E-Liquid

Vape liquids are made up of a combination of PG and VG –- these are PG Propylene Glycol (PG ) and VG stands for Vegetable Glycerin (VG). They are the main carrier ingredients in e-liquid, and each of them has its own characteristics, which will affect the final e-liquid. 

Here is how they differ:

• Propylene Glycol (PG): This is a lab-made liquid that the FDA generally views as safe in food, drugs, and cosmetics. It’s a thin liquid that carries flavour well and delivers a harsher throat hit.
• Vegetable Glycerine (VG): Vegetable glycerin, also known as glycerol or glycerine, is a clear liquid typically made from soybean, coconut, or palm oils. It is odourless and has a mild, sweet taste with a syrup-like consistency. It produces large vapour and has a smooth throat hit.

For more detailed information, have a look at our guide on “What is PG and VG in E-Liquid?”

The most common type of e-liquid for pod kits and starter kits: 50/50 vape juice is made up of 50% VG and 50% PG. This gives it a good flavour without producing huge clouds. It also has a thinner consistency, making it suited for mouth-to-lung vaping. It’s considered a high PG e-liquid.

This is the most common type of e-liquid for sub-ohm vapes. 70/30 vape juice is made up of 70% VG and 30% PG and is often referred to as high VG vape juice.  It has a thicker consistency, and when combined with a sub-ohm tank and a high-powered vape, it will produce a large vapour or clouds. 

Vaping e-liquids are made up of four basic ingredients; water, nicotine, flavourings, and a mix of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin base (most commonly known as PG and VG). PG and VG ratios will differ from e-liquid to e-liquid, depending on the type of consistency the manufacturer is trying to achieve.

All e-liquids with higher VG content are best suited to sub-ohm devices and tanks. All shortfills will work and you can also find a selection of high VG 10ml e-liquids. The higher the VG content, the denser a vape cloud would be. 

A rule of thumb would be that any coil rated below 1.0 Ohm is designed for high VG vape juice. It's also best to try a lower nicotine level, such as 3mg nicotine, first in a sub-ohm device, as the throat hit is stronger than in a mouth-to-lung vape. You can find out more in our shortfill mixing guide.

Most mouth-to-lung kit coils are rated above 1.0 Ohm, and therefore, you would want to opt for a vape juice with a high PG content. This will carry the most flavour and provide an easy to vape MTL experience. 50/50 liquids are the most common, but you will also find several 60PG / 40VG options as well.

Once you have opened your vape liquid, you should use it within 6 months. After this time, the taste of the liquid may change, although it’s still fine to vape it.

A 10ml bottle of e-liquid will last approximately 5-7 days in a typical pod kit or vape pen. If you use a sub-ohm device, then expect to use more, with 2-3 days more likely.

This can be down to the coil needing to be changed. The carbon that can be built upon the coil can sometimes make its way into the liquid. It’s best to empty out the liquid, change the coil, and then refill your tank with fresh e-liquid.

The best e-liquid brand depends on whether you use a sub-ohm or MTL kit and your individual flavour preferences.Right now, SKE Crystal vape juice and Doozy have very popular options for refillable pod users. For sub-ohm users, Seriously have several flavour-packed ranges.

The average price for a 10ml is between £3 and £4, but at UK ECIG STORE, we also have a selection of great value vape juice starting with one pound e-liquids.

The PG content and the nicotine type and content all affect how harsh a vape liquid is. If you’re finding your vape liquid harsh, try reducing the nicotine content or switching from freebase nicotine to a nic salt.

E-liquid containing nicotine that is sold in the UK is subject to regulations, known as the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). These regulations set certain limits on the ingredients inside e-liquids and limit the size of bottles within which they can be sold. Currently, a maximum nicotine strength of 20mg/ml in a maximum bottle size of 10ml can be sold once it has passed approval. 

The TPD also sets out the testing and safety requirements of vape liquid. This also includes regulations for the actual bottle, including the nozzle size, safety features and the messaging on the bottle and box. 

Here at UK ECIG STORE, we ensure the most vigorous of testing has been conducted on all our e-liquids and only sell e-liquids which have been passed and approved by the MHRA (the government body which regulate the sale of e-liquids in the UK).