FAQs

What is in e-liquid?

What are the ingredients of e-liquid?

E-liquid is made primarily from Vegetable Glycerin (VG), Propylene Glycol (PG), flavourings and, optionally, nicotine. Sometimes other diluents such as de-ionised water or certain types of alcohol, are used.

What is VG or Vegetable Glycerin?

Vegetable glycerin (or glycerine) is commonly abbreviated as VG.  It is, along with PG, one of the major ingredients of most vape liquid.  It is considerably thicker and more viscous than water, and gives e-liquid it's characteristic texture. 

VG is what produces most of the vapour when e-liquid is heated in an e-cig.  It is also hygroscopic - it attracts moisture from the surrounding environment (which is why it is the major ingredient in aftersun cream), and it provides a moisturising effect making the vape more 'smooth.' 

E-juice is commonly made with 50 to 80% VG, with 70% being the most common level. 

VG is extracted from plants, using a process called hydrolysis to produce a colourless, slightly sweet syrupy liquid with the chemical formula C3H8O3.  Although sweet, it does not contribute to tooth decay.

You can read about VG in more detail on the Wikipedia entry Glycerol.

What is PG or Propylene Glycol?

Propylene Glycol is commonly abbreviated as PG. It is, along with VG, one of the major ingredients of most vape liquid. It has the same consistancy as water, and is colourless and almost odourless.

PG is used as a 'carrier' for the flavourings in e-liquid. It produces some vapour when e-liquid is heated in an e-cig, though far less than VG does. It is also responsible for the 'throat-hit' sensation felt when inhaling vape.

E-juice is commonly made with 20 to 50% VG, with 30% being the most common level. 

PG is a synthetic organic compound, with the chemical formula C3H8O2.

You can read about G in more detail on the Wikipedia entry Propylene Glycol.

What are flavour concentrates?

E-juice flavouring is usually created using concentrated flavours.  Originally, concentrates manufactured for the food industry were used, though it is now possible to find flavour concentrates manufactured specifically for the creation of vaping products, such as thpose made by The Flavour Concentrate Company and Pope & Brewer's Gourmet Flavours.  More information about flavour concentrates can be found below, in the section 'Flavour Concentrates.'

Flavour Concentrates

What do the letters TFA, CAP, P&B mean?

These are abbreviations of the brand of flavour concentrate.  There are many flavour concentrate manufacturers, and not all concentrates are the same, so it is useful to note which company makes any given flavour.  The abbreviations used in our recipes include:

  • TFCC: The Flavour Concentrate Company

A UK based flavour house who were the first to develop bespoke flavour concentrates designed for vaping.  Not only are their ingedients compatible for use in e-liquids which are tested and notified under the TPD regulations, they are also designed to combine perfectly together when mixed, so you won't have any problems with TFCC concentrates seperating when they are mixed.

  • CAP: Capella

An established flavour house in the USA, Capella have been making multi-purpose flavouring since 2005.

  • TFA: The Flavor Apprentice

Also trading as the Perfumer's Apprentice, TFA are a US based company who specialise in flavour and perfume creation.  They provide details of the ingredients in their concentrates on their website, and have been augmenting their range to add diketone free versions of flavours in their existing range, so that they can be used in e-liquid.

  • FW: Flavor West

Also US based, Flavor West have some fantastic, and very popular, flavours in their range.  There can be some problems in getting their products to mix with other ingredients, so they are best used advisedly.

  • P&B: Pope and Brewer's Gourmet Flavours

UK manufactured premium flavour concentrates, specialising in combinations of flavours which can be mixed alone, these flavour concentrates can also be combined.  Pope and Brewer's specialise in vape flavourings, and their range has been a huge hit with vapers.

How much flavour concentrate should I put into my e-liquid?

There are several factors affecting the optimal amount of concentrate to use, including the PG/VG base of the mixture, the device being used to vape the liquid, and personal taste.

As a rule of thumb, a total flavour percentage of around 15% is not a bad place to start. However, some concentrates are stronger than others. Individual flavour concentrate product pages provide information about recommended levels for mixing single flavour concentrates.  Our recipes can also be used as a guide.

There is a useful spreadsheet consolidating a large amount of user data on the best percentages for certain flavours here.

Do the flavour concentrates contain any harmful substances?

We have recently received a number of queries about the ingredients of the flavour concentrates which we sell. We are provided with information by the manufacturers, and the form that information takes varies for each manufacturer. Below is the information provided to us by each manufacturer.


Pope & Brewer’s Gourmet Flavours; The Flavour Concentrate Company


In both cases, these flavour concentrates are made in the UK specially for use in e-liquid. None of these concentrates contain Diacetyl, Acetyl Proionyl, terpenes, oils, lipid, essential oils or any other substance classified as a respitory irritant. In addition, none of these flavour concentrates contain added colour.


Flavor West


Flavor West provided a list of their flavours which contain Diacetyl, Acetoin or Acetyl Propionyl. The flavours which we stock which contain any of these ingredients are:


Bavarian Cream: Acetoin 0.114%

Graham Cracker: Acetoin 0.08%

Hazelnut: Acetoin 0.995%

Kiwi: Acetoin 0.103%

Maple Pecan: Acetoin 0.75%

Nutella: Acetoin 0.173%

Strawberry Kiwi: Acetoin 0.052%

Sugar Cookie: Acetoin 0.019%


Capella


Capella state that none of their flavours contain Diacetyl. In addition, they have produced a list of flavours which do not contain Acetoin or Acetyl Propionyl. The only flavours which we stock which are missing from that list (and thus may contain Acetoin and/or Acetyl Propionyl) are:


NY Cheesecake

Vanilla Custard version 1


The Flavour Apprentice


The Flavour Apprentice provide full information about the ingredients of their concentrates. Below is the information pertaining to those which we stock:


Almond Amaretto: Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol


Apple: Artificial Flavours, Water, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20


Apple Pie: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Triacetin


Black Cherry: Natural &Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol , Water


Black Currant: Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Triacetin, Ethyl Alcohol


Blueberry (extra): Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Water


Bubblegum: Natural Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Water


Butterscotch: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol (contains Acetoin & Acetyl Propionyl) Allergens: Milk


Caramel: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Water, Corn Syrup, Caramel Color (contains Acetoin & Acetyl Propionyl)


Cherry Cola: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol


Chocolate: Natural & Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Water, Ethyl Alcohol


Citrus Punch: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol, Vitamin E


Coconut: Natural Flavours, Propylene Glycol (contains Acetoin)


Coffee: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Water


Cotton Candy: Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol


Crème de Menthe: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol


Energy Drink: Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Water, Ethyl Alcohol


English Toffee: Natural Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Water, Ethyl Alcohol, (contains Acetoin & Acetyl Propionyl)


Ethyl Maltol: Ethyl Maltol, Propylene Glycol


French Vanilla Crème: Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol


Gingerbread: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Ethyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, (contains Acetoin & Acetyl Propionyl)  Allergens: Milk


Grape Juice: Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol


Guava: Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Water


Kentucky Bourbon: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol, Water


Lemon: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol


Mango: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol


Menthol: Menthol, Propylene Glycol


Orange Mandarin: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol


Passion Fruit: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Triacetin


Peach: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol (contains Acetion)


Peanut Butter: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, (contains Acetoin & Acetyl Propionyl)


Pear: Natural & Artificial Flavours,Propylene Glycol, Water


Peppermint: Natural & Artificial Flavours,Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol


Pina Colada: Natural Flavours, Propylene Glycol


Pineapple: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol


Rainbow Sherbert: Artificial Flavours,Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol


Raspberry: Artificial Flavours,Propylene Glycol


Ripe Banana: Natural Flavours & Artificial Flavours,Propylene Glycol,Ethyl Alcohol, Water


RY4 Double: Artificial Flavours,Propylene Glycol, Water


Strawberry Ripe: Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol


Sweetener: Artificial Flavours, Water, Propylene Glycol, Sucralose


Tobacco: Natural Flavours, Propylene Glycol


Tutti Frutti: Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol, Water, Citric Acid


Vanilla Bean Gelato: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol (contains Butyric Acid)


Vanilla Custard: Natural & Artificial Flavours, Propylene Glycol (contains Acetoin & Acetyl Propionyl), Water


Watermelon Candy: Artificial Flavors, Propylene Glycol

Nicotine

What is nicotine?

Nicotine is a naturally occuring substance found in the Solanaceae family of plants.  At low levels, it acts as a mild stimulant, though at very high concentrations it is poisonous, and potentially lethal.  Nicotine levels in vaping products are limited to a concentration of 20mg per ml of liquid.

Do I need nicotine in my e-liquid.

No. E-liquid can be made with or without nicotine, and many vapers use nicotine-free juice. E-liquid in the UK is available in strengths up to 20mg/ml of nicotine.

How much nicotine should I put in to my liquid?

This is very much a question of personal preference, but if you are mixing your own vape juice for the first time, it may be best to start by matching the nicotine level of the e-liquid you are already using. The most common strengths - 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 12mg and 18mg refer to the number of milligrams of nicotine in each millilitre of liquid. To work out how much to add, it is best to use the e-liquid calculator.

Delivery

How do I track my order?

If you have selected the Parcel Force delivery option. Just enter your tracking number here: https://www.parcelforce.com/track-trace. If you have selected the Royal Mail delivery option. Just enter your tracking number here: https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item#/ Tracking updates will only be provided 24 hours after they leave us. So, give it a little while for the updates to appear.

Where is my order?

If you have chosen the Parcel Force delivery option, they do aim to deliver next working day. Sometimes there can be delays which is a rare occasion, but if this does happen please get in contact with sales@makemyvape.co.uk quoting your order number and full name. If you have chosen the Royal Mail delivery option, they do aim to deliver within 3-5 working days not including Sundays. (Saturday deliveries are based on your location, ask your local depot if they deliver on Saturdays.) If you have been waiting more than 5 working days, please get in contact with sales@makemyvape.co.uk quoting your order number and full name. If you have tracked your order and it says it had been delivered but you don’t see it. Please check with a neighbour or anyone who may live at your address. If you weren’t in on the day of delivery or missed it, Royal Mail may have posted a red card in your letterbox. Just take the red card and proof of ID to the address on the card to collect your order. If you haven’t received a red card but it was a tracked delivery service, then your order should be at your local depot. Check with them first before contacting us. If for some reason your order has been lost, a claim against Royal Mail can’t be started for 15 working days, but we start our own investigations after 10 working days. So please give it a little time and let us know if your order hasn’t arrived within these timescales.

Can we ship to overseas Countries?

Products under the scope of the Tobacco Products Regulation are not available for delivery to member states who have imposed cross border sales restrictions. Products outside the scope of TPD are generally available unless other restrictions are in place. PLEASE NOTE: WE NO LONGER SHIP ANY PRODUCTS TO DENMARK. We offer the best International Delivery prices open to us on a country-by country basis. Customers are liable for checking customs regulations in the recipient state. We cannot accept liability for packages once they have left the UK. NB: customers in Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Man, the Isles of Scilly, Northern Ireland, and the Scottish Highlands and Islands may find the Royal Mail offers far lower postal rates.

How do I request a shipping address change?

If you feel like you have put the wrong shipping address down for your order, please get in contact with sales@makemyvape.co.uk as soon as possible or call us on 01707566056. If your order has already been shipped and you have noticed you need to change your address, then we are sorry, but we cannot get your order back until the delivery company return it. If somehow it is undelivered due to incorrect address, then your order will be returned to us after 10-15 working days.

Why hasn’t my order been shipped yet?

We are only open Monday – Friday, if you place an order before 2pm your order will be shipped out same day. If you miss our 2pm deadline your order will be sent out next working day. The cut off for same week dispatch is Friday at 2pm, after this your order will be shipped on a Monday. If there is a Bank Holiday Monday, your order will be shipped the next working day. If you order hasn’t been shipped and you have placed it mid-week, then there may have been a slight problem with your order or we may have noticed a mistake. We should have tried to contact you, but if for some reason we can’t get in touch with you please contact us on 01707566056 or email us at sales@makemyvape.co.uk at your earliest convenience.

What if there is a problem with my order when I receive it?

If for some reason there is a problem with your order and it is our mistake, we do apologise. Please get into contact with us at sales@makemyvape.co.uk as soon as you realise there is a mistake. If you have already received your order and you have now noticed that you made a mistake that you wish to return, please let us know that you wish to return it to us. Also leave a note with your order number, full name and what you for us to do. We can only accept items that are un-opened and are still in a re-sellable condition. You will also need to pay for the postage and packing for us to receive the items and this is non-refundable. If your order has arrived broken or damaged, please get in contact with us at your earliest convenience. Parcels can get damaged during transit and we try to package your order accordingly.

What if I need to add something to my order?

If you need to add something your order and you want them to be shipped together, please phone us 01707566056, as we may need to take a payment over the phone for the items you are going to add. If you need to add something to your order and it has already been shipped or is in the process of being shipped, you may need to place another order. We will try our best to find your order if it is in the process of being shipped to group them, but unfortunately, we can’t promise this.

Devices and Hardware

What device should I get?

Knowing what device to get can play a big part on your vaping experience. If you are transitioning from smoking to vaping, I would recommend going for a low powered MTL (mouth to lung) device as they give of small amounts of vapour and nice throat hit. If you are already a vaper and are looking to upgrade your device then I would recommend going for a DTL (direct to lung) device as they tend to be smoother and give off more vapour.

My order has arrived, but my device/hardware isn’t working.

If your order has arrived and your device won’t turn on or function properly please get in touch with us as soon as possible for us to put this right. All our devices are covered for 6months excluding tanks and we will need you to send the device back at your own expense for further testing before issuing a refund or replacement. When calling or emailing us please give our staff as much information as you can about the device, sometimes it can be a simple fix that you can do at home or you have missed something easy. If you have purchased a tank, RDA, RTA or RDTA and you wish to return it, that is not a problem, so long as it is unopened and unused. If you have used it, then I am afraid we cannot accept any return due to health and safety risks. So, make sure you want it before using it.

Why are my coils burning out so fast?

Coils burning out are apart of vaping, however if your coils are burning out extremely fast it could be down to a couple of reasons. Sweetener can play a big part in burning coils out quickly, if the e-liquid you are using has a very sweet taste, then it most likely has a quite a bit of sweetener in it. Another reason your coils may be burning out quicker is down the amount of VG that is in your e-liquid. VG is a thick liquid and so it clings to your coils a lot more, making it hard for your coils to wick, which then leads to the burning taste. Coils are a mass-produced product, so you may sometimes get a few dodgy ones. If this happens then there is not much you can do to save them.

Customer Accounts

Why can’t I get into my online account?

If for whatever reason you can’t get into your account or there seems to be a problem with you account. Please get in touch with us on 01707566056 or email us at sales@makemyvape.co.uk and we will try our best to fix it.

Mixing

How do I create an 18mg e-liquid?

You can’t create an 18mg e-liquid. Due to the nicotine being 18mg, as soon as you add VG, PG and flavouring into the mix it will dilute the nicotine down. However, you can come close to creating an 18mg e-liquid, just simply mix VG nicotine and PG nicotine together along with flavouring and this will create a high strength e-liquid.

What ratio should I make?

Knowing what ratio to make isn’t that difficult. If you prefer more vaper production create a higher VG ratio. If you are not into the big clouds, then create a higher PG ration or a 50/50 mix. The PG and VG ratio of your mix can affect your device as well. If you have a high-powered device with a sub-ohm tank, its safe to say you will need higher VG. If you have a low-powered device or a pen style device, then you most likely need higher PG or a 50/50 ratio for your device.

What flavour percentage should I use?

There is no right or wrong answer, it is all down to personal preference. We usually recommend between 10%-20% flavour but everybody has different tastes and different flavours are better at different percentages. Try them at different percentages and see what percentage you prefer.

Why does my mix smell/taste like perfume?

This may be down to not letting it breathe. Some flavours can give of a perfume smell/taste after letting it steep for a while, the best way to get rid of this is to simply shake it and take the cap off for a few hours. After repeating this over a few days you will notice the smell has gone. For more help on steeping and breathing your e-liquid, please visit this link: (link about steeping, breathing, streathing and other ways of steeping e-liquid.)

Why is my flavour separating?

We are aware that some flavours can separate during steeping, the main ones being FW- Cola and FW- Pink Lemonade. The best way to try and solve this problem is put your e-liquid into a bowl of warm water (not boiling) and leave it sit in there for around 5-10minutes. Then take it out and give it a good shake for around 2minutes. The idea behind this is to warm the VG so it gets runnier, so you can mix the flavour easier. This should solve the problem.

What setup do I need to make e-liquid?

We do supply you with all the equipment you need to start creating your own e-liquid. You will get syringes and needle tips, bottles, pipettes, gloves, labels and some bottles. This is the basic equipment you need, along with a clean working space and some tissue or a towel as it can be a little messy if its your first time. You can also use a set of scales to help measure your e-liquid. Our calculator gives you the results in grams just in case you wish to do it by weight.

What is PG and VG?

The most common asked question. PG (Propolyne Glycol) is a base ingredient in any e-liquid, PG is a thinner substance that produces small amount of vapour and gives more of a throat hit when vaped. PG is also better at carrying flavour due to its thin viscosity. VG (Vegetable Glycerine) is also a base ingredient in any e-liquid. VG is a lot thicker substance that produces a larger amount of vapour and is smoother on the throat. VG does tend to have a slight sweet taste when vaped by itself but can take longer steeping e-liquid due to its thicker viscosity.

Why is my e-liquid harsh?

Look back at ‘What ratio should I make?’. You could have mixed it wrong or put the wrong amount of VG or PG in. It’s a simple mistake to do, double check your recipe and then try and create it again. If you are still having the same problem, get in touch with sales@makemyvape.co.uk, and we will try our best to help solve your problem.

Why does my e-liquid taste bad?

Creating an e-liquid is all down to personal preference, what tastes bad to you could taste amazing to some one else. Playing around with flavours and the percentages is apart of creating e-liquid so don’t be annoyed if you have created a bad flavour. Just try and create something else or try and tweak the favour percentages, either increase or decrease the flavours until you get it right. If all that fails try and create a simple e-liquid, e.g strawberry or vanilla custard.

Do any of your flavours contain any chemicals that I have read about?

At Make My Vape we only provide pharmaceutical grade flavours, Propolyne Glycol, Vegetable Glycerine and Nicotine. For more information on what is inside the flavours please visit this link: https://makemyvape.co.uk/Quality

Mixing 2

I am new to mixing, do you have any advice?

Creating your own e-liquid isn’t that hard, its kind of like baking a cake. Just follow the recipe and make sure you measure or weigh everything or throw caution to the wind and guess. Here at Make My Vape we pride ourselves on helping people to create their own e-liquid, we have loads of information on our blog and we even have videos too! However, if you don’t fancy like watching videos and reading blog articles, just give us a call. One of our helpful, knowledgeable staff will be more than happy to answer any questions you have, and we can even suggest what sort of recipe would be right for you. You will also receive a free mixing guide in your order to help put you on the right tracks.

What do the letters mean after the name of the flavour?

The abbreviations are the companies that produce the flavour concentrates. TFA= The Flavour Apprentice FW= Flavour West CAP= Capella TFCC= The Flavour Concentrate Company P&B= Pope and Brewers