Who invented the e-cigarette? – Crafty NZ

Who invented the e-cigarette?

Posted by Crafty E-Liquids on

Vaping is a modern trend, but even new vapes have their roots in ancient history. Ancient Egypt is known for its vaping techniques, such as using hot stones to vape herbs. Thousands of years ago the first shisha was introduced to India. All those techniques led to the invention of current vapes as we know them today.

Who invented the contemporary e-cigarette?

The modern history of vaping has its origins in ancient times. The first who came up with the idea of an e-cigarette is Joseph Robinson in 1927. However, it was in 1963 when Herbert Gilbert and his “smokeless non-tobacco cigarette” made vaping popular. The Chinese firm Hon Lik made the first modern e-cig in the mid-2000s.

History Of Vaping: Definition & Facts

One of the most popular, socially tolerable and favourite drugs of people is nicotine. As such, people have tried different ways to consume it. They tried to smoke it, to vape it, to chew it, or apply it on their skin. It shouldn’t surprise you to hear about people who try to inject nicotine no matters how deadly that could be. You can find nicotine in tobacco. And often they mix and consume tobacco with other substances like marijuana while drinking alcohol.

Many devices have been invented to satisfy people’s obsession with nicotine: hookahs, bongs, etc. However, we live in a tech society. That’s why recently, vaporizers have become a cool trend with their variety of tastes and forms.

Vaporizing has a long history. Herodotus describes, in Egypt (5th century B.C.) people were heating herbs and oils on hot stones to vape. The orator Cicero gave him the title “The Father of History,”. Therefore, we might have to trust him about the ancient origins of vaping.

Then, more than 1500 years ago, Irfan Shiekh invented the first shisha. This happened in another ancient part of the world in what is now Afghanistan. Later on, his dynasty introduced this way of smoking in India. If oriental smoking devices were cool years ago, now it’s all about the e-fashion.Unknown to many, in 1927 Joseph Robinson came up with the idea of an electronic cigarette.

 However, it’s another name we relate to vaping. It was Herbert A. Gilbert who in 1963, historical data says, came with the idea of vaping. And in 1965 he patented this invention.


Could it have changed history and saved lives? Well, we can’t tell because, unfortunately, nobody knew of his “smokeless non-tobacco cigarette” back then.
In the 80s Phil Ray and Normal Jacobson worked more towards commercializing the idea of e-cigarettes. However, in the 90s FDA didn’t allow tobacco companies to introduce e-cigarettes to the market.

In Europe, vaping was also popular, and in the 90s “Eagle” Bill Amato invented the cannabis vaporizer. Of course, Amsterdam was the place. Interestingly enough, they based the German stationary/desktop vaporizer Volcano, from 2000, on his revolutionary ideas.


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  • What was vaping like then? It has satisfied me and I have done a lot of research about this and it made me happy when I did not smoke.

    Julie-Anne on

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