Every cigarette brand offers a “light” and a “full flavour” version — but what’s actually different between them, and which should you buy? Here’s the honest answer, without the marketing.
The short answer
Full flavour cigarettes deliver a richer, heavier tobacco taste with a denser draw. Lights use the same tobacco but with more ventilation in the filter, which dilutes each puff for a smoother, milder feel. It’s a difference in experience and draw, not a health difference — Canadian law stopped brands from claiming “light” means safer years ago, and it doesn’t.
How the difference is made
The tobacco blend inside a brand’s light and full versions is usually identical or very close. The change is mostly in the filter: tiny ventilation holes let more air mix into each draw on a light cigarette, so the smoke feels cooler, thinner, and less intense. That’s why a light never feels like a different brand — just a gentler version of the same one.
Which one should you pick?
- Pick full flavour if you smoke fewer cigarettes but want each one to feel substantial, or you’re switching from brands like Export ‘A’ or du Maurier regular.
- Pick lights if you smoke steadily through the day and full flavour feels harsh by evening, or you’re used to “silver”/”smooth” retail variants.
- Can’t decide? At native-market prices ($29.99 a carton), ordering one of each costs less than a single retail carton — most of our first-time customers do exactly that.
Popular picks in each style
| Style | Popular native options |
|---|---|
| Full flavour | BB Full Flavour, Nexus Full, Canadian Classics Original |
| Light | Putter’s Light, Canadian Classics Silver, BB Light |
| Menthol | Canadian Menthol — one of the few true menthols left in Canada |
See all options in our cigarettes category or read the complete native cigarettes guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are light cigarettes safer than full flavour?
No. “Light” refers to a smoother, more ventilated draw — not reduced harm. Canadian regulations prohibit marketing lights as safer because they aren’t.
Do lights and full flavour use different tobacco?
Usually the blend is the same or very similar; the difference comes mainly from filter ventilation that dilutes each draw on the light version.
What’s the menthol equivalent?
Menthol adds a cooling mint note. Since Canada banned retail menthols, native-market options like Canadian Menthol are among the only true menthol cigarettes still available.
You must be of legal smoking age in your province (19+ in most of Canada) to purchase tobacco products.