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What Is Eliquid? The Ultimate Guide To Vaping. Everything You Need To Know!

by Jack - 8 minute read - November 8, 2022 -

You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for answers to all your vaping questions! In this ultimate guide to e-liquid, we’ll answer all your questions and more. We’ll cover everything from what vape juice is made of to how long a bottle of vape juice should last you to whether vaping is cheaper than smoking. So, if you’re new to vaping or just have a few questions about it, read on for all the answers!


What is eliquid made of? 

Vape juice comprises three main ingredients: propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), and nicotine. PG and VG are the base liquids that make up most of the vape juice, while nicotine is added to give the user a nicotine hit. Some e-liquids also contain flavourings, which are added to give the liquid a specific flavour. 


Are e-liquids Illegal?

No, e-liquids are not currently illegal in most countries. However, there are some restrictions on where they can be sold and who can buy them. For example, in the United States, e-liquids can only be sold by licensed retailers and are not available for purchase by minors. You must be 18 years old to buy e-liquids and vaping products in the UK. 

Are e-liquids illegal?

What is VG PG?  

VG and PG are the two main types of base liquids used in e-liquid. VG is a thick, sticky liquid that produces a lot of vapour when vaporized. PG is a thinner liquid that produces less vapour but is known for providing a more intense flavour. 


What does ‘shortfill’ mean?

Shortfill is a term used to describe an e-liquid that is ready to vape but does not contain nicotine. They were introduced to the market when the TPD regulated nicotine liquids in 2017. Shortfills typically come in larger bottles (60ml or 120ml) and contain 50ml or less of e-liquid, with the rest of the bottle being filled with nicotine using nic-shots.  

What is eliquid? - Yeti Eliquid shortfills
Only Eliquids - Shortfill Bottle - Vape Juice

What does ‘nic-shot’ mean?   

A nic-shot is a small bottle of nicotine liquid that is used to top up a short-fill bottle of eliquid. They are typically available in different strengths (12mg, 18mg, and 20mg) and are added to the shortfill bottle until the desired nicotine strength is reached.  


What is salt nicotine?

Salt nicotine is a type of nicotine that is absorbed into the body more quickly than regular nicotine. This means that salt nicotine provides a quicker and more intense nicotine hit than regular nicotine liquids. Salt nicotine is typically used in lower-powered devices such as pod systems with less vapour delivery, as it can be too harsh/strong to vape on its own in higher-powered devices.


Is e-liquid safe?   

There is currently no definitive answer as to whether or not vape juice is completely safe. However, the vast majority of studies that have been conducted on the subject have found that e-liquid is much safer than traditional cigarettes.    

Salt Nicotine - Yeti

Some of the most popular vape juice flavours include tobacco, menthol, fruit, dessert, and candy. However, thousands of different flavours are available on the market, depending on what you’re looking for. We recommend starting with an ‘Ice’ flavour if you are a menthol cigarette smoker. 


Can I make my own vape juice at home? 

Yes, you can! Making your vape juice is a great way to save money and customise your vaping experience. All you need is a base liquid (VG or PG), some nicotine, and some flavouring. You can find all of these ingredients online. We would not recommend this to beginners, and extra precaution should always be taken when handling nicotine as it is dangerous in contact with the skin in high concentrations.  


Making E-liquid - Vape Juice

Can eliquid go out of date? 

Yes, e-liquid can go bad over time. However, it typically takes quite a long time for this to happen (several years). It will last much longer if you store your vape juice in a cool, dark place. You may also notice that the flavour of your vape juice changes over time, but this is normal and will not affect the safety of the liquid. We always provide an expiry date on our liquids and recommend that they are used before that date. 


Is vaping cheaper than smoking? 

This is a difficult question to answer as it depends on several factors, such as how much you smoke and what type of e-cigarette you use. However, in general, vaping is much cheaper than smoking. This is because you only need to buy e-liquid and replacement coils for your e-cigarettes, which are both relatively inexpensive. In contrast, cigarettes are very expensive, especially if you smoke a lot. Overall, vaping tends to be the cheaper option. 

Vape device and cigarettes

We hope that this guide has helped answer some of your questions about E-liquid! If you have any more questions or want to learn more about vaping, feel free to contact us!  


Here are some common vaping phrases you may encounter and what they mean!  

Vape – this is an abbreviation of “vaporizer” or “vapour cigarette.” It can also be used as a verb, as in “I’m going to vape this e-juice” 

Vape juice – another term for e-liquid

E-juice – this is the liquid that is vaporized by the vape. It usually contains nicotine, propylene glycol, and flavourings

Atomizer – this is the vape part that heats the e-juice and turns it into vapour

Coil – this is the part of the atomizer that actually does the heating. It is usually made of resistance wire 

Mods – these are modified vaping devices, usually with larger batteries and more features than a standard vape

Sub Ohm vaping – a type of vaping that uses an atomizer with less than one-ohm resistance. This produces more vapour and flavour from the vape juice

Vape pens –  A vape resembling a pen or small cylinder. They are usually easy to use and can be concealed easily

Stealth Vaping –  when you vape in secret without anyone knowing

Vooping – When you vape whilst on the toilet

Clouds – The vapour produced by a vape

Vape cartridge – This type of vape uses a replaceable cartridge filled with e-juice. These are usually disposable but can be refilled as well

Drip tip – this is the part of the vape that you vape from. It is usually made of plastic or metal and attaches to the atomizer

Mouth to lung –  this is a type of vaping where you inhale the vapour into your mouth before breathing it in, like when smoking a cigarette

Direct lung – this is a type of vaping where you inhale the vapour directly into your lungs. This produces more vapour but can be harsh on the throat for smokers and those that are new to vaping

Tank –  this is the part of the vape that holds the e-juice. It is usually made of glass or plastic and can be refilled

Cartomizer – this type of atomizer uses a replaceable cartridge filled with e-juice. These are usually disposable but can be refilled as well

Clearomizer – this type of atomizer uses a clear tank so you can see how much e-juice is left. They are usually refillable and have replaceable coils

RDA – this stands for “rebuildable dripping atomizer.” This is a type of atomizer where you build your own coils and drip e-juice directly onto them

RTA – stands for “rebuildable tank atomizer.” This type of atomizer uses a tank to hold e-juice, but you build your own coils and wick

RDTA – stands for “rebuildable dripping tank atomizer.” This type of atomizer uses a tank to hold e-juice, but you build your own coils and wick. The difference between an RDTA and an RTA is that you can drip e-juice directly onto the coils and wick it without having to remove the tank

Squonk mod – A type of vape with a bottle of e-juice built into the device. This allows you to squonk or press a button to send e-juice to the atomizer

Box mod – this is a type of vape that resembles a box. They usually have larger batteries and can be modified with different features

Mech mod – A type of device that uses a manual switch instead of an electronic one. They can be dangerous if misused. So only recommended for advanced users and electrical experts

Variable wattage – this feature on some mods allows you to adjust the power output in watts 

Variable voltage – this feature on some mods allows you to adjust the voltage output 

Ohm – this is the unit of measurement for electrical resistance. The lower the ohm, the more power it will use 

Watt – this is the unit of measurement for power. In vaping, the higher the watt, the more vapour, it will produce 

Pod mod –  this is a type of vape that uses a pod filled with e-juice. These are usually small and easy to use 

Salt nicotine – this is a type of e-juice that uses nicotine salts instead of freebase nicotine. This allows for higher nicotine levels without being harsh on the throat

Puff bar – this is a type of disposable vape that uses salt nicotine. They are small and easy to use but can only be used once

Author Avatar
Jack
Vape Expert