The Rise of Elux: From Disposables to Bottled Nic Salts
The Rise of Elux: From Disposables to Nic Salts
How Elux rose from a 2021 start up to a UK disposable giant, then moved its whole flavour range into refillable nic salts after the June 2025 ban.
Few vaping brands have risen as fast as Elux or adapted as quickly when the rules changed. Elux grew from a 2021 start up into one of the UK's biggest disposable vape brands on the strength of the Legend range, then moved its entire flavour catalogue into refillable nic salts when single use disposables were banned in June 2025. This is the story of how Elux rose, why it changed and what that means for vapers today.
If you want the product basics first, our guide on what Elux Legend is explains the range. Our Elux Legend nic salts review rates it in detail.
The beginnings of Elux
Elux was founded in 2021 by Shenzhen Elux Technology, often shortened to EluxTech and grew at remarkable speed. Entering a crowded disposable market, the brand stood out through bold flavours, eye catching designs and reliable performance, qualities that built a loyal following fast. Within a couple of years it had grown from a newcomer into one of the most recognisable names on UK vape shelves. The foundation of that success was a simple promise, which was to deliver intense, accurate flavour in a convenient, affordable device. Elux delivered on that consistently enough to become a household name among vapers.
The Legend era
The brand's defining product was the Elux Legend, especially the Legend 3500. With a large puff count, a wide spread of vivid flavours and a smooth nic salt hit, it became one of the best selling disposables in the country. Alongside it sat the Firerose line, which offered bolder, more unusual blends for vapers who wanted something different. Together these ranges turned Elux into a market leader. The flavour names that defined them, like Mr Blue, Tiger Blood and Gummy Bear, became favourites that vapers recognised instantly. This was the peak of the disposable era for the brand.
| Milestone | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Elux Technology founded in Shenzhen |
| Growth years | Legend and Firerose become UK best sellers |
| 2024 | Wins major UK e-liquid industry awards |
| June 2025 | UK bans single use disposables |
| Today | Full range lives on as refillable nic salts |
The disposable ban of June 2025
Everything changed on 1 June 2025, when the UK banned the sale of all single use disposable vapes. The decision was driven by environmental concerns over the waste created by throwaway devices and by worries about youth access. Devices like the Elux Legend 3500, which could not be refilled or recharged, were no longer legal to sell. For a brand built so heavily on disposables, this was a major moment that could have spelled trouble. Instead, Elux treated it as an opportunity to evolve rather than a setback. That response defined the brand's next chapter.
Enjoy the Elux flavours you love
The classic Elux flavours live on as refillable nic salts. Browse the full Elux Legend range at Vape Store Direct, with free delivery over £20. Call the team if you would like help choosing.
To pick up those classic flavours in their new form, the Elux Legend Nic Salts collection brings the whole range together and lets you mix and match across the multi buy deals.
The move to nic salts
Rather than disappear with the disposables, Elux moved its entire flavour catalogue into refillable formats. The Legend disposable flavours became the Elux Legend nic salts, while the Firerose flavours became the Firerose 5000 nic salts, with the recipes carried straight across. This meant the taste people loved from a Legend 3500 was preserved exactly, just in a 10ml bottle for a refillable pod kit instead of a throwaway device. The brand also kept the familiar 50/50 formula and added more strength choice, so the transition felt seamless for loyal customers while meeting the new rules.
Recognition and reputation
This was not just a survival move. It was a sign of a brand at the top of its game. Elux had already earned serious industry recognition, including E-Liquid Range of the Year at the 2024 Vapouround Awards, along with awards for best e-liquid and best fruit flavour at Vapour Expo. That pedigree carried into the nic salt era, reassuring vapers that the bottled versions met the same high standard as the disposables. Today Elux Legend is one of the most popular and well regarded nic salt ranges in the UK, which is a remarkable position for a brand only a few years old.
The Elux journey at a glance
What it means for vapers today
The upshot is good news for anyone who enjoyed Elux disposables. The exact flavours you knew are still available, now in a cheaper, lower waste, refillable form. A single 10ml bottle holds roughly the same liquid as five disposables, so running costs drop sharply once you own a simple pod kit. You also get more nicotine strength choice and far less plastic waste. The only adjustment is learning to refill a pod, which is quick and easy. For most people the move from an Elux disposable to Elux Legend nic salts is a clear upgrade in cost and sustainability.
Quick tip: if you had a favourite Elux disposable flavour, look for the matching Elux Legend nic salt. The recipe is the same, so the taste carries straight across.
Making the switch yourself
If you are one of the many people who used an Elux disposable before the ban, moving across is straightforward and worth doing. The first decision is nicotine strength. Since disposables ran at 20mg, most switchers stay at 20mg to start before stepping down later, which our guide on choosing the right Elux Legend strength, 10mg vs 20mg explains. The second is flavour, where the simplest route is to find the bottled version of whatever disposable you used, since the recipe is identical. If you fancy exploring, our guide to the top Elux Legend flavours to try first points to the best sellers worth trying.
The only genuinely new skill is refilling a pod, which takes seconds once you have done it once. You fill a small bottle into a refillable pod kit rather than throwing a whole device away, with a single 10ml bottle replacing around five disposables. Beyond the cost saving, the environmental benefit is real, since you are no longer discarding a battery and a plastic shell every couple of days. For most former disposable users the change quickly feels like an obvious improvement rather than a compromise, which is a large part of why Elux made the move so successfully.
The bottom line
Elux rose from a 2021 start up to a UK disposable giant on the back of the Legend range, then reinvented itself as a leading nic salt brand when single use devices were banned in June 2025. By carrying its flavours straight into refillable bottles, it preserved everything fans loved while adapting to the new rules. The result is a brand that not only survived a major change but came through it stronger, with its classic flavours still going strong in a smarter format.
Try the Elux Legend range
Browse the full Elux Legend lineup at Vape Store Direct with free delivery over £20. Call the team if you would like a personal flavour recommendation.
For more guides across the range, visit the Brand Insights: Elux hub. When you are ready, head to the Elux Legend Nic Salts collection.
This product contains nicotine, which is an addictive substance. Elux Legend products are intended for use by existing adult smokers and vapers aged 18 or over. Sold in line with UK TPD regulations.
Frequently asked questions
When was Elux founded?
Elux was founded in 2021 by Shenzhen Elux Technology, often shortened to EluxTech. It quickly became one of the biggest disposable vape brands in the UK.
Why did Elux move from disposables to nic salts?
The UK banned single use disposable vapes on 1 June 2025 over environmental and youth access concerns, so Elux moved its flavours into refillable nic salts to comply.
Are Elux Legend nic salt flavours the same as the disposables?
Yes. When Elux moved to nic salts, the recipes were carried straight across, so the flavours from the old Legend disposables taste the same in the 10ml bottles.
Is Elux still a good brand after the disposable ban?
Yes. Elux carried its full flavour range into refillable nic salts and remains one of the most popular nic salt brands in the UK, with award winning industry recognition.





















