E-liquids 101 : What Are They?

E-liquids are a fundamental component in vaping, as without them, you wouldn't be able to enjoy the countless flavours and nicotine hits they provide. While they may seem simple, e-liquids are a nuanced product, with many different components that make them up, what vape kits work in, and even come in various types.

That sounds like a lot, but don't worry—this blog will cover all the bases, so let's get going! 

E-liquids comprise three elements that make up their whole - nicotine, VG and PG, and flavourings. But what do they do?

•  Nicotine - Nicotine is what provides the 'hit' when vaping. Different e-liquids contain different amounts of nicotine, so choosing the right strength is essential when picking up new e-liquids.

•  VG & PG -  VG and PG stands for Vegetable Glycerine and Propylene Glycol. PG is thinner than VG and is used in baked goods, medicines and cosmetics. PG carries nicotine well, and higher PG e-liquids tend to have a more significant nicotine content. It also takes a higher resistance and lower power to vaporise and, in turn, produces less vapour and a more subtle flavour. VG, on the other hand, is much thicker and is most commonly found in food products. VG vaporises well with low resistance and higher power, and high VG e-liquids produce dense vapour and more intense flavours. A combination of both is paramount for a good e-liquid.

•  Flavouring - Flavouring pretty much does what it says on the tin. It adds flavour to your e-liquids, so you can enjoy delicious tasting vapour when they vaporise. E-liquids come in thousands of different flavours, so experiment and find the best one.

VG (Vegetable Glycerine) and PG (Propylene Glycol) are the two components that contribute to the viscosity of e-liquids and the strength of throat hits. By changing the ratio of VG and PG, you can create different types of e-liquid that work better in other kits and provide varying experiences.

Propylene Glycol (or PG) is a typical food and cosmetic ingredient that, when used in e-liquids, helps carry the nicotine and determines the strength of the throat hit. E-liquids with higher PG contents will have a harsher throat hit and vaporise easier at low temperatures and higher resistances, producing less vapour and a subtler flavour.

Yes, the PG used in e-liquids is food-grade and considered safe by US and EU food authorities. When purchasing e-liquids, always ensure you buy them from a reputable source (like Ecigone), so you know you're getting genuine, high-quality products. While PG is safe for humans to ingest and inhale, be wary of pets, as it has been linked to certain anaemia in cats.

You may find, especially if you're new to vaping, that a high PG content e-liquids may irritate your throat. It's normal to experience a dry mouth, sore throat and increased thirst when first in the first few days of use as a new vaper, and although PG allergies are rare if it persists or you develop a rash, consider switching to a high VG e-liquid instead.

Like PG, Vegetable Glycerine (VG) is used in foods and pharmaceuticals with minimal potential to irritate the body. Derived from vegetable fats like coconut, palm and soy oils, it is much thicker than PG and vaporises at higher power and lower resistance, creating big clouds and making it perfect for Sub-Ohm vaping.

Yes. Its use in sweets, medicine and food suggests it's safe for humans to ingest and has a very low allergy risk; however, if you're allergic to coconut or palm oil, it could cause some irritation. Due to its thickness, high VG e-liquids will clog up your coils more quickly and reduce their lifespan faster than high PG e-liquids, so keep that in mind when choosing your ratio.

What VG/PG ratio you use is entirely up to you. The ratio you pick heavily influences the type of vaping experience you'll have, so let's take a look at some of the factors to keep in mind:

• Throat Hit: Ex-smokers will be looking for that tingling, slightly harsh feeling in the back of the throat. High-PG e-liquids are great for this and carry the flavour better than VG.

• Smoothness: High-VG vape juices are the way to go if you want a smoother vape. Being thicker, they're easier on the throat, although they do have less of a flavour kick. Turning up the power on your device a little can help with this.

• Sub-Ohm Vaping: Higher VG e-liquids are perfect for Sub-Ohm vaping. Their thickness helps them produce big clouds when heated with a higher power and low resistance, so if you're using an atomiser with these aspects, the higher the VG, the better.

• Subtle Vaping: If you'd prefer to keep your vaping to yourself, then a higher PG is what you're after. It produces far less vapour due to its thinness and ability to be vaporised at a lower power and high resistance, making it great for an inconspicuous vape.

E-liquids is a catch-all term for the different types of vape juice on the market. If you scroll through a vape website (like Ecigone), you'll see three primary types of e-liquid available - nic salts, freebase 50/50, and shortfill.

Nic salts are a relatively new revelation in e-liquids. Nicotine Salts are formed when freebase nicotine is combined with an acid (normally benzoic), creating a salt. This chemical reaction results in a higher nicotine strength and a lower pH value, giving them a far smoother throat hit than the freebase nicotine they're derived from. They're also absorbed much quicker than freebase vape juices, making them the primary choice for many vapers.

Freebase 50/50 e-liquids were originally used in e-liquid manufacture. They use nicotine in its purest form and are combined with VG, PG, and flavourings to form the e-liquid. Freebase e-liquids have a much higher pH value than nic salts, which creates a much harsher throat hit. They also stay in your system a lot longer than nic salts, creating a more slow burn effect when it comes to absorption.

Shortfill e-liquids are a unique type of vape juice. These e-liquids usually come in 50 ml or 100 ml bottles and are nicotine-free - meaning they are only composed of VG, PG and flavourings. Most shortfill e-liquids have a high VG content, usually a 70VG/30PG split, and work best in high-power kits like sub-ohm devices. 

To add nicotine to shortfill e-liquids requires a separate product called a nic shot. Nic shots usually come in 10 ml bottles and are added to the shortfill bottle and shaken to mix. 50 ml bottles can take one 10 ml nic shot for 60 ml of e-liquid, while 100 ml bottles have space for two 10 ml nic shots, totalling 120 ml of e-liquid.

The ratio of VG and PG in e-liquids affects the types of kits they can be used in, the power needed to vaporise them, and the resistance coils they work best with.

Most e-liquids have a 50VG/50PG ratio, which makes them ideal for use in low-powered kits with high-resistance coils, such as pod kits. 

The following most common e-liquid ratio is 70VG/30PG. This split works best in high-powered, low-resistance kits like sub-ohm devices. VG is thicker and needs more power to vaporise, but it produces a far denser vapour and much more intense flavour.

While these two are the most common ratios, vape juices can be found in other ratios, including 60VG/40PG, 75VG/25PG, and 80VG/20PG. Whichever one you choose depends on your personal preference and the type of kit you're using.

Vape juices aren't all the same, as not all work in the same kit. What kit you have will determine the type of e-liquid you should use.

Pod vape kits are probably the most common type of refillable device around. They're usually small, sleek, and have a low wattage to accommodate 50VG/50PG vape juices. The lower wattage and balanced ratio mean you'll get a more concentrated nicotine hit, akin to what you'd get if you smoked a cigarette. It's for this reason that pod kits are recommended for those switching over from smoking to vaping, as they closely mimic the way smoking works.

Sub-Ohm vape kits are also pretty popular nowadays, particularly amongst more experienced vapers. These kits utilise high power and low resistance in conjunction with high VG e-liquids like ones with a 70VG/30PG split and produce a much denser vapour cloud and a more intense flavour. These kits are better for experienced vapers, particularly ones for which vaping is a hobby, as the high VG e-liquids tend to come in shortfills, which have no nicotine by default.

So now you know what e-liquids are made of, what their type is, and what vape kits to use them in. But how are they turned into vapour?

First, pressing the firing button or drawing on the mouthpiece to activate the auto-draw function (whichever your device has) begins vaporisation. It sends power to the coil in your device, which heats up. This, in turn, begins to warm up the e-liquid in contact with the coil and turns it into vapour, which you can then inhale. The coil is crucial here, as different coils can produce different amounts of vapour depending on their resistance.