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If you’re new to vaping and have just bought your first vape kit, it’s natural to wonder which e-liquid you should use.
Look no further, we’ve compiled this detailed guide to explain how different e-cigarette liquids work with different vape kits, and which options will give you the best experience depending on your setup.
While all e-liquids can technically be vaped in most kits, compatibility and performance largely depend on the style of the device you’re using.
Vape juice is made up of four main ingredients: propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), flavourings, and nicotine. Most e-liquids contain all four, with the exception of nicotine-free options. In the UK, nicotine is only permitted in bottles up to 10ml, which is why larger bottles such as shortfills are sold without nicotine and require a separate nicotine shot to be added if needed.
PG is a watery liquid that is without smell yet slightly sweet in its natural state. PG in an E-Liquid is the component which provides flavour, the higher the PG content typically the better the flavour will be. Whilst it does carry flavour extremely well, the cloud it creates is minimal. When added to e-liquids, PG makes the liquid thinner, which is ideal for nicotine salt e-liquids and 50/50 blends used in low-powered pod and pen kits. In addition, the higher the PG content is, the more intense the throat hit will be.
VG, otherwise known as the base mixture of e-liquids, is the element of vape juice that is thicker in nature in comparison to thinner PG. Responsible for creating dense clouds, High VG is often deemed as the ideal suitor for users who are chasing clouds with sub-ohm kits. When crafting a High VG e-liquid, the consistency of this substance requires pairing with high powered kits. In turn when making a 50PG/50VG e-liquid, the VG is what works as a cloud creator and the PG as a flavour maker.
The best part of vaping is the endless variety of flavours. Both natural and artificial flavours are typically both added to all e-liquids across the board. Whether you’re looking for a sparkling lemonade nicotine salt or an apple 70/30 VG PG shortfill, flavourings are what make e-liquids tasty.
Nicotine is the element of e-liquid that is the addictive substance and the reason why we vape. Premixed 10mls can contain nicotine in comparison to bigger bottles. Shortfills will all be bottled without nicotine, this is due to the UK’s vaping laws. However, nicotine shots can be purchased separately in this case if you do desire nicotine in your bigger bottle.
When it comes to purchasing e-liquid there are many different ratios that can be purchased. Here are the following ratios you will likely come across on the market.
Although there are a variety of different ratio blends of VG and PG, there are three main types - High VG, High PG and a partial balance of both which is 50/50. So what can be paired with each of these three main categories you ask? Let's take a deeper dive in.
High VG E-Liquid is to be paired with sub-ohm kits which are kits that use high power with low resistance coils, typically coils that are 0.6ohm and below. These direct-to-lung coils require high power and thicker e-liquid which High VG liquids provide. This type of e-liquid is also what produces denser clouds and smoother intakes which is often what is necessary when using wattage at high levels.
High PG E-Liquid(50/50) E-Liquids are thinner in its consistency in direct comparison with High VG E-liquids and therefore requires low power (pen kits, pod kits and starter kits) and higher resistance coils, typically coils that are over 0.8ohms are deemed as higher resistance coils. With this type of ratio, it will produce minimal vape which is often what users who use low powered kits are looking for.
If the wrong ratio is used in either kit it can cause the kit to leak, a shorter lifespan of the coil and further damage to the vape itself.
Though vaping is considered to be 95% safer than smoking cigarettes (Public Health England) it does not come without its dangers and ingredients to be aware of which is predominantly a notion in the USA and the black market. So what should you be aware of? Let's delve in.
Vitamin E acetate is a chemical that is often found in illegal THC liquids. This ingredient came to light for its adverse effects in 2019 when the first vaping death in the USA occurred. Though Vitamin E is a compound that is present in many food products, when heated in a vaping device the effects it has can be deadly triggering EVALI (electronic-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury).
Diacetyl is another compound that has been banned across the board when it comes to vaping since 2016. Diacetyl is a common flavouring that is used in many food and beverages due to its complex notes and buttery smell. Although it is deemed as a safe food additive in small amounts, when inhaled in vast amounts it can cause irreversible damage. (Bronchiolitis) which was discovered in 2002 when health scientists conducted studies at popcorn factories in the USA, where bronchiolitis (popcorn lung) was discovered to be a normality in workers who worked close to this substance for a period over 12 months. When vaping became popularised, some brands and manufacturers were using diacetyl as a substance for creamier, dessert e-liquids, when looked into by the MHRA diacetyl was a compound that was then deemed as unsafe and placed on a list with ingredients that were deemed unsafe to users.
Diethylene Glycol is yet another compound that has been banned within vaping. This compound tastes sweet which is why it was used previously however it is also found in antifreeze, brake fluids and dyes. This ingredient is a toxic substance when used by humans. This ingredient was banned in 2016 by the TRPR.
There are many ways to tell if the e-liquid you are vaping is safe. This can typically be done by a quick examination of the bottle. All the following rules have been put into place by the MHRA and TPD laws.
If you have just purchased a 10ml e-liquid, this bottle should have a maximum of 20mg/ml. Any more than this will signify that the e-liquid is illegal.
A best before date should also be shown on the bottle or packaging.
If purchasing a bottle bigger than 10ml, this bottle shouldnt contain any nicotine - outlined in TPD requirements.
All vaping products that contain nicotine must be registered with the MHRA. To check if your e-liquid is legitimate you can search the database with a few simple clicks. *Please note: shortfills will not be on the list, as these bottles do not contain nicotine.
All products that contain nicotine must have a child-lock on and be tamper evident.
E-Liquids must have new labelling that cover 20% of the packaging back and front.
Certain ingredients to be banned in e-liquids including colourings, caffeine and taurine. Colourings when added to vape juice can pose health risks that are still under investigation however there is research which suggests that colourings in food can affect behavioural problems in children i.e hyperactivity and attention issues. Caffeine on the other hand is often acknowledged as a somewhat healthy substance when ingested but not when inhaled. This is because when we typically use caffeine it is diluted. When inhaled however the caffeine is absorbed too quickly which reduces the benefits and increases the risks such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac alterations such as tachycardia, states of anxiety, tremors, etc.
Vaping black market juices poses many risks such as poor quality/unknown ingredients, unsterile production facilities, harmful substances i.e heavy metals and unsafe nicotine levels.
Typically legal and legitimate vaping juices contain four ingredients being PG, VG, Flavourings and Nicotine. In the black market however flavours can be sourced from unreliable places as well as nicotine sometimes being synthetic such as TFN (Tobacco free nicotine).
Black-market vaping products are often made in unsanitary conditions, sometimes someone's bath or kitchen which allow for microbes and bacteria to contaminate the vaping products being handled.
From research, studies have shown incredibly high levels of toxic chemicals in illicit vapes i.e lead, chromium and nickel. Lead if found in vaping juice has been shown through research in children to potentially cause neurological and developement defects which is particularly a concern for teenagers who begin vaping during key development stages of life. Chronium if found in e-liquids can also pose serious risks such as respiratory diseases, has allergen properties aswell as being carcinogenic. Nickel is also harmful to brain development, associated with kidney disfunction and has a potential to cause blood clotting.
When purchasing on the black market, nicotine strengths often exceed TPD requirements of a maximum of 20mg. Some single-use bars have been found to have between 50-60mg per bar.
E-cigarette tanks including pod systems can now only contain a maximum of 2ml of e-liquid.
The maximum bottle size of e-liquid containing nicotine is now 10ml.
The highest strength nicotine e-liquid you can get is 20mg (that’s 20mg of nicotine per millilitre of e-liquid). In contrast to the States which can go as high as 50mg
All nicotine-containing e-liquids must be packaged in child-resistant bottles.
Products cannot contain caffeine or taurine.
Packaging must indicate that the product contains nicotine and advertise the fact that nicotine is an addictive substance.
All e-cigarettes and e-liquids must be submitted to the MHRA for approval before they can be sold
Well the answer to the question is yes, you can if you would like a really unpleasant experience that will probably revert you back to cigs. When it comes to choosing nicotine strength it is really dependent on the type of kit that you will be using. Let's break this down a bit further.
Mouth-to-lung vaping, commonly referred to as MTL vaping, is typically used with lower-powered devices and higher-resistance coils.
Because of the lower power output, users often prefer higher-strength nicotine e-liquids, such as 50/50 blends or nicotine salts.
The maximum strength of e-liquid that should be used in DTL vaping is a 6mg High VG vaping juice. As DTL vaping is vaped at really high wattages, any nicotine strength higher than this will cause coughing/throat irritation.
When using a MTL kit whether that be a pen or pod or even box kit, the best e-liquid to use is High PG e-liquids 70PG 30VG or 50PG 50VG e-liquids. Typically users who use MTL kits also want to replicate the sensation of a traditional cigarette so tend to go for a higher strength of nicotine for a throat kick. MTL users tend to use e-liquids from 6mg all the way to the maximum strength in the uk which is 20mg.
If you are using a sub-ohm kit, the most suitable option is a high VG e-liquid, as thicker liquids are required for proper wicking at higher wattages. In terms of nicotine strength, we would advise using a maximum of 6mg, any strength higher than this will be quite harsh. Here are a few examples of juices we would recommend using in your sub-ohm kit.
Despite thoughts one may have on the safety of expired vape juice, it cannot kill you. However users may find that the flavour profile and nicotine content has somewhat diminished. The liquid will also be a richer colour that may deteriorate your coils a lot quicker than normal.
Yes of course you can. If you want to save money and also have more control over what exactly goes into your vaping juice. All types of juice can be made whether that be freebase, nic salt or High VG, it will solely depend on the amount of base mix added as well as nicotine.
DIY vaping is somewhat niche as users stepping into the vaping world tend to want simplicity. To counter this there are new innovative methods that are being released such as longfills which is a concentrate that just requires VG and PG to be added as well as nic at the customer's discretion, this minimises the excessive steps making your own juice sometimes takes.
Now we’ve reached the end of this guide on whether you can use any e-liquid in any vape, we hope it’s helped you choose the right option with confidence.
Whether you’re using a pod kit or a high-powered sub-ohm device, choosing the correct e-liquid type will improve flavour, coil life and overall satisfaction.
