Vaping 101: A Beginner's Guide
At Vapor Grande, we take the utmost pride in educating the consumer on each product. We understand that switching from a traditional cigarette to an electronic cigarette is quite the undertaking. Take a deep breath and read on.
Electronic Cigarettes: How do they function?
The electronic cigarette, also known as an “e-cigarette”, contains multiple parts that work together to produce an inhaled dose of nicotine via a vaporized solution. The electronic cigarette has a rechargeable battery that powers a heating coil (atomizer). The user puts their mouth over the mouth piece, also known as the drip tip, then presses the power button, activating the battery, which delivers power to the atomizer. The atomizer is a small metal tubed casing that has threading at the bottom attaching to the electronic cigarette. The top or bottom of the atomizer, depending on which model you have, has an opening to allow the use of electronic juice. (e-juice) The e-juice comes in contact with the heating coil and is then vaporized.
Electronic Juice (e-juice): What is it made of?
E-juice is your nicotine source. It contains Nicotine, Vegetable Glycerin, Propylene Glycol and Flavoring. Vegetable Glycerin is a colorless and odorless liquid that is used in pharmaceutical formulations. Propylene glycol is an FDA approved food chemical used in everything from cake mixes to asthma inhalers. The flavoring is made from food-safe additives. Vapor Grande e-juice is customizable by requesting a certain VG (Vegetable Glycerin) percentage and PG (Propylene Glycol) percentage. VG has a lower throat hit, but produces more vapor. PG has a higher throat hit, yet produces less vapor. The user may also request a custom nicotine strength. The nicotine strengths available at Vapor Grande vary from 0mg to 32mg.
Electronic Cigarettes: The Art of “Vaping”?
Electronic cigarettes are smoke-free, instead produce vapor. Therefore, the term “vaping” or “to vape” is the electronic cigarette's version of “smoking”. Here are a few tips for your first time vaping:
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Inhaling vapor affects your lungs differently than smoke. Normally, your lungs are used to smoke; it is important to allow them some time to adapt to the vapor. With a traditional cigarette, you pull hard to get smoke, but with vaping, pull slow and steady.
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Remember, the e-juice sits inside your atomizer, so you don’t want to pull hard enough that the liquid ends up in your mouth. When inhaling the vapor, the longer you hold it in your mouth, the less vapor you’ll blow out.
E-cigarettes: How they beat-out traditional cigarettes
There is no simpler way to explain the contrast between e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes than a side by side comparison. No matter how you compare the two, the healthier and more cost effective option are electronic cigarettes.
E-cigarettes: Safety and FDA regulations
E-cigarettes have not yet been regulated by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Approval by the FDA means that a nicotine product has met standards of safety and effectiveness, said Dr. Anne Joseph, a tobacco researcher at the University of Minnesota. E-cigarettes are in a gray area and are not considered a tobacco product or medical device, even though they are similar to both product categories. The FDA tried to block the sale of e-cigarettes, claiming that they were unapproved “drug/device combinations.” Manufacturers successfully challenged the agency’s position, but in a 2010 ruling, a federal appeals court held that e-cigarettes could be regulated by the agency as tobacco products. There is still much research to be done in proving the safety of e-cigarettes. However, there is mounting evidence that they are less harmful than a traditional cigarette.
Vaping: Let's get started
Vapor Grande offers an array of hand-crafted and customizable e-juice. The flavors range from sweet to bold. Maybe today you're craving your favorite dessert. Perhaps that meeting with your boss prompts your aching for a strong tobacco flavor. Do not despair, with a menu containing nearly 50 flavors, Vapor Grande has you covered for every day of the week.. In order to ensure a successful vaping experience, you must choose a nicotine level that fits your needs and wants. The most common mistake we find that people make when trying to switch, is that they choose the wrong nicotine level. Choosing a lower nicotine level than what you normally smoke will only have you yearning for a traditional cigarette, therefore deeming your vaping attempt unsuccessful.
Customizing your E-juice
How many cigarettes are you smoking per day?
Once you identify how many cigarettes you are smoking a day, we are able to recommend a nicotine level that matches your needs. Vapor Grande offers e-juice bottle sizes of 10ml, 15ml and 30ml with 0mg of nicotine to 32mg. Below are some of the most popular traditional cigarettes and their nicotine levels.
Marlboro Red
1.2 mg per cigarette
Marlboro Light
0.8 mg per cigarette
Newport Regular
1.2 mg per cigarette
Newport Light
0.7 mg per cigarette
Camel Regular
1.4 mg per cigarette
Camel Light
0.9 mg per cigarette
Camel Wide
1.2 mg per cigarette
Capri Super Slim
0.8 mg per cigarette
Chesterfield Full Flavor
1.5 mg per cigarette
Parliament Light
0.7 mg per cigarette
Salem Regular
1.2 mg per cigarette
Salem Light
0.9 mg per cigarette
Basic Regular
1.0 mg per cigarette
Basic Light
0.7 mg per cigarette
Kool Regular
1.1 mg per cigarette
Paul Maul Regular
1.7 mg per cigarette
Virginia Slims
1.1 mg per cigarette
Winston Regular
1.2 mg per cigarette
As you may notice, Vapor Grande' e-cigarette bottles contain higher amounts of nicotine because they are not meant to be smoked completely in one sitting. The time it takes you to go through one bottle of e-juice depends on the amount you desire to vape.
What type of throat hit would you like?
Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-juice is 100% customizable to your needs and wants. Deciphering your preference will help us in recommending which Vapor Grande flavor e-juice you will enjoy most. Perhaps it is the flavor you like about your traditional cigarette. Maybe you enjoy the throat hit it provides. Notice, a higher throat hit with less vapor means a higher PG (Propylene Glycol). A lower throat hit with more vapor means a higher VG (Vegetable Glycerin). The amount of PG or VG in your e-juice does not affect its Nicotine content.