From Cigarettes to RELX: One Smoker’s Honest Switch Story

“I Didn’t Wake Up Wanting to Vape”

I’d been smoking for years. Not a pack a day exactly, but close enough on bad weeks. The routine was so automatic I barely noticed it, coffee, cigarette, drive to work, cigarette, stress, cigarette. It wasn’t one dramatic moment that got me looking for something different. It was more that I kept noticing how much of my day revolved around finding somewhere to smoke.

I ended up trying RELX, but I want to be upfront about something before I get into it: this isn’t a miracle-fix story, and I’m not here to tell you vaping is harmless or that everyone who smokes should switch. It’s genuinely just what happened when I did. And if you don’t currently use nicotine, none of this is an invitation to start, nicotine is addictive, and that’s true no matter what device delivers it.

Customer Story Disclosure: This article is based on the experience of a customer who purchased RELX products from Relx Dubai. The story has been edited for clarity and readability while preserving the customer’s reported experience. Individual experiences with vaping products vary, and this story should not be interpreted as a guarantee of results or as medical advice. This is one person’s account, not an independent product review, and it shouldn’t be read as representative of smokers generally.

Why I Started Looking for an Alternative to Cigarettes

The cigarette routine was harder to break than expected

The morning cigarette was its own ritual, the work-break cigarette was practically scheduled into my calendar, and then there was the social smoking, standing outside a bar with whoever else stepped out. Some of it wasn’t really about wanting nicotine at all, it was just what I did in certain situations. Stress at my desk meant a cigarette. Finishing a meal meant a cigarette. The habit was baked into moments, not just cravings.

What I actually wanted from a replacement

I wasn’t chasing some ideal. I just wanted something more convenient, a nicotine experience that felt reasonably familiar, and less disruption to my actual day. Carrying a lighter everywhere and stepping outside buildings constantly had gotten old. I wanted to not think about it as much.

The reality check

Here’s the thing I didn’t clock early on: wanting an alternative and wanting to quit nicotine altogether aren’t the same goal. I had to actually sit down and ask myself what I was going for, quitting smoking specifically, cutting down overall, or just switching completely to something else. Those are three different targets, and going in without picking one made the first couple of weeks messier than they needed to be.

Why RELX Caught My Attention

A pod-based device made sense to me mostly because of how compact it was. No lighter, no pack crushed in my pocket, just a small device and a pod. It was genuinely easy to use, draw-activated, and had nothing to fiddle with. There’s a range of devices under the RELX Device lineup, and nicotine strengths and exact specifications vary depending on where you are and what’s legally available, so what I ended up with wasn’t necessarily what someone in a different country would see on a shelf.

I actually spent a while comparing options before settling on anything. The RELX Infinity 2 was the one that kept coming up as the balanced, everyday pick, while the RELX Artisan leaned more premium in look and feel. I also looked at the RELX Creator system, which uses its own larger-capacity pods instead of the standard ones, and the RELX Ace line if I wanted something disposable rather than rechargeable. There’s a wider disposable vape range, including WAKA too, if pod-swapping isn’t something you want to deal with at all. Worth knowing going in that these aren’t interchangeable systems, more on that below.

What I Checked Before Buying

Before I actually bought anything, I ran through a short list:

• Is this product genuinely authentic?
• What nicotine strength does it actually contain?
• What does the packaging say, clearly and specifically?
• Are replacement pods easy to get hold of?
• Is this legally sold where I live?
• Does the seller give clear, complete product information?
• What’s the return or warranty policy if something’s wrong?

If you’re figuring out how to choose a RELX device yourself, that list is a decent starting point, it’s basically a RELX pod buying guide condensed into seven questions.

My First Day Switching From Cigarettes to RELX

Morning: breaking the cigarette habit. Reaching for the device instead of a cigarette felt strange, mechanically similar but not the same in the hand. What surprised me was how much easier the “no lighter, no ashtray” part was than I expected.

Afternoon: the nicotine routine. Cravings didn’t disappear, they just showed up differently, and I noticed I kept wanting to carry actual cigarettes “just in case,” even though that wasn’t really the plan.

Evening: the biggest surprise. The thing that actually threw me off wasn’t the device, it was how much of smoking had been about the ritual itself, not just the nicotine. To be clear, I’m not going to tell you I had no cravings or that I felt zero effects switching over, that wouldn’t be honest, and it’s not how this works for most people either.

The First Week: What Changed, and What Didn’t

That gap between expectation and reality is, honestly, the most useful part of this whole story. If you’re expecting switching to feel effortless, it probably won’t, at least not right away.

Cigarettes vs. RELX: The Differences I Noticed

Convenience. No lighting, no extinguishing, no ash. Carrying a device and a pod is a lot less bulky than a pack and a lighter.

Odor. This is just my own observation, not a scientific claim: it smelled different to me, less clinging than cigarette smoke. I’m not going to say it has zero smell or zero impact on people around me, because I genuinely don’t know that for certain, and neither does anyone claiming otherwise without real data.

Routine. Cigarette breaks had a built-in stopping point, you finish it, you’re done. A pod device doesn’t impose that same structure, which meant I actually used it more often in short bursts than I expected to.

Cost. Rough framework, not a promise: monthly cigarette cost works out to cigarettes per day times 30 times the price per cigarette. Monthly vaping cost is your device and pod spending over that same month. Whether you actually save money depends entirely on how much you smoked before, which device and pods you choose, and local pricing and taxes, there’s no universal number here.

The Part Nobody Told Me: Switching Is a Behavior Change

Replacing the product isn’t the same as breaking dependence

This is the part that actually surprised me most. Nicotine dependence doesn’t just end because the delivery method changed. The behavioral habit, reaching for something in certain moments, can hang around even once the actual cigarettes are gone.

My cigarette triggers didn’t disappear overnight

Coffee still triggered the urge. So did alcohol, stress, driving, social situations, and finishing a meal. None of that vanished just because I’d swapped products.

The biggest mistake: treating the switch as permission to use both

I’ll be straight about this: for a while, I kept a pack of cigarettes around “for emergencies” while also using RELX regularly. Smoking cigarettes and vaping at the same time doesn’t necessarily give you the same potential benefit as actually moving away from combustible cigarettes entirely. If quitting smoking is genuinely your goal, it’s worth looking into evidence-based cessation support rather than assuming dual use will sort itself out.

Is Switching From Cigarettes to Vaping Safer?

I want to be careful here, because this isn’t a question my personal experience can answer on its own.

Combustible cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals, and smoking causes serious, well-documented disease. That’s not in dispute. Vaping isn’t risk-free either, it still exposes users to substances that may carry health risks, and the actual level of risk depends on the specific product, how much nicotine you’re taking in, your usage pattern, and your individual circumstances. I’m not going to tell you vaping is “safe,” because that’s not a claim the evidence supports.

What the evidence says: Public health bodies in different countries don’t all land in exactly the same place on this. Some, like the UK’s health authorities, have described vaping as substantially less harmful than smoking for adults who already smoke and are looking to switch completely, while stressing it isn’t risk-free and shouldn’t be used by non-smokers. Other health authorities, including parts of the US public health establishment, have taken a more cautious position given the relative newness of long-term data. If you want a genuinely evidence-based answer for your own situation, that’s worth a conversation with a healthcare professional rather than relying on a manufacturer’s marketing or, frankly, on a customer story like this one.

What I Wish I Knew Before Buying My First RELX

Check nicotine strength. It genuinely matters, and grabbing the highest strength available isn’t automatically the right call just because it sounds stronger.

Buy from a legitimate seller. Counterfeit vape products are a real risk in this market. Check packaging, labeling, and whether the seller can actually back up what they’re selling.

Understand pod compatibility. Not every pod fits every device. RELX Pod Pro and RELX Pod Pro 2 pods aren’t interchangeable with every RELX device on the market, so check the exact model before you order replacements. Airflow design also affects how a pod actually feels to draw on, if you’re curious how that works mechanically, this breaks down how airflow changes the drawing experience.

Think about ongoing costs. The device price is a one-time thing, pods are recurring. Work out a realistic monthly figure rather than just looking at the upfront price.

Check local regulations. Nicotine limits, what’s legally sold, flavor restrictions, and age requirements all vary depending on where you are. What’s legal and available in one market may not be in another.

The “Switch Completely” Question

Worth asking yourself directly: what does success actually look like for you? Continuing to smoke and occasionally vaping? Replacing cigarettes completely? Cutting down how much you smoke? Eventually reducing nicotine altogether? These aren’t the same goal, and treating them as interchangeable is part of what made my own first few weeks more confusing than they needed to be.

My Biggest Lessons From the Switch

The hardest part wasn’t figuring out the device, it was changing the actual routine around it. Product convenience doesn’t automatically remove nicotine dependence. Picking the right nicotine strength matters more than I expected. Buying from a retailer you actually trust matters too. Dual use deserved a lot more of my attention early on than I gave it. And switching products and quitting nicotine are genuinely two different journeys, not the same thing wearing two names.

Before You Buy: A Responsible RELX Checklist

• I am an adult and already use nicotine.
• I understand that vaping isn’t risk-free.
• I know the nicotine strength I’m buying.
• I’ve checked that the device and pods are actually compatible.
• I’m buying from a legitimate retailer.
• I’ve checked local laws and product requirements.
• I know the recurring cost of replacement pods.
• I understand the difference between switching completely and dual use.
• I’ve considered established smoking-cessation support if quitting is my actual goal.

FAQ: From Cigarettes to RELX

Is RELX safer than cigarettes?

Cigarettes cause serious harm from burning tobacco. RELX avoids combustion but is not risk-free, and the health impact varies by person and product.

Can RELX help someone quit smoking?

RELX may help some adult smokers switch away from cigarettes, but it still contains nicotine. Quitting nicotine completely requires a different approach.

Can you smoke cigarettes while using RELX?

Yes, but using both regularly is called dual use and may reduce the potential benefit of switching away from cigarettes.

How long does it take to adjust after switching?

It varies. Some people adjust within a week or two, while habits and triggers can take longer to change.

Which RELX nicotine strength should a smoker choose?

Choose based on your nicotine needs and the strengths legally available in your market. Always check the product label.

Are RELX pods expensive compared with cigarettes?

It depends on your smoking habits, pod prices, device costs, and local taxes. Compare your actual monthly spending to get a clearer picture.

How do I know if a RELX product is genuine?

Buy from a trusted retailer, check the packaging and labeling, and use manufacturer verification if available.

Can non-smokers use RELX?

No. People who do not use nicotine should not start using RELX or other nicotine products.

Final Takeaway: My Switch Wasn’t About Finding a “Perfect” Product

I wasn’t looking for a magic fix, and I didn’t find one. What actually changed was moving away from combustible cigarettes, and that involved both the product I chose and genuinely changing habits I’d had for years. None of this should be read as a universal recommendation, your own goals, the current evidence, and your local regulations should drive your decision, not one customer’s story.

Considering the switch yourself? Start by comparing device compatibility, nicotine options, ongoing pod costs, authenticity checks, and your local regulations before you actually buy anything.

Where I Ended Up Buying

I ended up buying through Rpods Dubai, mainly because I was already comparing RELX products there and found the product listings and available range genuinely useful for figuring out what I actually wanted. As noted at the top, this is a customer story based on my own experience, not an independent product review.

If you’re looking at options yourself, Relx Dubai carries the RELX range across the UAE, including RELX Infinity 2 and RELX Artisan devices, RELX Pod Pro and RELX Pod Pro 2 pods, plus the RELX Creator system and RELX Ace disposables if you’d rather not deal with pod-swapping at all. There’s also a broader disposable vape range including WAKA if you want to compare formats before settling on pods. If you’re into fruitier or dessert-style flavors, RELX Iced Latte and RELX Pod Grape came up a lot while I was comparing options, though availability shifts, so check current stock directly. I also found their piece on top RELX pod flavors among UAE tourists and their coffee-flavor comparison between Terea and RELX genuinely useful while I was narrowing down what to try. And if your device ever stops charging properly, which mine did once in the first month, this troubleshooting guide actually solved it without needing a replacement.

These are nicotine products intended for adult smokers and existing nicotine users only. Nicotine is addictive, and switching products is not the same as eliminating risk.