Process for inhalation and inhaler for production of aroma- and active-substance containing vapors of plant material and/or fluids via hot air. The previous apparatuses conceived for this--in comparison to smoking--hazardous-substance-free vaporizing of active substances of plant material were too inconvenient in their operation, so that they were not successful. The new inhaler makes it possible to flow the hot air through the portion of plant material to be vaporized or the fluid with one pass, and yet to make it possible that inhalation can occur independently and comfortably in multiple inhalations. Herein the produced vapors are collected in a balloon and thereafter inhaled using a valve mechanism with associated mouthpiece independently of the vapor generator. The inhaler makes it possible, to inhale the active substances of the therefore suitable plant material (such as, for example, tobacco), without exposing the user to the hazardous substances which would occur during combustion. Further, one can, for example, for aroma therapy, vaporize the appropriate plants or fluids (such as for example volatile or essential oils) and selectively inhale or blow the vapors into the ambient atmosphere.