E-LIQUID: A BEGINNERS GUIDE

The vape industry has exploded so much over the past 10 years, it’s no longer just your standard vape pens and traditional tobacco liquids. Now, if you’ve just purchased your first vape kit or are wondering what type of e-juice to use, it can become a tricky task.

Now, there’s quite a bit of new terminology and hundreds of flavors to choose from, so if you’re the average smoker looking to transition into vaping, look no further.

There are multiple factors to consider before purchasing any type of e-liquid. Two vape liquids could look exactly the same on the outside, but could have distinct massive differences. We don’t want to waste your time talking about what vape juice is best, we’ll leave that down to you. Part of the journey is exploring the endless possibilities of flavors available to you! We’ll start by breaking down some of the ingredients that go into the process of creating e-liquid which can impact the experience of your vape!

WHAT IS VAPE JUICE?

To put it simply, your average e-liquid contains (optional) nicotine, flavoring, Propylene Glycol (aka PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (aka VG) which all break down into your vaping experience. You may think this is some crazy scientific process with a bunch of chemicals in a single bottle, but this is really it.

Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin compose of about 90% of the liquid itself, which are both equally effective mediums to distribute the nicotine and flavoring. In short, they are both food additives that are used in a large number of consumable products from shampoos to toothpaste. In fact, open up your kitchen cupboard right now and you probably already have plenty of products that contain everything apart from the nicotine already. We’ll give a further breakdown of each for a better understanding:

PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG)

Propylene Glycol is an odorless compound that the human race has used for over a century. PG happens to make vapor very, very well. In fact, it’s also used as the fog generated at concerts. You can even find it in your cosmetics and ice cream. With it’s thinner consistency compared to VG, it is there to provide you with maximum

VEGETABLE GLYCERIN (VG)

This relatively thick substance is another food-safe liquid typically extracted from plant oils. For decades, it has been used in food, medications, caramel, soap, and other everyday items we use on a daily basis. Oftentimes, it is used as a preservative. VG is such a fantastic ingredient for vape juice as just a small amount of VG will provide you with peak vapor production as well as a smooth inhale and a nice throat hit.

Which PG/VG Ratio Should I Choose?

As mentioned above, the PG in your liquid serves to carry the flavor and the VG is responsible for producing the clouds. The right kind of blend mainly comes down to the vape kit your using and the kind of experience you want.

The PG/VG ratio in your e-liquid can make a huge difference in your choice of e-liquids. It is a percentage ratio that indicates how much of the contents your e-juice contains. For instance, a 50/50 PG to VG ratio is going to compromise exactly 50% PG and 50% VG. A 70/30 PG-PG ratio, on the other hand, means it’s 70% of PG and 30% of VG. Knowing the difference between all the different kinds of ratios can make or break your vaping experience. We’ll take a good look at the different kinds of ratios offered in a bit more detail.

PG/VG Ratio in E-Liquid

Your average e-liquid is offered in typically 5 different types. Here are the common ones:

• 70 PG/30 VG
• 50PG/50 VG
• 70VG/30 PG
• 80VG/20PG

In short, if you’re going to want enough clouds to block out the sun, a gentler throat hit, ain’t aren’t too frustrated about your choice of flavor, you’ll want to maximize on VG and go for something like a 70/30 or a 80/20 as VG is thicker and therefore harder to vaporize, you’ll also need a more powerful vape.

In a nutshell, the two different types of vaping are standard atomizers above 1.0 ohms, Enter the sub-ohm vape mod: coils used within the vape kit with an ohm resistance less than 1 can produce some serious vapor. Temperature control and dripping also affects the style and the way you inhale the vapor.

Standard vaping uses a familiar MTL (Mouth to Lung) style, meaning you inhale the vapor first and then exhale. Sub ohm is more of a DL (Direct Lung) style meaning the vapor is drawn directly from the device and into your lungs. Juices with a PG level of 50% or more are used with 1.0 atomizers, while juices with a VG content of 50% or more are typically used with the sub-ohm or atomizers below 1.0 ohms.

If you’re just a beginner, we’d recommend a 50/50 VG:PG ratio with a pod or a starter vape pen kit. They’re simple enough to use to gain some basic experience and test out what works best for you. If you need more nicotine, you’ll also want to go for a more simple kit so you’re not getting too much in one go. Using the wrong type of vape could cause spitback, little vapor, and horrific problems. We’ll make sure to answer all of the basic questions.

70% PG and 30% VG E-Liquid

Because some users have found the high PG e-liquids to be a bit harsh, the industry has evolved to the 70/30 juice. This type of e-juice is designed to fit e-cigarettes that have an atomizer resistance of 2.0 ohms or more. PG liquids should be avoided for sub-ohm atomizers. It is the common choice for many compatible cartridges.

50% PG and 50% VG E-Liquid

A 50/50 PG:VG ratio perfectly combines the best of both worlds; you’ll find a liquid full of flavor, has a more than adequate throat hit, and produces more vapor than a high PG liquid. An added bonus is that they can be used in pretty much any device, providing a more MTL (Mouth-To-Lung) vaping style and amplifying flavor above all else.

70 % VG and 30% PG E-Liquid

If someone’s asking what an e-liquid is, they are more often than not talking about VG e-juice. VG typically has at least 70% VG content and are made for sub-ohm/temperature control vaping. In short, they are primed for devices that use atomizer resistance levels below 1.0 ohms.

70/30 liquid works best with devices that have that sub-ohm resistance, between 0.5-0.9 ohms. The nicotine content here ranges more around 3-6mg because the amount of vapor that is produced is substantial. Inhaling large quantities of vapor means less nicotine is required to achieve the same level of satisfaction.

80% VG and 20% PG E-Liquid

80/20 e-juice will produce more vapor than a 70/30, although the flavor is not as vibrant. It is pretty much the ultimate batch in terms of vape juice, perfect for temperature control, dripping, or squonking for that sweet spot of both vapor and a pitch perfect vapor profile. This ratio is preferred by the vapers who use 0.1ohm and 0.5ohm atomizers.

Nicotine Salt E-Juice

Salt Nicotine is the leading and latest trend in the vaping industry. With nic-salt, a little bit of vapor can pack a huge punch. For this, you won’t need that large of a device for a satisfying vaping experience. The idea being that salt-nic delivers much more nicotine without too much harshness. These e-juices are best reserved for sub-ohm MTL pod systems.

What is the best E-Liquid Ratio?

Now that we’ve broken that down, the truth of the matter is that there isn’t any single perfect PG:VG ratio. The way a person vapes comes very much down to taste, intention, and the type of device you’re using.

Best E-Liquid Ratio for Pens

Traditional style vape pens are for those who need something simple to satisfy their nicotine cravings. That’s why these devices have much less surface area in the tanks and can heat at a relatively low temperature. For these, we recommend 80/20 as a starting point. Anything lower than 50/50 can risk meaning to have to change your coils much more often as the juice might be too thick.

Best E-Liquid Ratio For Mods

If someone’s vaping huge clouds, changes are they’re using a sub-ohm kit or a mod. They come in many different shapes and sizes, but in the end are high powered vapes that heat liquid at a much higher temperature. E-liquids with a higher VG content are ideal for this reason, and anything over 50% VG will be suitable. When vaping at higher outputs on these devices, higher VG is ideal. It is important to note here the resistance of the coil you are using and the wattage output on the device you plan on using. The higher resistance the coil, the less power it requires, and vice versa