One of the most common questions we get from individuals thinking of switching from smoking to vaping is if Vaporizers leave less of a smell. One of the biggest misconceptions people who are new to vaporizing have is that vaporizers produce smoke in the same way regular smoking does. The truth of the matter is that smoke is a bi-product of combustion which can only happen when reaching a certain temperature. Vaporizers are made specifically not to reach combustion and instead well, vaporize your different materials. That tiny detail makes a world of difference, and we will explain exactly why in this article.
But first, it’s important to mention that Vaporizing has been a science in development for over twenty years and continues to deliver new improvements to its methods. To stay up to date with these changes, we’ve created an in-depth article that covers the latest advancements in vaporizing medical cannabis.
Does Vapor Smell Less than Smoke?
The short answer is yes because they require different heating methods. Smoke is produced when any material comes in direct contact with a strong heat source, such as a lighter. On the other hand, vaporizers use complex mechanisms to initiate vapor production without reaching the heat levels necessary to produce smoke through combustion. Survey data shows that most users interact with these heating methods differently.
Vapor, in fact, does have a less pungent smell than smoke, mostly because smoke can only be produced by burning material. But something as subjective as the smell can only really be confirmed through many opinions, and that’s why we surveyed our customers to get to the bottom of this. And this is what they had to say.
Here is what our users concluded:
- 100% of users agreed that smoke smelt like something was burning.
- The odor produced by vaporizing is generally only 25% of the scent produced by smoking
- During Vapor exhalation, the smell is still somewhat noticeable, but it is comparable to overcooked popcorn and is nowhere near as significant as the smoke partially caused by combustion.
How long will the vaporizer smell last?
The duration of the smell from a vaporizer largely depends on several factors, including the quality of the vaporizer, the type of material used, the temperature settings, and the environment where vaping occurs. Since Vaporizers do not burn your material, their smell does not last as long as the smoke produced by regular combustion methods.
Typically, the odor produced by a vaporizer is lighter and dissipates faster than traditional smoking methods. Here are the factors that ultimately decide how long a vaporizer smells.
- Quality of the Vaporizer: Vaporizers come in many different sizes and qualities, and depending on these factors, the end result will change slightly. Vaporizers that use materials such as ceramic, zirconia, glass, or metals will produce less of an odor than plastic or silicone-based products.
- Type of Material: The material you choose to vape will definitely determine how much smell will stick around, especially in concealed places. Even the quality of your material will be a factor. Cannabis in Dry Herb format tends to have fresh terpenes, which have more pleasant odors, while Wax and concentrates are already processed herbs that might leave a more pungent odor.
- Temperature Settings: Vaporizers intrinsically use lower temperatures than those necessary to combust materials and gradually release your material’s active components. With that said, they still generally have a temperature range. Lower temperatures will produce more flavorful aromas, and higher temperatures will produce more vapor and therefore smell, but will never reach the point of combustion.
- Environment: The surrounding environment plays a significant role in how long the smell lingers. In a well-ventilated area, the smell can dissipate within a few minutes. However, the odor can linger longer in a confined space with poor ventilation.
- Session Length: Longer vaping sessions produce more vapor, which can lead to a more noticeable and persistent smell. Shorter, more discreet sessions will generally result in less odor.
Let’s take a more practical approach. Try weighing ash as compared to ABV (already been vaped) you will notice that the ash will weigh much less than the ABV. That is because the rest of the molecules are stuck on the wall and in the carpet.
Left: ABV after Vaping, Right: Ash after Smoking
In some cases, apartments must be completely repainted to get rid of the odor produced by smoke. If scent is a major concern for you, for example, because you live in a basement apartment, vaporization is the best choice and will guarantee minimal odor generation.
The same goes for nicotine consumption – the smell from a nicotine vaporizer will dissipate much quicker than cigarette smoke, which can linger in a room or even outdoors for quite some time after the cigarette has been extinguished.
The short answer:
If you just leave a window open while vaping inside, the smell will be gone in only a few minutes. Even in a poorly ventilated area with windows shut, any smells from vaping should be gone in only ten minutes or so instead of lasting for hours like smoking. When one is vaping outdoors, in comparison, the smell from your vape will hardly be noticeable at all and will disappear extremely quickly.
Does Vaping inside smell less than Smoking?
In a recent survey comparing smoking to vaping, 59% of respondents said that their friends and family allowed them to vape indoors, but not smoke.
This shows that even people who aren’t directly using vaporizers or smoking agree that vaporizers smell less and are less impactful to others when used indoors.
Additionally, when vaporizer users were asked if they felt vaporizers had any lasting effects indoors, a significant 80% responded that the effects did not linger. This suggests that vaporizers are a more discreet and considerate option for indoor use compared to smoking.
If you’ve ever known someone who smokes, especially cigarettes, you know how much smoking can affect the indoor environment, leaving lasting odors. Even people who frequently burn incense often struggle with scents that cling to the walls of their homes for years.
Vaping, on the other hand, seems to have a different lasting effect. Vapor does not cling to your clothes, curtains, or furniture, nor does it stain your walls like smoking does.
Do Portable Dry Herb vaporizers smell?
When comparing the different types of vaporizers, we find that the smell produced by Portable Vaporizers
is much lower than other Dry Herb alternatives. Most portable vaporizers only heat up to 210 degrees Celsius and have a bowl size of under .5 grams.
That said, some units still generate more odor than others. If you are reading this, you are probably interested in dry herbs that generate less smell. Here are some options:
Utillian 723
The Utillian 723 is a convection-based vaporizer.
Convection vaporizers use hot air to generate vapor, so your herbs are not cooked as aggressively as when using conduction-based heating methods. You can check out our article to learn more about the
differences between conduction and convection.
ZEUS Arc GT3
This portable vaporizer has a very tight heating chamber. This ensures that no vapor escapes when the unit is not being used, lowering the total smell released.
While it vaporizes at relatively high temperatures for a portable vaporizer, the Zeus Arc GT3
manages to keep odor low. We must also mention that the Zeus Arc GT3 is a third-generation vaporizer
. This means that it uses pods as opposed to loose herbs, further masking your odor.
Do Desktop Vaporizers smell?
The maximum temperature settings on Desktop Vaporizers are generally higher than in portable units. As we’ve explained earlier, using a vaporizer at higher temperatures usually results in more odor.
However, some desktop vaporizers generate low odor in this category as well. Here is the ranking of the least smell-generating vaporizers for this category, or alternatively, you can check out the full list of the
best desktop vaporizers and check the most odor-proof from there:
Volcano Hybrid
The Volcano Hybrid Vaporizer is known for producing a very clean and pure aroma. Since it uses a convection heating system, the vapor it generates carries the natural scent of the herbs without any burnt or smoky undertones.
You can often notice that the vapor smells fresh and herbal, reflecting the quality of the materials used. The distinct lack of combustion means the scent remains pleasant and unobtrusive, making it ideal for indoor use.
Arizer XQ2
With the Arizer XQ2 you can vaporize or diffuse your favorite aromatics and essential oils right after a vapor session masking the smell quite a bit, though keep in
mind the herb smell will linger for a bit so you might want to keep this device close to a window.
Does Vaping Concentrate Smell?
Wax is generally regarded as a pure extract or higher concentration of active components, which may be why some users think it produces more smell. While vaping concentrates does produce some odor, it is generally much less intense and shorter-lived than the smell from smoking cannabis flowers.
Do Wax Pens smell?
Wax pens, also known as dab pens, are popular for their convenience and discretion. They tend to be small, pocketable sizes with small heating chambers that fit small amounts of Wax in them. With that said, they still come in various shapes and sizes and can slightly change the amount of smell they produce. Heres a few examples:
Utillian 5
The Utillian 5 is a powerful wax pen that is still discreet and portable even though it is bigger than the Utillian 2. The Utillian 5 wax vaporizer also features an adjustable airflow ring, allowing you to regulate the airflow by twisting this ring. This is a great way to tighten up a draw if you tend to draw slower and want to release less vapor so the smell does not linger in your area.
Utillian 2
The Utillian 2 is as simple as it gets when it comes to wax pens. Being a small unit, it is perfect for discreet sessions since it leaves little to no smell.
Another important thing is that being that since this is one of the smaller devices mentioned it will also produce the least amount of residue. The cleaner your device is the less smell will linger overall. You can learn the best way to
clean your wax pen here.
Do E-Rigs Smell?
E-rigs are like the desktop equivalent of wax devices, they are bigger devices that feature water filtration to smoothen these larger sessions. Some devices are better at masking the odor they produce but E-Rigs are not intended for outdoor use.
Core 2.1
The Core is a very powerful E-Rig. If you’re looking for a device that will mask the smell of its vapor, this device will not be the best option as the Core is made for bigger
and more flavourful sessions. We can mention though that using the quartz bucket as supposed to the titanium will allow you to get smaller hits with more flavourful vapor. Therefore leaving a little bit less of a smell.
Utillian 8
The Utillian 8 E Rig is super efficient at vaporizing Wax thanks to its 3D Heating Chamber. Again, it can produce less of a burning smell when comparing it to smoke, but since it’s a powerful Rig, it may not be the best if your main priority is avoiding its smell altogether.
Do 510 Thread Batteries Smell?
When it comes to consuming concentrates, 510 threaded batteries are definitely the most discreet option. The smell from a regular vape pen tends to be the least offensive when compared to smoking.
Since 510 thread batteries tend to have weaker heating chambers than the more sophisticated E Rigs or Wax Pens, they also tend to create less of a lingering smell.
Zeus ION Smell
Zeus ION SmellZeus ION is a great example of a 510-thread battery that produces less smell. It primarily focuses on vapor production rather than the flavor profile. However, users can expect clean and pure vapor that closely mirrors the natural aroma of the concentrate used.
Tronian Nutron
The Tronian Nutron does not produce any distinct odor because it is a 510-thread battery. However, high-quality concentrate cartridges generally emit a subtle aroma during use. Depending on the strain or flavor of the concentrate, this aroma can range from earthy and herbal to sweet and fruity.
Do Vapor Cups Smell?
Vapor Cups are in a league of their own. Usually, these units are compatible with 510 thread cartridges, but they can also be used for Wax on occasion. These units also tend to hold a significant amount of vapor in their cups. What this means is despite not being the most powerful in terms of heating, they are not easily concealable.
Tronian Omegatron
Tronian OmegatronThe Omegatron is a Vapor Cup that can be easily controlled to produce smaller hits. Since it’s still a Vapor Cup, it won’t be the best option for discreet and odorless sessions. Still, its push-down mechanism makes it one of the easier units to control how much vapor you want to produce.
Final Thoughts
Unlike smoking, vaporizing has a minimal scent and less lasting impact on the environment. Vaporizers provide a discreet way to enjoy your flower, and some of the models mentioned above allow you to avoid disturbing your roommates or neighbors or at least keep any disturbance to a minimum.
The materials used during vaporization can have an impact on the lingering odor after a session, but what’s more crucial is the power of the heating chamber in your chosen device. Vaporizers with high-powered heating chambers, like Desktop Vaporizers or Electric Dab Rigs are more challenging to conceal, often leaving some odor indoors. However, smaller devices like 510 Thread Batteries or even Wax Pens are ideal for quick hits that dissipate rapidly, making them a better choice. Still, there are some Dry Herb options that could work, but they would have to be on the lighter side. You can check out all the current options on our Portable Vaporizer Ranking Page.
Based on our research, the most significant finding is that most vaporizer users notice distinct differences between vapor and smoke. If you’re interested in further data regarding consumers’ preferences for these different consumption methods, we conducted a survey among our users and obtained some interesting results.
Thank you very much for reading today’s blog post on Vaporizer Smell. If you have questions about our review or just want to let us know what you think, feel free to drop us a comment below! Thanks for reading and as always, keep vapin’.
