Reviews of flavors are subjective and its up to the individual to decide what tastes better. A good percentage of e-juice is produced in China by a company called Dekang. I find a good flavor now and then but for the most part I will stick to American made as they are FDA approved and really taste better.In general I try to use as much VG {vegetable Glycerin} as possible. So I just want to mention a few stand out companies that are worth ordering from.

JOHNSON CREEK http://www.johnsoncreeksmokejuice.com/

Are you a vanilla lover? If you are then order from JC as a lot of the flavors here have a hint of vanilla. THE ORIGINAL FLAVOR IS HARD TO DESCRIBE, Kind of a nutty,vanilla with a hickory smoked flavor. Its a love or hate taste. most people do not like it. With that said the best way to start is a sample pack, all 10 flavors in 3 ml bottles. Try all the flavors but leave the Original and Tennessee cured for last as they might spoil your taste buds a bit. Most flavors are a bit weak on throat hit. They come in a choice of PG or reduced PG that adds vegetable glycerin for a sweeter taste and better vapor. My fav`s are French Vanilla, Summer Peach, and Chocolate Truffle. Customer service is very good and fast delivery is the norm. New line of flavors coming soon for JC!

DIY FLAVOR SHACK                               http://www.ecigsmokestore.com/

Very wide variety of flavors to choose from, All home made, this is one store you don’t want to miss! I tried many flavors so far and each and every one had a full flavor taste. Red hots really stands out as one of the best. High volume of orders keeps the store open only 3 days a week {Mon-Wed} They always add a free gift in the order and customer service is good. I am amazed at the way the juice sticks to my atty and cart like glue. Less refilling when you use most of DIY`s flavors

NHALER

I only use their HV juice so I can only comment on them, I am blown away by the flavors and prices here. The hv juice is made with vg so it is better for 5 volt vaping  I really got hooked on the blueberry crumble and french vanilla coffee. Outstanding!!!

TASTY VAPOR              http://www.tastyvapor.us/-c-10.html

Thick, full flavored juice that you can adjust to your liking. You can select any of their flavors and add up to 3 flavors together for a custom mix. Then if you want you can purchase a doubler which is a huge 4 oz bottle of zero nicotine flavoring  to match your flavor selection. The advantages of this is you get a lot of e juice for a low price and you can adjust your nicotine levels depending on how you mix it. I order a flavor at 36 mg and at 70% pg, then a doubler at 50/50 pg-vg. Their pre-made flavors are awesome and very exotic. Superb experience.

Totally Wicked http://www.totallywicked-eliquid.com/?ps1=FE51D

Based in the UK and now in Florida this company has some very interesting toys. Their e-juice is a bit pricey but I order the 36mg and cut it with VG to get a really good vape. One of my favorite flavors is Virginia. I cannot describe the taste but its a flue-cured tobacco flavor that rocks.Cherry and Marlboro are also very good. Fast shipping!

I am as average as it gets.  My wife and I have average jobs, live in a nice community in Florida and live our lives to the fullest within our means.  We’ve been talking about quitting smoking for a long time, so back in March of 2009, we heard about this new phenomenon, the e cigarette and decided to invest in a starter kit to help us cut down and hopefully quit smoking.

Before we made the purchase, we did a lot of research and read a lot of reviews.  Our first endeavor was unsuccessful.  After months of trying and buying, we finally hit on a few models that worked well enough to satisfy.  I quit back in September and my wife is down to a few cigarettes a day.  I’ve been a Marlboro smoker for over 30 years and I can finally say I don’t care for one thank you!

There was a lot of trial and error involved, and I would like to thank the members of ECF for their useful opinions and unbiased reviews.  We created this website to help anyone interested in an alternative to traditional tobacco products make informed choices about ecigs.  The  products we tried and currently use has its advantages and disadvantages.  We wanted to share our experiences about the ones that impacted us most and implore you not to give up too easily on ecigs as we almost did.  The transition from traditional tobacco products to ecigs can be challenging for some, but worth the effort in trying an alternative.

E Juice is the flavored nicotine liquid that most ecig makers provide to refill the cartridges that accompany your e cigarette, making the cartridges re-usable for a period of time.  This liquid comes in a variety of nicotine strengths ranging from 36mg to 0mg depending on manufacturer. Some companies like Blu, make a pre-filled cartridge of this same liquid that gets thrown away once the juice is all used up. Many manufacturers that make e juice suggests that you start out with a nicotine strength of 24 mg and over time, work your way down gradually weaning yourself off the dependence on nicotine.  Personally I advise against this.  This is because in the beginning, you’re probably still smoking traditional tobacco, so you don’t want to take in too much nicotine.   The first day after I got my e cigarette, I was so excited, I tried every juice that came with my starter kit.  Within a few hours Iwas getting a serious nicotine buzz that turned into a two day headache. I learned from my mistakes and now I’m sharing this with you.

Another huge mistake I made was deciding on a model by its size.  I so wanted to replicate the image of smoking a regular cigarette, I went out an purchased a device that was the exact same size as my Marlboro’s.  I thought I could fool my brain into thinking I was still smoking regular cigarettes. For me it was less about holding the cigarette and flicking the ashes, and more about taste and getting a satisfying throat hit.  I found out bigger is better on the models I tested.

There are mainly two types of e cigarettes on the market today.  A three piece and a two piece version.  The three piece ecig is made up of an atomizer (the heating element), a lithium battery and a cartridge.  The two piece e cig is made up of just a  battery and a cartridge which houses the atomizer.  I have had a more satisfying experience with the three piece models, as it produces more vapor and a better throat hit than the two piece models.  The three piece requires a lot more maintenance though, as you will be constantly refilling the cartridges with e juice when it dries up.  I’ve turned it into a fun event and truly enjoy dabbling with all the juices and equipment I’ve ordered over the past months.

Click here for starter kit and e juice reviews!

Statistics show there are over 4.5 million tobacco users in the US alone. By 2025, there would be over 1.6 billion users worldwide if this trend continues.

This is a staggering amount of tobacco users with annual health cost reaching into the billions every year due to smoking related diseases.  Despite gallant efforts by health organizations and the federal government to heighten awareness of the dangers of smoking, the smoking population continues to increase at an alarming rate.

The average smoker will try to quit at least 6-8 times during a lifetime without much success.  Quitting is not as easy for some. Now is the time to consider shifting some focus from trying to get smokers to quit out right, to offering an alternative instead.  By doing this if you can’t quit, you at least have an alternative.  The best alternative in existence today are electronic cigarettes more commonly known as e cigarettes.  It is also by far the best alternative to smoking cigars.

An e cig is an alternative to smoked tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars and pipes.  It is a smokeless battery powered device that provides inhaled doses of nicotine by delivering a vaporized propylene glycol/nicotine solution.  This vapor provides a flavor and all the physical sensations of inhaled tobacco smoke while no smoke, tobacco or combustion is actually involved in its operation.

An e cig usually takes the form of an elongated tube, and most are designed to resemble real smoking products like cigarettes, pipes and cigars.  They are reusable devices with replaceable and refillable parts. A number of manufacturers have developed a disposable version as well, making the action of smoking and throwing it away more realistic.  Gamucci Electronic Cigarette is one of the first to offer a disposable form of this device.

When a smoker inhales through the device, air flow is detected by a sensor which activates a heating element that vaporizes a nicotine solution stored in the mouth piece.  On some models equipped with an LED light, the LED light is activated during the inhalation process simulating the glow of actual burning tobacco.  While electronic cigarettes take many forms, they are all comprised of the same basic components.

The mouth piece or cartridge is a disposable cup affixed to the end of the tube.  Inside the cup is an absorbent material that is flavored with the nicotine solution producing the desired flavor. These flavors vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and typically include tobacco, menthol, or cherry flavors to name a few.  These cartridges are also available in different nicotine strengths which varies from 16mg to 0mg depending on the manufacturer.  One such manufacturer is Green Smoke.

The heating element called the atomizer, vaporizes the liquid in the mouth piece so it can be inhaled.  Most of these devices use lithium batteries as its power source that can be recharged via a wall unit or USB port on your computer.  Some makers have become very creative and innovative, and actually produce chargers in the form of the e cig  pack which allows you to charge your batteries while you’re on the go. The Blu Electronic Cigarette Company makes such a pack.

There are excellent statistics coming out of the electronic cigarette industry, proving the use of these devices emits only about 20 harmless ingredients, compared to the 400 ingredients, 60 of which are extremely deadly from traditional tobacco products.  Some of these ingredients include arsenic, carbon monoxide an other carcinogens.

Like any other tobacco related product, there are manufacturing and labeling guidelines that minimizes access to this device by minors.  The threat of it being available to our youth population is almost non existent because of the need to produce ID when purchasing, just like you would if purchasing traditional tobacco products.  Read the electronic cigarette reviews and join in on the e cigarette forum.

The “ecigarette” is the hope to averting deaths from the prolonged use of tobacco products.  It is the best alternative being offered to the tobacco smoking population if used prudently.  By encouraging the use of these devices, the success rate of converting tobacco users will be much greater.

The momentum is rising.  The topic over electronic cigarettes among thousands of US and global users fires up discussions in the senate.  Electronic Cigarette Company, Smoking Everywhere sued FDA only a few months ago as The “Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act” played a major role when debate commenced in the senate. Some facts and myths about e cigarette follows.

• MYTH:  Kids are being sold e cigs
• FACT:  Electronic cigarettes target audience are smokers of legal age.

Like any other manufacturing and labeling guidelines for the tobacco industry, proper labeling is in place and the industry strongly advocates the showing of proper ID when purchasing.  The price of e cigarette starter kits average around $60.  Not exactly within the price range for kids.

• MYTH:  Electronic cigarette flavors purposely target teenagers
• FACT:  Electronic cigarettes have long been a flavored item for adults.

Taste is a matter of preference and not age related.  Products are deliberately manufactured in a variety of colors, flavors and sizes to offer choice to consumers.  This has been so since the beginning of time.  To suggest that this was done to attract adolescents is ridiculous.

• MYTH:  E cigarettes  make nicotine more accessible to non-smokers
• FACT:  E cigarettes reviews show that the target audience for this product are smokers NOT non-smokers

Nicotine is widely available through gum, lozenges and other over the counter products.  There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that non-smokers are influenced either way.

• MYTH:  The ingredients of electronic cigarettes are unknown
• FACT:  Results from research have been made public since it was first introduced

Labs around the globe have conducted numerous studies and have concluded that the vapor ingested, depending on the manufacturer, contain 20 ingredients including nicotine, all regarded as generally safe for human consumption when ingested per labeling guidelines.   By design, the electronic cigarette is made up of e cigarette parts that allows for this to occur.  In contrast to the smoke ingested by regular cigarettes that contain over 4,000 ingredients including arsenic, carbon monoxide and other cancer causing agents.

To conclude, one of the biggest myths of all time is to think that we can stop everyone  from smoking.  Tobacco consumption increased steadily since 1965, despite gallant efforts through public health and legislation with some staggering smoking facts. People will continue to smoke because it’s a personal choice and cannot be legislated.  Now is the time embrace e cigarettes. It offers a better solution and alternative to the smoking population with zero health risks if used prudently.

There are many people who look upon cigar smoking as more sophisticated and less harmful than cigarette smoking.  The truth is, one large cigar can contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes.  The second hand smoke can remain in a room for hours which other people inhale.

Here is a description on what cigars are, the current trends in their use and the possible health effects it has on the people who use them and women smoking cigars.

Cigars versus cigarettes

A cigar is defined as “any roll of tobacco wrapped in leaf tobacco, or in any substance containing tobacco”.  A cigarette is defined as “any roll of tobacco wrapped in paper, or in any substance not containing tobacco”.  Cigars do not usually have a filter, unlike machine made cigarettes that do.

Most cigars are made from an air cured or dried tobacco, where the tobacco leave are first aged for about a year and then fermented in a process that can take anywhere from 3 – 5 months.  The fermentation process is what causes bacterial and chemical reactions to change the tobacco, hence the reason it smells and taste different from cigarettes.

Who Smokes Cigars?

The current trend in cigar smoking is particularly popular among women, teenagers and young adults.  There is a “cigar culture” which is supported by cigar magazines, shops, bars and clubs.  Many cigar smokers regard themselves as connoisseurs, pretty much like wine experts, and view cigars as a refined, affordable luxury that represents success.  The tobacco industry has glamorized smoking cigars, and many movie stars and athletes agree to be paid and photographed smoking cigars.

This hasn’t helped by way of educating the population about the dangers of smoking cigars, and our youth nation has embraced this habit readily.  Cigar use has increased since the early 1990s.  Most of this increase took place between 1993 and 2007, when the use of both large cigars and cigarillos climbed to an astonishing 124%.  An estimated 4.8 billion cigars were consumed in the US in 2007.

The production of cigars has climbed steadily over the years particularly the ‘little cigars’.  It went from 1.5 billion in 1996 to over 5.1 billion by 2006.  Cigar manufacturers have added flavors like chocolate and strawberry which appeal to younger smokers and because of  lower taxes, they cost less, making the appeal of smoking cigars more alluring.

Women Smoking Cigars

Cigar smoking among women has become very popular over the years.  What is so alluring about a woman smoking cigars?  What makes her so attractive to cigar smoking men, or even to men who don’t smoke cigars?

First of all, it’s the notion that cigar smoking represents a certain strength.  She is confident, secure and ready to put up with all the criticism from her family and friends.   She is prepared to present herself with a crutch that will either attract attention or conversation from the opposite sex.  She has armed herself with a strong mind that will deal with the comments, criticism, cat calls and all the ‘come ons’ that she will attract when she draws on her smoke.  She doesn’t care about breaking a few rules.

Men like women who are not afraid to break a few rules and take risks.  They like women who can blend in as one of the guys.  She is comfortable wearing jeans and a t-shirt, watching a ball game, playing pool and cards, drinking beer and of course smoking.  Men love that.  When this same women wears an evening gown, throws her head back, brushes her hair aside and lights up a Cuban, that contrast of style is even more appealing.  In a sense, men are attracted to women who are “more like men”.

Despite the alluring effects cigar smoking has for women, it is still tobacco and it is still dangerous to smoke.  It it not worth putting your health at risk for the sake of style.  Consider this before you decide to incorporate cigar smoking into your lifestyle.  Is it truly worth the risk?

Marijuana, weed, pot, grass, reefer, ganja, Mary Jane, Blunt, Joint, Roach and Nail

All of the names above are the street names used for Marijuana.  It is perhaps just as popular or more popular than smoking traditional cigarettes, particularly among our younger population with far more deadly effects.  Because marijuana has been around so long, it is estimated that 40% of the population has used marijuana at some point in their lives.  That equates to about 97 million people.

Marijuana does not have the same reputation as other drugs like cocaine or heroin as a drug of choice for most drug addicts, but none the less it is still a drug with deadly consequences when used.  Unfortunately it is more widely accepted and overlooked as an addictive drug.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the US.  The percentage of youth between 12 -17 is at high risk of using the drug at least once a month.  These statistics haven’t changed much from 1999 to present day.

If you were ever curious and wondered if smoking weed is healthy, here are some facts that will quickly change your mind and I urge you to.

• Marijuana affects your brain

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) the psychoactive compound in marijuana, damages the nerve cells in the brain that controls memory.  It affects your ability to control yourself and your sense of time.  Your reaction time for motor skills such as driving is reduced by 41% after smoking one joint, and 63% after smoking two.

• Marijuana affects your lungs

Marijuana contains more than 400 chemicals, including some of the most harmful substances found in tobacco smoke.  Smoking one marijuana cigarette deposits about 4 times more tar into the lungs than filtered tobacco cigarettes.  It will injure and destroy lung tissue, and the smoke from marijuana contains 50% – 70% more cancer causing chemicals than the smoke from tobacco.

• Marijuana affects other aspects of your health

The risk of heart attack is 5 times more than usual in the hour after smoking a marijuana cigarette.  It affects your immune system and increases your chances for severe chest colds.  Some research has shown where after prolonged use, it can increase the risk of developing mental illness.

There is nothing good to come out of using marijuana.  There has been well over 7,000 published scientific and medical studies documenting the damage derived from smoking weed.  Not one of them indicate marijuana to be safe.  So is smoking weed healthy?  That would be a big fat NO!

Through public health and education, it is hoped to drive the point home of the harmful effects of marijuana.  Statistics are alarming particularly for our youth population.  Our efforts to educate is helping but more needs to be done.