Why are some E-liquids so expensive? Is there a difference in quality?
Let’s begin by saying that this is the area where people tend to disagree the most. The question of whether or not a $22.00 30ml bottle of e-liquid is better than a $9.00 30ml bottle of e-liquid is tough to answer, though the short answer is usually yes. In most cases, expensive E-liquid is more expensive because of the ingredients used and the care that went into creating the flavors. The general rule of thumb when it comes to E-liquid is that if the price looks too good to be true, it probably is. The only exception to that rule are the occasional sales or clearance items from premium vendors. If a vendor is selling a 30ml bottle of E-liquid for $5.00, chances are they’re cutting corners on the ingredients, the steeping process, or they’re diluting the juice. The latter is becoming more and more common. If you purchase cheap E-liquid and it doesn’t have much flavor or provides a weak throat hit, chances are it has been diluted with distilled water or grain alcohol. There’s nothing wrong with diluting E-liquid if that’s what a customer wants, but it should be noted and priced accordingly.
So, what is the best E-liquid or E-juice?
Honestly, the best e-liquid or e-juice is the one that tastes best to you. We certainly can recommend a few of our favorites, like Mt. Baker Vapor, Johnson Creek, and V2 Cigs, and others, but in the end, it’s always going to come down to your own personal preferences. If you’re a new vaper it might take a while for you to discover your personal preferences. The best advice we can give you is to try as many different brands and flavors until you come across the ones you really love. When it comes to E-liquid, variety truly is the spice of life!
What are the ingredients in E-liquid?
Propylene Glycol (PG)
Propylene Glycol is the most common E-liquid ingredient. It is a pharmaceutical grade solution used to carry flavor. PG is less viscous than Vegetable Glycerin, so it will clog coils less often. PG is generally considered safe to ingest and inhale. The FDA has approved PG as safe for use in food, cosmetics, and medicines, including asthma inhalers and nebulizers. PG is the ingredient that provides a “throat hit” when vaping.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
Vegetable Glycerin is a thick, sweet solution. It is also found in many foods, cosmetics, and medicines. Vegetable Glycerin produces more vapor than Propylene Glycol, but it can gunk up coils more quickly because of its higher viscosity. VG is also considered safe for human consumption. Some people are sensitive or allergic to PG and must use a 100% VG E-liquid solution. Many premium E-liquid brands offer a variety of PG/VG ratios for this very reason.
Flavorings
The flavorings in E-liquid are food-grade and considered safe for human consumption. There are literally hundreds of thousands of different flavorings for E-liquid. Some premium vendors use all-natural flavorings, while others use artificial flavorings. Each brand is different, so it’s important to research them to find out which brand uses which type of flavorings. Flavorings are another reason why some E-liquids cost more than others.
Nicotine
Nicotine is the active ingredient in E-liquid. It’s what delivers the rush that smokers crave and are looking for when they switch from tobacco cigarettes to vaping. All premium E-liquids come in a variety of strengths, ranging from 0mg (nicotine-free) all the way up to 24mg, which is a very high amount of nicotine. As a former pack-a-day smoker, I usually vape 6mg. When first switching from tobacco cigarettes to vaping, it’s best to start with a high dose (18mg or 24mg) and gradually decrease your nicotine intake over time. Most premium E-liquid vendors offer their E-liquids in strengths of 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 12mg, 18mg, and 24mg. Some even offer 36mg, though those are exceedingly rare, and usually not something a new vaper should be considering. Spinfuel usually recommends 12mg for people that smoke a pack a day or less, and 18mg for people who smoke more than a pack a day. The trick is to vape until your cravings are satisfied, and then put your vape down until you feel the need to vape again.
What do those percentages mean?
Often times, you’ll see E-liquid bottles that are marked with percentages like “50/50,” “60/40,” or “70/30.” These percentages refer to the ratio of Propylene Glycol (PG) to Vegetable Glycerin (VG). A “50/50” E-liquid is comprised of 50% PG and 50% VG. A “60/40” E-liquid is comprised of 60% PG and 40% VG. A “70/30” E-liquid is comprised of 70% VG and 30% PG. (Notice how the VG is mentioned first in the 70/30 example?) Most premium E-liquid vendors offer a variety of PG/VG ratios. You can read more about PG/VG in this article about High VG E-Liquid. The standard for most vapers is a 50/50 ratio, though many enjoy the thicker vapor production of a higher VG E-liquid. There are some downsides to a higher VG E-liquid as well, so it’s always best to experiment with different ratios to find out what works best for you and your vaping device.
