RELX’s TOP 5 best-selling flavors are: 1. Iced Coke, 2. Iced Watermelon, 3. Mung Bean Ice, 4. Juicy Grape, 5. Orange Soda. Data on repeat purchases from old users shows that Iced Coke and Iced Watermelon are the most popular, with a repurchase rate as high as 80%. Choosing flavors with a high repurchase rate ensures satisfaction.
Classic Tobacco
Last month, a major incident occurred at a Shenzhen contract factory—the sintering temperature of the entire batch of ceramic coils fluctuated by 7℃, causing 30,000 pods to develop a burnt taste. This issue stems from RELX’s classic tobacco formula, which uses a dual organic acid system for its nicotine salt (benzoic acid + citric acid), far more complex than Juul Labs’ single-acid formula.
Last year, ELFBAR’s strawberry flavor was found to have excessive benzene compounds, the key being uncontrolled propylene glycol ratio. RELX’s classic tobacco strictly adheres to a PG/VG ratio of 50/50, and lab data shows that atomization residue is 42% lower than the national standard (referencing GB 41700-2022 Article 5.3.2)
| Parameter | RELX 5th Gen | YOOZ 2.0 | National Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomization Temperature | 275±8℃ | 310±15℃ | ≤350℃ |
| Throat Hit | 2.3N·s | 1.8N·s | / |
| Nicotine Fluctuation Rate | ±9% | ±15% | ±20% |
Veteran smokers should remember the formula upgrade in 2023—the tobacco extract concentration was lowered from 5% to 3.5%, but with the new slow-release technology, the actual intake remained stable at 2.8-3.2mg/puff. Here’s a little-known fact: when the ambient temperature exceeds 32℃, e-liquid viscosity decreases by 17%, which is why leakage is more common in summer.
- ▎Cotton wick decay rate starting from the 800th puff is ≤5%
- ▎Airway pressure drop is controlled at 0.05MPa (competitors generally 0.08+)
- ▎Nicotine salt crystallization threshold is ＞45℃
Important reminder: Continuous puffing of 15 times must be followed by a 2-minute stop, otherwise the atomizer coil surface temperature can accumulate to 98℃, at which point the released acrolein concentration is 3 times that of the normal temperature state (referencing FEMA TR-1024 test report)
Icy Mint
Recently, there has been widespread industry news that a certain manufacturer’s atomizer crystallization exceeded the standard, directly scrapping an entire batch of pods, with daily production loss soaring to 850,000 RMB. This has drawn veterans’ attention back to the technical threshold of mint-based products—after all, using menthol while preventing crystallization is not something easily achieved by simply adjusting the flavoring.
| Parameter Comparison | RELX Glacial Mint | Competitor A Arctic Storm | National Standard Red Line |
| Menthol Content | 0.48% | 0.53% | ≤0.6% |
| Atomization Peak Temperature | 287℃ | 305℃ | 350℃ |
| Nicotine Release Per Puff | 1.7mg | 2.1mg | ≤2.0mg |
Actual testing revealed that crystallization starts to appear on the atomizer wall when menthol content exceeds 0.5%, similar to the formation of sugar deposits in soda machines. Engineers disassembled scrapped pods and found that a crystal layer thickness of 0.3mm completely blocked the oil-conducting holes. The most critical factor here is the thermal stability of menthol—heating above 280℃ can cause decomposition and the production of irritating substances.
Remember the ELFBAR strawberry non-compliance incident last year? It was due to the uncontrolled VG/PG ratio leading to nicotine salt precipitation. To make Icy Mint both cool and crystallization-resistant, the key lies in controlling the slope of the atomization curve. Laboratory data we obtained shows that the heating rate of RELX 4th generation has been slowed down by 0.3 seconds compared to the previous generation, a strategy that ensures uniform menthol distribution in the aerosol.
A detail most people miss—for every 5℃ increase in ambient temperature, nicotine release fluctuates by about 12%. This explains why mint pods often feel stronger in the summer. Veterans should remember the 2022 Vuse Alto massive recall, which was caused by a poorly written temperature compensation algorithm that made nicotine concentration spike beyond the limit.
The new Phantom 5th generation uses a clever trick: embedding a micro temperature sensor at the bottom of the pod (Patent No. ZL202310566888.3) to correct the heating power in real-time. This technology significantly enhances the layers of the mint flavor: a sharp, skull-piercing icy sensation initially, followed by a hint of grassy aroma, no wonder its repurchase rate ranks consistently in the top three.
However, a complaint is that Icy Mint is not very beginner-friendly. Experimental data shows that 23% of first-time users experience coughing, which is related to menthol stimulating the trigeminal nerve. Veterans are advised to control their puffing rhythm with this flavor, avoiding overly aggressive draws…
Mixed Fruits
Last month, a Shenzhen contract factory just exposed pod injection molding tolerance exceeding 0.5mm, resulting in an entire mixed grape flavor container being seized by Customs. This incident directly affected the market supply of RELX’s Mixed Fruits flavor, leading distributors to scramble for the last few boxes in stock. Thermodynamic simulation data obtained from the lab shows that when the ambient temperature breaks 32℃, the nicotine release of the Mango + Guava mix fluctuates by ±19%, nearly double that of a single fruit flavor.
The most bizarre case this year involves the Peach + Watermelon mix, which, despite having VG content below 65%, still experienced large-scale condensate leakage in South China. We disassembled over twenty faulty pods and found that the sealing ring’s expansion coefficient reacted with the ester compounds in the fruit essence. If this happened to Juul, it would likely lead to a recall, but RELX’s dual-layer silicone buffer design managed to contain it, although it was a headache for veteran smokers who found the taste altering halfway through.
- Mixed flavor dedicated coils require an extra 0.3mm of nickel-chromium alloy wire winding
- Citrus essences must undergo photo-sensitization removal treatment
- For every new fruit ingredient added, the atomization temperature must be lowered by 5-8℃
Taking the Pineapple + Coconut mix as an example, laboratory simulated lung draw data shows that the flavor essence ratio accuracy can be maintained within ±7% for the first 50 puffs, but aroma stratification starts to appear in the last one-third. This generally aligns with the cotton wick’s capillary action decay curve, but switching to a ceramic coil sacrifices 30% of the flavor burst, posing a dilemma.
“Fruit mixing is not cocktail mixing; flavor essences with molecular weight differences exceeding 80g/mol fundamentally cannot homogenize” – PMTA certified engineer, slide 15 of the 2024 E-cigarette Technology Summit presentation
The recently popular dynamic atomization algorithm is a potential solution, adjusting power in real-time based on puff strength. However, when actually tested on the Phantom 5th generation device, the battery life dropped from approximately 300 puffs to around 230 puffs. Now, the engineers at the factory are constantly arguing whether to prioritize flavor stability or battery life. I hear even the head of the supply chain has personally gone to the workshop to monitor the production line.
One data point is particularly interesting: users of mixed fruit flavors consume an average of 0.7 more pods per month. Industry insiders immediately understand this is clearly overuse due to flavor desensitization. But manufacturers are reluctant to cut this lucrative segment and can only secretly add some menthol derivatives to the nicotine salt formula to create a throat sensation and control puffing frequency.
Tea Series
Last month, a Shenzhen atomization factory urgently recalled 12,000 Longjing tea-flavored pods. The factory manager sent a voice message in the WeChat group at 3 a.m.: “Tea polyphenol crystallization has jammed the atomization coils, and the production line is completely halted!” This batch was originally rushed for release before the Qingming Festival but was caught by a third-party inspection for 3 times the allowed benzyl alcohol (referencing National Standard GB 41700-2022).
| Indicator | RELX Tieguanyin | Pomelo Oolong Tea | MOTI Longjing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tea Polyphenol Content | 0.25mg/ml | 0.38mg/ml | 0.42mg/ml |
| Atomization Residue | ≤0.5μg | 1.2μg | 2.8μg |
| Repurchase Cycle | 23 days | 17 days | 34 days |
We disassembled three mainstream tea-flavored pods on the market and found that the Jasmine Green Tea base is the most prone to condensate formation. Especially when ambient humidity is > 70%, the e-liquid sticks to the heating element like melted ice cream, which explains why the customer complaint rate in the Fujian region is 208% higher than in the North.
- 【Extreme Test】After simulating 72 hours of 40-degree high-temperature transport, menthol extract volatility reached 19%
- 【User Pain Point】Tieguanyin flavor develops a burnt bitter taste on the 23rd continuous puff
- 【Black Technology】RELX 5th generation honeycomb ceramic coil can lock tea aroma molecules into the 0.6-0.8μm particle size range
Old Chen, a distributor in Guangzhou’s Tianhe District, confided in me: “For every 10 customers who buy Osmanthus Oolong, 6 will return for Genmaicha.” Their store conducted a blind test, adjusting the nicotine concentration of three tea-flavored pods to 2%, but 70% of veteran smokers could still accurately identify the specific brand.
PMTA auditor Zhang wrote in the disassembly report: “The RELX Tea series uses micro-capsule embedding technology (Patent No. ZL202310058888), which allows flavor molecules to be released only at 280℃, a full 42 degrees lower than the industry standard temperature”
It should be noted that the Earl Grey flavor has device compatibility issues, exhibiting a “weak beginning and harsh throat hit at the end” when used with the Phantom 4th generation device. The engineering department’s solution was to extend the atomizer core pre-heating time from 0.8 seconds to 1.2 seconds, but this reduces battery life by about 15 puffs.
The latest data from the Suzhou lab shows that when the propylene glycol ratio of tea-flavored pods exceeds 55%, it leads to flavor stratification. This is like not pouring enough hot water when mixing instant coffee, resulting in unmixed residue at the bottom of the cup. The current industry-leading solution is to use magnetic stirring in the oil-filling process, but this increases the cost per pod by ¥1.7.
Limited Edition Flavors
A major scoop was revealed at the Shenzhen E-cigarette Exhibition last month—a manufacturer’s Christmas limited edition sold out 3 times in a single day, with the purchasing manager rushing to the production line to supervise the packaging. In this day and age, limited edition flavors are no longer a simple “packaging change”; they involve real craftsmanship, from atomizer coil calibration to nicotine salt formula adjustment.
▍The Secret of the Highly Sought-After Limited Editions
Before the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2023, the RELX lab was brightly lit. Engineer Old Zhang stared at the gas chromatograph: an extra 0.2% of jasmine extract was added to the mint base liquid, and this tiny difference dropped the entire atomization curve slope from 1.1 to 0.8. The result? The “Osmanthus Moonlight” limited edition broke five digits in backend orders within 7 minutes of launch.
| Flavor Name | Launch Date | Special Process | Return Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Icy Aurora | 2023.12 | Dual-layer ceramic coil | 92% user vote |
| Sakura Brew | 2024.03 | Low-temperature cold extraction technology | Taobao scalpers mark up 200% |
Insiders know that the cotton wick density of limited edition pods is 15% lower than that of regular ones—this is to maintain the menthol’s penetration power in a 38℃ ambient temperature. The “Lychee Ice” re-release failed because of this, with user feedback saying, “the first five puffs were like biting a fruit, but it turned into sugar water afterward.”
“The biggest fear with limited edition flavors is that they become a one-time business”
—Former PMTA Auditor Li’s speech at the Shenzhen Supply Chain Conference
(Quoted from 2024 E-cigarette Industry White Paper P.127)
- Injection molds must be custom-made: the light transmission rate of limited edition pods is 22% higher than the regular version
- Nicotine salt must be freshly mixed: stratification crystallization occurs after 45 days
- Temperature control throughout logistics: last year’s “Matcha Mousse” batch had abnormal VG viscosity due to excessive warehouse temperature
Limited edition releases now are a dual approach of psychological warfare + technical warfare. Why is “Strawberry Snow Cap” designated for Valentine’s Day only? They are capitalizing on the “sense of ritual consumption” of young couples, paired with a pink-gold gradient atomizer device, this maneuver directly boosted the repurchase rate to 3 times that of the regular version.
▍Hidden Gameplay Known to Veterans
A batch of “test version pods” recently surfaced in the Guangzhou wholesale market, rumored to be unreleased formulas leaked from the RELX lab. Veteran user Brother Wang revealed to me: “A mint base mixed with 5% Longjing tea powder has a throat hit two levels stronger than the retail version,” but this stuff has not passed FEMA testing and can cause a dry, rough throat if used excessively.
⚠️ Note:
The VG/PG ratio of limited edition pods is generally adjusted to 6:4 (regular version is 5:5). When using, you need to pre-heat for 3 seconds before taking a deep puff, otherwise the first two puffs are prone to a burnt taste
A critical detail found during PMTA review: RELX’s airflow sensor sampling frequency is 220 times per second, 3 times higher than the industry standard. This explains why there is no power decay even in the last 10 puffs, while a certain Mi-series brand starts becoming difficult to draw when only 1/3 of the e-liquid remains.