Most people don’t realize that vaping has a fairly long history. While the practice has become strikingly popular over the last few years, it’s not a new thing. In fact, the idea and technology has been around since the 1960s. The long and sometimes suppressed history of vaping helps us see that the idea has been around for a long time.

The first ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery System) device was introduced in 1963. It’s creator, Herbert A. Gilbert patented the device as a “smokeless non-tobacco cigarette” in a time when analog cigarettes were extremely popular and widely accepted in society. Gilbert created several prototypes, featuring a battery-powered heat source, flavored water, and an inhalation device.  The very simple reason that this device didn’t make it as a commercial masterpiece is because at that time, it was common to smoke just about anywhere including on airplanes, in hospitals, business offices, and more.

After that, vaping devices took a hiatus. Gilbert stated in an interview in 2013 that it seemed that no one was inclined to produce his product – they wanted to wait until the patent expired. There is also a lot of speculation that the idea may have been suppressed by tobacco companies, but there is no definitive evidence of this.

In the late 70s and early 80s, Dr. Norman L. Jacobson and J. Phillip Ray had article in newspapers and scientific papers about nicotine inhalation, or vaping. In a paper released by Dr. Jacobson he actually used the phrase vape. Ray created a “fake cigarette” and these two men worked together on the project. Ray was one of Dr. Jacobson’s patients, and is credited with being the father of the micro processor. He also managed the Apollo program. After talking about the possibility of inhaling nicotine, the two worked together to create a way to go about it.

In 1980, Medical World News released an article about eight smokers who used the product designed by Ray, who were studied by Dr. Jacobson. Participants in the study said that they either cut down or completely stopped smoking traditional cigarettes. However, this was an extremely small trial, and vaping needed more research and time investment. Jacobson and Ray created a company called Favor to market their product, and commercialized it for about two years. Their delivery system was not ideal and eventually they sold the idea to a Swedish company. Once again, it is suspected, though not confirmed that part of the reason that the “fake cigarette” did not do well is because of sabotage by the tobacco industry.

The next ENDS did not hit the market until the early 2000s. While there was talk about the technology and the possible benefits of it during the intervening years, no one made the leap to production.

In 2003, Hon Lik – a pharmacist in China – decided to create an electronic cigarette. He had a personal connection to smoking and the negative effects; not only did he smoke and hate his addiction, his father had died of lung cancer. One of his ideas used a piezoelectric ultrasound-emitting element, pressurized liquid nicotine diluted in propylene glycol. Another idea used propylene glycole and diluted nicotine in a disposable cartridge featuring a mouthpiece and reservoir.

In 2004, electronic cigarettes were released in China and marketed as a smoking alternative and smoking cessation device. For the first few years, electronic cigarettes were only a thing in China. However, with online sales, they started hitting the American and European markets in about 2006. The international patent was registered in 2007 by Ruyan (which literally translates to “resembling smoking”), previously named Golden Dragon Holdings.

Today’s vape models are based on these early designs. While the styles change, all of the elements of the early electronic cigarettes are there. Over the years, styles have evolved from the original pen style or cigalike style to the insane and outstanding mods you can see today.