How to Make DIY E-Liquid: The Key Components of Vape Juice
Have you ever tried an e-liquid and thought it would be perfect with just a little more strawberry flavor? If so, DIY can be the ideal solution. So how do you make your own DIY e-liquid? Here is a detailed introduction. Step one: put on rubber gloves and
Have you ever tried a certain vape juice and thought, "If only it had a bit more strawberry flavor, it would be perfect"? If you've ever had such confusion, then DIY will be a perfect solution. How to make your own DIY e-liquid? Here’s a detailed introduction.
How to make DIY e-liquid?<\/strong>
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Step 1
Put on rubber gloves and add nicotine VG solution to the container. Since nicotine is very viscous, it tends to settle at the bottom when mixing e-liquid, so it needs to be shaken for a while before adding.
Step 2
Pour flavoring, PG, and VG into the container. As for the ratio of these four components, apart from a small amount of nicotine, flavoring generally accounts for 10%-15%. The ratio of PG to VG can be adjusted according to actual needs; more PG will provide a stronger throat hit and lighter vapor, while VG does the opposite. Those who prefer large vapor clouds usually prefer e-liquids with a higher VG content, while a 50:50 ratio is common for a balance of throat hit and vapor volume.
Step 3
After pouring everything in, you will notice that due to the different densities of these four components, the e-liquid will clearly separate into four layers. At this point, you need to shake it continuously to ensure they are fully blended. Just shaking is not enough; to fully integrate these four components, they need to be left for a certain period. Alternatively, you can use warm water immersion or an ultrasonic cleaner to speed up the blending process. Thus, an e-liquid is completed.
How to make DIY e-liquid? Propylene Glycol (PG)
PG is a common pharmaceutical and food additive. It is hygroscopic, slightly sweet, colorless, and odorless, with good fluidity. The FDA defines PG as "generally recognized as safe". As one of the base components of e-liquid, PG primarily serves as a carrier for flavoring, enhancing the taste of the e-liquid, and produces a small amount of vapor when heated, providing a certain throat hit.
How to make DIY e-liquid? Vegetable Glycerin (VG) and PG
VG is also a widely used ingredient in daily life. If you look closely at the ingredients listed on cosmetics, food, alcohol, and candy packaging, you will often see "propylene glycol, glycerin". Especially for those who love sweets, the amount of VG consumed is quite high, as cakes, cookies, and other sweets often contain VG. The main role of VG in e-liquid is to produce vapor.
When heated, VG produces a large amount of vapor. Friends who have used sub-ohm or dripping atomizers should know that to increase vapor production, you need to add a lot of VG to the e-liquid to achieve the desired vapor. VG is highly hygroscopic and very viscous. If an e-liquid has poor fluidity, it definitely has a high VG ratio; such e-liquids produce large vapor clouds but may have slightly less flavor and a weaker throat hit.
How to make DIY e-liquid? It can be learned easily in three steps. However, the formulation of e-liquid involves many professional considerations, so we do not recommend that everyone mix e-liquid at home, nor do we suggest that anyone smoke their DIY e-liquid.
Key components of e-liquid<\/strong>
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VG
PG
Nicotine solution (optional)
Flavoring
To get started with DIY e-liquid, you first need to understand the components and working principles of e-liquid. As we all know, the working principle of an e-cigarette is to heat the coil to vaporize the e-liquid on the cotton, thus producing vapor. The main component responsible for vapor production is VG, also known as glycerin, which is also referred to as a vapor enhancer.
As mentioned earlier, the main role of VG is to produce vapor. VG is a colorless, transparent, viscous liquid characterized by high concentration and strong volatility, and it mixes well with water and ethanol, producing a large amount of vapor when heated.
When choosing glycerin, it is essential to select food-grade VG to ensure it is truly harmless to the body. Pharmaceutical-grade VG is significantly different from food-grade VG, as GMP has strict limits on other contents such as diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in pharmaceutical-grade VG. These additives can produce mildly harmful substances when vaporized. Industrial-grade VG should never be used in e-cigarettes. These harms can accumulate over time and may not show immediate reactions after inhalation, so do not take chances or seek cheap, unverified brands. Currently, the most widely used is food-grade glycerin produced by Procter & Gamble, and another reliable option is Wilmar from Singapore, although it is still a niche product. Therefore, I recommend Procter & Gamble. It is also worth noting that the pharmaceutical-grade glycerin from AROMA-ZONE in France (the red bottle) is not recommended for use.
When using glycerin alone, you will find that it has a faint sweetness but is almost tasteless, so we need to add flavoring to bring various flavors. We will discuss flavoring in detail later, but it is important to note that flavoring is not soluble or only partially soluble in VG. If flavoring is added directly to VG, it is challenging to mix evenly, leading to the direct result of an unblended taste—one puff may have no flavor, while another may be very strong. This is a situation no one wants to see, so we need to use PG to assist in this process.
PG, or propylene glycol, is a colorless, viscous liquid that mixes with water, ethanol, and various organic substances. It is not as viscous as VG and has a slightly sweet taste. As mentioned earlier, it can mix with various organic substances, making it an excellent solvent or diluent for flavoring, especially in complex formulations (multiple flavorings), helping different flavors blend better. Flavorings mixed with PG are also easier to dissolve in VG, thus avoiding the awkwardness of severe flavor separation.
Like VG, PG must also be food-grade; pharmaceutical and industrial grades should never be used for the same reasons mentioned above. Currently, the mainstream PG brand is DOW, and almost all American e-liquid manufacturers use DOW's PG. Most flavoring carriers we use are also PG.
It is worth mentioning two points: first, do not vape PG alone, as it inherently has a certain throat hit, and vaping it alone may cause coughing or irritation, which is not good for health; second, some people may be allergic to PG, and severe allergic reactions may occur, such as swelling or red spots all over the body. If such symptoms occur, please stop inhaling immediately and seek medical attention. However, there is no need to worry too much; according to incomplete statistics, the total proportion of people allergic to PG is less than 0.3%, so you may not be that lucky person.
With VG and PG, along with flavoring, the three key components of e-liquid are already in place, and you can create a vapeable e-liquid. However, many people turn to e-cigarettes to quit smoking, and simply vaping this e-liquid may not be satisfying, so we will use another ingredient: nicotine solution.
The nicotine solution used is generally a 36mg/ml PG-based liquid diluted solvent. By calculating the ratio (nicotine solution amount = target nicotine concentration of e-liquid / base liquid concentration * pre-mixed quantity), you can formulate e-liquid with nicotine. Typically, e-liquids are categorized into 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 12mg, and higher concentrations. 0mg is suitable for non-smokers, as it does not provide a throat hit and does not cause irritation. 3mg is suitable for lung inhalers, as it provides a certain throat hit while allowing for lung inhalation without being too harsh. E-liquids with 6mg and 12mg are generally suitable for mouth-to-lung users, as the vapor first enters the mouth before being inhaled into the lungs, similar to smoking traditional cigarettes, resulting in a stronger throat hit, akin to smoking a real cigarette. I do not recommend trying concentrations above 12mg, even for mouth-to-lung users.
A 36mg/ml nicotine solution is relatively safe; even if it accidentally splashes on the skin, as long as it is rinsed off with water promptly, it does not harm the body. However, be careful not to ingest it.
Many users, in pursuit of high VG formulations, prefer to use high-concentration nicotine solutions. Here, I want to remind everyone that concentrations exceeding 65.5mg/ml of PG-based liquid, if not stabilized by the phosgene method, will also be unstable. During dilution, there may be an overdose due to unstable nicotine solvent content, which is harmful to health. Therefore, when using 100mg/ml nicotine solutions, ensure they have been stabilized by the phosgene method.
Regarding the throat hit from nicotine, it is essential to distinguish between irritation, coughing, and a full-bodied throat hit. Generally, irritation and coughing can cause a scratchy throat, strong stimulation, or even a burning sensation, which are usually caused by excessive nicotine or poor quality. A full-bodied throat hit does not cause such sensations; instead, it may give a feeling of being choked. It is crucial to differentiate these sensations.
Inhaling nicotine does not harm the body, as nicotine is expelled from the body through metabolic functions, with the fastest elimination method being through urine. Additionally, VG carries away a significant amount of moisture when vaporized, which is why vaping often leads to thirst. Therefore, if you are vaping, be sure to maintain your daily water intake.
How to make DIY e-liquid?<\/strong>
<\/strong>
Step 1
Put on rubber gloves and add nicotine VG solution to the container. Since nicotine is very viscous, it tends to settle at the bottom when mixing e-liquid, so it needs to be shaken for a while before adding.
Step 2
Pour flavoring, PG, and VG into the container. As for the ratio of these four components, apart from a small amount of nicotine, flavoring generally accounts for 10%-15%. The ratio of PG to VG can be adjusted according to actual needs; more PG will provide a stronger throat hit and lighter vapor, while VG does the opposite. Those who prefer large vapor clouds usually prefer e-liquids with a higher VG content, while a 50:50 ratio is common for a balance of throat hit and vapor volume.
Step 3
After pouring everything in, you will notice that due to the different densities of these four components, the e-liquid will clearly separate into four layers. At this point, you need to shake it continuously to ensure they are fully blended. Just shaking is not enough; to fully integrate these four components, they need to be left for a certain period. Alternatively, you can use warm water immersion or an ultrasonic cleaner to speed up the blending process. Thus, an e-liquid is completed.
How to make DIY e-liquid? Propylene Glycol (PG)
PG is a common pharmaceutical and food additive. It is hygroscopic, slightly sweet, colorless, and odorless, with good fluidity. The FDA defines PG as "generally recognized as safe". As one of the base components of e-liquid, PG primarily serves as a carrier for flavoring, enhancing the taste of the e-liquid, and produces a small amount of vapor when heated, providing a certain throat hit.
How to make DIY e-liquid? Vegetable Glycerin (VG) and PG
VG is also a widely used ingredient in daily life. If you look closely at the ingredients listed on cosmetics, food, alcohol, and candy packaging, you will often see "propylene glycol, glycerin". Especially for those who love sweets, the amount of VG consumed is quite high, as cakes, cookies, and other sweets often contain VG. The main role of VG in e-liquid is to produce vapor.
When heated, VG produces a large amount of vapor. Friends who have used sub-ohm or dripping atomizers should know that to increase vapor production, you need to add a lot of VG to the e-liquid to achieve the desired vapor. VG is highly hygroscopic and very viscous. If an e-liquid has poor fluidity, it definitely has a high VG ratio; such e-liquids produce large vapor clouds but may have slightly less flavor and a weaker throat hit.
How to make DIY e-liquid? It can be learned easily in three steps. However, the formulation of e-liquid involves many professional considerations, so we do not recommend that everyone mix e-liquid at home, nor do we suggest that anyone smoke their DIY e-liquid.
Key components of e-liquid<\/strong>
<\/strong>
VG
PG
Nicotine solution (optional)
Flavoring
To get started with DIY e-liquid, you first need to understand the components and working principles of e-liquid. As we all know, the working principle of an e-cigarette is to heat the coil to vaporize the e-liquid on the cotton, thus producing vapor. The main component responsible for vapor production is VG, also known as glycerin, which is also referred to as a vapor enhancer.
As mentioned earlier, the main role of VG is to produce vapor. VG is a colorless, transparent, viscous liquid characterized by high concentration and strong volatility, and it mixes well with water and ethanol, producing a large amount of vapor when heated.
When choosing glycerin, it is essential to select food-grade VG to ensure it is truly harmless to the body. Pharmaceutical-grade VG is significantly different from food-grade VG, as GMP has strict limits on other contents such as diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in pharmaceutical-grade VG. These additives can produce mildly harmful substances when vaporized. Industrial-grade VG should never be used in e-cigarettes. These harms can accumulate over time and may not show immediate reactions after inhalation, so do not take chances or seek cheap, unverified brands. Currently, the most widely used is food-grade glycerin produced by Procter & Gamble, and another reliable option is Wilmar from Singapore, although it is still a niche product. Therefore, I recommend Procter & Gamble. It is also worth noting that the pharmaceutical-grade glycerin from AROMA-ZONE in France (the red bottle) is not recommended for use.
When using glycerin alone, you will find that it has a faint sweetness but is almost tasteless, so we need to add flavoring to bring various flavors. We will discuss flavoring in detail later, but it is important to note that flavoring is not soluble or only partially soluble in VG. If flavoring is added directly to VG, it is challenging to mix evenly, leading to the direct result of an unblended taste—one puff may have no flavor, while another may be very strong. This is a situation no one wants to see, so we need to use PG to assist in this process.
PG, or propylene glycol, is a colorless, viscous liquid that mixes with water, ethanol, and various organic substances. It is not as viscous as VG and has a slightly sweet taste. As mentioned earlier, it can mix with various organic substances, making it an excellent solvent or diluent for flavoring, especially in complex formulations (multiple flavorings), helping different flavors blend better. Flavorings mixed with PG are also easier to dissolve in VG, thus avoiding the awkwardness of severe flavor separation.
Like VG, PG must also be food-grade; pharmaceutical and industrial grades should never be used for the same reasons mentioned above. Currently, the mainstream PG brand is DOW, and almost all American e-liquid manufacturers use DOW's PG. Most flavoring carriers we use are also PG.
It is worth mentioning two points: first, do not vape PG alone, as it inherently has a certain throat hit, and vaping it alone may cause coughing or irritation, which is not good for health; second, some people may be allergic to PG, and severe allergic reactions may occur, such as swelling or red spots all over the body. If such symptoms occur, please stop inhaling immediately and seek medical attention. However, there is no need to worry too much; according to incomplete statistics, the total proportion of people allergic to PG is less than 0.3%, so you may not be that lucky person.
With VG and PG, along with flavoring, the three key components of e-liquid are already in place, and you can create a vapeable e-liquid. However, many people turn to e-cigarettes to quit smoking, and simply vaping this e-liquid may not be satisfying, so we will use another ingredient: nicotine solution.
The nicotine solution used is generally a 36mg/ml PG-based liquid diluted solvent. By calculating the ratio (nicotine solution amount = target nicotine concentration of e-liquid / base liquid concentration * pre-mixed quantity), you can formulate e-liquid with nicotine. Typically, e-liquids are categorized into 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 12mg, and higher concentrations. 0mg is suitable for non-smokers, as it does not provide a throat hit and does not cause irritation. 3mg is suitable for lung inhalers, as it provides a certain throat hit while allowing for lung inhalation without being too harsh. E-liquids with 6mg and 12mg are generally suitable for mouth-to-lung users, as the vapor first enters the mouth before being inhaled into the lungs, similar to smoking traditional cigarettes, resulting in a stronger throat hit, akin to smoking a real cigarette. I do not recommend trying concentrations above 12mg, even for mouth-to-lung users.
A 36mg/ml nicotine solution is relatively safe; even if it accidentally splashes on the skin, as long as it is rinsed off with water promptly, it does not harm the body. However, be careful not to ingest it.
Many users, in pursuit of high VG formulations, prefer to use high-concentration nicotine solutions. Here, I want to remind everyone that concentrations exceeding 65.5mg/ml of PG-based liquid, if not stabilized by the phosgene method, will also be unstable. During dilution, there may be an overdose due to unstable nicotine solvent content, which is harmful to health. Therefore, when using 100mg/ml nicotine solutions, ensure they have been stabilized by the phosgene method.
Regarding the throat hit from nicotine, it is essential to distinguish between irritation, coughing, and a full-bodied throat hit. Generally, irritation and coughing can cause a scratchy throat, strong stimulation, or even a burning sensation, which are usually caused by excessive nicotine or poor quality. A full-bodied throat hit does not cause such sensations; instead, it may give a feeling of being choked. It is crucial to differentiate these sensations.
Inhaling nicotine does not harm the body, as nicotine is expelled from the body through metabolic functions, with the fastest elimination method being through urine. Additionally, VG carries away a significant amount of moisture when vaporized, which is why vaping often leads to thirst. Therefore, if you are vaping, be sure to maintain your daily water intake.
