E-LIQUIDS EXPLAINED

If you’re first getting into vaping, e-liquids can seem confusing and complex. Shortfills, nic salts, nicotine strength, VG / PG ratios… there’s so much to understand before you buy your first vape liquid.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide to e-liquids for anyone at the start of their vaping journey. Covering all the main categories of e-liquids and how they are used in different types of e-cigarettes, this guide has everything you need to know about e-liquids.

How e-liquids are used in e-cigarettes

The e-liquid is the liquid you use in your vape. E-cigarettes work by sending power from the battery to the coil, heating it up. Coils sit in the tank of your vape, which is the part that holds your e-liquid. Coils are made up of two main component parts, the metal coil and an absorbent wick, usually made from cotton. As the coil heats up, it also heats the e-liquid that has soaked into the wick of the coil. The heat causes the e-juice in the wick to turn into vapour, which then rises through the drip tip (mouthpiece) of your e-cigarette for you to inhale.

How you use your vape juice depends on the type of vape kit you have.

Disposable vapes

Disposables come pre-filled with e-liquid and cannot be refilled. This means that you will never see the vape liquid and will not have to refill it — just throw away or recycle the disposable e-cigarette once it is all used up. Disposables are one of the easiest ways of vaping, but for the best vaping experience, it’s best to upgrade to a reusable e-cigarette.

Pod systems with closed pods

In these pod kits, you can buy single-use pods that are pre-filled with e-liquid. These pods cannot be opened and refilled, so when they are finished you’ll have to throw away the pod and install a new one. Pod systems with closed pods such as the Jucce Bar are a great upgrade from disposable vapes and make great user-friendly starter kits because you don’t need to buy vape liquid separately.

Pod systems with open pods

Pod kits with open pods use pods that can be refilled with new e-liquid, usually around 10 times before the pod must be replaced. For these pod kits, such as the NVee Vape Pod, you’ll need to buy e-liquid separately. Usually, a nic salt e-liquid is a good choice to use in these pod kits.

Vape kits with tanks

These vape kits use a permanent tank instead of replaceable pods. You’ll need to refill the tank with e-liquid every time the vape juice levels are low. A shortfill e-liquid is usually the best choice for these vape kits, which include the NVee Plus Vape Kit and the NVee Pro Sub-Ohm Vape Kit.

Types of e-liquid

There are three main types of e-liquid that you may come across

Freebase nicotine e-liquid

This was the first type of e-liquid created, although it has fallen slightly out of favour in recent years. This e-liquid contains freebase nicotine, which is nicotine in the same form as is found in cigarettes. These are available in 10ml bottles in the UK and EU as this is the maximum size allowed under the rules set out by the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).

Shortfills

Created to get around the TPD regulations which prohibit the sale of nicotine e-liquids in bottles larger than 10ml, shortfills (also called shake and vapes) are nicotine-free e-liquids. They come in bottles with a small amount of space at the top for vapers to add a nic shot– a small amount of flavourless e-liquid with a high nicotine concentration. By mixing these together, vapers can enjoy a larger bottle of e-liquid containing the nicotine strength of their choice.

Nic salts

A new type of e-liquid, nic salts have grown to immense popularity in recent years. Nic salts are e-liquids that contain a different type of nicotine to freebase nicotine e-liquids. This form of nicotine in nic salts is faster acting, more easily absorbed by the body, and provides a smoother throat hit (a throat hit is the sensation you feel in your throat while vaping). As a result, nic salts are the vape juice of choice for many former smokers who want fast-acting nicotine from their e-cigarette.

E-liquid ingredients

E-liquids are made of five main ingredients:

Propylene Glycol

Propylene Glycol is a flavourless, odourless, thin, and clear liquid that is used in vape juice. It has a wide range of uses in foods, cosmetics, and even in the artificial fog created by smoke machines. In vape juice, Propylene Glycol is great at carrying the flavour to create a delicious vape.

Vegetable Glycerine

Like Propylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerine is a clear and odourless liquid used in e-juice. However, it is thick and slightly sweet, like a syrup. Vegetable Glycerine has a range of uses in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals — you’ll often find it as an ingredient in your moisturiser. In e-liquid, Vegetable Glycerine provides dense vapour clouds.

Water

Water is also used in e-liquid. In fact, some vapers even choose to add a little bit of distilled water to their vape juice to thin out the clouds or mellow out a flavour.

Flavourings

E-liquids also contain small amounts of flavourings, which give the juice its distinctive and delicious flavour. According to Tobacco Control research, the most frequently identified flavouring in e-liquid is vanillin, the organic compound extracted from the vanilla bean.

Nicotine (Optional)

The final ingredient in most e-liquids is nicotine. Measured in milligrams per millilitre, nicotine is what gives vape juice its satisfying hit and helps former smokers quit cigarettes using vaping. However, not all e-liquids contain nicotine; shortfills are nicotine-free but can be mixed with a nicotine shot before vaping to achieve your desired nicotine strength.

VG and PG ratios

The PG and VG ratio of an e-liquid refers to the proportion of Vegetable Glycerine and Propylene Glycol it has been manufactured with. Different PG and VG ratios provide different vaping experiences and are better suited to different types of vape devices.

50/50 VG / PG ratio

A 50/50 PG and VG ratio is a well-balanced vape juice formulation which is perfect for pod kits and low-powered vape kits. It provides good flavour but lower vapour production than higher VG liquids.

High VG

Vape juices that are high in Vegetable Glycerine are thicker and stickier than other e-juices. As a result of the greater proportion of VG in the mix, high VG juices provide bigger and denser vapour production when used in an e-cigarette. To be considered ‘high VG’, a vape juice must have 60% Vegetable Glycerine or higher. Vape liquids with a high VG percentage are ideal for use in sub-ohm vaping devices such as the NVee Pro II Sub-Ohm Vape Kit for Direct-To-Lung (DTL) style vaping.

High PG

High PG vape juices are less common; in fact, even a 50/50 ratio might be considered ‘high PG’. E-liquids with a lot of PG in them are great for flavour but don’t create very much vapour. This is ideal for vapers who want a more discreet vaping experience, such as those vaping in public places and don’t want to bother other people.

Nicotine strength

When choosing a vape juice, nicotine strength is another factor that vapers must consider. The maximum nicotine strength that can be sold in the UK is 20 milligrams, which is a high nicotine strength. We would only recommend this nicotine strength to heavy smokers who are used to smoking multiple packs of cigarettes a day and need to beat those nicotine cravings. For most vapers, a lower nicotine strength is appropriate. Jucce e-liquids are available in a range of nicotine strengths from 0mg to 18mg. If you’re not sure which nicotine strength you need, we recommend starting with a lower strength and increasing the dose if necessary.

Choosing your first e-liquid

With all this in mind, you’re ready to choose your first e-liquid. In addition to choosing the type, VG and PG ratio, and nicotine strength that’s right for you, you’ll need to pick a flavour (or two).

Here at Jucce, we have a massive selection of different vape juice flavours to choose from. Fruit flavour fans will love our Tropical range, with amazing flavours like Peachy Peach, Ripe Banana, and Perfect Pineapple. If the idea of super refreshing vape appeals to you, you might prefer the Ice range with standout flavours like Red Cherry Ice or Fruit Twist Ice. Or, sweet toothed vapers will love the Candy range, with Cola Bottles and Mango Sours among other incredible concoctions.

With some of the lowest-priced e-liquids on the market, Jucce have created high-quality delicious flavours that are accessible to any vaper. It doesn’t matter if this is your first time vaping or you’ve been using e-cigarettes for years — you’re sure to find an e-liquid that appeals to you in our online store. Alternatively, browse our new flavours to find the latest and most exciting creations from our lab!