Patches, gum, and other nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) provide nicotine to curb the chemical dependency that tobacco users have. However, NRTs do not provide a means to replace the physical habit of placing a cigarette to your mouth and inhaling through it. Unlike these other NRTs, e-cigarettes allow people to replace both the chemical dependency on nicotine and physical habits, with a similar act.

E-cigarettes give off very little to no odor, preventing the user from having the characteristic lingering smell of having just smoked a cigarette.

The e-cigarette does not emit any smoke and so bystanders cannot be harmed by second-hand smoke.