What’s in a Cigarette?

Published Mar 30, 2023

Ever wondered how cigarettes are made, and what goes into them? As a legal age (18+) adult smoker, it might come as no surprise to know that cigarettes contain and produce harmful substances. The word “produce” deserves special emphasis, as many of the problematic substances in cigarettes are not necessarily the ingredients, but these are the substances produced through burning of cigarettes or combustion. 

The Ingredients of a Cigarette

Identifying the ingredients of a cigarette isn’t too difficult - there are a few key ones that make up a cigarette, depending on the brand. What makes identifying factors in a cigarette challenging is the thousands of chemicals produced by a burning cigarette. Before we review this factor, let’s first examine what one might consider the “main ingredient of a cigarette”, which is the tobacco leaf.

The tobacco leaf contains, and releases, nicotine when a cigarette is burnt. It is important to note that nicotine is an addictive chemical. But contrary to popular belief, nicotine is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases. Other non-tobacco materials such as paper can also be found in a cigarette. So, now you know what some of the cigarette ingredients are, it can be useful to understand there is more to cigarettes than just what goes into them.

What Does a Burning Cigarette Produce?

During the burning process, a cigarette releases thousands of chemicals which can be harmful, such as carbon monoxide. This harmful gas is released when a legal age (18+) adult smoker lights a cigarette, and it can have significant implications The same is true for tar which can cause problems – learn more with the Guide to Tar.

Are There Alternatives to Smoking Cigarettes?

If you are a legal age (18+) adult smoker who’s looking to switch to a smoke-free alternative, you might not know just how many options there are available to you.

E-cigarettes are not the only option. Some tobacco heating systems utilize heating technology instead of relying on combustion (like burning cigarettes do). But the lack of combustion should be supported on a product-by-product basis. Incorporating heated tobacco sticks, IQOS provides real tobacco taste and satisfaction, but without tar. Cigarettes produce tar – IQOS doesn’t. Tar is the residue from smoke after a cigarette is burned.

IQOS does not produce tar because it heats tobacco instead of burning it. IQOS generates an aerosol that is fundamentally different from tar and consists of significantly lower levels of harmful chemicals.* Switching completely to IQOS is a better option than continuing to smoke.** The best decision any smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. IQOS is not an alternative to quitting and is not designed as cessation aids.

Important Information: The absence of tar does not mean that IQOS is risk free. IQOS provides nicotine which is addictive.

* Average reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to cigarette smoke.

** Based on the totality of evidence available for IQOS in comparison with continuing to smoke.

The IQOS Range of Products

Combustion in a cigarette, and the thousands of harmful chemicals produced during this process, is a problematic factor in smoking. IQOS is a smoke-free alternative to smoking yet provides cigarette-like satisfaction*, while HEETS^TM are tobacco sticks that work with an IQOS device. Shop for IQOS heated tobacco and HEETS^TM.

*3 month clinical studies conducted in US and Japan with 160 adult smokers each under real conditions (ambulatory).

IQOS are only for adult smokers who otherwise wish to continue to use tobacco or nicotine containing products. IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine, which is addictive.

This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information. 

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Important Information: This product is not risk free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults who would otherwise continue to smoke or use other nicotine products.