Beginner’s Guide to E‑Liquid

How to Choose the Right Vape Juice

When I first walked into a vape shop, I felt like I’d accidentally wandered into Willy Wonka’s factory… but for grown-ups. Shelves packed with bottles shouting names like Mango Ice Blast, Dragon’s Breath, and Unicorn Milk. Then I saw numbers like “50/50” and “70/30” and thought, “Great, now I need a maths degree to vape.”

Back then, I chose e-liquid purely by how cool the label looked. Big mistake. Some tasted weird, one burned my coil in two days, and another… well, it’s still sitting in my drawer because it smells like cheap perfume.

So, after a bit of trial, error, and way too many impulse buys, here’s the no-nonsense guide to understanding e-liquid, choosing the right one, and avoiding a pile of half-used bottles.

What’s Actually in E-Liquid?

E-liquid (or vape juice) is the stuff your vape device turns into vapour. It’s usually made of four things:

• Propylene Glycol (PG) – Clear, thin, carries flavour brilliantly, and gives you that cigarette-like throat hit.
  
  
• Vegetable Glycerin (VG) – Thicker, slightly sweet, makes big fluffy clouds.
  
  
• Flavourings – From classic tobacco to mango, menthol, cheesecake, or even cola.
  

• Nicotine (optional) – Varies in strength, or you can skip it completely.

Fun fact: PG and VG aren’t scary chemicals. They’re used in things like ice cream and toothpaste. If you’ve eaten dessert, you’ve probably already had them.

What Ingredients Are in E-liquid?

E-liquids are made from four main ingredients:

• Propylene Glycol (PG): Carries flavour and nicotine, gives a stronger throat hit.

• Vegetable Glycerine (VG): Thicker, sweeter, makes bigger vapour clouds.

• Flavourings: Food-grade concentrates for taste.

• Nicotine (optional): Freebase or salts, in various strengths.

PG = more throat hit | VG = more vapour.

What is PG/VG Ratio ?

Those “50/50” or “70/30” numbers on e-liquid bottles tell you how much PG vs VG is inside.

• 50/50 – Balanced flavour, throat hit, and vapour. Works great for most pod kits and starter devices.
  
  
• High PG – More throat hit, more flavour, smaller clouds. Good for smokers switching over.
  
  
• High VG – Smooth inhale, massive clouds, but you’ll need a more powerful kit.
  
  

Quick tip: Stick thick, high-VG vape juice into a tiny pen and you’ll probably get dry hits (that awful burnt taste). Use thin, high-PG juice in a big mod and you might end up with a leaky mess.

Nicotine Strength – Finding Your Sweet Spot

This is where a lot of new vapers mess up. Too much nicotine? You’ll feel dizzy. Too little? You’ll feel like something’s missing.

• 0mg – Just for flavour chasers.
  
  
• 3mg – Light smokers.
  
  
• 6–12mg – Average smokers.
  

• 18–20mg – Heavy smokers, best with nicotine salts so it’s smoother.
  

Not sure which nicotine strength suits you? Just tell us how much you smoke, and our Nicotine Strength Finder will recommend the perfect level for a smooth, satisfying vape.

Nicotine comes in two styles:

• Freebase – Stronger throat hit, slower kick.
  
  
• Nicotine salts – Smooth, fast-acting.
  

If you’re switching from cigarettes, nicotine salts in 10mg or 20mg might feel more natural.

Flavours – The Fun Bit (and the Risky Bit)

The best thing about e-liquid? The flavours. The worst thing? Sometimes they lie.

Main categories:

• Tobacco
  
  
• Menthol
  
  
• Fruit
  
  
• Desserts & sweets
  
  

My advice? Test small bottles first. I once bought a giant 120ml of “Blueberry Cheesecake” because it smelled like heaven… turned out it tasted like blueberry air freshener. Painful lesson.

What Types of E-liquid?

Now that you know what’s in an e-liquid and how it’s kept safe, it’s time to dive into the flavours. Whatever your style, there’s an e-liquid out there just for you!

What are 50/50 E-liquids?

50/50 E-liquids: Balanced 50% PG/50% VG mixes in small nicotine bottles, great for flavour, throat hit, and low-power pod kits.

What are Nic Salts E-liquids?

Nic Salts E-liquids: Use a salt form of nicotine for smoother, faster hits without the harshness.

What are Shortfill E-liquids?

Shortfill E-liquids: Large, nicotine-free, high-VG bottles made for big clouds and cost savings.

What are Nic Shot E-liquids?

Nic Shot E-liquids: Small flavourless nicotine bottles you add to shortfills to control nicotine strength.

Matching E-Liquid to Your Device

Your vape kit matters.

• Pod kits / pens – Love 50/50 e-liquid or higher PG.
  
  
• Sub-ohm mods – Perfect for high VG vape juice.
  
  
• MTL (Mouth-to-Lung) – Better with higher PG for a sharper hit.
  
  
• DTL (Direct-to-Lung) – Needs high VG for smooth clouds.
  

Not sure? Start with 50/50 — it works in most setups.

Is E-Liquid Safe?

It’s generally safer than smoking (no tar, no ash), but it’s not risk-free. Especially if you chain-vape high nicotine all day.

Basic safety rules:

• Buy from trusted sellers (like this one).
  
  
• Keep away from kids and pets.
  
  
• Don’t randomly mix brands unless you know they’re compatible.
  
  

For official info, check NHS advice on vaping.

Storing Your E-Liquid

E-liquid lasts longer if you:

• Keep it in a cool, dark place.
  
  
• Close the lid tight.
  
  
• Use it within 12 months.
  
  

If it gets a bit darker over time, that’s normal — especially with nicotine.

Quick Tips for Beginners

• Start with a simple 50/50 e-liquid.
  
• Drink more water — vaping dries your mouth.
  
• Experiment slowly — don’t buy 10 huge bottles you’ve never tried.
  
•  Learn your device — wrong PG/VG can cause leaks or burnt taste.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right e-liquid is like finding your perfect coffee order — you might have to try a few before you find “the one.” Once you do, vaping is way more satisfying and a lot less frustrating.

Take it slow, explore different vape flavours, and remember: it’s not about the fanciest bottle, it’s about what actually works for you.