If you’ve just bought your first vape kit (or are just about to!) and are now looking to buy vape juice for your vape kit, with the amount of choice available it can be a little daunting and overwhelming.
There’s a lot of new terminology to learn and hundreds of flavours to choose from, so where do you start? We’ve put together a guide to e-liquids, answering some of the most commonly asked questions to clear a few things up.
E-liquid, also known as vape juice, is the fluid used in vape devices. It usually contains a mix of propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavourings, and nicotine. Beginners should start with a 50:50 PG/VG blend, using nicotine salts at 10–20mg for a smoother throat hit, especially if transitioning from smoking.
E-liquid is a simple blend of propylene glycol (or PG for short), vegetable glycerin (VG), food-grade flavourings and, optionally, nicotine, where PG carries flavour and throat hit while VG creates vapour; beginners typically choose a balanced 50:50 PG/VG ratio for commonly used in refillable and prefilled pod kits.
Understanding the ratio of the base ingredients Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerine (VG) is important. E-liquids are mixed to varying consistencies depending on what type of kit you are using. Balanced 50:50 PG/VG ratios like those found in nicotine salts are thinner e-liquids good for beginner MTL pod kits. Thicker high VG e-liquids work best in powerful DTL sub-ohm vape devices.
10ml Nic Salts - 50:50 PG/VG or 60:40 PG/VG - Thin liquid, Great for MTL/RDL vaping: Strong flavour, Smooth throat feel, High nicotine levels.
10ml Freebase - 50:50 PG/VG or 60:40 PG/VG -Thin liquid, Great for MTL vaping: Very strong throat hit, Muted flavour, Best at lower nicotine levels.
10ml High VG - 30:70 PG/VG or 20:80 PG/VG - Thick liquid, Great for DTL vaping: Rich flavour, Dense vapour, Little to no throat hit, Low nicotine levels.
Replicates a cigarette draw, Noticeable throat hit, Wide range of nicotine strengths, Great flavour, Discrete vapour production
One deep inhale, No throat hit, Low or no nicotine, Big flavour, Big clouds
Restricted-direct-to-lung (RDL) vaping is an inbetween style that uses the mouth to lung method but with a wider airflow and more vapour. A popular style because you get more flavour and nicotine. Best with modern pod kits using 0.4ohm - 0.9ohm pods.
Style | Refillable Pod Kits | Pre-filled Pod Kits | Sub-ohm Kits | Nicotine Priority | Cloud Production |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MTL | ✓ | ✓ |
| ✓ |
|
DTL | ✓ |
| ✓ |
| ✓ |
RDL | ✓ |
|
| ✓ | ✓ |
Nicotine is available in two forms - freebase which is much harsher on the throat when you go above 6mg and then nicotine salts which are designed to deliver a smooth experience no matter the strength and can go as high as 20mg/ml (2%). You can also purchase hybrid nicotine, which is a combination of the two and provides a smooth experience with a slightly more pronounced throat hit. The strength of nicotine on the bottle is how much nicotine you get per 1ml of juice.
Tip: if your vape feels harsh at higher strengths, switch to salts. If it feels too smooth and you miss the kick, try freebase or step down your strength more gradually.
Social smokers (who smoke once or twice a week) should go for a low nicotine option like 3mg, this is often the final step for people who have quit smoking and don’t need much of a hit anymore. You can also get 0mg juice if you simply enjoy the feeling of vaping but no longer have a craving to satiate.
For a light smoker, someone who has less than ten cigarettes a day, we would recommend a strength of 5mg nic salts or 6mg freebase. This strength is still considered on the lower end of the scale and suits people who enjoy vaping but still require a bit of a nic buzz.
An average smoker who has up to a pack a day should go for a 10mg nic salts or 12mg freebase e liquid, an ideal place to start for your run of the mill smoking habit as it helps you migrate and substitute from the amount you’d get from regular cigarettes.
Finally, for the heavy smokers (more than a pack a day) you should go for the maximum strength of 20mg of nicotine salts or 18mg of freebase. This is for people with a serious habit who need a high dose to get proper satisfaction from vaping.
It’s really important to get the right nicotine strength so when you are using your vape to help you quit, you’ll be getting enough of a nicotine hit to satiate the cravings whilst also not over-doing it and finding the effect too strong.
Pro Tip: Nic-salts were a game changer when I was trying to stop smoking. They feel smooth, have the best flavour and satisfy my cravings quickly. If you’re unsure what nicotine strength to use, start high and get off cigarettes first, then you can start to work your way down if you wish.
Smoking Habit | Recommended Nicotine Type & Vaping Style | Recommend Strength | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
Heavy (20+/day) | Nic salts (MTL) | 20mg | Feels like smoking, satisfies strong cravings quickly |
Average (10–20/day) | Nic salts (MTL/RDL) | 10mg salts | Versatile styles that match medium to strong cravings |
Light / social (1-10/day) | Nic salts or Freebase (MTL/RDL) | 5–10mg salts or 6mg freebase | Lower range will satisfy mild cravings |
Ex-smoker reducing | Freebase (MTL) or High-VG DTL | 3–6mg (MTL) or 3mg (DTL) | Use Freebase strengths to gradually reduce |
No nicotine | MTL for discreet flavour, DTL for big cloud flavour | 0mg | Setting is most important here |
Choosing an e-liquid flavour all comes down to personal preference as there’s hundreds of e-liquid flavours and brands to choose from. Historically vapers would begin with a tobacco or menthol e-liquid if they were coming off cigarettes so the taste and feel is more familiar, however more and more people are starting out with a fruity or dessert flavour instead.
Skip the guesswork. Use these quick rules to land a flavour you’ll actually vape all week, not just on day one.
If you smoked menthols, start with tobacco or menthol. If you love sweet coffees or colas, try dessert or soda notes. Like citrus? Go lemon, lime or mixed berry.
Begin with a simple, single-note flavour. Add layered desserts or candy later once you know your baseline.
Dark, sweet liquids taste great on day one but gunk pods fast. If you want fewer pod swaps, pick lighter profiles like mints, berries or tobaccos.
50:50 or 60:40 is crisper in small MTL pods. High VG (70–80%) is smoother and bigger on vapour in DTL.
Rotate two contrasting bottles. Example: fruit in the day, mint or tobacco in the evening. Your palate resets and your coil lasts longer.
If a fresh dessert tastes flat, give it 24–72 hours after adding nic shots. Shake, vent, store cool and dark.
Once you've figured out your nicotine strength it's time to start experimenting with flavours. For this we recommend starting with a 10ml bottle, they're a low cost investment and you won't be stung too harshly if you pick a flavour you don't like.
You can find 10ml bottles in Freebase and Nicotine Salt options. No matter which you choose, you'll find an endless variety of flavours to choose from.
There are a lot of affordable options in a 10ml bottle so you can try a bunch at home. Once you find your favourites, you can buy them in a short fill (a larger bottle with 0mg nicotine that you mix with a nic shot to create your desired strength) to save yourself money.
Made for MTL mouth-to-lung pod kits that use higher resistance coils, High PG Shortfills offer excellent value for money but are limited to a 3mg max nicotine strength, which is perfect for social/light smokers or those who have lowered their nicotine levels.
Made for DTL (direct-to-lung vaping), high VG e-liquids require more powerful devices, known as sub-ohm kits, to vaporise the e-liquid. These kits utilise coils with a lower resistance, which produce large plumes of rich flavour with a silky smooth draw that has virtually no throat hit. You can add a nicotine shot to create a 3mg strength shortfill bottle or vape them nicotine free. Consider where you use these kits as they may not be suitable to use in all public situations.
Choosing the right e-liquid is not just about VG/PG ratios; it also depends on the compatibility with your vape device. Not all liquids work well with every type of kit. For instance, high-VG liquids are better suited to powerful sub-ohm devices, while a 50:50 ratio might be ideal for simpler pod and pen kits. If you're wondering, "Can you use any liquid in any vape?" it's important to understand how different e-liquids interact with various devices.
When starting, a 50:50 VG ratio with a pod kit or vape pen starter kit is recommended. These kits are easy to use, and once you gain some experience, you can experiment with different combinations to find the best match for your preferences. If you need a higher nicotine level, opting for a simpler kit will prevent an overly strong nicotine hit.
If, after gaining experience, you find you enjoy a milder throat hit and want to fill the room with vapour, consider a sub-ohm vape kit paired with a higher VG liquid. Remember, since VG is thicker, you'll need a more powerful vape to achieve those big clouds.
If you're trying to stop smoking, a 50:50 PG/VG ratio with a pod kit or vape pen starter kit is recommended. These kits are easy to use, and once you gain some experience, you can experiment with different combinations to find the best match for your preferences. If you need a higher nicotine level, opting for a simpler kit will prevent an overly strong nicotine hit.
If, after gaining experience, you find you enjoy a milder throat hit and want to fill the room with vapour, consider a pod kit with lower resistance coils in the range of 0.4ohm to 0.6ohm, or a sub-ohm vape kit paired with a higher VG liquid. Remember, since VG is thicker, you'll need a more powerful vape to achieve those big clouds.
Once you’ve opened a bottle of vape liquid, air can get into it and will start to oxidise it. However, this process is very slow and unless you’re keeping your juice for a long time (we’re talking over a year here) it should be fine. The colour may darken slightly and the flavour may become a little bit sweeter but it’s typically the juices with a higher nicotine content that will degrade faster and lose some of its potency meaning you won’t get as much of a hit from it.
To keep it fresh just store it somewhere away from heat and light and you’ll be able to enjoy it for ages. If it’s in your vape and you’ve not used it in a while you may notice a bit of a colour change there too. The reason behind this is the fibres in your coil absorb smaller particles more easily, whereas the darker ones get left behind so your tank may look a little darker over time.
If you are new to vaping check out our Ultimate Vaping for Beginners Guide, where we give you low low down on everything you need to know in an easy to to understand format that will get you started in no time.
It's important to minimise your waste do your bit for the environment, empty vape juice bottles should be rinsed out and recycled with your household recycling. Learn more about environmental responsibility in our guide to recycling your vape.
Ready to find your perfect e-liquid? Browse our complete e-liquid collection featuring hundreds of flavours from top brands, or jump straight to the specific type that suits your needs:
An MTL pod kit with 50:50 nic salts (10–20mg depending on cravings) is the perfect setup for a beginner vaper. It closely matches the feel of smoking and uses fast acting nicotine salts that will rapidly satisfy your cravings.
To ensure an enjoyable experience, you should make sure the ratio of your e-liquid is suitable for the kit you are using: 50:50 liquids work great in MTL vapes, 70VG+ are perfect for DTL devices.
Burnt coils usually come down to three things: the wrong e-liquid ratio for your kit (thick juice in an MTL setup can starve the wick), chain-vaping that overheats the coil, or running too much power for the coil’s resistance. To prevent it, prime new pods, start at a lower wattage, and give the wick a moment to re-saturate between puffs.
Most new switchers start with nicotine salts because they’re smoother on the throat and tend to feel satisfying more quickly. If you prefer a stronger throat hit, try freebase.
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