Vaporisation: The Ten Commandments

After tragically losing his father from lung cancer, Hon Lik, a Chinese, who also smoked 2 packs a day, invented the first tobacco-free cigarette that eliminated the combustion problem and cleverly substituted it with vaporisation, over 50 years ago.

Nowadays, e-cigarettes golden age is finally here, hundreds of different models and flavoured e-liquids are on the market.

We want you to have the best vaping experience,  so below we are introducing the 10 Commandments of the perfect vaper!

I / Your Device You Will Know

There are a few basic parts that all devices made for vaporisation have in common. Often they look different in appearance but perform the same basic functions. Let’s take a look at their different parts:

• • A battery. This powers the device or Mod. Some devices use an integrated battery while others use replaceable cells.
  • An atomiser or the part containing the heating element. It heats up the e-liquid which causes the liquid to vaporise and then to be inhaled.
  • Coils are a replaceable section of wire that has been wound into a spring-like coil shape. The coils are then wicked with an absorbent material, like cotton, which absorbs the e-liquid. The wire coils are then heated to vaporise the e-liquid on the wicks.
  • A tank or the part containing the e-liquid storage material.
  • A tasteful e-liquid. A mixture of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavourings, and CBD

II / Richer You Will Be

A common question among people considering the changeover is if it is going to save them money in the short and long term. So let’s make the math!

At €10 a pack for seven days, cigarettes will cost you €70. The price of e-liquid varies greatly but €10 buys you a bottle that could last you (depending on how often you vape) anywhere from one day to a couple of weeks, allowing you to save about €60 per week or €250 per month (€3000 per year!!) by switching over to e-cigs vs. cigarettes!

Not convinced? See by yourself by making your own savings calculation here

Considering the short-term savings of switching over to vaporisation,  you can easily imagine the long term implications of choosing e-smoking on your bank account. Being able to buy cartridges and e-liquids in multiples that will last longer for the same average prices means you will increase your savings and also means no rushing out in the awful weather to get another pack.

It is clear that vaporisation is cheaper both in the long and short term for smokers.

III / Educated You Will Be

Without clear studies about how vaporisation could impact your health, the e-cigarette can at least limit the damage by replacing the 4000 known chemicals in cigarettes down to just the 4 main elements that make up e-liquids:

• Propylene Glycol – It carries flavour more effectively than VG.
• Vegetal Glycerin –VG is exclusively derived from plants (soybeans or palm). It is thicker than Propylene glycol. It produces better vapour than PG and is a great sweetener as well.
• Flavours – You can literally pick from thousands, there is something to suit everyone’s taste. Choosing is like standing in the middle of a candy store. E-juice usually contains 5 – 20 % flavour. E-liquid manufacturers will use either natural or artificial flavouring.
• CBD or Nicotine depends on your preference. Unlike nicotine-based e-liquid, CBD concentration can vary massively in strength going from 25mg to 1000mg per bottle.

IV / Grateful Your Throat Will Be

If you select a zero nicotine e-liquid like Harmony, you will notice that the throat hit is nowhere near as strong as from a tobacco cigarette. A higher nicotine level seems to lead to a harsher vape and an increased likelihood of coughing.

Nevertheless, new e-cigarette users may experience a few minor side effects as they become accustomed to vaporisation. Here is what you should do to spare your throat:

• Check your nicotine level: It may be too high. If you are using a very strong nicotine strength, go down a level and see how it feels.
• Monitor your vaporisation style. If you are puffing deeper, longer or more frequently than you smoked traditional cigarettes, you could be irritating your throat.
• Drink water to help soothe your throat, and consider consuming beverages that can moisturise your throat, such as tea with honey and lemon.

V / Security You Won’t Forget

An e-cigarette is a high-tech device that is heating up and working with combustion. Safety is a major concern you should have when switching to vaporisation.

It is very important that you read the instructions that come with your vape pen. You have to know how to use the batteries properly, especially when using sub ohm atomisers on mechanical and unregulated mods.

Forums are also a great way to ask questions about safety and learn through other people’s experiences.

VI/ Your Device You Will Understand

How Exactly does the electronic cigarette work? We couldn’t explain it better than our colleague from howtovap.com:

“The cartridge holds the liquid. When the cartridge is inserted into the e-cig, the cartridge filler (polyester soaked in e-liquid/juice) makes contact with the atomiser’s bridge. Using gravity and capillary action, the juice is absorbed via the atomiser bridge into the atomiser’s steel mesh reservoir where it sits. This is when user input is required. When the user inhales on the e-cig, this action “pulls” the liquid from the atomiser’s reservoir into the ceramic atomiser pot. This liquid is then absorbed by the aromatic polyimide wick (which is situated inside the ceramic pot). At the same time, the device is heating the coil around the wick and therefore heating the liquid until it becomes a vapour. This vapour is drawn up through the e-cig and out of the mouthpiece. “

Questions?

VII / Vaping You Will Learn

The first e-cigarette puff is often a surprise for new vapers. The technique for puffing on an electronic cigarette is much different than smoking a tobacco cigarette. Don’t worry, we are here to help you!

1. Before turning on your device, make sure it is legal if you are in a public place! Not all places will allow vaporisation.
2. Hit the fire button (if there is one), put the mouthpiece to your mouth, and inhale; keep in mind that you’re not going to have to inhale as hard as you do with a traditional cigarette. Many smokers like to do a “primer puff” to warm up the atomiser of their device. To do so, the first puff you take will be quick to heat up the coil but without the intention of pulling everything.

WARNING:
When a normal cigarette has been fully smoked, the cherry reaches the butt and you know it is finished and throw it out. With e-cigs, the battery doesn’t shrink as you’re vaping. So how are you supposed to know when you have had enough?
Of course, you can go out with your smoker friends and initially use this as a gauge to know when to stop. But what will you do the first time you smoke alone? The thing is, you’ll still get a nicotine rush, so you have to rely on your body to let you know when enough is enough. The general rule of thumb is that the higher nicotine concentrations should be vaped in shorter bursts than the lower ones.

VIII / A Vape Sucker You Won’t Be

A common mistake among new users is to flood the tank trying the suck the vape. E-liquid is drawn up through the tube and into your mouth.

With time, you will find your own rhythm and style but remember to draw the vaporisation in a slow and smooth way.

The draw you take should not be unlike a normal breath you would take while puckering your lips and inhaling. Remember the average vape is five seconds, not two seconds.

IX / The Taste You Will Love

Today, with the vaporisation trend hitting the market, users have the choice between a great range of e-cigarette, e-liquids and tastes. You can choose from crème brulée flavour to coffee or even french fries. Harmony e-liquids, for example, allows you to taste original cannabis terpenes.

Your final choice will depend on your personal requirements, smoking habit and flavour preferences.
Remember that to optimise the taste of your e-liquid it is important to clean your device well or to switch to new equipment when you switch flavours.

X/ Quitting You Will Try

Despite our enthusiasm about vaporisation, it is important to note that vaping is neither safe nor healthy, but we believe it’s an alternative to traditional smoking. Vaporisation has been proven to be one of the most effective ways for getting off the “stickies”. Last year the Cochrane collaboration published a review of evidence looking at whether e-cigarettes can help someone stop smoking, and if they are safe to use for that purpose.

As more research is conducted, the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as an aid to quit smoking will become better understood.