What is an E-liquid?
E-liquids, also known as vape juices, are the liquids that are put into vape devices in order to create vapour. This vapour is what is then inhaled, giving vaping its name. E-liquids are made of vegetable glycerine (VG), propyl glycol (PG), flavourings, water and can optionally contain nicotine.
WHAT IS FREEBASE NICOTINE?
Freebase nicotine is the most common type of nicotine used in E-liquids and is the same kind of nicotine as found in cigarettes, nicotine patches or gum. Freebase nicotine provides a more noticeable throat hit than salt nicotine and for this reason it is often preferred by heavy smokers or new switchers. However, compared to salt nicotine, this type of nicotine is absorbed more slowly by your body and takes a little longer to have an effect. Compatible with all vape kits, freebase nicotine e-liquids are most commonly available in 3mg, 6mg, 12mg and 18mg strengths.
WHAT IS SALT NICOTINE?
Salt nicotine E-liquids still satisfy cravings in the same way as freebase nicotine does. The big difference is that they provide a significantly milder throat hit even at higher strengths, as well as being fasting acting compared to freebase nicotine. This makes them very popular among people looking for a smoother vape. They are available in a range of VG/PG ratios, salt nicotine e-liquids often come in 50/50 and high PG ratios. You’ll most often find salt nicotine in a 10mg or 20mg nicotine strength, but lower strengths such as 5mg are becoming more common.
WHAT IS A NICOTINE SHOT?
Nicotine shots, nic shots or nicotine booster shots are 10ml e-liquids, often flavourless, which can be added to a shortfill to create a large volume of low strength E-liquid. Available in freebase or salt nicotine blends, nic shots are commonly available in higher strengths (18mg or 20mg).
WHAT NICOTINE STRENGTH SHOULD I CHOOSE?
Your ideal nicotine strength will largely depend on how many cigarettes you smoke a day.
The main thing is to satisfy your nicotine cravings, and you may need to experiment a little to find a strength which works for you.
WHAT E-LIQUID IS BEST FOR A MOUTH TO LUNG KIT?
If you’re using a low powered kit for mouth to lung (MTL) vaping (one that uses a coil above 1.0 Ohm), then it is recommended you use either a 50/50 E-liquid or a high PG e-liquid. Low power kits can be used with almost any nicotine strength, however you may experience more success with higher nicotine strengths if you’re just starting out vaping.
WHAT E-LIQUID IS BEST FOR SUB-OHM VAPING?
Sub ohm kits and those that use a coil below 1.0 Ohm will generally work best with a high VG e-liquid. Amongst the most popular ratios are 70% VG e-liquids and 80% VG e-liquids. If you plan to use a sub ohm vape kit, we recommend a 3mg e-liquid but definitely no higher than 6mg as it can be very harsh on your throat. All of which makes shortfill e-liquids the ideal match for a sub ohm vape kit.
WHAT E-LIQUID IS BEST FOR A REFILLABLE POD KIT?
As a general rule, pods kits are used for mouth to lung vaping and subsequently work best with 50/50 and high PG e-liquids. However, there are also now sub ohm vape kits that are best suited to high VG e-liquids. We recommend you check the resistance of your coil, and any recommendations included in the kit’s manual, to pick your e-liquid accordingly. You can find more in depth information about pod kits in our guide to pod vaping.
Any E-liquid which contains nicotine is subject to EU regulations known as the Tobacco Products Directive or the TPD. These regulations include the limit of nicotine strength (max 20mg/ml), and restrictions on tank size (maximum 2ml) and bottle size (maximum 10ml), as well as setting out testing and safety requirements. TPD E-liquids are 10ml bottles of nicotine-containing e-liquid and are available in all strengths and VG/PG ratios.
WHAT IS A SHORTFILL E-LIQUID?
Shortfill E-liquids do not contain nicotine when purchased. This allows them to be sold in bottles larger than 10ml, most commonly 60ml or 120ml. The name ‘shortfill’ comes from the fact that the bottles are underfilled with eliquid, leaving room for the addition of a nicotine shot to transform the product to a nicotine-containing E-liquid, usually 3mg/ml. Shortfills are usually aimed at sub ohm vapers who use low strength E-liquids and require larger volumes than a MTL vaper. This means they tend to be 70% VG or higher, although there are a number of 50/50 shortfill E-liquids available too.
A shortfill is an E-liquid that contains zero nicotine and comes in larger bottles, usually 50ml & 100ml and over. Because they contain no nicotine, they can be sold in bottles larger than 10ml; this means they can be cheaper per ml of e-liquid. They are called shortfills, because the bottles leave room for a nic shot, the simplest way of adding nicotine to an e-liquid.
What are PG VG ratios?
PG VG ratios are the amount of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerine (VG) in an e-liquid. These ingredients affect how an e-liquid behaves. High PG e-liquids tend to have more focus on flavour, but can have a harder throat hit. High VG liquids produce more vapour and are smoother, but they can give less distinct flavour and are harder on coils. Both types of e-liquids are great, it’s all about using them in the right device.
What is a 50/50 E-liquid?
A 50/50 e-liquid is typically a 10ml e-liquid that contains nicotine. They are named 50/50 because they have 50% PG (propyl glycol) and 50% VG (vegetable glycerin) content. This makes them ideal for pod kits.As a general rule, pods kits are used for mouth to lung vaping and subsequently work best with 50/50 and high PG e-liquids. However, there are also now sub ohm vape kits that are best suited to high VG e-liquids. We recommend you check the resistance of your coil, and any recommendations included in the kit’s manual, to pick your e-liquid accordingly.
Which E-liquids are safe?
All e-liquids that are sold in the UK have been through some of the most rigorous safety tests in the world. The e-liquids we sell are UK approved, which means they have been through these rigorous tests and should not contain any harmful substances. However, if you have any allergies to food additives, always check the ingredients of an e-liquid you are thinking of buying.
When do E-liquids expire?
Like many other products, e-liquids can go bad after time, however e-liquids usually last up to two years. E-liquids can discolour over time, but this is usually just oxygen reacting with the liquid. If you have any concerns, it’s always best to read the label of your e-liquid to find out the expiration date.
WHAT ARE THE BEST E-LIQUID FLAVOURS?
Flavour is extremely subjective, what one person loves another will hate, so there is no single ‘best flavour’. The best flavour is the one that you can vape all day and not get sick of!
When you first make the switch from smoking to vaping many people opt for an E-liquid flavour that replicates their smoking habit, such as tobacco or menthol. Other vapers find they do not want to be reminded of cigarettes at all and will go straight for a fruit or a dessert flavour. Some of the most popular flavours in the UK are Strawberry, Blueberry , Blackcurrant ,Desserts and Cherry , Pink Lemonade , BlackJack , Cola .
Multibuy Offers
At Blackstone Labs, even the E-liquids with a higher price point are made more accessible thanks to our fantastic multibuy offers. This includes:
3 shortfill 60ml E-liquids for £25 :- Get 3 Bottles 60ml of these vape liquids for just £25
3 shortfill 120ml e-liquids for £35 :- Get 3 Bottles 120ml of these vape liquids for just £35
Box of 10 bottles 10ml for £25 :- Get 10 Bottles 10ml E-liquids for just £25
Box of 5 bottles 10ml Nic salts for £15 :- Get 5 Bottles 10ml Nic salts E-liquids for just £15
NEED HELP PICKING E-LIQUID?
Picking your first E-liquid or your next favourite isn’t hard when you know how. The best thing to do is learn a little more about E-liquid, which is where our e-liquid Flavours Guide comes in handy. You can also contact our dedicated customer service team. Available by phone, e-mail and webchat, they have the latest information on E-liquids and are always happy to make recommendations based on their expert knowledge