Adults only (18+)

How Do Vapes Work

Vapes have become a popular alternative to smoking, offering a cleaner and more controlled way to consume nicotine. But despite their popularity, many people still wonder what actually happens inside a vape when you inhale. Understanding how vapes work helps users make informed choices about their devices, nicotine levels, and safety. Whether you’re completely new to vaping or just curious about the technology, it’s useful to know how each part of a vape contributes to turning liquid into vapour.

The Basic Principle Behind Vaping

At its core, vaping works through a simple process called vapourisation. Instead of burning tobacco like a cigarette, a vape heats a special liquid (known as e-liquid or vape juice) until it turns into vapour. The user inhales this vapour, which delivers nicotine and flavour without combustion or smoke.

Because there’s no burning, vaping avoids the tar, ash, and carbon monoxide that make smoking harmful. This is what makes vaping a cleaner and less damaging alternative for adults who want to quit cigarettes.

The Main Components of a Vape

All vape devices, regardless of shape or size, share a few common parts that work together to create vapour.

The battery is the power source. It provides the electricity needed to heat the coil. Batteries can be built-in and rechargeable, as seen in compact pod kits, or removable in more advanced devices.

The coil (or atomiser) is a small heating element made from metal wire, often wrapped in cotton. When you activate the vape, electricity from the battery heats the coil. The cotton absorbs e-liquid, and as the coil gets hot, it turns that liquid into vapour.

The tank or pod is the container that holds the e-liquid. Tanks are used in refillable devices, while pods are common in compact systems. Inside, a coil and wicking material work together to deliver vapour consistently.

The mouthpiece is the part you inhale through. It directs vapour from the coil into your mouth and lungs.

Finally, the e-liquid is what gets vapourised. It typically contains propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), flavourings, and nicotine (unless you choose a nicotine-free version).

How Vapour Is Produced

When you inhale or press a button on your vape, the battery sends power to the coil. The coil heats up within seconds, warming the soaked cotton and turning the liquid into tiny droplets of vapour.

Propylene glycol (PG) carries flavour and provides the throat hit that mimics smoking. Vegetable glycerine (VG) creates thick, smooth clouds. Different ratios of PG and VG affect how the vapour feels and tastes. A higher PG blend produces a sharper throat hit, while a higher VG mix gives a smoother experience with more visible vapour.

The vapour then travels up through the mouthpiece, ready to be inhaled. The process stops as soon as you stop drawing or release the button, depending on the type of vape you use.

Types of Vape Devices and How They Work

Although all vapes follow the same principle, there are several different styles designed for various users.

Pod systems are small, simple, and popular among beginners. They use pre-filled or refillable pods and often feature automatic activation, meaning you just inhale to use them. They produce moderate vapour and deliver nicotine efficiently, often using nic salts for a smoother hit.

Vape pens are slightly larger and use a button to activate the coil. They are refillable, allowing you to choose your own e-liquid and coil type. Vape pens offer more customisation while still being straightforward to use.

Box mods or advanced kits provide the most control. They include adjustable power settings, temperature control, and replaceable coils or tanks. These devices cater to experienced vapers who prefer to fine-tune their experience and produce larger clouds.

All three types rely on the same heating process, but with different levels of power and user control.

Nicotine Delivery and Absorption

When vaping, nicotine is absorbed through the lungs and mouth lining, entering the bloodstream quickly. The sensation is similar to smoking, though generally smoother and less harsh.

E-liquids come in different nicotine strengths. Regular freebase nicotine gives a sharper throat hit, while nicotine salt (nic salt) e-liquids allow for higher nicotine strengths with less irritation. Nic salts are often used in pod systems because they provide satisfaction even at low power levels.

Because users can control nicotine strength, vaping allows smokers to gradually reduce their intake over time, supporting harm reduction and quitting efforts.

Vaping Without Combustion: Why It Matters

The key difference between smoking and vaping is the absence of combustion. Cigarettes burn tobacco at high temperatures, creating smoke filled with thousands of chemicals, many of them toxic. Vapes only heat liquid to around 200°C, which is enough to create vapour but not burn anything.

This means vaping doesn’t produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the main causes of lung and heart disease linked to smoking. The vapour itself contains far fewer harmful substances and at much lower concentrations.

However, that doesn’t mean vaping is harmless. Inhaling any substance can cause mild irritation, especially for those with respiratory sensitivities. The goal of vaping should be to help smokers quit cigarettes, not to introduce non-smokers to nicotine.

Automatic vs Manual Activation

Some vapes activate automatically when you inhale, using airflow sensors to detect the draw. Others require you to press a button to heat the coil. Automatic systems are convenient for beginners and mimic the feel of smoking, while button-activated devices give more control over vapour production and timing.

Both systems work in the same way once activated: the coil heats up, the liquid turns to vapour, and the process continues until you stop.

Refilling and Maintenance

For refillable devices, the process involves topping up the tank or pod with e-liquid and occasionally changing the coil. Over time, the wicking material becomes saturated or burnt, which affects flavour. Most coils last between a few days and a couple of weeks depending on usage.

Keeping your vape clean helps it function properly. Wiping away condensation, cleaning the mouthpiece, and avoiding overfilling prevents leaks and ensures consistent vapour production.

Temperature and Power Control

More advanced devices allow users to control the wattage or temperature. Higher wattage increases vapour production and intensifies flavour but uses more liquid and battery power. Lower wattage creates a cooler, gentler vape that mimics traditional smoking.

Temperature control mode prevents the coil from overheating by regulating how hot it gets. This helps avoid burnt tastes and extends coil life.

Airflow and Vapour Style

The way a vape feels depends heavily on airflow. Devices with tighter airflow provide a mouth-to-lung (MTL) experience, similar to smoking a cigarette, where vapour is drawn into the mouth before being inhaled. This is preferred by many ex-smokers.

Looser airflow produces a direct-to-lung (DTL) experience, where vapour is inhaled straight into the lungs. This style uses more power and liquid and is popular among experienced users who enjoy large vapour clouds.

Adjustable airflow allows users to customise their draw and tailor the experience to their preference.

Safety Features in Modern Vapes

Modern vape devices include built-in safety mechanisms to prevent overheating and electrical faults. These include automatic cut-off timers, short-circuit protection, and low battery warnings. When used correctly with regulated e-liquids, vaping is considered a low-risk activity compared to smoking.

UK regulations ensure that all legal vape products meet strict safety standards. Devices and e-liquids must be tested and approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before they can be sold.

Why E-Liquid Ingredients Matter

E-liquids contain four main ingredients: propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, flavourings, and nicotine. PG enhances flavour and throat hit, VG adds smoothness and vapour, flavourings create variety, and nicotine satisfies cravings.

High-quality UK e-liquids use pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and must not contain harmful additives or colourings. This regulation ensures consistency and safety for consumers. Choosing trusted brands and avoiding unregulated products is important for both taste and health.

The Science of Inhalation and Vapourisation

When vapour enters the mouth and lungs, the tiny aerosol particles quickly deliver nicotine into the bloodstream. Unlike smoke, which contains solid particles and tar, vapour droplets are liquid-based and disperse rapidly.

The vapour cools almost instantly after exhalation, which is why it doesn’t linger or stain surfaces the way cigarette smoke does. This makes vaping less intrusive and more suitable for home use compared with smoking.

Final Thoughts

Vapes work by heating e-liquid to create vapour, offering a controlled and combustion-free alternative to smoking. Each part of the device, from the battery to the coil, plays a precise role in transforming liquid into an inhalable mist.

While vaping is not risk-free, it dramatically reduces exposure to harmful chemicals compared with cigarettes and has become one of the most effective tools for quitting smoking in the UK. Understanding how vapes work helps users use them responsibly, choose the right equipment, and maintain safe, consistent performance.

For adult smokers looking for a cleaner alternative, vaping offers an effective and regulated way to move away from tobacco while still controlling nicotine intake.