Changing up your e-juice based on time of day and activity can be a fun way to vary your vaping experience.  There are no rules for varying your vape, as it largely comes down to personal taste and preference. That being said, there are several popular styles of vape variation that are worth mentioning.

Many vapers choose to vary their juice by time of day. Personally, I’m the type of person who always starts the day with a couple of cups of coffee. Back when I was a smoker, one of my favorite things was that first cigarette of the day with my morning cup of coffee. Even though, thanks to vaping, I no longer smoke, I still choose my first vape of the day to pair with my coffee – a blend of Kickback and Santa Sauce, both from Indigo Vapes. I still love the flavor of tobacco, and this mixture blends tobacco, chocolate, and “holiday goodies” into a taste that blends with my morning coffee to create an experience that is superior in every way to my old “coffee and a cigarette.”

My all-day vape (Kickback/ Mint Choco Fusion/ Indigo Express)  is very similar to my morning vape, with a few key differences. I don’t care for mint first thing in the morning, but I love it the rest of the day. Additionally, my all day mixture is a little heavier on the tobacco flavor, while my morning vape is a little sweeter.

Another consideration in varying your vape is your activity. I’m the type of person who always wants a nice vape after a meal, and sometimes a mint chocolate flavor doesn’t go with what I’ve been eating. For those situations I keep a blend of tobacco and caramel apple handy. I find that the subtle apple and caramel flavor goes with almost anything.  If I had to choose a second all-day vape, it’d be this flavor.

Of course, flavor isn’t the only way you can vary your vape. Changing up your PG/VG ratio and nicotine level will also yield a different experience. Now, once you have found a PG/VG and nicotine level you like, you might be wondering why you would want to change that up. Well, there are actually several reasons.

Normally I use 18mg nicotine liquid, but if I’m going to have a few cocktails with friends, I know I’ll be “chain-vaping” at the bar. For times like this, I always scale down to 12mg nicotine liquid.  I also use a different PG/VG ration in my “bar vape.” Generally, PG produces more throat hit, and VG produces more vapor. I love big clouds of vapor when I am at the bar, and so I’ll tend to vape a more VG heavy mixture at bars than I normally would.

At the other end of the spectrum from the “bar vape” is my “is vaping allowed here” vape.  Sometimes you’ll find yourself in a situation where you don’t know if vaping is allowed with no easy way to ask someone. Two common places where this occurs are airports and movie theaters. As vapers, we should always be respectful of those around us. Sometimes this means refraining from vaping. However, varying your vape for these ambiguous situations can also be an option. When faced with an ambiguous vaping policy, I carry a small, discreet mod filled with a high PG ratio liquid, and 24mg strength nicotine. Because of the high PG ratio, the vape produces less vapor, and because of the higher nicotine concentration, I can take the discreet puff and feel satisfied.

In the end, there is no wrong way to vary your vape. It’s all about your personal preferences, and with the staggering variety of options available to vapers, you can express yourself with every puff.

Electronic cigarettes come in a staggering variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations. Joining the electronic cigarette market are devices that market themselves as e-cigars and e-pipes.  Are these devices actually different than electronic cigarettes?

In attempting to answer that question, let’s examine a few commonalities between the three devices.  All three feature a battery that powers a heating coil which vaporizes an e-liquid, producing vapor. If that’s the extent of your definition of an electronic cigarette, then e-cigars and e-pipes are no different from electronic cigarettes.

However, the real answer is a bit more nuanced. Any regular vaper knows that details like form factor, battery size, tank configuration, and e-liquid mixture can make all the difference when it comes to electronic cigarettes. It’s those details that separate the $5 disposable electronic cigarette that you can buy at a gas station from a $200 advanced electronic cigarette. In this respect, electronic cigars and electronic pipes can be quite different than electronic cigarettes.

A lot of what it comes down to is the intended market of the product. Any cigar smoker knows there is a massive difference between settling down with a nice Dominican Corona and taking a drag from a cigarette. In this same way, many electronic cigar makers have gone to great lengths to manufacture a product that replicates the look and feel of a tobacco cigar. Many of the vendors of disposable electronic cigars package them in boxes that look like traditional cigar boxes, complete with that wonderful cedar smell.

Cigar smoking has always had an inherent element of luxury to it, and the makers of electronic cigars want to preserve that. In this same way, the liquids used in e-cigars tend to have a more robust flavor than those used in pre-filled electronic cigarettes. While the technological “heart” of the product is the same, the experience will differ substantially.

This proves even truer when it comes to electronic pipes. Smoking a pipe has forever hearkened back to a bygone era.  The style and sophistication of a pipe sets it apart from any other method of consuming tobacco. While they haven’t gained a major market foothold yet, e-pipes are gaining a following for the same reasons that smokers are drawn to tobacco-burning pipes.

Many e-pipes are handcrafted creations that draw in vapers looking to add some style and sophistication to their vaping experience. Many e-pipes tend to carry a premium price tag in the same way that handmade e-cigarettes do. In form-factor, e-pipes are the most different from the “tube” shape that most other vaping devices tend to gravitate towards. Styled like their analogue counterparts, the battery is housed in the bowl of the pipe and the tank is part of the pipe’s stem. Some e-pipe mods use standard 510 or ego threading and can accept cartomizers and tanks like electronic cigarettes. However, other e-pipe manufacturers use special proprietary tanks with their products. If you’re thinking about purchasing an electronic pipe, you may want to make sure to check and see if you can use it with your current products.

In the end, it all comes down to experience. The reason so many people have switched to vaping is its ability to replicate the sensation of smoking without the plethora of health risks associated with tobacco cigarettes. At the technical level, electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, and electronic pipes are just three devices that perform the same function. However, at the experiential level, the three each have their market and their own unique appeal.

A recent article in the NY Times entitled “Selling a Poison by the Barrel: Liquid Nicotine for E-Cigarettes” is drawing fire from the vaping community and other major news outlets. Even the Los Angeles Weekly posted a scathing take-down of the NY Times piece, accusing the Times of exaggerating statistics and misrepresenting data.

So lets take a look at some hard facts and data, and attempt to arrive at a balanced answer to the question of whether or not e-liquids are poisonous.

By itself, an electronic cigarette liquid that does not contain nicotine is not poisonous. It is, in fact, the nicotine that is both the target of the Times piece, and the substance that vapers should be aware of, if not very mindful of.

Lets get a few agreed upon facts out of the way:

1. The generally accepted fatal dose of nicotine for a human is somewhere between 500-1000 mg of nicotine.

2. Unlike many other substances, nicotine is readily absorbed through the skin, meaning that if you spill an e-liquid on yourself, the nicotine can be absorbed through the skin, and absorbed quickly.

3. The total number of deaths from nicotine poisoning in 2012 was only one. An individual injected a nicotine solution into himself as part of his suicide.

4. In 2012, the total number of deaths from NSAIDS (Advil) was 50.

5. In 2012, the National Poison Data System received 447 calls related to electronic cigarettes

6. In 2012, the National Poison Data System received 20,306 calls related to toothpaste.

Perspective and context are extremely important, a fact the NY Times should be well aware of.  None of this is to say that nicotine is a completely harmless substance. One tablespoon of the 10% nicotine solution many e-liquid makers use is enough to make an adult very sick. These professionals need to be careful and use a precautionary set of best practices in order to protect themselves.

However, the actual concentration of nicotine found in e-liquids is normally 1.8% or less. In these concentrations, just spilling a little e-juice on yourself or getting the dreaded “juicy hit” from your tank is not going to hurt you. It’s a matter of scale.

Put simply: If you drink a bottle of e-liquid, you are going to get sick. If your child drinks a bottle of e-liquid, they will get sick. But the same and worse can be said for a bottle of Tylenol.

E-liquid is not harmless. Vapers must keep their electronic cigarettes and e-liquids away from children and pets. Make sure to wash any skin that comes into contact with your e-liquid. These are the same sensible precautions taken with household cleaning products or medicines.

In the end, what it comes down to is personal responsibility and common sense. Vapers have the responsibility to act like a logical adult and handle their e-liquids with care. Parents have the responsibility to keep potentially harmful substances away from their children. And newspapers – especially well known, largely read newspapers with substantial audiences – have the responsibility to tell the truth with context. That’s just common sense.

If you are concerned with the nicotine levels in your e juice, or you simply want to be prepared, take down the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ toll free number. By calling 1-800-222-1222 you can put yourself in touch with experts who have the advice that you need. They can even help you find a poison control center near you.

One source of frustration to electronic cigarette users is the lack of defined procedures and rules governing flying with e-cigs. Electronic cigarettes are not covered in the TSA’s official list of approved and prohibited items, few airports have released guidelines regarding electronic cigarettes, and most airlines don’t have an official policy regarding their use on planes.

With so much “up in the air,” what’s an e-cig user to do?

Thankfully, on a recent business trip to Washington, D.C., I was able to gain some firsthand experience on the subject.

First, let’s look at the issue of electronic cigarettes and the TSA (Transportation Security Administration). Especially when traveling with expensive mods, the last thing an e-cig user wants is for a mod worth several hundred dollars to be confiscated by the TSA. While electronic cigarettes are not referenced in the TSA’s prohibited items or 3-1-1 for Carry-ons list, I was hesitant to carry my Provari and Kayfun with me without knowing for sure that they were allowed. Thankfully, the TSA’s official blog does reference electronic cigarettes. According to the blog, “TSA has no problem with e-cigs being packed in your carry-on or checked bags.”

I put this to the test, carrying my Provari, two mechanical mods, and 4 different tanks in my briefcase when traveling to D.C.. Flying in, I had no issues going through security. However, when flying out of D.C., my briefcase was stopped. The TSA officer asked me what my devices were. I told him they were electronic cigarettes, and after examining one for about 10 seconds, he waved me through and told me to have a good day.

So, even when faced with advanced and odd-looking mods, the TSA doesn’t have an issue with electronic cigarettes. Regarding batteries, the lithium ion batteries that most electronic cigarettes use are safe for air travel.

Pro Tips

There are a few things worth mentioning at this point. First, if you are using large tanks or carrying e-liquid, remember to put them in your clear quart bag just like any other liquid. Don’t bring any bottles over 100ml, as they are not allowed.

Second, if possible, pack your electronic cigarette in your carry-on rather than your checked bag. While you may be stopped by a TSA agent and have to explain what it is, it’s better than putting it in a checked bag that’s not only out of your control, but inaccessible until you get it from the baggage carousel.

If for some reason you do have to pack your electronic cigarettes in your checked bags, it’s not a big deal. Almost all modern luggage compartments are pressurized and temperature controlled. I recommend putting your e-cigs in a zip-lock bag, as some minor e-liquid leakage can frequently occur during baggage handling.

Finally, make sure all of your units are turned off or have their safety switch engaged. Nothing can ruin your trip quicker than a misunderstanding about why something that looks like smoke is coming from your bag. Plus, you could risk overheating and damage during longer trips.

Vaping in airports and airplanes

The issue is less “is it legal” and more “how will it be perceived.”

Regarding airports, USA Today recently released a list of airports that have official policies allowing or banning e-cig use. Until clear guidelines are released, it’s best to ask if you can vape when there is any doubt. In addition, “discrete” vaping is advisable, as other travelers may not be familiar with electronic cigarettes and misconstrue their use.

This is even more important when vaping on a plane. The practice is discouraged on most airlines and banned on a few, so it’s always best to ask the stewardess before starting to vape. The issue has nothing to do with safety or legality, rather, it again relates largely to the perceptions of other travelers. Imagine for a moment that you don’t know what electronic cigarettes are and you see something that looks like smoke coming from the seat in front of you, or from a metallic cylinder with strange buttons or numbers on the other side of the aisle. It’s understandable how this could easily lead to tense misunderstanding.

Always remember, whenever we vape in public, we’re de-facto “ambassadors” of the vaping community. In order for electronic cigarettes to gain a wider acceptance, it’s important that we show the public that vapers are polite, conscientious, and considerate.

Much ado has been made about the actual safety and efficacy of electronic cigarettes. If you listen to the news, you’re likely to think that e-cigarettes are just as dangerous as tobacco-burning cigarettes, or are questionably safe due the fact that there’s an alleged absence of studies. It’s sensational to level ambiguous and unsubstantiated “questions” about nicotine itself, since e-cigarettes don’t have the thousands of dangerous chemicals that are known to be carcinogenic and deadly.

If you listen to e-cigarette proponents, they’re the best thing since sliced bread, so to speak. Heavy smokers who’ve been at it for years have been able to kick the habit when nothing else worked. It’s an amazing smoking-cessation tool, and for some, a fun hobby as well. It doesn’t take more than a perusal of the numbers (or the rate at which Big Tobacco is getting in on the e-cig game) to realize that vapers are growing in numbers.

But how do e-cigarettes actually measure up against other smoking-cessation aids? Do they actually help? Are they any better than what was already on the market? Isn’t it just a lateral move from one addiction to another? Thankfully, the number of studies available is much higher than sensationalists would have you believe.

To begin with, the American Cancer Society states that, generally speaking, only some “4 percent to 7 percent of people are able to quit smoking on any given attempt without medicines or other help.” That number can climb with cessation aids, whether its prescription medications, nicotine gum, nicotine patches, or therapy. Emphasis is, of course, on the “can;” prescriptions can help 25 percent of smokers quit after 6 months. However, evidence shows that over 12 months, that drops back to 7 percent.

And the results of studies on e-cigarettes?

According to a 2013 study in New Zealand’s medical journal “The Lancet,” out of 657 smokers (an admittedly small sample grouping), nicotine patches helped 5.8 percent abstain from smoking at 6 months after the study’s “quit day.” In that same time, e-cigs with nicotine helped 7.3 percent abstain, while nicotine-free e-cigs helped another 4.1 percent. Individually taken, that puts e-cigarettes about as scientifically effective as patches. Interestingly, there was another observation. According to the head researcher on the study, “it certainly seems that e-cigarettes were more effective in helping smokers who didn’t quit to cut down,” and that e-cigs are “much more enthusiastic about e-cigarettes than patches, as evidenced by the far greater proportion of people in both of the e-cigarette groups who said they’d recommend them to family or friends.”

This is supported by a study out of the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Geneva. Of 367 respondents, 6 percent of vapers that had already quit smoking returned to cigarettes after 6 months. However, of the smokers who were starting to use e-cigarettes, 46 percent had quit smoking after a year. Furthermore, it only took a month for those switching to vaping to cut their average number of cigarettes per day in half.

An Italian study posted in the journal “PLOS ONE” sought to determine if e-cigarettes could help smokers cut back. To their surprise, 13 percent of those in the high-nicotine group had completely quit. It suggested that “those using e-cigarettes were more likely to quit smoking, even if they didn’t want to.”

The fact is, e-cigarettes have everything the quitting smoker needs: communal support (vape meets and vape lounges), a pleasurable experience that lends itself to recommendation, and, arguably, nicotine. If you’re wondering why there’s so much resistance to vaping, you’re not the only one. As it turns out, it’s related to why a lot of smokers are hesitant to try any form of smokeless tobacco product – misinformation.

If you’re a vaper, chances are good you’ve made the decision to quit smoking, a process that’s difficult for even the most diligent among us, and you’ve done all the hard work buying the best e-cig for you, with flavors you like and a nicotine level that gives you the best control. This is probably the most successful effort to quit you’ve tried, and the vaper community is a great support. It lets you be healthier, and you know it doesn’t hurt anyone around you.

And then, inevitably, you run into a confusing problem.

Some people are afraid of your vapor, as though it’s as bad as second-hand smoke from tobacco-burning cigarettes. On the news you hear about businesses and governments that are banning e-cigs. You might even hear about laws that are stricter on e-cigarettes than they are on tobacco-burning cigarettes or alcohol, like banning flavors and requiring a 21+ year age minimum.

Why is there so much push back for a product whose success and safety is only getting more and more evident?

Honestly, we’re not sure. Politics has put a big emphasis on e-cigarettes, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Because when politicians are involved with a subject, that makes it all the easier to demand they do the right thing.

That can seem pretty imposing if you’re not already an activist. Fortunately, we’ve got the guide for you!

How should I contact representatives at the federal or local level?

Most of the time, you can call, write to, or email your state representatives, senators, or other government bodies within your state. Always be respectful, and be as clear as possible. You want to persuade them that people who use e-cigarettes have rights that should be protected, and you don’t want to make them disregard your communication because you’re being  rude, or sound uninformed, or worse, misinformed. They need to hear how e-cigs have improved your life by helping you to quit smoking, and they need to know that there’s scientific information available to answer all concerns. The links below will tell you how to reach the right person.

Find Your Representative

Senators of the 113^th Congress

GlobalComputing – Find the official websites for your state, county, or city.

Our petition to the Food and Drug Administration that requests fair, balanced, and informed legislation for all vapor products.

When I message representatives, is there information I can give them?

That’s a big question, and the simple answer is “yes”. All of the resources listed in this guide offer articles and studies and sometimes other media for this very purpose. If you’re going to talk to the representatives by phone, make sure you understand the gist of the study well enough to answer some basic questions about the study, etc., but don’t be afraid to point out that you’re not a medical professional. You’re just trying to make sure they have the best and most up to date information for when they make their decisions. If you’re writing to them, be sure to include where they can find the study, and if you’re emailing them, don’t be afraid to link them to different information. Below are two studies that are good examples of what you can use to support your case.

Peering through the mist: What does the chemistry of contaminants in electronic cigarettes tell us about health risks?

By Igor Burstyn, PhD at Drexel University Department of Environmental and Occupational Health in 2013. This study covers 9,000 observations. See the Key Conclusions on page 13 to see what this study reveals about vaping.

Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial

By Drs. Christopher Bullen, Colin Howe, Murray Laugesen, Hayden McRobbie, Varsha Parag, Jonathan Williman, Natalie Walker in the New Zealand medical journal The Lancet, 2013. This study covers 657 randomized people. See Findings and Interpretation on the first page to see what this study reveals about e-cigarettes vs. tobacco-burning cigarettes.

Having the right information and getting it, along with your opinion as a vaping citizen, to the right people is key to establishing a foothold on vapers’ rights. Legislation is already being put in to place around the country. Making your voice heard at both a local and national level is key to the future of electronic cigarettes, and all of us who enjoy them.

Nothing beats being able to say, “I made this.”  It’s the reason most hobbies exist in the first place.  Of course, it’s one thing to knit a scarf that you may only end up using a few months out of the year, but it’s an entirely different thing to create something that you use consistently, day in and day out.  Building an e cig mod yourself can be extremely rewarding.  It can spark dialogues with passers-by, allowing you new opportunities to provide a little vapor education for people unfamiliar with the benefits. Plus, as with all handmade things, your mod can become a reflection of yourself and your personality.

Building your own mod certainly isn’t easy.  The creation process is limited to the manufacturing tools and materials you have on hand, as well as your personal experience.  If you’re a machinist who works with CNC lathes and metal on a daily basis, then this might be a quick after-hours study.  But if you’re an accountant for a marketing firm, unless you’re used to building tiny birdhouses and retrofitting your home’s plumbing as a hobby, there will probably be a steeper learning curve and a larger investment.  Sure, a tube containing a battery and a switch with a screw thread on top may look simple enough, but without the right tools and process, it can get complicated pretty quickly.

If you’re determined and clever, then the difficulty and even the knowledge gap won’t get in the way.  There are tons of resources online that will guide you on your quest.  From forums to pre-drawn plans, every question can be answered by a quick Google and a bit of time spent reading.

So, the main obstacle is really deciding what you actually want to build.  Maybe a box mod is in your design.  Or, heck, if you’ve got an old toy ray gun sitting around, you could retrofit that.  Perhaps you want to go big and create a home-only mod, like an e-hookah that doubles as a drink caddy for your coffee table in the living room. The sky’s the limit for creative options.

Not to rain on your newly-founded parade, but remember that slapping an atomizer on a lump of stuff does not an e-cig make.  There are a few things that must be taken into consideration.

First, power: are you going with batteries or AC?  About 99% of the time, you’re going to want to use batteries.  Very few people want to build a mod that has to be plugged in, as it’s hardly convenient (unless, of course, you’re making that e-hookah at-home mod).  Using standard off-the-shelf batteries won’t cut it.  AA batteries aren’t designed for the kind of tolerances needed for efficient vaping.  The most common choice is using a lithium-ion battery in the 18000 size range, usually 18350 or 18650, but keep in mind that this limits the minimum diameter for your battery housing.

You’ll need to connect an atomizer of some sort to the mod.  Virtually all tanks and atomizers use what’s referred to as a 510 connection, which is a type of screw thread of a particular size and thread count.

Does your design allow for easy access to both the battery housing and the tank mounting point?  Questions like this and more await the eager mod designer. Granted, these questions can seem daunting, but remember, there’s always an answer. Between the online community and Google, it’s just a matter of finding them. Once you’ve answered them, it’s time to start building.

This is the best part: the point when you decide just how the mod will function.  Are you tired of having a button on the bottom of your mech mod?  Rig a button on the side!  Springs just feel too springy?  Switch to relying on the science and magic of magnets!  Feel like your last mod just wasn’t hitting hard enough?  It’s time to lose the aluminum and go for copper and silver!  You have complete control of your vaping experience from the ground up.

But above all else, and we cannot stress this enough: you must BE CAREFUL.

Electricity is a powerful thing, and the engineering that goes into battery and wiring design must be precise.  While 3.7 volts may not seem like much, it’s enough to deliver a painful jolt from an exposed gap in your circuit.

If you push your batteries too hard, you could wind up with a hazardous situation quickly.  If the amp limit of the battery is exceeded, it can enter thermal runaway and rupture or even explode.  If the battery housing isn’t designed with vent holes, thermal runaway can turn your mod into a pipe bomb.  There have only been a few reports of electronic cigarettes exploding in users hands, and nearly all of them have been homemade mods that were improperly designed.

If you decide to make your own, make sure you don’t accidentally add yourself to that statistic.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you’re informed and you don’t rush.  With proper planning and a steady hand, you can make a mod that works well and is uniquely your own.

In a few short years electronic cigarettes have gone from a mere novelty to a nearly billion-dollar industry.  Promoted as a safe alternative to traditional tobacco-burning cigarettes, news outlets have begun releasing stories that question the safety of e-cigs. These articles are frequently heavy on sensationalism and light on facts. Here are five of the most common myths about e-cigarettes and the actual truth.

Myth #1: Electronic cigarettes contain some of the same cancer causing ingredients as tobacco cigarettes.

Truth: Tobacco-burning cigarettes contain over 7,000 chemical compounds, over 70 known carcinogens, and kill approximately 443,000 people each year. E-cigs only contain 4-5 ingredients, all of which are recognized by the FDA as safe for human consumption.  Reports that claim e-cigs contain carcinogens frequently cite a French study that found “trace amounts” of carcinogens in “some” e-liquids. However, this study was of Chinese-made e-liquids. which are known for not having the same quality controls as e-liquids manufactured in the United States. Similar studies of American-made e-liquids have shown that e-cigs do not contain carcinogens.

What to do: Always purchase your e-liquids from vendors that use only American-made e-liquids.

Myth #2: There have been no FDA studies on the health effects of electronic cigarettes.

Truth: The FDA evaluated the safety of electronic cigarettes in 2009 and published its results. The study detected the presence of trace amounts of “tobacco specific nitrosamines” in some samples, but concluded that their concentrations were comparable to other smoking-cessation aids, and were similarly the result of the nicotine distillation process.

What to do Once again, always purchase from vendors that use USA-made e-liquids.  If you have concerns specifically about tobacco-specific nitrosamines, look for a vendor that uses only pharmaceutical-grade nicotine from reputable sources.

Myth #3: Nicotine is dangerous, and therefore so are electronic cigarettes.

Fact: Nicotine, while addictive, is not harmful when consumed in moderation. Nicotine is a stimulant similar to caffeine and appears in most FDA-approved smoking-cessation aides. If the nicotine itself was dangerous, the FDA would not have approved it in those other methods.

What to do: As it is addictive you might want to avoid nicotine. Choose e liquids with lower nicotine concentrations, or slowly wean yourself altogether and select nicotine-free liquids.

Myth #4: Electronic cigarettes contain the same ingredients as the antifreeze used in cars.

Truth: This common myth comes from confusing two similar chemicals. The antifreeze used in cars contains a chemical called Diethylene Glycol.  This chemical is quite toxic for human consumption. Alternately, e-cigarettes contain Propylene Glycol, which is FDA-approved for human consumption.  While the names are similar, they are two very different chemicals. Proplyene glycol is recognized as safe by the FDA, even when ingested in large quantities. It’s found in asthma therapy medicines, toothpaste, mouthwash, lip balm, and many other products we use and consume every day.

What to do: It’s rare, but some electronic cigarette users have an allergy to propylene glycol. If you think you might be allergic to it, ask your e-liquid vendor to use a 100% vegetable base. You can order these types of e liquids from multiple reputable vendors.

Myth #5: E-cigarettes are a gateway to tobacco smoking, and the flavors they come in are made to appeal to teens.

Truth: Rather than acting as a “gateway” to smoking, e-cigarettes are helping longtime smokers to quit smoking. The fact that e-cigarettes replicate the sensation of smoking, including the vapor, makes them an extremely effective smoking-cessation aide.  The variety of flavors that are offered appeal to adults and are not targeted at teens. Most vendors already restrict the sale of electronic cigarettes to adults over the age of 18. This “think of the children” argument rests on the flawed assumption that, for reasons unknown, adults don’t like sweet, fruity, or dessert-like flavors. It takes little more than a quick look inside the pantries belonging to most adults in America to demolish that presumption.

What to do: Be conscientious of the way you use and discuss e-cigarettes around teens. Information and education will lead everyone to better decision making. When discussing this aspect with adults, it may not hurt to remind them that some vapers who were once heavy smokers vape e-liquids that are nicotine free.

Due to how quickly vapor has become popular there is a lot of misinformation floating around out there. Sharing the truth is an important step for the vapor community as a whole. Remember, always check your sources and keep your ears open for new information.