Box of accessories and the pack itself
While researching this purchase, I was unable to find any “real” reviews that didn’t feel like they were paid for by the company. I also could not find any video of anyone actually smoking one of these. This review will remedy that and hopefully be a good guide to anyone looking to make a similar purchase.
I’ll say this up front: Blu cigarettes are NOT an aid to quit smoking, but a cheaper, cleaner, less gross option for those of us who really enjoy smoking. However, Blu gives you the option to choose cartridges with varying degrees of nicotine (Regular, Light, Ultra Light, None) so if you ween down to no nicotine, maybe you could quit smoking. I have not tried this yet.
Vivid Vanilla, Menthol and Cherry Crush have a nice, subtle flavor.
I’ve been smoking on and off since I was 15. Sometimes I’ve gone a couple years without smoking. Sometimes, (like lately) I’m up to a pack a day . With smokes in NYC at almost $10 and in South Jersey up to $7.25, I needed an alternative to quitting outright and spending $70/ week on Death.
Blu cigarettes do not contain the tar, tobacco or the carcinogens and poisons that real cigarettes do. However, they DO still contain nicotine. Nicotine is a drug and has a bunch of negative, unhealthy effects. Do not think that these are “healthy” cigarettes. There is no such thing.
Upon opening the box, I found a wall charger for the pack, a USB charger for a cigarette (it looks like my Mac is smoking. Adorable.), two “cigarettes”, a pack to hold/charge them, and 5 boxes of cartridges in my flavor choices (3 menthol lights like I usually smoke, one each of Vivid Vanilla and Cherry Crush…just to try them out). The instructions were kind of vague, but these things are not hard to figure out. It just takes a bit of tinkering around.
Here’s a video in which I awkwardly explain how to put them together, charge them and actually smoke them:
Blu cigarettes are an adjustment. I spent about a week transitioning between regular cigarettes and the electronics (and still borrow a real one from a friend occasionally) but the more you smoke the e-cigarette, the harsher it feels and tastes to smoke a regular. I miss the simple act of firing up a lighter and flicking the ash from the end, but each cartridge equals about 15 cigarettes and cartridges go for a dollar or less (depending on the quantity you buy) on their website. You really can’t beat that. I also find that I’m satisfied after just 3-5 drags on the blu cigarette.
Because the “smoke” you exhale is simply water vapor, it disappears in a few seconds and does not leave behind any smell or trace. It’s so nice not to have stinky clothes and hair. There’s also no residual nasty feeling or taste in my mouth.
Blu advertises that you can smoke them anywhere, but I was a little worried about the reactions I would get in non-smoking environments. I don’t smoke them at work…and I would never try to smoke it on an airplane, but no one in a bar has ever asked me to stop. Most people ask about it out of curiosity and want to know how it works. I also figured my friends would tease me about it or think it was silly, but everyone has been really supportive and eager to try them out.
So far, I’m very happy with the product. It’s been a great alternative that’s saving me money and helping me smoke less. I would definitely recommend this product and the 30-day return/refund period made it a really easy decision.
Good luck!
They sell something similar to these at the mall I used to work at but they were like 200$ for a kit and I assumed they were all that expensive.
These seem really neat. I don’t smoke and I won’t smoke but if I did I’d buy it too.
Wow, that’s really interesting – thank-you for going to the trouble of putting together such a fantastic review, I’ve wondered for a while now what they were like! :)
Like me I’ve been smoking for some time now and I was wondering, do you get that “bang”, from the blu-cigarette in the back of the throat, you would normally get from a cigarette?
Blu cigarettes are pretty different. They’re a lot smoother because there’s no burn or harsh chemicals, but I don’t think there’s any “bang” feeling.
So, after a year, are you still smoking Blus? And have you actually decreased your nicotine levels, or are you now just hooked on these?
I’m asking because I just recommended Blu to a friend of mine. I quit smoking in the mid-90s, but I’m curious as to your experience with them after a year. My friend hopes to use them as a stop-smoking product, but I’d be happy if she would just quit smoking cigarettes. At least these things are just nicotine, not nicotine and 400 other chemicals.
Twitter: superalzy
I have not smoked since February, not even Blu. I think it worked quite well!
Congrats on finally quitting! I was between quitting or transitioning to e-cigs and decided to drop the habit entirely in January of this year. It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve never felt healthier and the money I’ve saved has been nice as well.