A combustible heat source (4) with an airflow channel (16) and a non-metallic, non-combustible, gas-resistant barrier coating (14) for a tobacco heating e-cigarette is described. The barrier coating (14) prevents the migration of aerosol from the aerosol forming substrate (6) to the combustible heat source (4) and reduces the level of harmful or toxic smoke constituents. The barrier coating has an elemental metal or alloy content of less than 50 mole percent.