The Evolution of Vaping

Vaporizing has a long history. Herodotus describes, in Egypt (5th century B.C.) people were heating herbs and oils on hot stones to vape. The orator Cicero gave him the title “The Father of History,”. Therefore, we might have to trust him about the ancient origins of vaping.

Then, more than 1500 years ago, Irfan Shiekh invented the first shisha. This happened in another ancient part of the world in what is now Afghanistan. Later on, his dynasty introduced this way of smoking in India.

All those techniques led to the invention of current vapes as we know them today.

The first electronic cigarette patent was filed in 1963 by a dude named Herbert A. Gilbert. According to an interview with Mr. Gilbert, he said that it was kind of obvious that inhaling burnt stuff was gross. So he did what any normal human being would do and used “logic” to create a smoking alternative that didn’t rely on the need for combustion- this is a great idea but Unfortunately it was never commercially realized. Manufacturers were enjoying the height of the tobacco cigarette in the 1960s, when cigarette ads and public smoking ran rampant. There was no need for a less addictive, and healthier alternative to smoking. So poor Herbert’s revolutionary invention was ignored and his patent was left to rot in the archives – until 2003.

In the 80s Phil Ray and Normal Jacobson worked more towards commercializing the idea of e-cigarettes.

However, in the 90s FDA didn’t allow tobacco companies to introduce e-cigarettes to the market.

In Europe, vaping was also popular, and in the 90s “Eagle” Bill Amato invented the cannabis vaporizer. Of course, Amsterdam was the place. Interestingly enough, they based the German stationary/desktop vaporizer Volcano, from 2000, on his revolutionary ideas.

In the 2000s, Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist and small-time medical researcher made the first modern e-cigarette. Motivated by his own smoking addiction, and his father’s death from smoking-induced lung cancer, Hon Lik spent numerous years building a smokeless cigarette that worked. In 2006, he released his first e-cigarette to the international public. It contained a battery, plastic cartridge, ultrasonic atomizer and a nicotine solution suspended in propylene glycol .

cartomizersSoon ultrasonic atomizers were replaced with cartomizers and clearomizers. The first cartomizer was invented by a pair of brothers in the United Kingdom named Umer and Tariq Sheikh. With the introduction of the cartomizer, the e-cigarette became more viable for commercial use. The cartomizer allowed e-cigarettes to be sold in single disposable units instead of separate cartridges and atomizers. Now that it was more user friendly, the e-cigarette continued to grow.

Although it was initially unheard of, more and more people are beginning to learn about and enjoy the benefits of vaping. Despite misleading comparisons to traditional cigarettes and strict FDA bans ensuing on manufacturers, the vape industry is alive and well. The vape community continues to develop new and innovative ways to enhance and optimize the vaping experience. Regional events and competitions are held all over the world to celebrate this burgeoning industry.

box modsVaping technology has undergone tremendous changes to produce the e-cigarettes available to us today. From the initial atomizer and cartomizer, the e-cigarette has evolved to box mods and advanced personal vaporizers. Vapers have the option to choose from a variety of atomizers, rebuildable atomizers, and rebuildable dripping atomizers. They can opt for variable voltage and wattage settings, drip tips, complex circuitry and thousands of ejuice choices.  E-cigarettes come in all shapes and sizes, including pen vapes, cig-a-likes, and cylindrical mods. There are vape products perfect for every unique user out there.