What is vapour?

Vapour is the substance produced by e-cigarettes to be inhaled. It is created when the liquid inside the e-cigarette (known as e-liquid) is heated. After inhaling, the vapour is then exhaled by the person using the e-cigarette. Here we take an in depth look at how vapour is formed and what it is made of.

What Is In E-Cigarette Vapour?

E-cigarette vapour is created when e-liquid is heated by the coil inside the clearomiser or cartridge. Once heated, the liquid turns into vapour which can then be inhaled through the mouthpiece by the person using the e-cig (also known as the vaper). After being inhaled into the lungs, the vapour is then exhaled through the mouth or nose.

Similar in appearance to a small puff of cloud (hence the term “cloud chasing” which refers to the use of e-cigarettes in competitions), e-cigarette vapour is mostly comprised of small droplets of water which evaporate a few seconds after being released into the air. The other ingredients found in e-cigarette vapour are largely the same as those found in e-liquid, namely propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, water, flavorings and nicotine. For more information on the ingredients in e-liquid, check out our blog on what is e-liquid and how it gets made.

If you are looking to get very technical about the vapour produced by e-cigarettes, it is actually an aerosol, as this is the scientific name for any substance which binds together in the air before breaking apart. However, the term vapour (and moreover vaping which refers to the entire industry) has become widespread since its inception over 10 years ago, so we aren’t about to start bucking this trend now!

Does Vapour Smell?

E-cigarette vapour will typically carry the same smell as the flavour which you are vaping. However, e-cigarette vapour will not leave a smell behind after it evaporates as the particles which make up the vapour do not latch on to objects in the same way as other substances. This means you can vape inside without needing to worry about the smell lingering on your clothes or furniture.

How Long Does Vapour Last For?

E-cigarette vapour will hang in the air for a few seconds before it starts to evaporate, although the amount of time it stays in the air for will partly depend on the weather. On more humid days, you may find that the vapour may last for slightly longer before dissipating. The ingredients in your e-liquid will also make a difference; a higher percentage of PG in your e-liquid creates thinner clouds of vape, meaning that it will evaporate more quickly, and likewise more VG in your e-liquid will mean it takes longer to disappear.