read more about the nicotine levels in cigarettes, vapes, and IQOS.
Is IQOS Better Than Cigarettes?
Many adult users find IQOS a preferred option compared to continuing to smoke cigarettes because it avoids combustion and delivers tobacco flavour using heated tobacco units. IQOS belongs to the group of smoke-free alternatives, offering an experience that differs from conventional heated cigarettes.
Which Is Safer: Vape or IQOS?
Both categories—vapes (electronic cigarettes) and heated tobacco—are part of the evolving landscape of the tobacco industry, which offers a range of electronic devices and alternatives to traditional cigarette smoking.
IQOS uses real tobacco sticks in a heat-not-burn device, while vapes rely on vaping liquids or e-liquid formulations.
While electronic cigarettes rely on liquids, heated tobacco devices function as tobacco vapourisers, releasing nicotine-containing aerosol from real tobacco
The choice between the two often comes down to personal preference regarding taste, device design, and availability of heated tobacco products vs. vaping liquids.
What Is Heated Tobacco?
Heated tobacco products—sometimes called heated cigarettes or tobacco vapourisers—are electronic devices designed to warm, not burn, specially processed tobacco sheets or sticks. This process releases a nicotine-containing aerosol instead of smoke.
These products use processed parts of the tobacco leaf to create heated tobacco units that release a nicotine-containing aerosol.
Read all about switching to heated tobacco.
What Is Heat-Not-Burn Tobacco?
Heat-not-burn devices are a category of heated tobacco devices that use either induction or blade-heated tobacco products to prepare tobacco units for use. IQOS is one of the most recognised heat-not-burn products available worldwide.
Does Heated Tobacco Smell?
Heated tobacco does not produce smoke but instead releases an aerosol. The scent is different from cigarette smoke and tends to be less persistent.
Discover effective ways to remove cigarette smell.
Using Heated Tobacco in Hotels
Many hotels worldwide now recognise heated tobacco devices such as IQOS. However, it’s always best to check individual hotel policies about tobacco control and indoor use of smoke-free alternatives before using a device indoors.
How to Use IQOS
To use IQOS, insert a tobacco stick or a HEETS stick into the holder and press the activation button. The electronic heating elements inside the device warm the tobacco, releasing an aerosol.
This method reflects the innovation of the tobacco industry, which has developed heated tobacco products as part of a shift towards smoke-free alternatives.
How to Use IQOS ILUMA
The IQOS ILUMA and IQOS ILUMA i operate with induction heating and are designed for simplicity. Insert the compatible tobacco units and let the electronic heat-control system manage the process.
How to Clean IQOS
Regular maintenance is important to ensure consistent performance. Use the provided cleaning tools to remove particulate matter from the holder after every 20 uses.
How to Clean IQOS ILUMA
Unlike earlier devices, the IQOS ILUMA series is built without blades, so it requires less frequent cleaning. This design makes it one of the most user-friendly heated tobacco products.
How to Reset IQOS
If your device is unresponsive, you can reset it by holding down the power button for a few seconds until the lights blink.
Use the IQOS self-diagnostic tool for online troubleshooting.
How to Update IQOS
Certain electronic devices, like IQOS allow software updates through the IQOS app or via USB. Updates help improve electronic heating elements and user performance.
How to Charge IQOS
Place the holder inside the charger, ensuring the contacts align. The lights on the charger will indicate when the device is fully powered.
What Is Vape?
A vape, also called electronic cigarettes, is a nicotine delivery system that uses vaping liquids instead of tobacco.
What Is a Disposable Vape?
A disposable vape is a single-use device pre-filled with vaping liquids. Once the e-liquid runs out or the battery dies, the device is discarded.
What Is Vape Liquid Made Of?
Vaping liquids—also called e-liquid—are generally composed of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavourings, and nicotine or nicotine salts. These liquids differ from tobacco sticks because they contain no processed tobacco.
What Is E-Liquid?
In electronic cigarettes, e-liquid is the substance that gets heated to create vapour. It usually contains nicotine, e-liquid flavourings, and other components.
E-liquid is the fluid/juice used in vapes and electronic cigarettes. It vapourises through electronic heating elements in the device.
What Is Vape Oil Made Of?
The term “vape oil” or "electronic cigarettes oil" usually refers to vaping liquids. It includes the same ingredients as e-liquids, with different flavouring options such as fruit or tobacco flavour.
What Is the Coil in a Vape?
A coil in a vape is part of the electronic heating elements. It warms the vaping liquid to produce vapour. Unlike IQOS, which heats tobacco units, vapes heat e-liquid using these coils.
What Is the Price of Vapes?
In Egypt, the cost of a vape depends on whether it is a disposable vape or a reusable device. Pricing can vary depending on the brand, device features, and vaping liquids.
Check out the vaping price guide in Egypt.
How to Vape
To vape, activate the device (either by inhaling or pressing a button) and inhale the vapourised vaping liquid.
Where to Buy IQOS
IQOS devices and tobacco sticks are officially available through IQOS stores, selected retailers, and the IQOS website in Egypt.
Use the IQOS store locator to find the nearest IQOS shop in Egypt.
What Is MTL?
MTL, or “mouth-to-lung,” is a vaping style where vapour is first drawn into the mouth, then inhaled into the lungs. This technique is often used with certain vaping liquids.
What Is MTL and DL?
DL, or “direct-to-lung,” is another vaping style where vapour goes straight to the lungs. Devices optimised for MTL or DL vaping offer distinct experiences for adult users.
Smoke-Free Alternatives
If you're exploring smoke-free options, see what happens when you switch to other alternatives in this IQOS article on smoke-free alternatives.
Here are some heated tobacco options from IQOS to explore:
IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults.
