The Stratus pod takes vaping to a new level
Lauren Bacall is said to have devoured men the way she devoured cigarettes. In the opening scene from the classic 1944 movie, To Have and Have Not, Humphrey Bogart's character tosses her a packet of matches after she seductively asks the room, "has anybody got a match?"
Even now, in the 21st century, we can still be affected by the romanticism of Old Hollywood, where cigarettes often played a major role in some of the most tantalising classic scenes.
As smoking became less popular, cigarettes disappeared from our movie screens and for the last few decades of the 20th century, they gradually disappeared from bars, restaurants and workplaces, until eventually, smoking had largely disappeared from public view.
However, plenty of people﹘ even non-smokers﹘ still liked the idea, as well as the look and feel of cigarettes. As the 21st century began to take shape, new ways of expressing the romanticism and vibe of smoking, without the smoke, were starting to be discovered and embraced. With new technology and experimentation, e-cigarettes and vaping were developed. This innovative alternative to smoking has risen in popularity and been propelled into the mainstream, as attested by the increase and visibility of vaping shops on the main streets of New Zealand towns and social groups outside blowing vapour into the air.
Vaporisers are becoming more compact and convenient. As these products use a liquid which runs through a heated coil, they produce less waste and don't leave a bad smell, as they're simply producing flavoured vapour from a range of flavour options to suit the taste of the individual user.
One of the latest players in the vaping game is the Stratus pod. Supplied by New Zealand-owned Vapourium, the Stratus pod is proving to be popular among smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers alike, as a convenient alternative to smoking. A pocket-sized device, the Stratus pod uses a no-fuss system of a cartridge pre-filled with flavoured liquid. The heating coil is activated by inhalation, rather than buttons so there's no chance of it accidentally lighting up in its owner's pocket.
As supporting local is currently a favourable trend, the popularity of the Stratus may also be attributed to its supplier, Vapourium, being a New Zealand-owned business, in contrast to competitors who have international owners.
Vapourium has branches in Dunedin, Christchurch, Timaru, Browns Bay and Nelson. Since opening in 2014, the business has gained a reputation for producing high quality products and providing noteworthy customer service, as well as being trusted educators about vaping.
Who knows whether the movie stars of the future will be as famous for how they vaped as for the classic lines they delivered. Perhaps our hero will reach inside his suit pocket and take out a Stratus pod before ordering a "Martini, shaken, not stirred."