When someone vapes around others they expose them to 'second hand aerosol'. But what happens to that aerosol then? Does it disappear or is it like cigarette smoke and stays around, sticking to Do electronic cigarettes create thirdhand chemical residue? Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center Does Vaping Smell? and How to Tell if Someone Is Vaping Ultra Liquid Labs Even after a cigarette is extinguished, nicotine and other chemicals react with indoor pollutants to form a hazardous film known as thirdhand smoke. This residue re emits harmful gases back into the environment. Does Vaping Leave a Residue? Key Facts About Vaping Vapour