Nic salts. Freebase. Shortfills. High VG. Low VG.
When it comes to buying vape juice, there’s a lot of choice - and it’s easy to get confused if you don’t know what the terms above mean.
So in this guide, we’ll explain the different types of e-liquid you can buy. You’ll also find which e-liquids can be used in different devices - including the best e-liquids for pods, mods and pod mods - and how to change your e-liquid for more or less vapour and throat hit.
By the end of this post, you’ll be well equipped to choose the best e-liquid for your needs and your device.
If you're new to vaping, it's helpful to know a few key terms before you start! Common terms that can help when you are selecting e-liquid include:
Nic salts: A form of e-liquid that uses the salts found in tobacco leaves to create a smoother throat hit. The alternative to nic salts is regular e-liquid which uses freebase nicotine.
Bar salts: Strong flavoured, often sweet, nicotine salts that replicate the flavour of disposable vapes.
Shortfill: A large bottle of nicotine-free e-liquid. There is a space at the top of the bottle to add one or more nicotine shots.
Nicotine shot: A small bottle of usually flavourless e-liquid that can be added to a short-fill.
MTL: Mouth-to-Lung inhale. When you inhale into the mouth and hold vapour briefly before inhaling into the lungs.
DL: Direct-Lung inhale. When you inhale directly into the lungs.
PG: Propylene glycol. A flavourless alcohol used in e-liquid, it is thinner than VG, and creates more of a throat hit.
VG: Vegetable glycerine - another flavourless alcohol used in e-liquid. Thicker than PG, it is slightly sweeter, smoother on the throat and creates larger clouds of vapour. See PG v. VG for more info.
Pod systems and starter kits are best suited for use with nicotine salts and regular 10 ml (free base) or VG: PG ratios of 50:50 short-fill e-liquids.
This is down to two factors. First is the design. Most pod kits come with a coil and airflow optimised for VG:PG 50:50 e-liquids. Secondly, they also provide a lower power which works well with these e-liquids.
What vape juice should you use for mods and pod mods?
Mods and pod mods usually work best with high VG e-liquids, such as those with a VG:PG 70:30 ratio. That’s because they generally produce more power, have more airflow and come with coils designed for thicker e-liquids.
There are a handful of mod kits designed for beginners which work best with VG:PG 50:50 ratios. However, these are very much the exception rather than the norm.
If you’re smoking 15-20 cigarettes a day or more, you are probably best off using the strongest e-liquid you can get, which is usually 20mg in a 10ml bottle.
If you smoke less, or if you prefer light/mild cigarettes , you might be able to drop down to 12mg (1.2%), but if you find that vaping is not working for you, you will probably need a higher nicotine strength.
If you’re a social smoker, though, there’s an argument for dropping the nicotine down as low as possible - for example, you might use 3mg (0.3%).
What if you don’t smoke? In that case, we strongly advise you don’t take up vaping. However, if you do decide to vape, you should use zero nicotine e-liquids.
For a more detailed guide, see our post:What concentration of nicotine should I use?
Cigarettes can cause irritation to the back of the throat, which many people have actually forgotten about after quitting. If you want to replicate that throat irritation, you need an e-liquid with a lot of propylene glycol.
The key here is to look at the VG:PG ratio of e-cigarette oil. A VG:PG ratio of 50:50 (such as Desonvap Crazy vape or Alchemaster) will provide enough throat punch for most smokers, but if you're looking for a stronger throat punch, You might want a VG:PG ratio of 40:60 (such as Desonvape Dracula).
When using high-PG e-cigarette oil for the first time, it is recommended to take a long breath and not inhale too much air, because this will cause coughing. For high PG and high nicotine e-liquids, it is best to use e-cigarette hardware specifically designed for oral smoking (MTL).
There are two ways to soften the irritation of e-liquid on the throat.
The first is the use of nicotine salts. This method was originally introduced because e-cigarette users found the nicotine in high-strength free alkali e-liquid too irritating.
Nicotine salts use the original form of nicotine in tobacco leaves to make the throat feel smoother.
They can also increase the speed of nicotine delivery and make people more satisfied.
Nicotine salts are very popular among new e-cigarette users and are ideal for smokers who prefer light/mild cigarettes and tobacco. However, if you are used to intense irritation in the back of your throat, then they may not be for you.
Another way to minimise the throat hit is to use a higher VG e-liquid. However, high VG e-liquids are best used with more advanced equipment.
Which is the most cost-effective e-liquid type?
The most cost-effective type of e-liquid is 50/50 shortfills. These come in larger nicotine-free bottles with space for nic shots to be mixed in. Because of their larger size, they cost less per ml. What’s more, VG:PG 50:50 e-liquids usually last longer than high VG e-liquids because they are used at lower power levels.
Taste selection
Flavour is very personal, and the best way to find the right flavour for you is to experiment, so we won’t write too much about it here.
But one key thing to mention is that while many smokers start with a tobacco flavour, evidence suggests that smokers who start with a non-tobacco flavour are more likely to switch successfully. So even if you love smoking, it’s well worth experimenting with non-tobacco flavours from the off.
For inspiration, see our picks for Best E-liquid Flavours.
Some vapers choose to make their own e-liquid. However, I’d only recommend this if you are using concentrates designed for vaping and produced by a reputable manufacturer.
That’s because most flavourings you can buy off the shelf have not been tested for inhalation. This is in contrast to nicotine-containing e-liquids. E-liquids produced in the UK are made with ingredients that are safer for inhalation. Before being sold, they must undergo emissions testing for harmful substances and be submitted to the UK Medical and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA).
Concentrates and shortfills do not need to be submitted, but they have been designed for vaping. Even then, I’d advise only buying from a reputable manufacturer who cares about quality.
Learn more: DIY E-liquid - Is It Safe?
Choosing your first e-liquid can seem like a minefield when you see all the alternatives. But if you can identify your needs using the guide above, you can quickly narrow down the type of e-liquid you need to start with. Then you can start exploring the wonderful and varied world of e-liquid flavours!
