A cigarette is a complex product, containing tobacco and a mixture of more than 600 additives. The additives are used to produce a desired taste, texture, odor, and appearance, as well as to facilitate or mask smoking-related harms.
Cigarette additives are subject to international quality standards and rigorous laboratory analysis. The resulting smoke is then tested for specific components, including toxicants that are absorbed by the lung. These results are displayed on cigarette packaging, allowing consumers to make informed choices about their health.
Most cigarettes are produced by blending various types of tobacco, with the blends typically having unique characteristics that distinguish one brand from another. In addition, the paper and filter are subject to strict quality control processes, and are often designed to meet certain characteristic parameters such as permeability, porosity, and flame resistance.
Although it is widely accepted that cigarette brands differ in their sensory features and nicotine delivery1,2, cigarettes are marketed by virtue of their uniqueness in the market, and this is facilitated by product branding and marketing activities. For example, descriptor terms such as ‘light’ and’mild’ are used by many cigarette manufacturers to convey to smokers that their products are less harmful, despite no association with reduced health risks2,3,4,6,7,8. Cigarette marketers also use color descriptors to differentiate their products in the marketplace, with each product having a distinctive color that is associated with a particular sub-brand. Learn more when you visit the smoke shop lawrenceville ga.
In addition, many cigarette companies promote their products using a range of marketing channels, including billboards, TV spots, and social media posts. In the case of e-cigarettes, such as JUUL, which is produced by Philip Morris International (PMI), marketing campaigns are often aimed at young adults, and the use of music and imagery has been found to increase perceived attractiveness among youth9.
PMI has also attempted to distinguish its products from the competition by advertising them as having an advantage over traditional cigarettes. This has been done through a series of USP themes, such as “smoke-free” and ‘freedom to smoke anywhere”, that have appeared in various forms in advertisements. While these claims are unsubstantiated, alternatives to continued smoking exist and can be a better choice for adults who wish to maintain their nicotine addiction, such as PMI’s portfolio of heat-not-burn products.