Welcome to RELX

Have you got your RELX? It’s time to evolve.

Need to change a pod?

1. Pull the used pod out,
2. Insert a new one to the device.

QUICK LINKS

Vape Pens vs. Cigarettes: What Is the Difference?
How Does a Vape Pen Work?
Vape Device Structure and Components
What Is in Vape e-liquid?
What Price Range Are Vape Pens?

Vape pen or e-cigarette have become extremely popular over the last couple of years, and it is easy to see why. A vape device is portable, odor-free for the most part, and it is a relatively simple piece of equipment to use. As the device has loads of perks as a better alternative to cigarettes, it is worth considering for personal use. 

How does a vape pen work? What is in the e-liquid, and what makes up the device? This guide will cover all the fundamental aspects of this device. 

Vape Pens vs. Cigarettes: What Is the Difference?

A vape pen is a reusable electronic device usually made of metal. It does not make use of tobacco like a traditional cigarette, but there may be nicotine, among other substances, in the e-liquid. The vape pen creates a mist that the user activates by turning on the device and inhaling.

A traditional cigarette consists of crushed tobacco encased in rolling paper, topped by a filter at the end where you inhale. When the user lights up a cigarette, the combustion creates smoke for the user to inhale. Cigarettes contain tar and other combustion byproducts.

The primary difference between a vape pen and a cigarette is that a vape does not contain the many addictive chemicals found in cigarettes.

However, it is crucial to note that vape pens can create other chemicals, about which more research is being evolving to define the extent of their impacts on health. 

How Does a Vape Pen Work?

A vape pen is typically electronic, and you activate it by turning the device on via a press-button that engages the battery. Some vape pens like RELX products now adapt the touch-free design which only uses vibration and indicator light to interact with the user. 

In summary, the battery power works to heat the liquid contained in a chamber in the device via a wick. The wick usually consists of cotton. This process produces a vapor, or more accurately, an aerosol, which the user inhales. 

Vape Device Structure and Components

It is helpful to know the function of its various components to understand the vape device.

Basic Structure of a Vape Pen

The vape pen typically contains a small number of essential parts. These parts include: 

• a mouthpiece 
• a battery 
• an e-liquid chamber or cartridge 
• an atomizer or heating element 
• a microprocessor
• a button to activate the vaporization process
• some models have an LED light display that shows when the device is active 

Most vape pen models include rechargeable batteries. You can keep a spare charged battery in case the one in the device runs out. Some vape products provide portable battery charger cases and even wireless charge functions.

Some models are purely mechanical and have no electronic aspect. A Mechanical Action Switch controls these. 

Vape Atomization

During the vaping process, the vapor gets produced by a component called an atomizer within the vape pen, and even more precisely the heating coils inside the atomizer. 

This component is essential to the vape pen – it does not work without it. 

The atomizer's measurement is in ohms, which tells you how much resistance the atomizer possesses. 

You can buy a huge variety of e-liquid flavors to make the experience more varied than traditional smoking. 

The vapor produced often has a faint hint of this flavoring as well.  

What Is in Vape e-liquid?

The liquid used in vape pens has three main ingredients. These are:

• solvents 
• sweeteners 
• and flavorings 

Component of E-liquid

The solvent's purpose is to dissolve substances like nicotine compounds such as THC or CBD so that a smoker can inhale them.  

The solvent most commonly found in vape pens are propylene glycol and glycerin. The glycerin, helps to create the vapor cloud. Propylene glycol is a colorless, syrup-like liquid. 

The sweeteners used in vape e-liquids typically contain ethyl maltol and sucralose. Administrative bodies consider all these ingredients as relatively safe for consumption. However, there is some debate about this concerning their use via a vape pen. 

What Price Range Are Vape Pens?

The average price for a device will cost you $25 to $35. 

You will probably save money on vaping in the long term, depending on how often you use it and how much vape e-liquid you go through. 

As with most things, it is best to select a quality, middle-range vape pen rather than one of the lower price range models. 

Final Thoughts

Always use your vape pen in a responsible and safe manner as recommended in the user manual. Refrain from dismantling or modifying the vape pens, and always be sure to keep it away from minors or non-smokers.

A RELX device has a built-in lithium battery. Please avoid using it in the following situations:

• Data obtain from the test of 2mL pod: each puff lasts for 3s, and the interval between two puffs is 30s, and each puff contains 55mL vapor.
• Data might vary depending on the practical usage condition and environment. For reference only, the actual data shall prevail.

The number of puffs for a pod depends on the duration of each puff and the interval between two puffs, similar to whether you sip or gulp down a glass of water.

We simulated 4 scenarios with a suction machine (premises: 2mL RELX Classic pod in Ludou Ice: each puff lasts for 3s and the interval between two puffs is 30s, and each puff contains 55mL vapor), and the outcomes are as follows:  

The past few years have seen a massive increase in the number of vape users out there. Vaping is now considered an accepted and common-place activity, especially amongst younger working professionals and those who have recently switched from smoking. 

With that said, there are still lots of unknowns when it comes to the vaping experience. Since vaping on a broad scale is so new, even the most seasoned vape users don’t know everything there is to know about its production and usability. 

It might come as a surprise to new and experienced vapers alike that vape juice mostly consists of plant-based ingredients. What this means is that it can expire, just as all items made from organic compounds.  

It’s best to avoid using anything past its prime, including e-juice. Read on to learn the basics about how long vape juice lasts, how to avoid consuming expired products, and how to make your e-juice last longer. 

How Long Does Vape Juice Last?

There is no set-in-stone length of time in which vape juice lasts. Depending on the brand or type of juice under consideration, the shelf life can be pretty variable. 

However, as a general rule of thumb, vape juice tends to last roughly two years after opening if stored properly in a cool, dry spot. Like most other food ingredients or medications, too much heat or light can make juice go bad or become ineffective prematurely.

Some brands claim that their VG vape juice lasts up to 4-6 years, while others stick to the 2-year standard. PG vape juice generally expires within a 2-year period. 

Most reputable brands will include a printed label detailing the approximate expiration date, though you should regard this as a guideline. If you are still within the timeline of the expiration date, but there are some apparent inconsistencies in the appearance, smell, or taste of your vape juice, you should consider it expired and stop using it. 

How to Tell if Your Vape Juice Is Expired?

If your vape juice lacks an explicit expiration date, you’ll want to proceed with caution. Luckily, there are several easy ways to tell if your vape juice has already gone bad. 

Because vape juice primarily consists of plant-based ingredients, the ins and outs of its shelf-life are generally the same too. Most of what you already know about testing food longevity and expiration applies to vape juice, as well. 

Basically, what you should be doing is checking for any changes. Look out for changes in smell, density or thickness, color, and taste. 

• Smell: A rancid smell may indicate that the VG in the e-juice has become spoiled. This odor can result from leaving the cartridge exposed to extreme heat. 
• Density: Cloudy liquid could indicate either the PG or VG has expired. 
• Colour: Most e-juices range from light golden yellow to a rich brown. If the cartridge looks different from when you first purchased it (such as turning an oily black), it’s possible the e-juice sat in direct heat for too long.
• Flavor: Your vape juice may taste of a distinct flavor, or it may taste of tobacco. But a lack of flavor means that the flavor components have expired. 

If you notice any of these alterations in your vape juice since the last time you used it, chances are it’s no longer in the best condition to consume. 

If you still are unsure whether any of these changes have occurred, try checking your e-liquid against some new bottles. If the newer product is noticeably different in texture and appearance, you most likely have some expired product on your hands. 

You can also make a judgment call based on where and for how long you have been storing it. As noted, most juice has a shelf life of around two years if stored correctly in a cool, dry place. 

Is It Safe to Consume Expired Vape Juice?

Fortunately, consuming expired vape juice is only considered to be explicitly harmful to your actual vaping experience. 

However, just because it doesn’t come with any severe complications doesn’t mean that you should make a regular practice of it. Overall, the quality of the nicotine and the vapor significantly decreases with age and element exposure. 

When vape juice is expired, it loses its flavor, coloration, vaporous quality, and nicotine. So, practically everything most consumers want from a vaping experience disappears. 

It also needs to be said that while consuming expired vape juice isn’t currently known to be outright harmful, not enough research exists on the subject. Most brands don’t recommend you consume expired vape juice at all, much less regularly. 

How to Correctly Store Your Vape Juice?

As alluded to above, the best way to keep your vape juice fresh is to store it in a spot that’s cool and dry, without too much access to light. Since vape juice contains plant-based ingredients, any exposure to the elements can compromise its quality. 

If you’ve already opened the seal on the container, you should take even more caution. While sealed liquid can still go bad, an open seal increases exposure to oxygen and bacteria, which will speed up the expiration process. 

To avoid using vape juice that’s gone bad, try to finish the bottles you’ve already opened before moving on to the next. Not only is this less wasteful, but it lessens the time the bottles sit on the shelf exposed to heat and light. While buying in bulk can sometimes be tempting, it’s not the best idea for a liquid with a set expiry date.

Conclusion

Like anything else, e-juice expires. Essentially, if something smells, tastes, or appears out of the norm, steer clear and reinvest in a new supply. Consuming expired juice might not be life-threatening, but it’s certainly not a pleasant or effective experience. 

Also, how you store your vape juice can have a considerable impact on how long it lasts. If you want your bottles to stay fresh for as long as possible, keep them sealed and out of direct sunlight and heat. 

Like most other vape accessories, investing in quality products and taking proper care of them are steps that pay off when it comes to making sure your smoking experience is as satisfying as possible.

The vaping industry has seen rapid innovation and new technology in recent years. It seems that around every corner is a new and improved vaping device or a new vaping system that is said to be better than the last. 

The vape pod system is one of the latest engineering innovations that is being increasingly adopted.

The way these mechanisms work can seem like a mystery for those who are new to the pod system vapes. Below, we’re uncovering all the details on how these systems work. We’ll even explain the difference between both closed and open pod systems, so you can determine if this newer style is right for you. 

What Are Pod Systems?

Pod systems are e-cigs that use a “pod” instead of the tank and atomizer that traditional vape models have. Ultimately, they do the same job that the atomizer and tank did, but they can be more convenient and offer a more discrete, portable form of vaping.

As compared to other vaping products, the pod is relatively new. However, since pods have been out, they created a niche market in the e-cigarette industry.

Most have a smaller capacity for e-liquid than most tanks do, but some you’ll find are bigger. A typical capacity is around 1-2 mL.

A pod system involves pressing the component into place at the top or bottom of the device and then a simple removal when it is empty or when you’d prefer a different flavor.

Pod systems are smaller than other e-cig models overall, including the battery and capacity. Since they are more compact, the trade-off is that these models don’t offer the long-time battery life that others do.

Automatic operation is typical in these systems, so all you have to do is suck in to pull in vapour, but some may offer manual use buttons like the traditional vape mods.

When these new systems first came out, they were relatively simple in design. However, as time goes on, more advanced devices are making their way onto the market to offer more functionality while retaining the compactness and ease of use that pod systems provide.

How Do Pod Systems Work?

Vape pods rely primarily on two essential pieces to work: the cartridge and the battery. 

When you initiate the vaporizing device by inhaling on the mouthpiece, these two pieces communicate and work together to deliver the vapor to your mouth. Here’s a bit more on the role each component plays:

The Cartridge

The cartridge has many names. To some, it’s the pod. To others, it’s a topper, atomizer, or just plain old “cartridge.”

The cartridge is the portion of the vape that sits at the top of the system and contains e-liquid and nicotine used to create vapor. Most of these already come pre-filled with e-liquid, but you can still find some that offer a refillable system so you can use your bottles of e-liquid and fill up the cartridge as needed.

Another part within the cartridge is called the atomizer, made up of a small metallic pipe. The atomizer is what turns the e-liquid into vapor when you inhale it from the system. That signals the vape to send power to the atomizer to heat up and vaporize the e-liquid.

(Note that some will split these components into two separate pieces: a cartridge at the top and an atomizer at the bottom.)

The Battery

The battery is much simpler in theory than the cartridge is. The battery for this kind of system is usually slender, slim, and sleek. The battery’s job is to determine if you’re vaping or not, so it knows when to use power and when to store it. 

Batteries can accomplish this task with two different methods, creating two types of batteries:

• Automatic Batteries - These batteries won’t have a button anywhere on them. To trigger the battery to power, the vaper just inhales on the mouthpiece.
• Manual Batteries - Manual batteries will have a button you can push to fire up the vape and get the device working. 

Pod batteries are simple machines that can be recharged with most USB chargers or wireless charging stands.

Two Components Work Together

Together, these two components work to create the mechanism. When the user places their mouth on the mouthpiece and begins to inhale (or presses the firing button on manual batteries), it sends a message to the battery to send power to the pod where it can fire up the atomizer and turn the e-liquid into vapor to inhale.

Benefits:

Why do many vapers choose a pod system e-cigarette over other options? Here are some of the most important benefits of this style of vape:

• Compact and portable - Small and slender, they can easily slide into your pocket and take with you wherever you go. Don’t worry about it sticking out of your pocket because their design lends them well to a hidden, discrete position.
• Easy to use - The design creates a more intuitive vaping act where all you need to do is inhale to get to the vapor. Since replacing the pod is the most complex thing you’ll have to do with a closed-pod system, you can’t go wrong.
• Affordable - Once you buy the battery, all you need to purchase is refills once you go through yours. No additional parts or maintenance is necessary. 
• Discrete - Clouds are pretty obvious, and even box mods can be in-your-face due to their size and design. These systems are much smaller and provide a gentle stream of vapor that those around you won’t easily notice.
• Satisfying - Pods offer a satisfying vaping experience thanks to the higher-strength liquids and intuitive inhalation process.

Drawbacks:

Pod systems won’t be the right choice for every vaper, however. Some of the most common complaints to consider include:

• Small batteries - A small battery means less battery life. While most will only use battery power when you’re actually inhaling, the power can still run out quickly. However, they’re easy enough to charge with just a USB cable. You just might have to get used to carrying around the cord with you when you take it to go. 
• Higher nicotine levels - They work better with higher nicotine levels, but most of these e liquids will need to be purchased outside of Europe due to TPD restrictions on nicotine.
• Not great for making clouds - Do you love making big, thick clouds when you vape? You won’t get the same satisfaction when using these newer systems, unfortunately.
• Limited flavor options - Closed pod systems mean you can only choose from the manufactured disposable pods available. It’s easy to find high-quality closed pod options today, though. You can even check online.

Open System Vape Pods vs. Closed System Vape Pods

There are two main types of pods that you can use: closed systems and open systems. Want to know how they differ? Read on for more. 

The major difference between these two options is how e-liquid is delivered to the rest of the heating device. Open system pods can be opened, refilled, and reused as you deem necessary. Closed system pods, on the other hand, cannot be refilled. They come filled with e-liquid and can be disposed of as they are finished (known as disposable cartridges). 

Open System Vape Pods

Open pod vape systems are created to be easy to refill the pod manually as necessary. The pods should come with a top that’s easy to open and a large enough opening to add more e-liquid without spilling everywhere. 

The main attraction to this kind of vape system is the customization of flavors as you see fit. Rather than being stuck with only the pods you already have, you take advantage of your robust collection of e-liquid for nearly endless options.

Another difference that some vapers notice is a smoother draw when using an open pod system compared to a closed pod system. Additionally, since open pod systems use e-liquid, they produce bigger, thicker clouds of vapor.

You’ll need to refill your cartridge frequently. You should also expect regular cartridge and coil replacements every so often. 

Pros:

• Can include pens, sub ohms, and box mods
• Freedom to choose e-liquid flavor and nicotine strength 
• Stronger battery
• Fuller vape experience
• Big cloud production

Cons:

• Require more work (cleaning and maintenance)
• Bigger and less portable
• Mods can be complex
• Beginners will need to get used to how it all works
• Can be harsh or underwhelming if new

Closed System Vape Pods

Similar to a cartomizer, a closed system pod uses pre-filled cartridges of vape e-liquid. Once you’ve used up all of the e-liquid in one cartridge, you just toss it in the trash and replace it with a new cartridge. This makes the refill and replacement process a breeze. You can do it on the go with no mess or fuss necessary.

Today, there’s a wide selection of cartridges available in different combinations of nicotine levels and flavors. However, you’ll always be more limited than you would be in an open pod system.

One significant benefit to this style of vape pen is the low maintenance requirement. Besides purchasing new pre-filled pods, you’ll never have to replace your coil or maintain a tank.

Some people complain that closed-pod systems only offer weak draws, and others complain about what they call a “spit back” wherein the vape e-liquid bounces off the coil and into the user’s mouth instead of vaporizing correctly.

Pros:

• Simple and ready to vape
• No hassle of refilling
• No e-liquid to carry around (less messy)
• More satisfying nicotine levels thanks to nicotine salts
• Good introduction into the world of vaping

Cons:

• Compact nature makes it easier to lose
• Can be more expensive because of the convenience
• Wasteful

The Bottom Line

Whether you’ve been drawn to vaping because of these new model updates or you’re a vaping veteran who’s interested in trying something new, a pod system (whether open or closed) provides a unique, convenient, and user-friendly vaping experience that stands out from the rest.

Vape pods won’t be for everyone, but are they right for you? 

After reading up more on how vape pod systems work and discussing the pros and cons of both the closed system and open pod system options, you should have a good idea of whether you should try a pod next.

In short – if you want a vape that is intuitive, user-friendly, and affordable, you should look into the pod systems available today. If you care more about customized e-cig juice blends, higher nicotine levels, and blowing huge vapor clouds, you might be better off sticking with your box mod or vape pens.