As early as 4000 BC for tobacco and 5000 BC for cannabis, smoking becomes a part of every culture. Little did smokers know that they had just created a spark to today's evolution in an impressive array of the most sought-after smoking essentials. Traditionally, tobacco was chewed and snuffed. On the other hand, aromatic spices and herbs were used as incense or smoked openly, like what was accounted for by Herodotus in Ancient Greece from about 400 BC. Vaporizing was already practiced by our ancestors in Egypt around the 5th century B.C., and Herodotus describes people heating oils and herbs on hot stones to vape at that time. The so-called "The Father of History," Cicero, also acknowledged the ancient origins of this favorite pastime today. Over 1500 years ago, Irfan Shiekh of Afghanistan invented the first shisha, also introduced in India. These are cool oriental smoking devices that are now part of the e-fashion. Let's get to know more about the evolution of vapes today!

History Tells All

The Scythians took hemp seed and threw it upon the red-hot stones. Once smoked, it gives off a vapour like a vapor bath found in Greece. They enjoy it and even howl with pleasure. The first pipe was called 'chillum', a primitive cone-like design first confirmed in 483 BC. Historians believe that they even existed earlier than the said timeline. It was credited to India's ancient monks and is preserved by some Buddhists in a tradition up until today. In the modern age, pipes were made of wood, stone, clay, ivory, and glass.


Cigars emerged in the 900s, defined as tightly wound bundles of tobacco. The Mayans set the trend using palm and plantain leaves found with string. Cigars evolved into reusable "glass blunts" and "Magars". In the 1500s, rich folks invented the first water pipes made of precious metals and fine glass. On the other hand, commoners made water pipes out of coconut shell bases and bamboo tubes. In 1560, Jean Nicot, the French explorer, introduced tobacco in the high society of France for its therapeutic effects. Nicotine was named after Nicotiana, the ambassador who owned a tobacco plant at that time. In the 1600s, long stem pipes were invented and evolved into handheld devices over centuries. One great long pipe is the Dutch Gouda pipe made of clay and Kiseru's silhouette of Japan, known today as "Sherlock." Rolling papers came into existence in 1660, and the first commercial rolled cigarette was introduced in the 1860s, which boomed into pre-rolled tobacco cigarettes in the 1920s. Percolators made their entrance through coffee-making in 1810.

Vaping was very popular in Europe in the 1990s because the first cannabis vaporizer was invented by “Eagle” Bill Amato. Based on historical data, Herbert A. Gilbert also contributed to today's vapes, with his invention patented in 1965. However, only a few knew about his "smokeless non-tobacco cigarette,"" which could have saved many lives since his discovery. In the 1980s, Normal Jacobson and Phil Ray worked on e-cigarette commercialization. However, the FDA in the 1990s did not allow tobacco companies to launch e-cigarettes on the market."

The Modern E-Cig Inventor

Vape pens, used to vaporize oil and wax concentrate, are very demanding nowadays. Still, few people know Hon Lik, the Chinese inventor of the first electronic device or e-cigarette. His main reason for inventing vaping is to quit smoking. Hon Lik used to smoke two packs of cigarettes daily. He tried several methods just to quit smoking, such as a nicotine patch that failed to mimic the nicotine rush or cigarette and gave him nightmares when he missed taking off at night. Since he was a chemist interested in electronics, so he tried to emulate the smoke effect without combustion. Fortunately, he had a good supply of pure nicotine in the lab he worked wh, ich was used in calibrating products. He tried ways to vaporize pure nicotine, such as using ultrasound and a heating element.

The first machine Hon Lik developed was a giant. He filed a patent on a more practical and smaller model in 2003 and knew right then that it would be a revolutionary product. In fact, vape pens are considered the 'fifth invention' after paper and printing, gunpowder, and navigation. He worked on making the device smaller or miniature, continually refining the nicotine vaporizing mechanism. He intended to resolve a social problem because, based on his experience, quitting smoking is a challenging journey without any alternative. His product was sold after 8 months of toxicology testing by the Chinese Military's medical institute and Pharmaceutical Authority in Liaoning.

Today, millions of smokers in the United Kingdom have quit smoking by using e-cigarettes. At least another million smokers have cut down, and what's more surprising is that the number is rapidly growing worldwide. Vaping devices means fewer respiratory problems, lung cancer, heart disease, fire risk, and stinky clothing. It is now the most popular strategy for quitting tobacco.

Peek Inside the Modern Vape Pens Today

In the United States, the first e-cig was introduced in 2017and, becoming a huge hit and trending device. Many investors gambled in the vape industry, which was starting then, and eventually made a mark among consumers, creating the biggest names in the business. Also, modifications were done for vaping devices such as oil and wax pens. Like the different heating elements, including ceramic, quartz, and titanium, vape parts were extensively researched and improved over time. Eventually, a complete vape pen includes an atomizer, mouthpiece, tank or body, a battery, and vape components and accessories.

A typical wax pen includes a tank, atomizer, battery, and sensors. The holder of the material is called the 'tank' and is usually made of polycarbonate plastic, stainless steel, or refillable glass. It also comes in a cartridge for single use. The heating element on vape pens is called the atomizer. The fancy version is called cartomizers or cartomizers. It converts the liquid or material to tiny airborne droplets or vapor. It is typically called an atomizer if used for dabbing oil on a heating element. It is called a cartomizer if the atomizer is surrounded by a synthetic material to keep oil saturation. Furthermore, a heating element may be called a clearomizer if the oil is dropped from a separate tank using a silica wick onto the atomizer. You can swap the wick with steel mesh, cotton, or other premium-grade materials.

The sensors and available software make vaping digital! Some vape pens turn on automatically when the vaper inhales through them. Other vapes have a push-button used to toggle the heating element. These methods use built-in sensors to capture whether the vaper is pushing the button or inhaling. The embedded software controls the different vape pen parts. When it comes to the battery, it should provide enough power for the tiny heater. Today, vape pens have rechargeable lithium batteries with high energy density. Vape parts have evolved from traditional or ancient materials like stones, clay, and wood to modern glass and stainless steel, like those used on premium wax pens like Dr. Dabber Vaporizers. Dr. Dabber Parts are unique and use only high-quality materials. Read more about Dr. Dabber.

Final Thoughts

Now you know why wax vapes are so unique. Wax pens and vaping have evolved tremendously from ancient herb-heating wood, stone, and clay pipes to advanced digital technologies. Who could have imagined that there's a solution or great alternative to tobacco or herb smoking without the harmful effects of combustion?