How to mix e-liquid

What is e-liquid made of?

The ingredients of all e-liquids are vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), aroma and optionally nicotine.

The combination of all listed ingredients results in an e-liquid that is suitable for vaping.

E-liquids are available in different ratios of vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG).

What is role of vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol in E-Liquids?

Vegetable glycerin (VG) is a thick, highly viscous liquid with a sweet taste. Vaporizing produces larger amounts of vapor, so a higher percentage of VG in the liquid means more vapor. With VG you get a much smoother feeling in the throat and an abundance of vapor in your mouth.

The high evaporation point (290°C) and high dynamic viscosity mean that it soaks the coil more slowly and can overheat, resulting in an unpleasant (burnt) smell and taste known as a “dry hit”.

VG leads to faster fouling of the coils, requiring more frequent maintenance of the device and replacement of coils.

Propylene glycol (PG) is a thin, tasteless, odorless liquid that plays a role as a “flavor carrier” in e-liquids. More PG means a more intense flavor taste.

In vaping, it is used to create a “throat hit” that some users say is similar to the feeling they get when smoking tobacco. The more PG in the e-liquid, the more pronounced this sensation. Likewise, a higher nicotine concentration in the e-liquid enhances this effect.

PG has a relatively low evaporation point (187°C) and due to its low viscosity, the coils absorb the e-liquid faster than VG, which significantly reduces the risk of a “dry hit”.

Which ratio should I choose?

E-liquid with a higher ratio of VG gives a much smoother feeling in the throat and a fullness of vapor in the mouth. The flavor is a bit more muted in VG, but that can be remedied by using more current to produce more vapor. Be sure to stay within the voltage/wattage limits of the vaporizer or you risk a “dry hit”.

If you do not want to disturb the environment with your vapor, a better combination is a higher percentage of PG and an MTL device, as less vapor is produced during inhalation, which is ideal for smaller rooms.

The most popular liquid ratios are 50/50 VG/PG and 70/30 VG/PG, so you can not go wrong with either option.

It’s important to point out that some people are sensitive to PG. How can you tell if you are sensitive to PG? You cough constantly when vaping, you can not fully inhale the vapor, you have a dry throat and mild upper respiratory tract irritation.

In this case, an e-liquid with a higher VG content is recommended.

Aromas

Aromas cannot be vaporized independently, but must be mixed with the base. For each aroma there is a recommended percentage for dosage, the most common being 10%.

Aromas can be vaporized immediately after mixing with the base, but for more complex recipes with multiple flavors, manufacturers recommend a steeping time (i.e., the flavor must sit for a certain amount of time).

The steeping process is the homogenization of the mixture, during which the e-liquid takes on a darker color, the nicotine oxidizes and the alcohol “evaporates” if the flavor contains alcoholic components.

The alcoholic components are usually sweet. When the e-liquid is steeped, the alcohol “evaporates”, which is why these components taste weaker and the e-liquid takes on a different flavor.

If you are not sure how long the flavors need to steep, it usually says:

fruit flavors: 1-7 days
creamy (dessert) flavors: 1-2 weeks
tobacco flavors: 2-4 weeks

If you find the flavor too intense, you can always dilute it with a base.

If the intensity is too weak, you can additionally strengthen it with aroma.

Nicotine

Nicotine is an addictive substance and the main reason why smokers cannot easily quit smoking.

In e-liquid it is found in two forms – purified nicotine and nicotine salts.

Nicotine salts cause less irritation than purified nicotine and are therefore ideal for beginners who need a high dose of nicotine.

For smokers who are already used to the “throat hit” that purified nicotine provides, nicotine salts may have too weak an effect and require a higher nicotine content in the e-liquid itself.

For this reason, nicotine salts are not recommended for vapers who use DL high output atomizers. We can very easily overdose on nicotine because we are not aware of how much we have actually inhaled.

What nicotine strength to choose?

There is a big difference between absorption of nicotine from tobacco smoke and from vapor! About three times as much nicotine enters the bloodstream from smoke. So you should be prepared that an e-cigarette will not satisfy you with a few puffs of vapor like a tobacco cigarette. About 3 puffs of an e-cigarette will replace one puff of a strong tobacco cigarette.

You choose the amount of nicotine in the liquid depending on the device you use and the amount of cigarettes you have consumed. MTL devices tolerate larger amounts of nicotine, while we recommend a maximum of 6 mg of nicotine for DL devices.