WHAT’S IN E-LIQUID? THE KEY COMPONENTS EXPLAINED
There are two key reasons why it’s important to know what e-liquid contains as a vaper. Firstly, understanding what the ingredients are and how they work together means you won’t fall prey to scaremongering. Secondly, having a good general understanding of the key ingredients means you will be able to spot any out-of-the-ordinary ingredients in the e-liquids you try.
Vegetable Glycerin
Vegetable glycerin is a sugar alcohol. It’s a clear liquid that is derived from vegetable oils. Vegetable glycerin doesn’t have a strong smell but it does have a slightly sweet taste. The thick texture of the liquid helps to generate large clouds when heated in a vape atomiser. This component of e-juice is a safe, naturally derived substance that is also used in a range of other industries including foodstuffs and cosmetics.
Propylene Glycol:
Propylene glycol is another alcohol used to make up an e-liquid base. It is also a clear liquid and is tasteless and odorless, making it a great neutral base that carries flavour well. Propylene glycol is thinner in consistency compared to vegetable glycerin, so it produces more discreet clouds and hits a stronger throat.
Nicotine:
Nicotine is a key ingredient in many e-liquids. Many turn to vaping to enjoy a nicotine hit without having to inhale all the dangerous chemicals found in cigarettes. However, some e-liquids are made without nicotine to provide more choice and allow people to wean off nicotine altogether if they want to.
The nicotine in vape juice comes in two formulations—freebase nicotine and nicotine salts. Freebase nicotine is nicotine that has been broken down into its purest form. This is the original form of nicotine used for vaping, it’s a potent source that is easily absorbed and can provide a strong throat hit at high levels.
Nicotine salts are a form of nicotine used in e-liquids. In this form, the nicotine is still held together in its organic salt structure found in tobacco leaves. Nic salts are also referred to as sub-ohm salts, as they need to be vaped at high temperatures making them ideal for sub-ohm devices.
Flavoring :
Flavours are a real perk of vaping instead of smoking. You don’t have to stick to tobacco flavour, you can branch out and try a range of tastes including fruity flavours, dessert flavours, and heaps more.
Vape flavoring is made from food-grade additives. It is important to check that the vape juice you buy contains food-grade flavorings only, as some non-reputable manufacturers can use unsafe ingredients including diacetyl.