While vaping and e-cigarettes may still feel like a very new invention to many, its roots actually stretch back longer than you might think. Interested in finding out where vaping started and how we got to the sophisticated devices we have today? Dive in and find out.
The birth of the e-cigarette
With new innovations and vape devices being released all the time, it’s fascinating to see how vapes have evolved from the first, fairly limited, e-cigarettes.
1960s-1980s: The beginnings of the battery powered e-cigarette
The first person to conceptualise and patent the concept of an e-cigarette was Herbert A. Gilbert in the early 60s. Inspired by the nebulisers that were routinely used at the time, he came up with the idea of a ‘non-tobacco cigarette’ that was battery powered and released a vapour of nicotine and ‘flavoured air’. Although the patent was accepted, and the idea was materialised, it was never sold commercially.
The next person to expand upon this line of thinking was Dr Norman Jacobson, who worked on a concept which he referred to as the ‘flavour cigarette’. Unfortunately, this idea also didn’t take off. This is not entirely surprising, because at the time many people were still unaware of how harmful cigarettes could be. Dr Jacobson is, however, first credited with using the term ‘vaping’.
Early 2000s: the first commercial e-cigarette
In 2000, a Chinese pharmacist named Hon Lik started working on the electronic cigarette that would later spark the popularisation of e-cigarettes. He patented his idea in 2003 and by 2004, the Ruyan e-cigarette, e-pipe and e-cigar had gone into mass production in China.
The company that Hon Lik worked for, and is still a chairman for today, began trading under the name Ruyan Group. By 2006, the Ruyan V8 e-cigarette became available in multiple different colour options and with a number of different flavour cartridges available, including Virginia, black tea and jasmine.
The Ruyan V8 benefited from the use of lithium ion batteries, which were invented in the late 20th century, and meant that electronic items could be made smaller and more compact.
The rise in popularity of early vapes
The advancements in vaping technology that took place in the early 21st century meant that their popularity soon began to grow.
2007-2008: vape devices spread globally
With the Ruyan Group making waves in China, e-cigarettes started to make their way across the globe. The US, Germany and the UK quickly developing a vaping market, and with demand on the rise, governments had to figure out their policies quickly.
Not all countries welcomed the change, however, Holland, Australia and others banned the sale of e-cigarettes. Even now, there are still some countries where the purchase and use of e-cigarettes is illegal.
That said, due to the increased understanding and the amount of research and study that has been produced on the matter they have become much more widely accepted. Our guide to vaping laws in other countries has some handy information about the current state of play.
2010: vapes begin to go mainstream
By 2012, vaping was beginning to hit the mainstream. Not only had several vaping conventions been held, but celebrities were being spotted out and about with their devices. Some spoke out about their support for vaping, including Kathrine Heigl.
Vaping became more widely accepted throughout the next few years and its benefits as a way to stop smoking were being recognised. Around this time, the DIY market for e liquids and rebuildable devices first emerged, offering more flexibility for vapers.
2015: JUUL hits the market
JUUL vapes hit the market in 2015 and quickly created a huge buzz. The sleek design and recognisable brand caused a rapid growth in the popularity of vaping, but also sparked concerns about the rise of youth vaping and raised awareness of issues around vape marketing practices and legislation.
Modern vapes: device design, customisation, and the push to reusable vapes
In the last decade, vape design has continued to be redefined and revolutionized. The vapes that we see today are much more compact and portable than previous versions. They also come in a huge range of colours, designs and offer a massive amount of choice when it comes to flavour.
Modern vapes have also benefited from some big evolutionary changes, including the introduction of sub-ohm tanks, convenient pod systems, increased battery power, and higher puff counts.
In the 2020s disposable vapes had a sudden rise in popularity, although they were not a new concept this sparked the introduction of a huge variety of disposable devices to the market. However, we are now seeing many people moving away from disposables and back towards rechargeable and reusable vapes. This is partly because the UK Government have introduced a disposable vape ban which will come into effect from 1st June 2025, but also due to a concerns around the environmental impact of so many single-use vapes, and an interest in more sustainable vaping options.
Over the last year we’ve seen the popularity of big puff vapes, reusable and rechargeable vapes skyrocket. From prefilled big puff pod kits like Lost Mary 4in1 and DOJO Blast 6000 to refillable kits such as Elf Bar ELFX and Vaporesso XROS 4, there are lot of convenient reusable vapes available now.
How the UK have embraced vaping as a stop smoking aid
It isn’t just the design of vapes which has changed dramatically over the years, but also their perception. Public Health England first released findings that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking back in 2015, and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities has continued to stand by this research.
This, along with countless other positive pieces of research and data analysis, and the strong vaping regulations we have in place, have meant that the UK have embraced vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking. It has aided in smoking prevalence dropping year on year, now being at the lowest since records began, and the Government have even introduced a swap to stop scheme which offers smokers a free vaping starter kit alongside smoking cessation support.
Vaping is now the most popular stop smoking tool in the UK, and is recognised as a crucial tool in the fight for a smoke-free future. You can read all about the research support vaping in our post ‘Does vaping help to quit smoking?’
The vape flavour revolution
While the size, shape and design of vapes themselves have come on in leaps and bounds, there’s also been a massive revolution when it comes to flavour. The first few e-cigarettes were very limited when it came to flavour choices, but as vaping technology improved, so too did the choice of flavours.
Now, it’s possible to find an endless array of flavour options on offer from a huge range of different names. From pre-filled pods to e-liquids for refillable vapes, the variety is huge, and the biggest brands are always competing to come out with the best and boldest new combinations – resulting in a huge amount of choice for vapers.
However, the fact that there are e-liquids in a variety of sweet and appealing flavours has provoked concern when it comes to underage vapers. Some governments have enacted or are considering flavour bans and/or regulations, including here in the UK.
Government regulations on vapes and vaping
As the vaping industry grew, governments around the world were required to step in and start creating legislation around the sale and distribution of vaping products. These legislations were, and continue to be, created for a number of reasons, including a desire to prevent youth vaping, to protect the environment and to ensure that the vapes sold are compliant with various health and safety measures.
In 2016, the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) was introduced to regulate vapes, this was an EU directive which was implemented into UK law by the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR).
Recently, it has been confirmed that the UK Government will ban single-use vapes in England and Wales from June 1, 2025. In addition to this ban, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on 20 March 2024, seeks new powers to restrict vape flavours, packaging, and how and where vapes are displayed in shops.
These changes to legislation are part of the Government’s attempts to create a smokefree generation and tackle youth vaping. However, the flavour ban in particular is highly contentious. You can find out more in our article, Are vape flavours being banned?.
The Autumn Budget 2024 also posed the introduction of the Vaping Products Duty at a flat rate of excise at £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid. Registrations and approvals for the new duty will start from 1 April 2026 with the expectation that the tax will come into force in October 2026. Read more about the new vape tax.
The future of vaping
With vaping continuing to grow in popularity and its benefits as an aid to stop smoking now widely recognised, attention is turning to ways to better refine the experience. For example, the growth in refillable and reusable vape options is a result of a growing hunger for more environmentally conscious products.
We’re also seeing a rise in big puff vapes and a demand for devices that are bigger, stronger, and last longer. Brands are answering the call, with great options like SKE Crystal 4in1, Hayati Pro Max, Vuse GO Max and many more.
Overall, the industry continues to work towards a more sustainable future for vaping, with a big focus on minimising vape waste and developing products with less environmental impact. Brands are also working hard to address the changes that we’re likely to see with the introduction of new legislation, from the disposables ban to the possible changes brought by the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Vaping has come a long way since its inception back in the 1960s and we’re looking forward to many more exciting innovations and developments in the years to come. Interested in seeing what’s on offer right now? Browse our full line of vapes online or pop into your local Evapo store.
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1197959345
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7814940/
https://casaa.org/education/vaping/historical-timeline-of-electronic-cigarettes/
