When Was the First Vape Made? A Brief History of Vaping

The history of vaping goes back a lot further than most people realize. I always assumed vaping was something that popped up with social media and sleek tech in the last ten or fifteen years. As I dove deeper into vaping culture, I found that this was not the case.

That question — when did vapes come out? — opened a door I hadn’t expected. So I started digging deeper into the electronic cigarette history: who invented the first vape, when was vaping invented, and how did it become what we see today? Here’s what I learned.

When Was the First Vape Made?

The first time a working vape was invented? That was in 2003, and it came from China. I had never heard of Hon Lik before, but now I won’t forget his name. He was a Chinese pharmacist, someone with a medical background — but more importantly, someone who had just lost his father to smoking-related illness. That part hit me.

Hon Lik was a smoker himself. After his father's passing, he wanted something that could deliver nicotine without burning tobacco — something less harmful. So he started experimenting. By 2003, he’d created a device that turned liquid nicotine into vapor using a battery and heating element. In 2004, it hit the Chinese market. That was the beginning.

It really amazed me — not just the technology, but the personal reason behind it.

Early History of Vaping

Here’s the thing that really amazed me after learning the vape timeline: Hon Lik wasn't the first person to think of a smokeless cigarette.

• 1960s — An American named Herbert A. Gilbert filed a patent for a flavored-air device that didn’t use combustion. The idea of a vape is over 60 years old.
• 1990s — A few other early vaping devices came and went, but none of them stuck; they were too clunky, unreliable, or simply failed to catch on.
• 2000s — It wasn’t until Hon Lik’s version — the one that combined a nicotine liquid with an atomizer — that the idea finally took off.

The Global Rise of Vaping

By 2006, vapes had started showing up in Europe and North America. At the time, they looked more like plastic pens than the sleek pods we see today. But from there, everything exploded. The 2010s brought mods, pods, disposables, and a growing subculture around vaping. It became more than a product — for some, it was a lifestyle.

Even though I started vaping years after that boom, it’s wild to realize I’m part of something with roots going back decades.

Why Did Vapes Become Popular?

When I ask fellow vapers what got them into it, the answers are pretty consistent — and I can relate:

• It feels cleaner than cigarettes: no ash, no smoke-soaked clothes, no burnt filters.
• Flavor choices are endless — from classic tobacco to blueberry cheesecake.
• Less social stigma: people don’t give you the same dirty looks as they do with cigarettes.
• For many, it seems like a stepping-stone away from smoking.

It’s not perfect, and everyone has their reasons — but it’s easy to see why so many people made the switch.

The Future of Vaping

As someone now using a compact refillable device with airflow control, I’ve noticed how fast the tech is evolving — some models even have smart chips and wider customization.

At the same time, governments are tightening rules worldwide: stricter age limits, higher product-safety standards, clearer ingredient labels. The more informed we are, the better choices we can make.

It’s hard to predict exactly what’s next, but one thing is clear: vaping is no longer just a trend. It’s a global industry, a culture, and for many, a personal choice.

Final Thoughts

So, when was the first vape invented? The idea itself dates back to the 1960s, but the first truly working e-cigarette — the one that paved the way for today’s devices — came from Hon Lik in 2003, born out of love and loss.