If you're new to vaping, you probably have a lot of questions about how an electronic cigarette works. You may have purchased a vaping device already, and you don't quite know your way around its functionalities yet. You'd like a bit of advice so you can learn to vape as rapidly and as simply as possible!
Transitioning from traditional cigarettes to electronic cigarettes is a serious matter indeed, that's why you must be well informed if you want to increase your chances of quitting smoking for good.
Arômes et Liquides tells you everything you need to know to start vaping and give up smoking with ease!
All the answers to your questions on electronic cigarette use!
Forget your smoking habits
We can't stress it enough, vaping is not the same as smoking! Many newcomers to vaping tend to think they can continue with their old smoking habits, except that the way you vape has nothing in common with the way you smoke.
The first thing to do, of course, is to turn your electronic cigarette on. Gone are the matches and lighters, now you press a button instead! This small switch turns your electronic cigarette on or off, and it's also used to power up the device when you want to inhale.
Moreover, you'll quickly notice that you don't inhale in the same way you would do for a classic cigarette. It's for this reason that a lot of people cough when they first inhale, as the draw isn't the same between a tobacco cigarette and an electronic cigarette.
The former have a very tight draw, which combined with the various chemical texturing substances, prevents you from coughing upon inhaling the smoke created by the cigarette's combustion.
With vaping, you'll have to get used to a slightly airier draw. To make it easier for you, we recommend you inhale gently and for a longer period of time, all whilst pressing the switch. Only press this button when the e-cig is in your mouth and you're inhaling, otherwise you might damage your coil.
Keep in mind that inhaling too strongly and / or rapidly can potentially cause the e-liquid to rise up into your mouth.
Also, when you inhale, try not to keep the vapour in your lungs for too long so as to not feel like you're suffocating.
Finally, hold and store your vaping device vertically and not horizontally to avoid any leakages.
Find a new rhythm
As we said before, using an electronic cigarette implies a gentler and slower inhale. You'll probably have to vape more often to satisfy your nicotine craving as well.
Indeed, the nicotine contained in e-liquids takes longer to act than the nicotine found in tobacco products. It also feels weaker, as e-liquids don't have any of the innumerable additives found in tobacco, such as ammonia, which are designed to enhance your nicotine dependency by accelerating its absorption.
Thus, a vaper has to vape more often to get the same nicotinic satisfaction a smoker does. So, it's completely normal if you can't let go of your e-cigarette during the first few days and even weeks. Don't worry, you'll soon find the right rhythm for your particular needs.
Find your vape kit
The great thing with electronic cigarettes is that you have access to various vaping methods, thus increasing your chances of successfully quitting smoking.
There are two types of draw available to you: direct or indirect inhaling.
Indirect inhaling, also known as Mouth-To-Lung (MTL) consists in inhaling the vapour in two separate steps. In the same way you smoke a traditional cigarette, you keep the vapour in your mouth first, before sucking it into your lungs. This type of inhaling is ideal for former smokers who are just starting out, since they're already used to it.
Conversely, direct inhaling, also called Direct-To-Lung (DTL) consists in inhaling the vapour directly into your lungs, without holding it in your mouth. This type of inhaling allows you to exhale more vapour by vapourising more e-liquid. It's usually recommended for experienced vapers, as it requires an appropriate device and nicotine level. The feeling you get is close to smoking a hookah.
In most cases, beginners will prefer an indirect inhale, as it's very similar to the one you get with a traditional cigarette. This will make it easier for you to transition from smoking to vaping.
Properly adjust your vape kit
If a classic cigarette doesn't require any prior adjustments before being used, it's a whole different story with electronic cigarettes! Some of them are much simpler to use, such as podmod electronic cigarettes, but others require a bit more knowledge so you can configure them to suit your preferences.
You need to know your electronic cigarette's power, and then adjust it according to the coil's resistive value, expressed in ohms. You usually find the recommended power level written on the coil itself.
You can also use this general guide to adjust your device:
- For a resistive value above 1.5 Ohm, use less than 10 watts of power
- For a resistive value between 1 and 1.5 Ohm, use between 9 and 15 watts of power
- For a resistive value between 0.5 and 1 Ohm, use between 10 and 30 watts of power
- For a resistive value between 0.3 and 0.5 Ohm, use between 20 and 60 watts of power
- For a resistive value between 0.15 and 0.3 Ohm, use between 20 and 100 watts of power (experienced user setting)
As you can see, the closer the ohmage is to 0, the higher your electronic cigarette's power must be. Coils lower than 1 ohm, also called sub-ohm coils, are used by clearomizers with a direct inhale, which are designed to produce lots of vapour.
Be sure to follow these recommendations, because if you vape at a lower power than the recommended power range, your coil won't heat up enough to vapourise the liquid inside in the tank. This results in less vapour and a risk of e-liquid leaks.
Conversely, if you vape with too much power, your coil might overheat. The organic cotton wick inside it can burn, causing a 'dry hit'. You'll then feel an unpleasant burnt taste in your mouth.
Finding the right nicotine level
Now you know the basic guidelines for correctly vaping an electronic cigarette. However, you must also look into a key factor of any e-cigarette: the e-liquid's nicotine level.
Electronic cigarettes are a great tool for those who want to quit smoking, as they offer numerous benefits compared to traditional nicotine substitutes. Most notably, they allow you to adjust your nicotine intake to suit your needs. However, it's important to remember that you shouldn't lower your nicotine level too quickly. Otherwise, you might feel a craving.
It's the nicotine contained in your e-liquids that creates the 'hit', the muscular contraction you get in your throat when inhaling, and it's very important to smokers. If you don't feel this hit, you might jeopardize your smoking withdrawal.
Therefore, it's essential that you choose a nicotine level that suits you.
It's hard to compare a consumption of nicotined e-liquids with that of a traditional cigarette, but here's a comparative to help you out, based on your smoking profile:
- Occasional smoker (fewer than five cigarettes a day): 3mg/mL nicotine level
- Average smoker (5 to 10 cigarettes a day): 6mg/mL nicotine level
- Confirmed smoker (10 to 20 cigarettes a day): 11 or 12mg/mL nicotine level
- Heavy smoker (more than 20 cigarettes a day): 16 to 18 mg/mL nicotine level
Don't hesitate to contact our customer service if you need help choosing the appropriate nicotine level and device for yourself. Our team of expert vapers will be happy to help!
Finding your e-liquid
Switching from tobacco to electronic cigarettes is a massive change in many ways. You won't only discover a new device, but a new choice of flavours as well!
You can say goodbye to the unpleasant aftertaste of tobacco! You probably got used to it, but it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to enjoy it again after you try out e-liquids and their many flavours.
To make your vaping experience as pleasant as possible, e-liquid manufacturers have come up with all sorts of flavours so that each vaper can find the one he likes.
There are six major types of e-liquid flavours:
- Tobacco-flavoured, also known as 'classics': These e-liquids imitate the taste of various well-known tobacco blends, but without the tar and carcinogenic substances! You can start with this type of flavour if you don't want to be too lost in the beginning.
- Fruit-flavoured: This family of e-liquids is the most loved by vapers, thanks to its huge variety of flavours. From berries to pineapples, there's something for everyone!
- Deesert and pastry flavours: These e-liquids are made for the fans of cakes, custards, biscuits, and various other treats.
- Mentholated e-liquids: If you love fresh and minty flavours, these are the ones for you!
- Candy flavours: Please your inner child with these recipes, inspired by confectionery such as lollipops, chewing-gums and more.
- Drink-flavoured: Sodas, syrups, coffees, take your pick!
Once you pick your favourite flavour, there are two parameters you have to take into account.
If you want a better flavour rendition, choose an e-liquid with a higher propylene glycol content. On the other hand, if you'd prefer more vapour, choose an e-liquid with more vegetable glycerin in it. It's up to you to play around with the PG/VG ratio of your e-liquid to get the result you prefer!
If you're a beginner, we recommend you start with a 50/50 PG/VG ratio, as it offers a perfect balance between the amount of vapour that's produced and the flavour rendition.
Finally, know that you can use ready-made e-liquids, or you can make your own, which is known as DIYing. The latter is a great way of saving money, by the way!
Cleaning your electronic cigarette
You're probably wondering how to maintain your electronic cigarette equipment. Our team of vaping experts share their secrets with you, so that you can clean your kit with ease!
The first thing to know is that the cleaning process differs from one part to another. How often you have to clean your device also varies. As an example, you have to clean your clearomizer every time you change your e-liquid.
This can seem tedious, but properly cleaning your e-cig is actually the best way to ensure it's functioning properly, and it increases its durability.
Don't worry, you don't need many household products to do so, but it is important to do it regularly, it'll prevent many technical problems!
Filling your electronic cigarette
Filling or refilling your electronic cigarette is a essential step for any vaper! The technique can change from one refill system to another, as clearomizers differ. Indeed, they can be refilled from above, below, or from the side. Some electronic cigarettes don't have a clearomizer but a cartridge instead, such as pod e-cigs. Most times, the latter have a refill well on the cartridge itself.
It's very easy to know if you need to fill up or not, simply check your e-liquid level from time to time through the glass tank. When there's about 10% left, it's time for a refill!
Don't hesitate to use a syringe or a pipette to more accurately fill your e-cig!
Why is my electronic cigarette flashing?
It can sometimes happen that a light blinks on your electronic cigarette. It's there to tell you that your e-cig is malfunctioning in some way. Don't worry, these problems are often very minor!
Your e-cig can flash because the battery needs to be recharged, for example, or that you have to replace the coil. It may also flash because the coil or clearomizer aren't detected by the e-cig's battery. In this case, simply unscrew your clearomizer and then screw it back on!
If you're unsure about what's making your e-cig flash, you can contact our customer service. Our team of passionate vapers will help you find what's wrong with your device.
Why is my electronic cigarette making me cough?
When you tried an electronic cigarette for the first time, it's highly probable that it made you cough upon inhaling.
It's a completely normal reaction! Indeed, your body needs a bit of time to get used to this different practice. Unlike tobacco, e-liquids don't have any anti-irritant chemicals in them. Don't worry though, you'll get used to it after a couple of weeks.
Remember that this cough also helps your body to eliminate the tar and chemicals it's accumulated over years of smoking.
You must also check that your e-liquid's nicotine level is suited to your needs. Indeed, it can be an excessive nicotine dosage that irritates your throat and makes you cough.
Finally, you need to have the right equipment. If you're a new vaper, it's best to use an e-cigarette with a clearomizer whose draw is tight.
How frequently should you vape?
You're about to give up smoking and you're wondering how often you should vape so you don't feel any cravings? It isn't easy comparing the consumption of a tobacco cigarette with that of an electronic cigarette.
There are several factors that come into play. The vaping frequency depends on the composition and nicotine content of the e-liquid you vape, as well as the device you use.
Keep in mind that everyone has a different vaping rhythm. You'll be spending the first few weeks finding your own rhythm. Bit by bit, it'll become automatic and you'll only vape when you feel the need.
Discover the secrets of electronic cigarettes:
- Advice on finding the right electronic cigarette
- Knowing which electronic cigarettes to avoid
- Understanding the history of electronic cigarettes