Is Vaping the Luxury Alternative to Smoking Cigars?

[El Presidente]

 

OK, it's a self promo puff piece but I found the underlying marketing concept interesting. 

 

(Vaping) “encapsulates the indulgence, ritual, and flavor complexity that cigar enthusiasts cherish, but with greater adaptability and fewer health risks.”

 

https://www.upscalelivingmag.com/news/is-vaping-the-luxury-alternative-to-smoking-cigars/

 

• NEWS

Is Vaping the Luxury Alternative to Smoking Cigars?

By

 Danor Aliz

 -

09/29/2024

For decades, cigars have epitomized sophistication, indulgence, and status. Celebrated in opulent cigar lounges or at exclusive events, cigars have long been synonymous with luxury. However, as societal preferences shift, vaping has emerged as a chic and health-conscious alternative, promising the same sense of luxury without the myriad health concerns linked to smoking. But can vaping truly match the luxury experience of a fine cigar?

A Tailored Experience

Vaping offers what cigars inherently cannot: an almost limitless degree of customization. From the aesthetics of the devices to a vast array of premium e-liquid flavors, vaping allows users to craft an experience that resonates with their personal tastes.

“Flavors are a significant draw for vaping,” according to James Smith, Head of Vaping Community at DiscountVapePen.com, an online vaping supplies store. “From intricate dessert-inspired blends to exotic and artisanal flavors, there’s a profile for every connoisseur.”

Luxury vapers often opt for boutique, high-end e-liquids, crafted with the same meticulous care as premium cigars. This customization — from nicotine strength to vapor density — provides a level of control that many cigar enthusiasts are beginning to find appealing.

A More Health-Conscious Choice?

A pivotal factor driving vaping’s popularity over cigars is health awareness.

Traditional cigar smoking involves combustion, releasing tar, toxins, and other harmful substances. Vaping, on the other hand, heats e-liquid to produce vapor, significantly reducing harmful chemical intake.

“While not risk-free, vaping is considered much less harmful than smoking cigars,” Smith explains.

Data from Public Health England supports this, stating that vaping is about 95% less harmful than smoking. This statistic makes vaping an enticing option for those who cherish the ritual of smoking but are wary of cigars’ health implications.

Convenience and Discretion

Cigars, while luxurious, are not always practical. They demand proper storage, preparation, and time to savor. Vaping devices, especially high-end models, offer portability, elegance, and discretion.

Luxury vaping devices are crafted from premium materials like carbon fiber, brushed metal, and even leather, making them as much a statement of style as of function.

Vaping also aligns better with contemporary lifestyles. With increasing smoking restrictions, vaping provides a socially acceptable way to indulge where cigar smoking might be prohibited.

Nicotine-Free Luxury

For cigar smokers who relish the flavor but wish to avoid nicotine, vaping is a boon.

“There’s a growing trend towards nicotine-free vaping,” notes Smith. “It allows users to enjoy the flavors and rituals of smoking without nicotine’s addictive properties.”

This shift is particularly popular among younger luxury consumers who value wellness and mindful living, yet still appreciate the sophisticated allure of a premium smoking experience

In 2024, responding to consumer demand, Reynolds American, which manufactures cigarettes under the Camel and Newport brands, announced its new nicotine-free brand of vapes called Sensa.

The Future of Luxury Smoking?

As vaping continues to evolve, it’s not merely an alternative to smoking. It’s establishing itself as a luxury experience and according to Smith, it “encapsulates the indulgence, ritual, and flavor complexity that cigar enthusiasts cherish, but with greater adaptability and fewer health risks.”

 

[MrBirdman]

It might be puff but it could also prove misleading - there’s no concrete evidence that vaping is safer than smoking cigars - I strongly suspect that in 10-20 years we’re going to see more and more lung disease amongst heavy vapers. And you’re much more likely to ingest high amounts of nicotine.

Luxury is about the experience and the image. Vaping surely suits some people’s palate’s more than cigars, but who on earth now considers vaping as a sign of good taste or sophistication? It’s industrially produced juice. A big part of cigar’s luxury image is that they’re handmade entirely from plants, and produced the same way they were 100 years ago.

So my response is - nice try! But I ain’t buying it!

[raggie]

My biggest concern with vaping is exactly what this article touched on- convenience. Many people I know who vape always have it on them, hit them indoors, laying in bed, or even at dinner. They’re more socially acceptable, leading to less ostracization in public.

That’s exactly why they’re worse in my opinion. Cigars, even cigarettes, require a specific environment to avoid bad smells and disrespect. People chiefing on vapes all day every day is more of a health concern to me!

[LordAnubis]

I was into vapeing back in 2008 or so. I tried a few cigar flavours as an alternative to cigars and they tasted like a cigar you put down and leave over night and light the next morning. It was cigarry. But not an excellent experience. Maybe they’ve improved dramatically since then. 

[SirVantes]

Vaping lacks the defining quality of luxury experience - unrepeatable rarity.  Vaping cannot be single cask, vintage, LE, single plot, reserve aged, solo artisanal, or picked-by-hand-uno per uno, It is chemicals, that can always be reproduced, again and again.  At best, they can make vaping paraphernalia super luxurious, but then the next toy comes along and there goes the customers.

[Chibearsv]

I like Webster's definition of luxury:

: something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary

Based on this definition, luxury doesn't have to be high prices, or fancy bands, or fitting into any certain group.  It's based on personal enjoyment and just about any cigar fits that definition in my world.  If all I had was a Swisher, that would be luxury for me.  If people want to vape because it's something soothing or comforting for them, good for them; it's just not for me.  If the goal is to appear luxurious to others, y'all can chase that however you like, that's not for me either.

 

[Fugu]

So again one of those AI-generated nonsensical bits of propaganda gibberish? I won’t even bother to go into details.

What they are trying too hard to convey is in every bit not why I smoke cigars.

18 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

there’s no concrete evidence that vaping is safer than smoking cigars

And... If one bothers to check the citation underlying that link it immediately shows that the cited “article” is NOT about health effects as it pretends. It is about prevalence of vaping in different societal cohorts (in England). And if at all, the 95%-figure (which you won’t find mentioned in that (grey-lit) article either) would be related to cigs, not cigars.

[RDB]

Someone will eventually work out how to create a luxury segment of the vaping market. If that reduces the demand for Cuban cigars then great.

But it’s a bit of a tall order… one is an artificially flavoured mass produced product with zero cultural cachet… the other is a geographically specific hand made natural product with deep historical roots. And at the moment CCs are a massively more complex and delicious experience than any vape.

[BoliDan]

Oh god. Vape trying to get in the luxury market. Will be funny to see what they come up with. Cognac pods, 24k vape pens, aged vape juices...

[Ford2112]

Vaping is for pantywaists .

[Li Bai]

Nice try, vaping industry 🤣😂😂

[CaptainQuintero]

On 10/1/2024 at 4:12 AM, BoliDan said:

Oh god. Vape trying to get in the luxury market. Will be funny to see what they come up with. Cognac pods, 24k vape pens, aged vape juices...

Hang on now, you have my interest.