An electronic device consisting of a metal tube, a vaporizer, pressure switch, circuits and a diode indicating operation,  all of this housing a rechargeable battery.   This thing resembles a cigarette from a distance but most are generally a bit larger, colorful models are also available along with options resembling pipes and cigars.  A liquid advertised to contain nicotine is either manually dripped or fed from a cartridge housed in the unit onto the vapouriser thus creating “smoke” or more accurately vapor which the user inhales to emulate smoking.  The vapor consists of a measured amount of either propylene glycol and/or glycerin, water and assorted others such as flavorings, nicotine and probably preservatives and stabilizers.  The propylene glycol A.K.A PG and/or glycerol, liquids used in Smoke Machines operate on the same principal scaled to handheld size. An intriguing concept, for smokers at least, to be sure.   What depths the anti-smoking coalition have forced the depraved tobacco-phile to sink.  But how do they work, or more accurately smoke?

I bought one of these devices more out of curiosity than anything else but was very excited at the prospect of smoking in the faces of the antis inside their newly commandeered safe havens; restaurants and believe it or not NON SMOKING bars?  Good for at least a few giggles and maybe a exhibition or two, waving my perfectly legal alternative in front of the smoke Nazi’s (that are forcing our hand in the first place).   The unit does accomplish this to some degree; create the optical illusion of smoking.   How does it taste though, and more importantly, feel?  In testing the unit I bought, a generic copy of the “Yentyl”,  one of the more popular available,  that ran about $100.00 along with two brands of the highest “test” smoke juice and cartridge system available at the time;  24mg per ml.  Total cost; about $140.00,  I wanted this to work.

Although not being one of the most expensive units available, the unit I bought performed quite well.  From what I gather,  many of these units are manufactured side by side and labeled or, like mine, not labeled, hence generic.  This device created prodigious clouds of vapor which reasonably emulated smoke, visually at least.  The taste in both samples was slight and dissimilar from any tobacco product I’ve ever had, but not altogether unpleasant.  The feel of the vapor is lacking compared to real smoke, really almost no feel as to be and irritatingly light.  There was no lungfeel either, one of the great pleasures of smoking is missing.   There is a slight discomfort that can be compared to real smoke,  I suppose a result of inhaling vaporized PG/glycerin,  that is arguably comforting.   The deal maker, or breaker in this case is however nicotine satisfaction.

Remember, I was using two popular smoke juices containing the highest nicotine content available at the time; 24mg/ml.   One in liquid form to be dripped directly onto the atomizer, the other,  a cartridge which screws onto the unit and resembles the filter of a cigarette when in place.   I alluded to “advertised” nicotine content earlier and the reason why is that,  after over 60(!) inhalations, when I should be in the last throws of nicotine poisoning or at the very least (5-10 recommended), flopping around like a freshly boated fish,  clutching at my chest and hurriedly making peace with my Maker,  I was still hankerin for a smoke!  That did it for me, these devices didn’t deliver enough nicotine, even in mega doses,  to catch a case of the hiccups.   I didn’t do this seemingly foolhearty act on my first trial.  After dozens of tries “the recommended way” I grew frustrated and slowly built up and eventually realized it didn’t matter how many puffs I took.  I stopped at 50, 60 and finally 80 to give what I feel was a fair trial and experienced no bad reactions whatsoever.

I was disappointed to say the least that a 24mg/ml cartridge which claims to equal a pack of smokes can be finished in a sitting without the discomfort normally associated with nicotine poisoning much less the stroke or heart attack that it mathematically and biologically demanded.  Not even a bit of discomfort.  This could mean several things I suppose;   The absorption of nicotine is not linear; meaning 24mg inhaled is not nearly that much ingested.  This is a reasonable theory as nicotine isn’t linear in any other format neither, save injection.   It could also mean the cartridge does not contain nearly as much, if any, of the nicotine advertised.   Or, maybe the nicotine is destroyed in the process  (which seems unlikely because the element is at a much lower temp than a burning cigarette).  Nope, I can only surmise the manufacturer are using a “magical” nicotine with much different properties from the nicotine we are normally exposed and accustomed to.    All kidding aside, I did feel a little dizzy but attribute that to the diligent and repetitive breathing procedure used during the test, like breathing into a paper bag.  One use I suppose could be to ingest massive doses of carbon dioxide which might prove beneficial for sudden panic attack syndrome, or  SPAS.

Will this invention help smokers quit?  I’m no doctor nor an expert other than the anecdotal knowledge acquired from a rather heavy, near 30 year affair with nicotine.  It does seem to assuage the cravings in a percentage of the smokers who try it.  Some claim it’s effects are profound….. but then, some smokers don’t inhale and others get by with ultra-lights. I can’t empathize with either of them.   If replacing the ritualistic needs of smokers is the prime concern then this device has promise.  Personally, I need rather large doses of nicotine on a regular schedule throughout the day to maintain my addiction.  The magic doesn’t work on me.   I admit, I fell for the idea of a confrontation or two with self-righteous, judgemental smoke Nazi’s and that’s where the appeal of this electronic cigarette lay for me.   These gadgets seem to me little more than the snake oils and magic potions of yesteryear.   Again, it does somehow seem to work for some and more power to them, hypnosis works for some too.

Perhaps in the future after lab tests, reliability issues and performance being improved this device will warrant a second look.   Till then it does work to raise eyebrows and stir up a little controversy at least in today’s politically correct, health Naziistic society that prevails    With any luck by then this hypocritical and prejudiced movement will have collapsed under it’s own bloated weight.  In the end, as they do work for some so if you have an extra couple hundred dollars laying around, give one a try.  Just don’t expect this to be anything like smoking nor satisfy in the same way.