American inventor Joseph Robinson filed the first patent for an electric vaporizer. Although intended for medical use, the vaporization concept laid the foundation for future vape technology.

Herbert A. Gilbert obtained a patent for a "smokeless non-tobacco cigarette," introducing the idea of heating liquid to produce vapor without combustion. This concept closely resembled modern vape technology but was not commercialized due to limited market demand.

Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik developed the prototype of a modern E-cigarette using piezoelectric ceramic atomization. Although later replaced by resistance heating, this marked a crucial milestone in vape technology.

Hon Lik filed a patent for a "non-combustible electronic atomizing cigarette" and founded the brand Ruyan, officially launching the vape industry.

Ruyan positioned itself as a premium smoking cessation aid, marking the first time vapes entered the consumer market.

Ruyan rapidly expanded into Europe and the U.S., with its parent company's valuation surpassing HKD 100 billion. China gained an early advantage in the global vape industry.

The World Health Organization (WHO) publicly questioned the safety of vapes for the first time, triggering worldwide attention and regulatory discussions.

The U.S. FDA attempted to regulate vapes as medical devices. Meanwhile, Ruyan's exaggerated health claims were exposed by Chinese national media, causing sales to plummet and triggering the industry's first major credibility crisis.

A U.S. court ruled that vapes should be classified as tobacco products, opening legal pathways for sales. Meanwhile, Shenzhen, China, quickly became the global manufacturing center for vapes.

Imperial Tobacco acquired Ruyan, and Hon Lik joined the company, marking an era of capital-driven consolidation and patent integration in the vape industry.

JUUL launched, combining nicotine salt technology, a sleek USB-style design, and a closed pod system. This dramatically changed product formats and ignited a global pod system trend.

JUUL's sales surged. The U.S. FDA issued the "Deeming Rule," officially incorporating vapes into regulatory frameworks. The industry entered a phase of standardized development.

JUUL's U.S. market share exceeded 70%, with employees receiving astonishing $1.3 million year-end bonuses. Chinese brands like RELX and YOOZ rapidly rose, intensifying global competition.

The U.S. witnessed the EVALI lung injury outbreak, later traced to illegal THC vaping oils containing Vitamin E acetate, not standard vape products. Meanwhile, flavored vape bans spread, and China implemented its first major regulation by banning online sales and advertising.

The U.S. implemented the PMTA (Premarket Tobacco Product Application) process, eliminating numerous brands. Disposable vapes gained popularity by circumventing flavor bans and offering unmatched convenience, accelerating product format diversification.

China introduced strict vape regulations, limiting flavors to tobacco-only, capping nicotine levels, and fully integrating vapes into the state tobacco monopoly system.

Despite strict regulations, China's vape exports exceeded RMB 77 billion in 2023, highlighting strong industry resilience and continued global expansion.