How long has vaping been around? The History of Vaping: It’s Older Than You Think

Walk down any busy street in a major city, and you are likely to see someone exhaling a cloud of white vapor. Electronic cigarettes, or vapes, have become ubiquitous fixtures of modern life. Because of their sleek, battery-powered designs and tech-focused marketing, it is easy to assume that vaping is a strictly 21st-century invention.

However, the concept of inhaling vaporized substances predates the iPhone by decades—and arguably, by centuries. While the modern e-cigarette as we know it is a relatively recent product, the journey to get there was paved with early patents, failed prototypes, and inventors who were years ahead of their time.

If you have ever wondered just how long vaping has been around, the answer is surprisingly complex. Here is a look at the timeline of vaporization technology.
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Ancient Origins and Early Concepts

The fundamental idea behind vaping—heating a substance to release vapor without burning it—is ancient. Historical accounts suggest that the Scythians, an ancient nomadic people, used red-hot stones to vaporize hemp seeds as early as the 5th century B.C. While this was a far cry from a battery-operated pen, the basic principle of avoiding combustion was there.

The first step toward modern mechanical vaping occurred in 1927. An American inventor named Joseph Robinson filed a patent for what he called an “electric vaporizer.” His design was intended for medicinal compounds rather than tobacco. Robinson wanted a device that could produce vapors for inhalation to treat bronchial issues. While the patent was granted, there is no record of the device ever being mass-produced or sold.

The 1960s: The First “Smokeless” Cigarette

The true grandfather of the modern e-cigarette is widely considered to be Herbert A. Gilbert. In 1963, Gilbert, a scrap metal dealer from Pennsylvania, filed a patent for a “smokeless non-tobacco cigarette.”

Gilbert was a heavy smoker who recognized the dangers of combustion. His logic was simple: if you could replicate the sensation of smoking without burning paper and tobacco leaves, you could remove the most harmful byproducts. His device used a battery-powered heat source to warm moist, flavored air.

Gilbert built prototypes and tried to find a manufacturer, but he faced a significant hurdle. In the 1960s, smoking was still socially acceptable and permitted almost everywhere, from airplanes to offices. The urgency for a safer alternative simply didn’t exist in the public consciousness, and companies were not interested in pivoting away from traditional tobacco. Gilbert’s invention faded into obscurity, though his patents would later be cited by future inventors.

The 1980s: Coining the Word “Vape”

The next major leap forward came in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Phil Ray, one of the pioneers of the microprocessor, and his physician, Norman Jacobson, worked on a commercial variation of the e-cigarette.

Their device was not electronic in the way we think of today; it relied on evaporation of nicotine rather than heating. They reached the point of commercialization, selling a product called “Favor.” While the product struggled with shelf-life issues and eventually failed, Ray and Jacobson contributed something permanent to the industry. During their trial phases, they did not want to say users were “smoking.” Instead, they described the process as “vaping.”

2003: Hon Lik and the Modern E-Cigarette

The vaping boom as we recognize it today began in Beijing, China, in 2003. Hon Lik, a pharmacist and heavy smoker, was motivated to quit after his father died of lung cancer. He experimented with various systems until he found success using a high-frequency, piezoelectric ultrasound element to vaporize a pressurized jet of liquid containing nicotine.

He later refined this into a resistance heating element, which is the technology used in almost all modern vapes. His product launched under the company name Ruyan (meaning “like smoke”). It was a massive success in China and began expanding into European and American markets around 2006 and 2007.

From Niche to Mainstream

Once Hon Lik’s invention reached the United States, the industry began to iterate rapidly.

• 2007-2009: The “Cigalike” era. These devices looked exactly like traditional cigarettes but often offered poor battery life and weak vapor production.
• 2010-2015: The rise of “Mods.” Users began modifying flashlights and laser pointer tubes to hold larger batteries, creating the open-system culture. This led to the “vape pen” and larger box mods that allowed for customizable power and flavors.
• 2015-Present: The Pod era. Devices like JUUL introduced nicotine salts, allowing for higher nicotine concentrations in smaller, sleeker devices, triggering the massive mainstream adoption we see today.

How long has vaping been around The Future of Vaping

From Joseph Robinson’s medicinal steamer in the 1920s to Hon Lik’s revolutionary invention in 2003, vaping has a longer history than many realize. It took nearly a century for the technology, battery power, and public health awareness to align, transforming a niche idea into a global industry. As regulations tighten and technology continues to shrink, the next chapter of vaping history is already being written.

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The History of Vaping: From 1927 Patents to Modern Mods
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Think vaping is a new invention? Discover the surprising history of the e-cigarette, from Herbert Gilbert’s 1963 patent to Hon Lik’s modern breakthrough.