Health
Cigarette smoke contains over 5,000 chemicals, at least 70 of which are known to cause cancer.1 Vaping's chemical profile is a small fraction of that. Current UK evidence review holds that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, and can be an effective way for adult smokers to quit2 — though it's not risk-free, and it still delivers nicotine.
Public health bodies including the Royal College of Physicians have backed e-cigarettes as a quitting tool.4
Read more: Royal College of Physicians Announcement
Protecting others
Second-hand cigarette smoke carries well-documented health risks to people nearby. Vapour doesn't carry the same carcinogenic load, so there's no equivalent second-hand risk to the people around you.
Safety
Smoking involves combustion — vaping doesn't. No naked flame, no risk of accidentally starting a fire from a lit cigarette. The one real safety consideration with vaping is standard battery care: use the correct charger, and official cells rather than unregulated ones.
Cost
Vaping remains meaningfully cheaper than smoking, even accounting for the new Vaping Products Duty. Rather than quote figures that'll date fast, see for yourself: Try our Vaping Cost Calculator to compare your own numbers.
Social & vaping indoors
Vaping generally isn't covered by the smoking ban that pushed smokers outside — though this varies more by venue in 2026 than it used to, and the Tobacco and Vapes Act is extending smoke-free and vape-free places in some settings. If in doubt, it's always worth asking before you vape somewhere new.
If you want a genuinely invisible exhale rather than just reduced vapour, so you can vape indoors (where permitted) without any vapour clouds, our Clear Steam™ e-liquid range is made for exactly that.
Smell
Cigarette smoke clings to clothes, furniture, hair — even pets. It can hang in an unventilated room for hours. Vapour dissipates in seconds and leaves next to nothing behind — no yellowing walls, no lingering smells.
Choice
- Devices ranging from compact and simple to advanced and adjustable
- A genuine range of flavours — cigarettes only ever offered tobacco or menthol
- Nicotine strength you control, from 0mg upward, rather than fixed by the brand
- Even the look of your setup is yours to choose, not a one-size-fits-all cylinder
Convenience
A cigarette has to be smoked start to finish once lit. A vape doesn't — a couple of puffs to take the edge off, then put it away until you need it again.
Freedom to experiment
Curious about mixing your own e-liquid combinations? Our picNIC DIY range makes it straightforward to experiment with different e-liquid bases, strengths and flavours to find exactly what suits you — something no cigarette pack ever offered.
Taste and senses
Smoking dulls taste and smell gradually enough that most people don't notice it happening. Many people notice food tasting better within days of switching, as those senses begin to recover.
Smoking vs vaping, at a glance
| Comparison | Smoking | Vaping |
| Chemical exposure | 5,000+ chemicals, 70+ carcinogenic1 | A small fraction of that |
| Second-hand risk | Well-documented | No equivalent carcinogenic exposure |
| Combustion / fire risk | Yes | No |
| Nicotine control | Fixed by the brand | Fully adjustable, including 0mg |
| Smell | Lingers on clothes, furniture, hair | Dissipates in seconds |
FAQs
What happens when you quit smoking and start vaping?
Read more: What Happens When You Quit Smoking and Start Vaping
Is nicotine itself harmful?
Nicotine is addictive and a stimulant, but the bulk of smoking's health risk comes from combustion and tar, not nicotine alone. Removing the combustion is what removes most of the risk.
Is vaping actually one of the methods that helps people quit smoking?
Yes — it's one of several genuine methods people use. The NHS itself supports vaping as part of its own quit-smoking efforts: the NHS Swap to Stop scheme provides vape kits to smokers wanting to quit, delivered through Stop Smoking Services commissioned by participating NHS boards. JAC Vapour is an approved supplier to this scheme.
Read more: Methods to Quit Smoking
How do I choose a starter kit?
Use our Vape Kit Finder tool to find the right setup for you.
Related guides
Sources and footnotes
- Cancer Research UK, "What's in a cigarette?"⤴
- GOV.UK, Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display — citing Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (2022) and Lindson et al. (2025)⤴
- Hajek P, Etter J-F, Benowitz N, Eissenberg T, McRobbie H (2014). "Electronic cigarettes: Review of use, content, safety, effects on smokers, and potential for harm and benefit." Addiction, 109. DOI: 10.1111/add.12659⤴
- Royal College of Physicians — referenced via JAC Vapour's own coverage⤴