The science and vision behind IQOS.

IQOS is a combination between science, technology and vision.

Close up of a chef's hands opening a jade green IQOS ILUMA device.

Science behind heated tobacco.

We believe in science. We believe it can change the lives of millions of smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke. To this effect, we recruited scientists to work on an important idea: developing less harmful products that cigarette smokers can switch to if they don’t quit. Hundreds of scientists and engineers at PMI’s global Research and Development centres in Switzerland and Singapore have developed and evaluated IQOS, an innovative electronic device that heats and not burns tobacco. It produces a tobacco vapour that delivers tobacco taste and nicotine. 

A moss green IQOS ILUMA device.
Close up of hand taking IQOS ILUMA device from pocket.

Tested to the highest standards.

IQOS has gone through robust scientific assessments, including, to-date, 18 non-clinical and 10 clinical studies involving thousands of participants. 


The totality of evidence available shows that, while IQOS use is not risk-free, switching completely to IQOS presents less risk to your health than continuing to smoke cigarettes.*

Important information: IQOS ILUMA is not risk-free, and provides nicotine with is addictive.

* Based on the totality of evidence for IQOS in comparison with continuing to smoke. See Important information on IQOS.com..

Close up of a hand holding a jade green IQOS ILUMA device.
Illustration of IQOS ILUMA SMARTCORE INDUCTION™ technology working inside an IQOS holder

Why heating is better.

Technology – the world revolves around it. Over the years, it has radically changed our lives for the better. The way we work, the way we communicate, the way we travel. By combining science and technology is how we developed a better alternative to continued smoking. IQOS is changing for the better the way adult smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke, can enjoy tobacco. 


IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it for a simple reason: the burning of tobacco emits high amounts of harmful chemicals, like carbon monoxide. 


IQOS ILUMA SMARTCORE INDUCTION™ technology and IQOS HeatControl™ technology prevent tobacco from burning, which means they significantly reduce the number and level of harmful chemicals emitted compared to cigarettes. *

Important information: IQOS ILUMA is not risk-free.

* Reductions in levels of the 9 harmful chemicals the World Health Organization recommends to reduce in cigarette smoke, which do not include nicotine. See Important information on IQOS.com..

Illustration of IQOS HeatControl™ technology
Illustration of IQOS heat-not-burn device temperature functioning at 350°C.

Heating technology.

Cigarettes burn tobacco, reaching high temperatures, and producing ash, tar, and smoke with high number and levels of harmful chemicals. Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of over 6000 chemical substances, around 100 of which have been linked to smoking-related diseases by public health authorities.


IQOS ILUMA SMARTCORE INDUCTION SYSTEM™ technology and IQOS HeatControl™ technology heat tobacco to a lower temperature, ensuring that combustion does not occur. Because there is no combustion, IQOS does not produce smoke. It generates a tobacco vapour that brings you a high-quality tobacco taste experience with 95% less harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes. *

Important information: This does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. IQOS ILUMA is not risk-free.

* “95% less” represents the average reduction in levels of the 9 chemicals recommended for reduction in cigarette smoke by the World Health Organization, which do not include nicotine. See Important information on IQOS.com.

A jade green IQOS ILUMA device and charger.

Cigarettes produce tar, IQOS doesn't.

"Tar" is the residue from smoke after a cigarette has burned. IQOS does not produce tar because it heats tobacco instead of burning it. It generates an aerosol residue that is fundamentally different from "Tar" and consists of significantly lower levels of harmful chemicals.*

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: The absence of tar does not mean that IQOS ILUMA is risk free. IQOS ILUMA provides nicotine which is addictive.

* Reductions in levels of the 9 harmful chemicals the World Health Organization recommends to reduce in cigarette smoke, which do not include nicotine. See Important information on IQOS.com.

Cigarette filter with brown combustion stains compared to IQOS HEETS stick in IQOS ILUMA holder with no equivalent stain.

Tobacco vapour vs smoke.

IQOS tobacco vapour is less harmful than cigarette smoke. To demonstrate this, we conducted a comprehensive assessment program that included 10 clinical studies on aerosol chemistry (as well as data from 18 non-clinical studies), and involved thousands of participants in the US, Japan, UK and Poland. Evidence demonstrates that switching completely to IQOS, while not risk-free, presents less risk of harm than continuing to smoke cigarettes. *

Important information: IQOS ILUMA is not risk-free, and provides nicotine which is addictive.

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

An IQOS ILUMA holder inside a charger.

IQOS emits less harmful chemicals than cigarettes

Cigarettes burn tobacco, which produces high amounts of carbon monoxide. IQOS doesn’t burn tobacco, producing on average 98% less carbon monoxide (CO) and significantly lower levels of other harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.*

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This does not mean a 98% reduction in risk, and carbon monoxide is only one of many harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. IQOS ILUMA is not risk free, and provides nicotine which is addictive.

* We measured the levels of the 9 harmful chemicals the World Health Organization recommends to reduce in cigarette smoke, which do not include nicotine, and these are reduced on average by 95%. See Important information on IQOS.com.

Lit cigarette end compared to IQOS HEETS stick in IQOS 3 DUO holder.
Illustration contrasting effects of cigarette smoke versus IQOS on indoor air quality.

Indoor Air Quality.

Indoor Air Quality (“IAQ”) refers to the air quality inside buildings, generally based on the principle of ensuring the health and comfort of the occupants. Temperature, humidity and contaminants are some of the factors that can affect the indoor air quality. But, human presence and activities such as cooking, cleaning or smoking have been proven to have considerable impact.

To enhance our knowledge and understanding the impact of IQOS on indoor air quality we conducted studies simulating “real-world” conditions in an environmentally controlled room. Our testing methods are validated, and ISO accredited.

Our study shows that, because IQOS does not burn tobacco and it does not generate smoke and it drastically reduces levels of harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide, it does not negatively impact indoor air quality. This means that the few compounds we nevertheless detected were found at very low concentrations and far below the maximum exposure levels defined in existing air quality guidelines.

IQOS ILUMA device in pebble beige
Jade green IQOS ILUMA device and charger on a desk.

Switching to IQOS.

Our studies show that the satisfaction of those who switched completely to IQOS is comparable to that of those who continued to smoke cigarettes.* Discover more about our scientific assessment journey. 

Discover more

IQOS is not risk-free and delivers nicotine, which is addictive.

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

Prime jade green device in architect’s hands
Close up of a cameraman inserting a stick into an IQOS device.

IQOS Research

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A [colour] IQOS device with sticks inserted on a record turntable.

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