Vapers tend to fall into two groups. One holds that you get what you pay for, and is happy to spend more per ml on the belief that the juice is the best available. The other shops for cheap e-juice flavors on purpose, on the grounds that taste is personal anyway. This article looks at what a vendor actually means by “premium” and how that compares with ordinary juice.
What “premium” does not mean
Every bottle of e-juice is made from 4 main ingredients:
- nicotine
- vegetable glycerin (VG)
- propylene glycol (PG)
- flavoring
A higher price is not buying you a premium grade of VG or PG, and the nicotine content is not what separates a premium juice from a regular one either. That does not make low-grade VG/PG or an impure nicotine solution acceptable. Bad ingredients make bad juice, which is one reason not to buy e-liquid from sellers you have doubts about.
Where the difference comes from
Flavoring
With the other three ingredients ruled out, flavoring is what remains. Flavorings come from many manufacturers, domestic and overseas, and what they offer varies widely. A vendor can buy very cheap flavorings or very expensive ones.
The catch is that vendors are under no obligation to tell customers which they chose. Whether a product carries the word “premium” on the label is the vendor’s decision alone.
In-house recipes
Some vendors charge more because they develop and blend their flavors themselves. That still does not guarantee you will enjoy their priciest bottle. Preference decides it.
Packaging and steeping
Two more things can push a price up:
- Bottle material: glass costs more than plastic.
- Pre-steeping or curing: many long-time vapers find a pre-steeped juice tastes better than one that has not been cured.
Should you pay for it
Nobody but you can judge whether a premium juice earns its price. If you are content with inexpensive juice but curious, try a premium bottle. You will then know whether you were missing something or whether a cheap, well-made juice is still the right choice for you.
If you stay with cheaper juice, keep in mind that cheap and low quality are different things. Avoid any e-juice whose look, smell or taste seems off, and buy only from legitimate vendors.
There is more reading on the blog.