Impact of Rising Vaping Trends on Society

Vaping has gained popularity in the last decade. Still, it could be said the technology has been around since the 1930s when Joseph Robinson was granted a patent for an electronic cigarette. Thirty years later, in 1965, Herbert A. Gilbert received a patent for a device that closely resembles modern e-cigarettes.

It would take 38 years for a Chinese pharmacist by the name of Honk Li to create the first commercially successful electronic cigarette after his father died of lung cancer. He worked for a company called Golden Dragon Holdings, which decided to manufacture the gadget and named it “Ruyan”, which means “like smoke.” Three years later, in 2006, electronic cigarettes arrived in the United States and changed the industry forever.

What is Going on with the American Vape Market?

Currently, the US has the largest share of the e-cigarette market, with 9.1 million vapers. As discovered by a study by Mordor Intelligence, e-cigarettes hold a major share of the tobacco products segment within the US market. Many factors come into play in the rapid expansion of the American vape wholesale market such as the fashion appeal of the products, and the quick growth of vape shops all over the country. One way to confirm this is the fact that currently there are more than 3000 different flavors available for electronic cigarettes in the US, and new ones are welcomed every year.

The constant influx of new products is the result of a highly competitive market with many large key players involved such as Philip Morris International Inc., Imperial Brands PLC, Japan Tobacco Inc., British American Tobacco PLC, and Juul Labs Inc. All of them trying to cater to a continuously changing and evolving consumer. There is also a greater tendency for big companies to be in a constant cycle of partnerships and acquisitions, which results in a greater presence in the country.

Why is Vaping Popular?

People not familiar with vaping might not have such a clear understanding of what it is about nor why is so popular. Electronic cigarettes are commonly referred to as e-cigarettes, vapes, or vapor products and are used as an alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes.

They function on a basic principle: an e-liquid is changed into a vapor by heating it. An e-cigarette sends an electric current to a wire coil wrapped around a soaked wick to heat it and generate the vapor that will be inhaled by the user. The “vaping” term comes from the fact they inhale an aerosol and not smoke.

Nowadays, there is an incredibly varied availability of vaping devices, giving consumers a wide range of options to satisfy their preferences regarding simplicity, customizability, and capacity.

Vapes are made of many different components such as a lithium battery, the container that holds the e-cigarette liquid, sensors that monitor and power the coil, a display or LED indicator, the mouthpiece, and the e-liquid.

The customization aspect of e-cigarettes is just one of the elements that make vaping attractive for more and more people every year.

What sets vaping apart from traditional tobacco cigarettes?

Once smoking began to lose popularity, the list of spaces that did not welcome traditional smokers grew and people started to look for alternatives that did not limit their social interactions. In that respect, e-cigarettes offer a few advantages:

1. There is no odor. Unlike traditional tobacco, vaping will not leave a lasting smell in your body, your clothes, or your living spaces. E-cigarettes do have an aroma from the flavors used, even the tobacco-flavored ones, but it does not linger and usually is not that noticeable.
2. The consumer controls his/her nicotine intake. The e-liquid usually includes a combination of propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavorings, and (optional) nicotine. The proportion of these ingredients depends on the consumer’s preferences. The nicotine strength level depends on personal needs. People who vape to quit traditional cigarettes tend to start with high-strength nicotine and gradually reduce the dose. They might even choose not to include nicotine.
3. Control of vapor output. Just as vapers can control how much nicotine they consume, they have control over the amount of vapor to exhale. The variety of models allows them to find the right power output, airflow, and coil type that will give them the perfect vapor volume.
4. Little to no risk to bystanders. One of the significant advantages of vaping is that, unlike traditional cigarettes which not only affect the health of the user but also those close to him through second-hand smoke, research has shown that bystanders do not have much exposure to the vapor because it is diluted in the air and it evaporates quickly.
5. Vaping is cost-effective and there is great availability. As previously mentioned, the vape market is big and filled with products in every price range because the goal is to cater to as many vapers as possible. From the most basic and inexpensive models to the poshest and premium devices, users can find their favorite products offline and online, and many vape wholesale sites include delivery right to the buyer’s door.

Expect the Unexpected from the New Trends

As the vape industry keeps growing, product competition becomes more fierce, bringing new product trends each year. The start of 2023 has brought a few new product trends:

Disposable Vape E-Liquids are very popular right now; they give the user the possibility to change flavor and nicotine strength while keeping their favorite device model. Some of the most versatile and sought-after products belong to the Elf Bar range, with ergonomic and beautiful designs and incredible quality.

Another big trend is Nicotine Salts, which greatly improve the vaping experience with better flavor and more sweetness. They are naturally found in tobacco and benzoic acid. They give the vape user a higher nicotine concentration with more flavor without the hit on the throat.

Synthetic nicotine or Non-tobacco Nicotine (NTN), has also made a big splash in the vaping scene. NTN is formulated in a lab instead of naturally derived from tobacco leaves. It is odorless and tasteless, which makes it much smoother in taste. Nowadays, NTN can be found in many products ranging from vape juice to disposable pens.

Finally, one trend that could take off this year is Eco-Friendly Disposable Vapes. Vape users are aware of the environmental harm that disposable products could cause. Vape recycling is not only the right thing to do but could attract more interest in this activity.

What Does the Future Hold for Vaping

As the year begins, the future of vaping gives the impression of great possibilities. However, it is important to also be realistic and understand that e-cigarette use is not 100% risk-free. As the industry and the market continue to develop, more research is needed to ascertain all the possible health risks to vapers of any age.

The market’s growth will bring more regulations to the manufacturing process as well as to tax laws. More restrictions will probably be enacted. This is something to which all players involved will need to adapt to continue to be a part of the industry. The e-cigarette market has great growth potential. Last year it was valued at USD 19707.23 million, and the projections estimate it could reach USD 79197.12 million by 2028.