A smoking substitute system is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing having an air inlet; an outlet communicating with the air inlet through a flow passage; a liquid reservoir to store an aerosol precursor; and a vaporization chamber to generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor. The vaporization chamber delivers aerosol and is in communication with the flow passage. A wick extends from the liquid reservoir into the vaporization chamber. The wick comprises a heatable portion disposed outside of an air flow path along the flow passage, such that air flowing through the flow passage bypasses the heatable portion of the wick. A base is in contact with the heatable portion of the wick to receive a heater configured to heat the heatable portion of the wick to generate the aerosol. The device comprises a heater and removably engages with the apparatus via the base.