Monday, January 31, 2011

Electronic Cigarette Glossary

Nothing is more intimidating to new e cig users than the slang and vocabulary used in the industry and by long-time users. We hear people talk about “vaping” and “cartomizers” and to the uninitiated it may sound like a secret code! LiteCig USA has put together a beginner’s glossary of electronic smoking terms to help familiarize you with some of the aspects of vaping:

Analog Cigarettes: this term refers to the original cigarette with tobacco wrapped in paper, either with or without a filter.

Atomizer: The heating portion of the cigarette which vaporizes the liquid into a steam that can be inhaled. This electric component turns the nicotine solution contained within the e-cigarette into vapor. It is general lithium ion, ranges in size and has an LED light on the end that glows when it is activated, ie. when it is inhaled upon. Manual switched batteries have a button to activate rather than activation upon inhalation.

Battery: Element of the cigarette which provides energy and power.

Cartomizer: Combination of cartridge and atomizer in one. These are typically not refillable.

Cartridge: Plastic tube-like piece that holds the liquid, usually saturated in some absorbent material. These contain the propylene glycol solution which produces the vapor of the electronic cigarette. Cartridges may be one-time use or refillable.

Charger: Much like a phone charger, the e cigarette charger is used to charge your battery once it has been used.

Disposables: Refers to disposable electronic cigarettes. These models are used until the eliquid has been used and then thrown away.

E Liquid: Also known as e-liquid or e juice. Liquid nicotine solution for the electronic cigarette, typically offered in a variety of flavors. These liquids are saturated in the wick and vaporized by heat in the atomizer which turns them into the inhalable vapor we smoke.

E Cigarette: Also know as an electronic cigarette, these cigarettes use a battery charged atomizer to vaporize liquid which it then inhaled as vapor.

LED: The light at the end of the cigarette. This lights up when the user inhales, resembling an the burning of an analog cigarette. Depending on the model, the LED may convey information to the user about the battery, i.e. flashing when the battery is running out or glowing green to show it is fully charged.

Mini-Cigarette: Smaller than the average e-cigarette, the mini-cigarette is actually the same size as the average e-cigarette.

Mouthpiece: Resembling the cigarette butt on an analog cigarette, this is the part that contains the cartridge. When attached to an atomizer, the user is able to inhale the vapor created from the vaporizing of the eliquid.

Nicotine Level: This is the amount of nicotine present in the eliquid and is usually measured in mg/ml. Be sure to note whether the amount is per cartridge or for an entire bottle.


Pen Style: A model of electronic cigarette, known for its resemblance to a pen. See: The DSE 801 and the Joye 510.

Personal Vaporizer: A alternative name for the electronic cigarette.

Throat Hit: The sensation the smoker gets when the vapor enters the throat. This sensation varies depending on the cigarette model and the flavor of the eliquid.

Vaping: The process of using your personal vaporizer, electronic cigarette. Another terms for electronic smoking. The term vaping separates the process of using an electronic cigarette from traditional cigarettes as e cigs involve inhaling a vapor.

Wick: Cloth or other absorbent material in which the eliquid is contained.