Vaporizers are devices used to release the active ingredients contained in certain plants in the form of steam.

Vaporizers are usually electric and used in herbal and aromatherapy. Vaporizers are also used for cannabis consumption.

Vaporizers heat the plant extracts below the combustion temperature of the active ingredients contained in the plants, thus preventing their degradation.

There are several types of vaporizers:

- 1 Thermal conduction heating: these are the least expensive vaporizers that use this process. The heat source is directly in contact with the plant extracts, which tends to alter the taste a little.

- 2 Radiant heating: in this case a halogen bulb is used for heating and the temperature rises as the plant extracts absorb the light energy.

- 3 Convection heating with blower: in this category the vaporizers work with an air pump or a blower that blows hot air through the plant material. These vaporizers use food bags that are filled with steam. The steam is cooled and inhaled by the user through the bag. Water and ice can be used instead of the bag to cool the steam.

- 4 Convection heating without a blower: Vaporizers use a food tube through which the user inhales the vapor. This tube can be made of silicone, rubber, plastic etc.