FAQs
What is in e-liquid?
What are the ingredients of e-liquid?
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?
Do I need nicotine in my e-liquid.
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.