Crossword Genius

Characters covered in lava: perspiring, but they aren't exactly smoking (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

vapers

'they aren't exactly smoking' is the definition.
(vaping is an alternative to smoking)

'characters covered in lava perspiring but' is the wordplay.
'characters covered in' indicates a hidden word (letters or characters hidden within the clue).
'VAPERS' can be found hidden inside 'lava perspiring but'.

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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