The present invention relates to a method of controlling an aerosol generating system and the associated system. The system comprises: an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating device. The device having a detector capable of detecting the presence of the aerosol generating article and distinguishing the aerosol generating article from other articles configured for use with the aerosol generating system based on a spectroscopic signature of a taggant incorporated within a material of the aerosol generating article. The method comprises the steps of: detecting the presence of an aerosol generating article determining whether the article comprises a taggant comparing the spectroscopic signature of the detected taggant with a look up table of taggant spectroscopic signatures corresponding to articles configured for use with the system preventing activation of the device including preventing the supply of power to the heating element unless the detected taggant spectroscopic signature corresponds to an article configured for use with the system and activating the device if the detected taggant spectroscopic signature corresponds to an article configured for use with the system.
