The story of vaping is one of innovation, adaptation, and a quest for alternatives to traditional smoking. While the electronic cigarette as we know it is a relatively recent invention, its origins are deeply rooted in human history. From ancient civilisations heating herbs for inhalation to the development of tobacco smoking in the 16th century, each era has played a role in shaping modern vaping culture. Key milestones, such as the invention of the first electronic cigarette by Hon Lik in 2003 and the rise of e-liquid innovations, have brought us to the sleek, technology-driven devices we use today. Join us as we explore the fascinating timeline that led to the creation of vaping and its impact on the world.
When Did Vaping First Begin?
1927: Joseph Robinson applied for a patent for an electronic vaporiser to administer medication but was never marketed.
1963: Herbert A Gilbert applied for a patent for “a smokeless non-tobacco cigarette” that hoped to replace burning tobacco and paper with heated, moist, flavoured air. This device produced flavoured steam without nicotine. Today’s electronic cigarettes follow similar design principles from Gilberts original patent, offering a “smokeless” alternative to tobacco smoking.
1986: The Favor cigarette was a non-combustible alternative to tobacco products. The device was made from plastic and was shaped like a cigarette that contained a filter paper soaked in liquid nicotine. This device delivered nicotine by inhaling on the mouthpiece, without the use of electricity, combustion or smoke.
2003: Hon Lik a Chinese pharmacist and inventor is often credited as being the original inventor of the modern vape device. He personally tried to quit smoking after the death of his father due to lung cancer and set out to create an alternative to smoking. His quit smoking attempts were unsuccessful and he continues to both smoke and vape to this day. Hon experimented with advanced technologies to create a smokeless non-tobacco cigarette, and his findings concluded that resistance heating was the best way of creating a smoke-like vapour. Hon personally received very little financial reward for his invention which paved the way to the modern electronic cigarettes we use today.
2007: Golden Dragon Holdings, who Hon Lik worked for, registered for an international patent for Hon Lik’s invention of the modern e-cigarette, later changing the company name to Ruyan which translates to ‘like smoke’.
2007: Umer and Tariq Sheikh invented the ‘cig-a-like’ cartomizer which combined a cartridge and atomiser coil into a single cartomizer which is powered by a cigarette-style removable battery. The ‘cig-a-like’ e-cigarette was introduced to the mass market in the UK.
2008: Ted and Matt Rogers and other enthusiasts built their own mods to improve their appearance and performance, showcasing them at vape conventions and vaping forums. People at home with a passion for engineering started to explore this new technology, a new way of delivering nicotine by heating e-liquid with a vape coil powered by a battery as an alternative to cigarette smoking. This created a cottage industry of home-made vape devices called ‘modding’ or ‘mod making’ which led to a huge demand for customisable e-cigarettes with long-lasting batteries. Ted and Matt, a father and son duo from Newark-on-Trent made a fully functional e-cigarette device out of the components of a pocket torch powered by high-capacity removable battery cells, which was known as the ‘screwdriver’. E-cigarette manufacturers started to introduce devices with interchangeable components that could provide a tailored vaping experience to the mass market.
2009: Joyetech introduced the eGo e-cigarette, which quickly gained immense popularity in the UK. The eGo battery featured a screwdriver-style press button design and was paired with a clearomizer vape tank, which held the e-liquid and coil. This combination made the eGo a standout choice for many vapers looking for safer alternatives to smoking.
2010: Replaceable vape coils and variable voltage devices were introduced to the UK market which revolutionised smoking cessation and became the starting point of modern vaping devices we know today.
Smoktech brand was established.
2011: Innokin brand was established
2012: eGo batteries and clearomizer tanks became hugely popular devices in the UK.
1.7% of the population who currently vape.
2013: Aspire brand was established.
2.7% of the population who currently vape.
2014: Aspire introduced the industry’s first sub-ohm tank called the Atlantis.
Voopoo brand was established.
4.2% of the population who currently vape.
2015: Vaporesso, Geekvape and Uwell brands were established.
Nicotine salt e-liquids were introduced in the UK, taking freebase nicotine and adding acid to reduce their pH level. Ex-smokers can now enjoy high nicotine strength e-liquids without overly harsh throat hits, and the quicker nicotine delivery times similar to traditional cigarettes.
The National Health Service (NHS) says that electronic cigarettes are 95% safer than tobacco cigarettes.
The first Vaper Expo UK took place in Birmingham.
5.4% of the population who currently vape.
2016: Aspire introduced the first chimney-free tank called the Cleito.
The (TPD) Tobacco Products Directive came into force in May 2016. The new regulations limited e-cigarette tanks to a maximum capacity of 2ml and restricted the sale of nicotine-containing e-liquids to a maximum volume of 10ml per refill container, with a nicotine strength not exceeding 20mg/ml. Additionally, nicotine-containing products and their packaging must be child-resistant and tamper-evident, while certain ingredients such as colourings, caffeine, and taurine were banned. The regulations also introduced new labelling requirements and warnings, and mandate that all e-cigarettes and e-liquids must be notified to and published by the MHRA before they can be sold in the UK.
5.7% of the population who currently vape.
2017: Shortfill e-liquids and nicotine shots were introduced in the UK as a result of TPD regulations.
5.8% of the population who currently vape.
2018: Disposable vapes were introduced to the UK market with brands like ElfBar and GeekBar leading the charge.
6.2% of the population who currently vape.
2019: Vaporesso AXON Chip was launched moving from manual to intelligent vaping technology.
OXVA brand was established.
7.1% of the population who currently vape.
2020: 6.3% of the population who currently vape.
2021: Vaporesso released the original XROS series pod kit in the UK which became a huge success creating the ideal alternative to disposable vapes for vapers looking for environmentally friendly vaping options.
7.1% of the population who currently vape.
2022: QUAQ mesh coil technology was introduced to Elf Bar and Lost Mary disposable puff bars.
Aspire introduced the Gotek X refillable pod system kit in the UK which became a best-selling device, providing an ideal alternative to disposable vapes.
Corex technology was introduced to Vaporesso built-in coil pods using a morph-mesh coil design with a greater surface area for heating. Cumulus cotton was used as a better wicking material reducing dry hits and providing better coil saturation. This technology improved flavour of e-liquids, produced larger clouds and extended coil lifespan by up to 50%.
8.3% of the population who currently vape.
2023: The UK Government has unveiled plans to establish the first-ever smokefree generation by gradually raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco. Under the proposed bill, anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, will never be legally allowed to buy tobacco products. The bill also includes measures to address youth vaping.
Elf Bar and their sister company Lost Mary became the most popular brands of disposable e-cigarettes in the world.
IVG introduced the first TPD-compliant 2400-puff disposable vape, featuring 8ml of e-liquid. This innovation paved the way for UK-legal, high-capacity vapes designed to comply with upcoming disposable vape regulations. The device's reusable design, with replaceable pods and rechargeable batteries, ensures compliance while offering a sustainable alternative for vapers.
Vapers started switching from disposable vapes to refillable and reusable vapes in an attempt to save money and be more eco-friendly.
9.1% of the population who currently vape.
2024: The UK Government announced that single-use disposable vapes will be banned in England next year. This decision was made to “reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of venerable people”. Also, to protect the environment.
Vaporesso introduced Corex 2.0 coil technology in their built-in coil pods, refining the original Corex design by adjusting the morph mesh grid size to enhance e-liquid flavour and achieve faster heating times.
11% of the population who currently vape. Equal to 5.6 million adults in Great Britain.
2025: Disposable vapes will be banned from 1st June 2025 in the UK.
2026: From 1st October 2026 the price of nicotine-free and nicotine-containing e-liquids will be increasing. The UK government has announced that all e-liquids regardless of nicotine content will increase due to the introduction of a new ‘Vaping Products Duty’ which will apply a flat rate tax of £2.20 per 10ml bottle of e-liquid.
