E-LIQUID

E-Liquid FAQ's

• What is e-liquid?

  E-liquid, or e-juice, is the fluid form of the vapor you inhale when you vape. Vapes and e-cigs use e-liquid as the medium of the active ingredient or substance you want to take in. The most common form of e-liquid is the basic nicotine solution, which contains nicotine dissolved in a base. Some e-liquids don’t contain nicotine and may even have flavors. The e-liquid will turn to vapor when it gets heated up to high temperatures. No burning is involved in vaporizing e-liquids, so you can be sure that you’re inhaling just the e-liquid and its contents, but in gaseous form.
  E-liquid is called such because it is a liquid used to fill an electronic vaporizer. The “e” in e-liquid stands for “electronic.”

• What is e-liquid made of?

  E-liquids are basically made of an active ingredient (commonly nicotine), hygroscopic liquids that attract absorbs air moisture, and colored flavoring. The hygroscopic liquids help turn the water content of the solution turn into thick vapor when heated up to high temperatures. The most common and popular hygroscopic components are PG (propylene glycol) and VG (vegetabe glycerine). Another less known one is PEG 400 (polyethylene glycol 400). E-liquid’s appearance resembles watery syrup.

• Are nicotine and tobacco the same?

  Tobacco is a plant that is cultivated for its active content, which is a and addictive chemical called nicotine. E-liquids may or may not contain nicotine but it never had pure tobacco content. There is another type of vape that uses plant material or herb for vapor. Shredded or ground dried tobacco is burnt and the smoke that contains the nicotine is inhaled by traditional cigar and cigarette smokers. The vapor form of tobacco, mixed with water vapor and e-liquid base, is inhaled by vapers and e-cig users. Pure, undiluted nicotine is poison. Even so, nicotine itself is not the reason tobacco smoking is cancerous. Smoking itself makes tobacco smoking cancerous because of the tar, carbon, and carcinogens produced by tobacco combustion.

• Does e-liquid or e-juice stain?

  Vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol are both water-soluble. They themselves will not leave stains. The other contents are a different matter. Most of the time, colored flavoring and colored oils that are included in the e-juice may stain your clothes. Red and dark stains are the most noticeable. Organic coloring dissolves in water easily.

• How do I measure the amount of nicotine in e-juice?

  The market offers a wide selection of nicotine volume, or nicotine strength, per e-liquid pack. Some e-liquids are even free of nicotine. Some can have nicotine levels that reach 50mg/mL. That is a huge amount! Take note that the unit of measurement used for nicotine volume is mg/mL (milligrams per unit milliliter) As you discover more and more selections, you will notice that most e-juices vary only a little in nicotine volume. Most of them follow a benchmark from where they can make subtle variations in amount. The benchmarks are 0, which indicates nicotine absence, 0.6mg or 6mg/mL, and 1.2 mg, which means 12mg/mL.

• What’s the best amount of nicotine in e-juice?

  It depends on your own preference. If you’re not willing to do trial and error and are a former smoker, you can use your own smoking preference as a guide. If you don’t like nicotine and just want vapor and some flavor, go for 0mg/mL. If you want a little, almost undetectable, amount of nicotine, try anywhere between 0mg/mL and 6mg/mL. If you were a light smoker before, you will like 6 to 12mg/mL. Above 12 until 18mg/mL is the middle values for most vapers. It is the consensus ideal strength that will make you feel nicotine in every puff. Heavy smokers will want levels that reach 24mg/mL while hardcore nicotine addicts will normally go for 36 to 50 mg/mL. Whoever you are among these, you can choose your corresponding nicotine level easily.

• What is the base of an e-liquid?

  Base is the common term for the hygroscopic component of the e-juice. PG and VG function as the solvent of the solution, or the body of the whole mixture. Within the solvent body are solutes, which are the flavoring and the nicotine (if there’s any). The base not only helps in making the vaporization process easier and actually producing the vapor but it also helps dilute the nicotine concentration by acting as a filler.

• How do I determine my ideal nicotine percentage in e-liquid?

  Like we said, it depends on your preference. The range of the nicotine levels is from 0 to 50mg/mL. You can map your classification and the ideal nicotine level for you using the answer to the question “What’s the best amount of nicotine in e-juice?” above.

• What are PG and VG? What’s their difference? Which one’s better?

  Propylene glycol, or PG, is and odorless, colorless petroleum derivative. It is responsible for generating the “throat hit” when you vape. It is commonly found in medical and beauty products, pet food, and asthma inhalers. It is know to be generally safe to ingest.
  Vegetable glycerine, or VG, is a vegetable oil derivative. This is basically “vegan” e-liquid base. It is responsible for thick vapors and its liquid form is thick, as well. Being a food material derivative, it also has a sweet taste and produces smooth vapors, making VG ideal for sub-ohm vapes. VG is commonly found in human food (sugar substitute), beauty and hygiene products, and pet food. Authorities recognize VG as generally safe.
  Most bases today are different mixes of PG and VG because one is better than the other in certain aspects. PG offers stronger throat hits. VG makes smoother, heayier, and thicker vapors, but take note that thicker e-liquids. PG produces less vapor and odor, making it ideal for stealth vapers. Steeping favors VG, while flavoring and color works well with PG. Thinning juices need high VG content. Clearomizers work best with PG. It takes a longer time steep VG. Some people are allergic to PG. VG e-liquids have a brief shelf life.
  If you ask which one is better? It really depends on which satisfies your vaping needs. You can also experiment with different PG/VG ratios like 50:50, 60:40, and 70:30 depending on your preferred e-liquid profile.

• Is there any e-liquid that tastes like tobacco smoke?

  Anecdotes and testimonials state that there are e-liquids that taste like genuine tobacco smoke. Bear in mind that these e-liquids do not necessarily contain tobacco smoke particles diluted in the mixture. Some vape producers find ways to generate tobacco smoke tastes and it does not necessarily have to include the e-liquid itself in the equation. The “tobacco taste” is more frequently used to market e-cigarettes.

• Is there any instance when e-liquid becomes truly harmful?

  Rumors have been spreading about harmful chemicals that are allegedly included in e-liquids. Some of these chemicals include antifreeze, aldehydes, and byproducts of vaporization. Keep in mind that these chemicals are not standard ingredients of e-liquids and the presence of at least one of these harmful chemicals in e-liquids cannot be a basis for accusations on the whole market.

• Can I make my own e-liquid?

  Yes, you can make your own e-liquid. You have to be diligent and risk-taking to master making your own e-liquid. There are many e-liquid ingredients sold in the market that will help you experiment for new flavors.

• What does it mean when you “steep your e-juice?”

  Steeping is the process of letting e-liquid stand stagnant in specific environmental conditions to let the components of the e-liquid mix better. This is is comparable to aging wine in a cellar. Not everyone acknowledges the need and effects of steeping but to those who do, the process does make wonders. Breathing is a way of steeping e-liquid using ambient air. Streathing is a combination of classic steeping and breathing.

• Is it okay to mix different e-juices?

  Yes, you can. This is something many vapers do to come up with new different flavors. Be careful, though. Mixing e-liquids made by different manufacturer may pose risks of making flavors worse because of likely different compositions. The basic ingredients of e-liquids are the base, nicotine, and flavoring (optional). Pure, undiluted nicotine is poison, so always dilute it with PG or VG.

• Is there a chance that e-liquid will somehow taste burnt?

  Yes, there is a chance for that to happen. This is likely due to overuse and the liquid touching the heating element too much. Vapers are advised to avoid using a vape to the point of possible internal combustion. Anything too much is bad and you as the vaper will bear the risk firsthand, so compliance is really encouraged.

• Do e-liquids have any ingredient that can be dangerous in high dosages?

  Anything too much is bad for the health, no matter what substance is involved. The mixture of e-liquids that are sold in retail are made so to avoid a “lethal” dose of nicotine or any other ingredient for that matter. Of all the ingredients, nicotine is the most dangerous one to take in at high dosages. Pure, undiluted nicotine is poison.

• Does the e-liquid itself affect the vapor quality?

  Yes, it does. The e-liquid’s base determines the thickness, flavor, smoothness, throat hit, and odor of the vapor. The most famous bases for e-juices are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine. You will see which one is better than what in the answer to the question “What are PG and VG? What’s their difference? Which one’s better?”

• What are the usual e-liquid flavors?

  Most e-liquids in the market are classified under one of the four main flavors, which are fruit, tobacco, dessert, and menthol. Fruit flavor can be sweet or sour. Tobacco’s taste depends on how much it resembles real burning tobacco. Menthol is picked for the sensation it gives. Dessert is sweet and heavy. There are also exotic flavors, like unique cocktail flavors, in the market that are exclusively made by manufacturers themselves.
  
  We also have our own signature flavors here in ePuffer.

• What are atomizers, clearomizers, and cartomizers?

  The atomizer is the part of the vape that vaporizes the e-liquid.  The atomizer can use vaporize using either conduction or convection. Atomizers are cheap, simple, and quick to refill, making it ideal for dripping.
  
  Clearomizers are atomizers with a transparent tank that lets you see how much e-liquid you have left to vape.Clearomizers can hold more e-juice than atomizers and cartomizers, last longer, and produce better flavor, according to its adherents.
  
  Cartomizers are atomizers that use polyfill instead of a wick to make vaping last longer. Cartomizers are cheap and easy to refill like the atomizer, but can hold more e-liquid. However, cartomizers cannot offer heavy vaping experience and may mix previous flavors with your current one due to the nature of te polyfill.
  
  ePuffer offers an assortment of high-quality atomizers, clearomizers, and cartomizers at different prices, created to give different types of vapers the experience they want.

• Which one produces better vapor from e-liquid? Conduction or convection?

  This is hard to tell. If we follow school physics, thicker liquids are slower to vaporize. This means it will take longer to heat VG-based e-juice up through convection since convection naturally takes more time to heat up. Nonetheless, convection generally produces better vapor than conduction. If you want to know which one is better, it all depends on how fast you need your vape to heat up or the quality you need for your vapor.

• How long does e-liquid last before it becomes bad?

  E-Liquids have no clear dates of expiration. If you’ll just base it on the average shelf life of the ingredients like propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and nicotine, e-liquid can last from one to a couple of years, assuming that it’s stored in an optimal location. Some additives actually increase the rate of spoilage of e-liquid. Flavoring, for example, may contribute to minor chemical changes in the mixture as time passes by. Residue can also form if you never shake your e-liquid container and tis may also contribute to spoilage.

• How do you know if your e-liquid is not good anymore?

  Simple. If it looks and smells funky or stale and different from what you expected, or if it the components don’t mix with each other anymore, your e-juice is as good as spoiled.

• How do I store my e-juice? What are the best practices

  There is no hard rule in storing eliquid, but there are rules of thumb for it. It is common knowledge in the vaping scene that eliquid must be stored away from heat and light. Many chemicals react to radiation and high temperatures and the changes that may happen can deeply affect your e-liquid’s quality. It is also best to separately store e-liquids of different flavors.

• What are the criteria for judging e-liquids?

  Each individual has his own criteria for judging an e-liquid’s quality and value. The most common criteria shared by people are taste, vapor, throat hit, and flavor. A quality e-liquid must not have any inherently foul taste. The ideal vapor is the one that resembles tobacco smoke without being tobacco smoke. The best flavor is the one that stands out (the real taste of the concentrate) without ruining the overall balance.

• Where can I buy e-liquid and, maybe, other vaping materials and paraphernalia?

  You can buy e-liquids in the nearest vape store in your area. And since you’re online right now, you can just go to Google and search for online vape stores. This saves you the effort of going out and searching for the shop.
  
  We know that you’re not here for some random reason. You know that our website, ePuffer.co.uk is our brand’s online store where you can buy all of our quality e-liquids and other vaping items. Browse this site so you can pick and purchase from our wide selection of unique and creative e-liquids.

• Does ePuffer have a good record as a business?

  We’ve been around since 2007, longer than any other UK vape company. That alone tells something about our reputation. We follow ISO and TPD regulations and standards in the production and manufacturing of all our products, including e-liquids. No acetoin, diacetyl, and/or acetyl propionyl can be found in any e-liquid we make.