Nearly everyone is familiar with analog cigarettes—what they look like, how they are used, and what they smell like. Electronic cigarettes are becoming more familiar sights across the world, but the difference between them and analogs often seems pretty fuzzy, especially in consideration of public policies. Knowing just how different these two products are can go a long way toward an accurate perception of them and appropriate control policies.

Physical Differences Between E-Cigs and Analogs

Analog smokes are familiar to most people—tobacco wrapped in a paper tube, which may or may not have a filter, and may be of different lengths and diameters. They may come in different colors or with different designs stamped on the paper.

E-Cigs, on the other hand, are not quite as easily recognized. At first, they looked more or less like a plastic and metal version of a standard cigarette. Nowadays, they come in different shapes, colors and designs—some have kept the classic look, but others resemble pens, pipes and other things. Designs on the surface have also exploded in a wave of creativity.

Going deeper than the surface, vapor devices and smokes could not be any more different. Within the shell of an e-cig, there is usually an led bulb at the tip, a battery, a heating element or cartomizer, and a cartridge containing the nicotine juice.

Differences in How E Cigarettes and Smokes Are Used

E Cigarettes and old school cigs are used in very similar ways, but with one striking difference—you don't light an e-cig before you inhale. Vapor devices create vapor in contrast to the smoke delivered by a cigarette. While cigarette smoke is full of hundreds of carcinogens along with nicotine, the vapor only contains nicotine, water and maybe food-grade flavoring. While it is true that propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin is also in the “nicotine juice,” it does not become part of the vapor.

Smell and Taste the Difference Between Electric Cigarettes and Cigs

The differences between vapor and smoke don't stop there. While most people are familiar with the smell of cigarette smoke (as well as the taste, if you've ever kissed a smoker), no one really knows what electronic cigarette vapor smells like. The reason why is that there is no smell. Furthermore, since it's water based, it doesn't fill a room the way smoke does.

With this in mind, can an electronic cigarette really be treated the same as old-fashioned cigarettes in ordinance policies?