The puff: a pocket vaping device
A puff is a pocket-sized electronic vaping device, made up of a battery, a coil and an e-liquid reserve, which produces a flavoured vapour on inhalation, with no button or settings. The word comes from the English puff (a draw) and originally referred to disposable models; since their ban in France on 26 February 2025, it refers to rechargeable pod or cartridge models. This article describes what a puff is, how it works, what it contains and what French regulations require.
What a puff is made of
- Lithium-ion battery, from 500 to 1,000 mAh depending on the model, rechargeable via USB-C port. It powers the coil and, on some models, a screen showing charge and liquid levels.
- Coil, most often mesh, with a value between 0.6 and 1.2 Ω, surrounded by cotton that soaks up e-liquid. It is built into the pod or cartridge.
- E-liquid reserve: a 2 ml pod that the user fills from a 10 ml bottle, or a sealed 2 ml cartridge that is replaced once empty.
- Pressure sensor that triggers heating on inhalation.
- Mouthpiece (drip tip) and, on some models, an airflow ring adjustable between a tight draw (MTL) and an airy draw (DL).
How it works
On inhalation, the pressure sensor closes the circuit; the battery powers the coil, which heats to a temperature between 150°C and 250°C. The e-liquid held in the cotton vaporises and the vapour is drawn through the mouthpiece. There is no combustion. The power delivered, from 8 to 20 W depending on the model, is set by the manufacturer; only some devices allow it to be changed.
The stated puff count (15,000 to 50,000 depending on the reference) covers all the liquid supplied with the device, spread over several pod refills, and is a manufacturer's estimate for inhalations of one to two seconds. The battery recharges as many times as needed; a full charge takes 40 minutes to 1 h 30.
What is in the e-liquid
A puff e-liquid is made of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerine (VG), generally in a 50/50 ratio, food flavourings and, where applicable, nicotine. Puffs most often use nicotine salts, a form of nicotine combined with an organic acid. Available strengths range from 0 mg/ml (nicotine-free) to 20 mg/ml, the legal cap in France; the references in the puff category are offered between 0 and 20 mg/ml, most in 6, 8, 10 or 20 mg/ml.
The flavours draw on fruity profiles (watermelon, mango, red berries), menthol profiles (mint, ice mint) or, for brands from the shisha tobacco world (Al Fakher, Adalya), the profiles of their molasses (double apple, lemon mint, mint chewing gum).
Current formats
| Format | E-liquid reserve | What gets replaced | Box contents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refillable pod puff | 2 ml pod | The pod, when the coil is worn | Battery, 1 or 2 pods, 1 or 2 x 10 ml bottles, USB-C cable |
| Sealed cartridge puff | Pre-filled 2 ml cartridge | The cartridge, once empty | Battery, several cartridges, USB-C cable |
| Disposable puff | Pre-filled, non-renewable tank | Nothing: single-use device | Banned from sale in France since 26 February 2025 |
Pods and cartridges are specific to each brand: an Al Fakher pod will not fit an Adalya battery, and vice versa.
Regulations applicable in France
The puff is a vaping product within the meaning of the French Public Health Code. European Directive 2014/40/EU (TPD), transposed into French law, requires a tank or cartridge of 2 ml maximum, refill bottles of 10 ml maximum, a nicotine concentration limited to 20 mg/ml, notification of the product to ANSES (the French health and safety agency) before it is placed on the market, and a health warning on the packaging of nicotine products. Sale to minors and any advertising, direct or indirect, are prohibited. Disposable models have been banned since French law no. 2025-165 of 25 February 2025; the details of this law are set out in the article ban on disposable puffs in France.
Maintenance and end of life
A pod puff is cleaned by wiping the contacts between the pod and the battery; a new pod is primed by waiting five minutes after the first fill. The device is stored away from heat, with the pod or cartridge in place to stop the coil drying out. At end of life, the battery falls under the WEEE scheme (collection point or recycling centre); empty pods and cartridges follow household waste sorting.
Frequently asked questions
Does a puff contain nicotine?
Depending on the reference: from 0 to 20 mg/ml. The strength is shown on the packaging and on the product page; nicotine versions carry the mandatory health warning.
How long does a puff last?
The liquid supplied covers 15,000 to 50,000 stated puffs depending on the model; the battery recharges with no cycle limit over the life of the device, and pods or cartridges are bought separately.
Can you fill a puff with any e-liquid?
On a refillable pod model, yes, with an e-liquid in a bottle of 10 ml maximum if it contains nicotine; a 50/50 PG/VG liquid suits puff coils. Sealed cartridges cannot be refilled.
What is the difference between a puff and an e-cigarette?
None in principle: the puff is a pod-type e-cigarette, with no button and fixed power, whose format and flavours are inherited from disposable models.
WARNING
The sale of vaping products to minors under 18 is prohibited (article L.3513-5 of the French Public Health Code). Proof of age may be required when ordering.
This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance. It is not recommended for use by non-smokers.
