About E Cigarettes (Vapes) Smoking and Tobacco Use CDC Chemical Elements, Flavor Chemicals, and Nicotine in Unused and Used Electronic Cigarettes Aged 510 Years and Effects of pH What's Actually in Your Vape: A Complete Chemical Breakdown Vaping refers to the use of an electronic cigarette, or other vaping device, to breathe in an aerosol, often containing nicotine, flavouring and other chemicals. Unlike cigarette smoking, vaping doesn't burn tobacco.