Thinking about switching from cigarettes to vaping? Already a committed vaper? In both cases, you may be wondering what’s in your vape liquid. It’s a pretty simple four-ingredient blend. Here’s what you need to know.
Vegetable Glycerin
The main ingredient in vape liquid is vegetable glycerin. This is the base ingredient that holds everything else together. It’s similar to how a lot of mixed fruit juices use apple juice as the main ingredient. It’s a relatively flavorless juice that’s easy to get and lets the other flavors shine through.
Similarly, vegetable glycerin doesn’t add any flavor to the mix, so it doesn’t overpower the other flavors. Typically, vape liquid manufacturers use regular or organic glycerin. Both help to produce a lot of flavor, and ultimately, it’s a personal choice whether you want organic or not.
Propylene Glycol
This is a viscous, clear, odorless liquid that has a slightly sweet taste. It’s often used in food processing, and you can find it everything from drinks to cookies, as it helps to carry colors and flavors.
Propylene glycol is also commonly found in asthma inhalers. Unfortunately, some people confuse propylene glycol with diethylene glycol, an ingredient in antifreeze. Note that these ingredients are not the same. They are completely different.
Flavorings
There are also flavors added to vape liquid. Popular vape juice flavors include strawberry, kiwi, apple, berry splash, banana, blueberry, and countless others. Of course, sweet fruity flavors aren’t the only option. Some vape liquid features tart flavors or sophisticated combinations of savory flavors. Some also feature menthol or classic tobacco flavors.
Just as is the case with food, these flavors can be natural or artificial. To get a sense of the difference, imagine a banana flavored piece of candy—that typically relies on artificial flavors to create that iconic taste. In contrast, banana bread uses the natural flavor of bananas to create the banana taste in the bread.
The flavors in vape juice work in similar ways. They can be made from real ingredients, natural ingredients that simulate another flavor, or a clever combination of artificial ingredients that taste great. In all cases, the flavoring that appears in vape liquid is food grade. That means that is considered to be safe for human consumption.
Pharmacy-Grade Nicotine
Finally, the fourth ingredient is nicotine. For some vapers, this is the most important ingredient. For instance, if you’re trying to stop smoking, you may want vape liquid that has high levels of nicotine to replace your cigarette like freebase and salt based nicotine. In contrast, other vapers don’t want any nicotine at all.
Luckily, both elements are possible. Vape liquid can have intense amounts of nicotine to no nicotine at all. Some people use varying levels of nicotine to wean themselves off. They start with high doses and work their way downward. Others never even touch vape liquid with nicotine. They just delight in all the other options and flavors. In fact, some manufacturers focus exclusively on nicotine-free vape liquids.
Ready to try out some new vape liquids? Come check out Vapor Smoke Shop. We are Charlotte’s best rated smoke shop, and our knowledgeable staff will be happy to answer your questions. Feel free to contact us today.