History of Vaping - How Long Has Vaping Been Around?
The first documented reference to vapes was a patent for them in the 1930s, but they only hit the market as we know them today in the early 2000s.
Vaping may have only reached the marketplace in the past 20 years, but the idea of an electronic cigarette has a history spanning over 90 years. Here, we’ll explore the history of vaping - including who invented the vape to why they were created in the first place.
When Did Vaping Start?
It’s been reported that the first ever vape that was commercially successful, otherwise known as an e-cigarette, was invented in China in the early 2000s.1 Since then, vaping has grown, with some products now being a viable smoke-free alternative to cigarettes for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke. All this said, the invention of vapes has a much deeper history than this early noughties creation.
How Did Vaping Start?
The recorded history of vaping covers nearly a hundred years. But who invented the vape as it’s known today? It’s been reported that the first commercially successful vape was invented by Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist, in 2003.1&2
A number of inventors are known to have contributed to the development of vapes prior to Lik, including the following:
• Joseph Robinson: The first documented reference to an e-cigarette was a patent granted by Joseph Robinson in 1930.1 It’s unclear whether a prototype was ever developed or released for public use, however, the patent description talks about the creation of a vapourisation device that can be used for individual use.1&3
• Herbert A. Gilbert: Patented in 1965, Gilbert created a ‘smokeless non-tobacco cigarette’ that was never commercialised but meant as a smoking alternative.1 His prototype replaced the burning tobacco and paper with heated, flavoured air.1 A battery-powered heating element would ultimately heat the flavour elements without combustion.4
Further to these two evolutions, in the 1970s Phil Ray and Norman Jacobson are said to have synonymized the term ‘vape’ with vapourisation devices.1 In 1979, the pair commercialised a variation to the e-cigarette – a non-electronic device where users had to draw on a nicotine-soaked filter.1 Although arguably having popularised the term ‘vape’, Ray’s and Jacobson’s invention was not a commercial success.1
When Were Disposable Vapes Invented?
Hon Lik’s e-cigarette may be viewed as one of the first modern-day examples of a disposable vape, as it was single-use and likely provided adult users with a set number of puffs.
Today, disposable vapes are a common smoke-free alternative to continued smoking in many areas of the world. Unlike rechargeable vapes (also known as refillable vapes), disposable vapes typically need to be disposed of after their e-liquid or battery runs out. There are a few differences between refillable and disposable vapes, however, depending on the device, they may both feature noteworthy smoke-free features.
Vapes as a Smoke-Free Alternative
It's been reported that many of the key figures in the history of vaping worked to develop vapes as an alternative to smoking. Today, certain vapes may produce less harmful substances than cigarettes - although this will depend on the product in question. Vapes typically won't burn tobacco, as is the case with cigarettes. This means adult users might avoid exposure to the damaging components combustion produces – namely tar and carbon monoxide.
If you’re interested in a smoke-free alternative to cigarettes, our rechargeable, pod-based device VEEV ONE is worth considering. VEEV ONE does not produce smoke. Rather, VEEV ONE produces a vapor that is not smoke. This VEEV ONE aerosol contains significantly fewer harmful chemicals compared to cigarette smoke.*
Important information: VEEV ONE is not risk-free.
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* “Fewer harmful chemicals” refers to the range of harmful chemicals which are not detected in the VEEV ONE vapour but are detected in the smoke of a reference cigarette. See Important Information on IQOS.com.
Discover more about VEEV ONE’s features.
Vapes and the history of vaping are not the only smoke-free nicotine products to have emerged over the last 100 years. The timeline of heated tobacco devices also spans both the 20th and 21st century. Learn more about the history of heated tobacco here.
Smoke-free products are not risk-free and provide nicotine, which is addictive. The best decision any adult smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. Smoke-free products are not alternatives to quitting and are not designed as cessation aids.
This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.
Sources:
1CASAA – Historical timeline of vaping & electronic cigarettes
2Britannica – E-cigarette
3Google Patents – Electronic vaporizer
4NIH National Library of Medicine – E-cigarette use among youth and young adults: A report of the surgeon general
