With the popularity of e-cigarettes, more and more people are interested in their taste. One of the biggest advantages of e-cigarettes is the wide variety of flavors, everyone has their own favorite flavor of e-cigarettes, whether it is fruit flavor, candy flavor, dessert flavor, tobacco flavor. However, in addition to the taste of the e-liquid, we also need to consider how it smells and whether this will affect the e-cigarette experience for you and those around you.
Do Vapes Give Off a Smell?
First, let’s define vape smell. When we describe a vape smell, we’re talking about the aroma that comes from the vapor itself, not the actual device. Each time we exhale a cloud, we emit into the air a number of flavor and aroma molecules that are in our e-liquid. So, the smell is actually coming from the clouds that you blow with each puff that you take.
Naturally, the smell is going to vary from one vaping product to the next. Each e-liquid has a unique flavor profile, which will be reflected in the aroma of the vapor. For instance, a lemonade-flavored vape will produce a smell of citrus and sweetness, while a tobacco-flavored vape will produce a smell of nuttiness and smokiness, just like regular tobacco.
So, how strong is the scent of vapor? Well, that depends on a few things. One is the concentration of flavor ingredients in the actual e-liquid formula, as this can vary from one brand to the next. With that being said, keep in mind that the other ingredients in vape juice (vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and nicotine) do not have any smell whatsoever.
Another factor that affects the strength of an e-liquid smell is the strength of the device. A higher wattage setting produces more vapor per puff, and the bigger the cloud of vapor, the higher the volume of aroma molecules in the air once you blow that cloud out.
Of course, the size of the space in which you’re vaping matters too. Blowing out a cloud on a windy day outdoors means a less concentrated smell than, say, blowing a vape cloud in a confined space, like a car with the windows rolled up.
Finally, we want to mention that different types of flavor profiles can have different types of impacts on the surrounding air, in terms of aroma. For instance, many say that the scent of vanilla has a tendency to linger for a while, while the scent of mint dissipates quickly, as does citrus. Heavier aromas, in general, have more lasting power, which is something that we also see with perfumes.
Is it Okay to Vape Indoors?
Now, it goes without saying that vaping indoors is going to cause the smell of your vape to last longer, as the space is confined, whereas vaping outdoors allows the vapor to travel farther and dissipate sooner. But, is it actually okay to vape indoors?
Well, that depends on how you define “okay.” Vaping indoors is not illegal if you’re in a private residence, like your own home, or the home of a loved one. And, vapor dissipates within seconds, compared to cigarette smoke which can last for hours to days, and absorb into the fibers of furniture, carpet, etc. So, vaping indoors habitually doesn’t really have any negative long-lasting effects on the scent of your dwelling.
Still, there are some things to consider. One is that the people around you may not enjoy the aroma of your vape as much as you do, and if you’ve been vaping a flavor profile for a long time, you may be so used to it that you don’t notice how strong the smell really is. There’s also the matter of second-hand vapor, which isn’t known to be dangerous like second-hand cigarette smoke but can still be something that others are trying to avoid. Also, we want to point out that vaping is typically banned in public spaces in which smoking is banned.
Does Vaping Leave a Smell in a Room?
Yes, the smell of your vapor will eventually leave the room - quite quickly, in fact, like we said earlier. And, up until now, we’ve talked about the vapor from flavored, nicotine-infused e-liquids.
Basically, no matter what you’re vaping or how strong the product is in terms of its concentration and aroma notes, vapor will always dissipate into the air in less than a half hour. This means that no matter what you’re vaping, you won’t be able to, say, smell it in a room the next day.
The reason why is because of the actual physical properties of vapor. Vapor is mostly water, and water evaporates quickly, unlike smoke, which has a higher density of compounds per volume. Being water-based, vapor has no physical properties that allow it to stay suspended in the air for a long period of time.
Final thought
So, do e-cigarettes smell? Yes, but the smell of steam doesn't last long. This is good news if you want to smoke an e-cigarette at home and don't want to smell all kinds of smoke the next morning. Feel free to smoke, the only thing you need to worry about is whether you can smoke an e-cigarette in a public place and whether the people around you mind if they can smell the smoke.
