IQOS in Kolkata: Adda, Smell, Ash and Being Considerate

An adda isn't a quick smoke break. It's two hours on a rooftop, a long evening at the para tea stall, or a table where the conversation moves from football to politics to someone's cousin's wedding without anyone checking the time. Smokers and non-smokers sit together, and for the smokers, the cigarettes come out every so often. If you're an adult smoker in Kolkata thinking about switching to the ILUMA i ONE, this guide looks at the adda from everyone's side of the table.

The questions people at the table will ask

Switch to a heated-tobacco device and your friends will have questions. Here are honest answers you can give them.

"Where's the smoke?"

There isn't any. The ILUMA i ONE heats a TEREA stick with induction rather than burning it, so there's no flame, no glowing tip and no smoke. What you breathe out is an aerosol. It doesn't hang in the air the way a cloud of smoke does.

"Does it smell?"

Yes, but differently. There's a smell from the stick and the aerosol while you use it. It's not the same as cigarette smoke, and it doesn't cling to clothes and hair in the same way, but it isn't nothing either. Someone sitting next to you will notice it.

"Where do I put the ash?"

You don't need to. Heating means no ash at all, so no flicking it into a cup, no grey dust on the table, and no ashtray to pass around. You're left with a used stick at the end, which still needs a bin.

"Is it okay if I sit next to you?"

This is the important one, and the answer is: ask them, and respect what they say. The aerosol carries nicotine and other chemicals, and the people around you breathe some of it in. How much that matters over time isn't well understood. Nobody can honestly tell you second-hand aerosol does them no harm.

Adda etiquette with a heated device

1. Ask first, every time the group changes. The friend who didn't mind last week may have a cold today, or a new person may have joined.
2. Turn away from people when you exhale, the same as you would with a cigarette.
3. Step aside if anyone is pregnant or there are children around. No exceptions.
4. Don't use it indoors at someone's home unless the host has said it's fine.
5. Respect no-smoking signs at cafés, restaurants and anywhere else. A heated stick is still tobacco.
6. Bin your used sticks. Don't leave them on the parapet or in a teacup.
7. Don't offer it to people who don't smoke. It isn't a party trick; it's a nicotine product for adults who already smoke.

How a long adda fits the device

A session lasts up to 6 minutes or 14 puffs, and FlexPuff can add up to 4 more. One stick is one session. About 20 sessions on a full charge means the battery won't run out during an evening, even a long one.

The bigger issue at a long adda is the count. When the conversation is good, it's easy to go stick after stick. Keeping a rough tally, and noticing when you're heating a new one just because someone else lit up, is a habit worth building.

Pujo season and crowds

During Durga Puja, the city is out all night. Pandal-hopping means crowds, queues and lots of children. That's not the place for a session. Step well away from the crowd, or wait. Keep the device in an inside pocket with the cap closed; in a crush, a back pocket is the easiest one to lose.

Which blend for a long evening

If you're used to plain tobacco, Amber is the balanced everyday option, and Bronze is fuller if you want something richer. Purple Wave, with menthol and dark forest-fruit notes, suits people who like something cool over a long conversation. See all blends in the TEREA collection, or read about the stronger-tasting blends.

The bigger picture

The ILUMA i ONE is for adults who already smoke. Switching completely from cigarettes reduces your exposure to many harmful chemicals, according to studies including Philip Morris's own, but lower exposure hasn't been shown to mean lower disease risk. It's not risk-free, it contains nicotine, which is addictive, and the aerosol still reaches the people around you. WHO's view is that heated tobacco products are harmful. If you've thought about stopping entirely, that's the better choice, and our Kolkata quit-smoking guide lists local help.

For more on what's known about bystander exposure, read IQOS and second-hand aerosol. If you've decided to switch, the ILUMA i ONE is ₹4,990, or ₹5,290 in Electric Purple. Order on iqoser.in; checkout shows the delivery options for your pincode.

Questions

Does IQOS smell less than cigarettes?

It smells different. There's no smoke smell clinging to clothes in the same way, but the stick and aerosol do have a smell that people nearby notice.

Is second-hand IQOS aerosol a concern?

It isn't zero. The aerosol contains nicotine and other chemicals, so ask before using it near others and keep it away from children and pregnant people.

Does IQOS produce ash?

No. The tobacco is heated rather than burned, so there's no ash. You only need to bin the used stick.

Will the battery last a long adda?

Yes for most people. A full charge gives about 20 sessions, and one stick is one session.