E-liquid goes into the tank every day, yet plenty of people who vape could not list what is in the bottle. The recipe is short. A finished ejuice is built from 4 main ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerin, flavoring and nicotine. Each one has a job, and this guide walks through them in turn.
A short recipe, carefully mixed
To someone new, a bottle of juice can look like the product of a huge chemistry project. It is not. Reputable makers do work in certified labs and employ flavor artists to tune each blend, but the base they start from is the same handful of parts every time.
The two base liquids
Propylene Glycol (PG)
PG is the thin one. It is an organic compound that also turns up in everyday products such as soda and ice cream. In e-liquid it does three things:
- Carries flavor: PG works with the flavoring instead of muting it.
- Adds throat-hit: the slightly harsh sensation at the back of the throat that many vapers look for comes from PG. Raise the PG share and the throat-hit usually gets stronger.
- Thins the mix: Vegetable Glycerin is far thicker, so PG is blended in to dilute it.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
VG is the thick, high-viscosity half of the base. It is a sugar alcohol compound, used elsewhere as a sweetener in liqueurs and in things like cake frosting. Its trade-off is the reverse of PG:
- Makes the clouds: VG pulls moisture molecules out of the air. A draw may feel small on the inhale, but the vapor has grown by the time you breathe it out.
- Dulls flavor: VG works against the flavoring and lowers its strength.
Flavoring
The flavorings in e-liquid are made specifically for vaporizers. Categories run from tobacco and menthol to fruit, candy, dessert, beverage and beyond. Taste is personal, so nobody can tell you which one you will enjoy; a sensible starting point is a flavor close to the foods, fruits and drinks you already reach for. Flavoring is optional, and unflavored juice exists, but it is what makes a blend more enjoyable to use.
Nicotine
Nicotine is added as a liquid made to blend into the base. Several kinds exist, among them levorotatory nicotine and I-nicotine, and some manufacturers have moved to tobacco-free nicotine, meaning it comes from a source other than the tobacco plant.
Vendors normally let you choose a strength when you buy:
- 3MG, 6MG and 12MG: the strengths vapers pick most often.
- Up to 24MG: offered too, but meant only for less advanced devices that put out less power.
- 0MG: juice with none at all. People who vape it are known as “no-nic” vapers.