Best Vape Juice, E-Liquid & E-Juice of 2019

Intro

There’s a plethora of information out there regarding vape juice, and this presents a challenge for new and veteran vapers alike. Our team of experts here at DIRECTVAPOR decided it was time for us to roll out our comprehensive guides on all of the aspects surrounding vaping today. This guide will take you through every aspect of vape juice, or e-liquid as some refer to it, and should equip you with all of the information you’ll need to make the most informed purchase decision possible.

We kick things off by going through our favorite juices and brands, before delving into fan favorites. The latter portion of this handy tool outlines some of the more technical terms and aspects that are often seen on vape juice description boxes, such as PG vs. VG, and advanced techniques like steeping. The Best Vape Juice Guide closes with a list of the most common questions that vapers have about vape juice. There is so much to learn as a new vaper; it’s important to remember that everyone felt the same way. We want to remove some of that uncertainty and ensure that if you make a purchase, it’s the most enjoyable and compatible one available.

Our other guides will take you through the other aspects of vaping, such as mods, and tanks, or hardware, but for now, let’s talk e-liquid, and we’ll try to get through this without our mouth-watering from all the delicious flavors that we’ll delve into.

Top 5 Vape Juice Flavors (Recommended By Staff)

To kick off the mother of all vape guides, we’re taking you through the top 5 best vape juice flavors, as recommended by our team of experts. If anyone’s going to recommend your next favorite flavor, it’s going to be from our veteran staff!

VaporFi Joosylicious

This flavor is a staple in just about everyone on our team’s top 3, and it’s easy to see why after your first puff. Unlike it’s chewing gum counterpart, Joosylicious is crafted to maintain that explosion of flavor we all know and love, until the bottle is gone. A medley of bubblegum, watermelon, strawberries, and kiwi mixes in the perfect order for a brief, yet a noticeable note of each. VaporFi has a reputation for using delicious premium ingredients, and this high-VG mix further raises the bar. Thankfully, it comes in a 100ml chubby gorilla that will keep you vaping delectable clouds!

Candy King Sour Worms

Another favorite from childhood, it doesn’t take a 90’s kid to love this yummy flavor - although it certainly helps. This vape take on this timeless candy is almost more delicious than the original, with unique flavors layered with that classic gummy worm taste, like Ripe Lemon, Juicy Orange, and Sweet Fruit. Candy King Sour Worms is true to its name and makes some of the most impressively accurate candy flavors on the market. This high VG juice is perfect for thick, delicious clouds, and comes in a convenient 100ml bottle.

Candy POP! Blue Raspberry Hard Candy

A tart inhale of blue raspberry explodes to fill your mouth with a mouthwatering flavor density that can only be reminiscent of its namesake, and replicates the sensation of everyone’s favorite hard candy. This flavor, by industry favorite Candy Pop, continues the roller coaster of flavor notes by immediately following up the tart intake with a blast of sweet candy and ripe blueberries, filling your mouth with that sweet candy flavor that you love. The exhale is dominated by a sugary-sweet blast of candied raspberries and blueberries. Pick up a 100ml chubby gorilla-style bottle and save some calories by satiating your sweet tooth with Blue Raspberry Hard Candy vape juice!

Naked 100 Brain Freeze

A refreshing mix of delicious, ripe fruit, is layered with a cooling highlight of menthol that is sure to give you a cool rush without all of the pain you’d expect from a juice with a name like Brain Freeze. The fruit medley is composed of strawberries, kiwi, and pomegranate and each has its moment to shine, starting with the rich flavor of strawberry, leading into the tart kiwi and closing off with a deliciously sweet full-bodied pomegranate. As another high-VG mixture, it’s very applicable in helping to smooth out the menthol and create a mix that isn’t dominated by either the fruity or cool flavor notes. Pick up a 60ml bottle and see why Naked 100 has risen in popularity so quickly (especially amongst staff!)

Motley Brew Brew’s Brothers

This regal mix of savory flavors makes a great finale for our list of favorites by breaking from the fruit and candy flavors in favor of this blend of traditional fan favorites. Inspired by blues and soul, the Brew’s Brothers vape juice combines the classic flavor of espresso and Tahitian Vanilla Bean with a thick layer of caramel and interwoven with a hint of smooth tobacco. While more difficult to analyze individual flavors, this medley shines from inhale to exhale with different notes taking center stage throughout each puff.

Top 5 Vape Juice Brands (Recommended by Staff)

With the ever-increasing speed of expansion in the vaping industry, it can be hard to pinpoint individual brands that are synonymous with quality - especially for the uninitiated or brand new vapers. Let’s look at the top 5 vape juice brands, as determined by our staff of veteran vapers!

VaporFi

Exploding onto the scene years ago, VaporFi began by building a brand and reputation centered around a vape juice line that focuses on both high-quality flavors with premium ingredients, but also on providing a vast variety of flavors, with options for literally every palette. They’ve since expanded to hardware, but their expertise will always reside with a large array of flavors that often top our bestsellers, like Joosylicious, Maui Menthol, and Berry Slushie. Their flavor mixtures focus on high-VG mixes that foster thick, delectable clouds of every taste under the sun. Pick your favorite and order a 60ml or 100ml chubby gorilla - or pick up one of the 3-packs for added value!

Naked 100

The eye-catching label arouses thoughts of crisp and clean, unadulterated flavor, and the product within does not disappoint. Naked 100 exploded onto the scene a couple of years ago, and became an instant favorite for everyone, producing intense flavor in drippers and tank atomizers alike. A wide variety of unique flavors all come packaged in a glass bottle, with a sleek label that depicts each flavor note included. Pick from both traditional e-liquid or new salt nicotine e-liquid, in both 30ml and 60ml sizes, and find out why Naked 100 has made its way into so many vape rotations. Flavors like Naked Unicorn, Hawaiian Pog, and Berry Belts are all safe picks for new vapers to the brand, as their popularity speaks for itself.

Candy King

A truly fitting name for a brand whose aim is to dominate candy e-juice flavors in the vaping industry, Candy King is another company who burst onto shelves and became an instant classic amongst new and veteran vapers alike. With flavors so close to their inspiration, it’s no wonder that the names have been carefully selected to avoid any legal critique. From Sour Worms to Batch and Swedish, all of your favorite candies will come to life in the form of dense flavor and thick clouds. Choose from regular candy or their candy-on-ice line for a cool burst. Every flavor comes in a convenient 100ml chubby gorilla for non-stop dripping or vaping!

One Hit Wonder

This brand is quite the opposite of the preceding entry, in that it is full of fan-favorites, and far from that of a One Hit Wonder. The name comes to play in each of the flavors it offers, from Muffin Man to Army Man, as each bears the name of a classic one-hit wonder. Made with nicotine salts, their e-juices pack more of a punch, without any added throat hit. Using a high-VG mixture, they further build on impressive flavor with huge cloud production. Order one of their 100ml e-liquid kits that includes two additional (empty) 15ml travel pens and receive added value without the higher cost!

Humble Juice Co.

Humble Juice Co. has a small, yet the flavor-packed selection of extremely high-quality e-liquids that are a testament to just how far we’ve come in vape flavors. They’ve poured their heart and soul into each of the five flavors stocked at DirectVapor, with taste profiles spanning from fruity and crisp, to delectable desserts. It’s easy to forgive the number of options once you’ve experienced one of the Humble brand’s flavors, as they have meticulously crafted each, ensuring that everyone is perfected before hitting the shelves. Choose your favorite, all of which come in a sleek 120ml chubby gorilla-style bottle, with mouthwatering, eye-popping box art!

Our Best-Selling Vape Juices

There are more than a few treasures that can be gleaned from our best-sellers, as there’s got to be a reason that so many vapers, with diverse flavor palettes, find these juices in their rotation so frequently. We’ve omitted some of the flavors that were already covered in our staff favorites (like our #1, VaporFi’s Joosylicious) so that we could spend more time on covering our fan favorites. Hopefully, this will help you find your next favorite too!

Wild Watermelon Lemonade Lemon Twist

Wild Watermelon Lemonade Lemon Twist is a high VG 120ml of yummy pink lemonade is true to brand name, Lemon Twist, with its twist of fresh watermelons. The sweet, tart lemonade hits first and is quickly greeted by a delicious, mouth-watering candied watermelon, that will make you think of your last great trip to the beach, or summertime barbeque.

Island Man One Hit Wonder

Delicious fruits canvas the waves of the Island Man vape juice, available from One Hit Wonder. Enjoy a 100ml bottle of fruity goodness, and get two 15ml Unicorn Bottles for easy storage on the go. This juice is a combination of an island fruit medley and a delicious tropical fruit punch. Experience the eruption of tropical goodness in this yummy candy vape!

Blackberry by Jam Monster

A limited edition offering from Jam Monster, this dessert vape is just as much an explosion of fruity delight. Get a 100ml Max VG bottle and experience delicious, warm, buttered toasted, coated with a sweet blackberry jam. The creamy butter can be tasted with the ripe blackberry for a combo that is hard to describe, but easy to love.

Naked 100 Brain Freeze

Brain Freeze’s popularity is clear from the sheer number of options available with this flavor. Enjoy this flavor as an individual 60ml or as part of a 180ml variety pack, in both regular and salt e-liquid. A perfect, rich mixture of strawberries, tart kiwis, and sweet pomegranates receive the cooling treatment of menthol. This is a great option for summer vapes, as the yummy fruits perfect balance the refreshing chill of menthol!

Vape the Rainbow by Humble Juice Co.

Another max VG entry to the list, Vape the Rainbow’s strength lies in flavor notes that aren’t quite so distinguishable on their own. True to its name, this e-liquid from Humble Juice Co. will let you take you on a journey over a rainbow of different fruity flavors. A yummy rainbow sorbet is greeted by a mixture of fruit candies that are sure you to leave you puzzled, yet satisfied. Pick up a 120ml bottle and enjoy some of the most vibrant box art ever!

Space Jam Astro

This long-time favorite seems to make its way onto many best-seller lists, years after its introduction. Space Jam Astro is ready to take your taste buds to outer space with this delicious medley of crisp apples, luscious strawberries and a hint of juicy peach to top off this cosmic delight. Available in 60ml, Astro is part of Space Jam’s new High VG Green Label line of e-liquid.

Naked 100 Hawaiian Pog

Take a trip to a tropical oasis of delightfully sweet island fruits, with Hawaiian Pog from fan-favorite Naked 100! Your taste buds will be greeted with a mellow pineapple that gives way to sweet guava and tart orange that will leave you with a sweet aftertaste that only begs for more. Order a 60ml glass bottle of this high VG e-liquid and experience this succulent trio of tropical fruits as an easy all day vape!

The Best Tobacco Vape Juice

Naked 100 American Patriots

Just because you’ve decided to move on from cigarettes, doesn’t mean you can’t or don’t want to enjoy the smooth flavor that tobacco can provide. That’s why many vape juice brands have created their take on this timeless flavor, but with so many to choose from, how do you know what the best bang for your buck is?

Our recommendation is Naked 100 American Patriots, as the brand is known for delivering pure flavor profiles that distinctly deliver on the flavors they depict on their unique labels. This flavor is our favorite tobacco e-liquid because it is simply that, the flavor of fresh cut tobacco, and doesn’t include any extra flavors to get in the way of this timeless favorite. Available in a 60ml bottle, Naked 100 breaks from their traditional 30/70 PG/VG mix for a slightly higher PG variant at 35/65, to help replicate that great tobacco flavor even more.

The Best Menthol Vape Juice

VaporFi GRND RSRV Maui Menthol

Whether you’re looking to cool off for summer or enjoy a crisp, refreshing bite in the fall or winter, a smooth menthol e-juice can be quite the respite. Anyone who’s tried a menthol flavor before knows that familiar cooling feeling that rushes through your sinuses and renews your sense of smell with chilling vibrancy. It’s very important, however, to mix the right amount of menthol, and that’s why our favorite is the VaporFi GRND RSRV Maui Menthol, as it uses just the right touch to create the mixture of icy goodness and sweet, fruity delight.

Maui Menthol combines some of the most delicious tropical fruits, like papaya, guava, jackfruit, and honeydew with cool menthol in a crystal clear glass 60ml bottle. You’re sure to come back for more, as this juice hits a sweet spot that no other menthol can achieve, all without becoming overbearing. Pick up a bottle of your favorite strength today!

The Best Fruit-Flavored Vape Juice

Apple by Juice Roll Upz

For some, there’s nothing better than satisfying their ever roaring sweet tooth with a delectable fruity medley in the form of yummy vape clouds. We know the feeling and decided to do the delicious job of picking the best fruit-flavored e-juice because, with so many options, it can be hard to find your next favorite.

Our pick for the yummiest fruity vape juice is Apple by Juice Roll Upz. A simple and fitting name, this flavor tastes like a green apple roll-up candy and is layered with sweet & tart notes of apple. With so many green apple flavors that miss the mark, Apple stands out and delivers on its mission to provide you with an unadulterated apple bite, with all the sugary sweetness and tart inhale. The max VG formula helps you get maximum cloud production and flavor, so pick up your 60ml bottle today and vape away!

The Best Dessert Vape Juice

Army Man by One Hit Wonder

A good dessert vape sets itself apart from fruity or candy flavors in many ways, while still satisfying that craving for a sweet treat, in the form of thick, dense clouds. There’s a lot to choose from, with many different flavor concepts, but they generally center around baked goods - at least our favorites do. Choosing the best was not an easy choice, but Army Man by One Hit Wonder came up time after time and is backed up by plenty of positive reviews.

Army Man is a high-VG key lime pie flavor that uses Trunic 2.0 Nicotine Salts to achieve a more potent hit without the added throat hit. The flavor is the culmination of combining Key Lime, Graham Cracker Dust, and Milk, to get the perfect dessert taste, without overloading your senses like a pure baked goods run. Pick up the 100ml bundle in your favorite strength and receive two empty 15ml mini-chubby gorilla pens for grab and go dripping or vaping!

A Sneaky-Good Vape Juice You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Sweet Lovin’ Mr. Good Vape

We wanted to call attention to a flavor that you may not have heard of before, to shine a light on less well-known vape juice that we think is a hidden treasure. There are so many different options out there for e-liquid that it can be easy for flavors to fly under the radar, as word of mouth is huge in this industry.

Our pick for sneaky-good vape is Sweet Lovin’ by Mr. Good Vape. This candy flavor is mixed with just the right amount of nostalgia. Strong, sweet notes of juicy watermelon and strawberry candies are infused with the classical taste of pink bubble gum, to take your mouth on a journey back in time. Pick up a 100ml bottle of this delightful flavor, and you’re sure to have an all day vape for more than a few refills. You’ll want this sweet, juicy flavor to sneak up on you time and time again!

Common Vape Juice Terminology

There are so many terms involved with vaping; it can often act as a barrier to entry for new vapers, as well as confusion amongst those who have been enjoying a good vape for years. We put together the most commonly used terms for e-liquid here but check out our other guides on vape hardware to complete your internal glossary of vaping know-how. Some of these may seem elementary, but we felt it was important to cover all the bases so that even someone with zero preliminary knowledge on vaping can order the right juice for them!

VG

Vegetable Glycerin, this compound is often a major component in vape juice and is considered Food Grade by the FDA. This chemical controls the level of cloud production and often leads to a smoother vape in higher quantities.

PG

Propylene Glycol, this is the second compound found in all e-juices and is also commonly seen as safe for consumption. PG determines the potency of flavor, as well as the level of “throat hit” that is often desired by recent tobacco converts.

Steep

Steeping refers to the process of accelerating the chemical interaction triggered by nicotine in vape juice. Covered in detail under our “Choosing The Right Nicotine Strength” header, this is a common term found in vape reviews, as different flavors may be enhanced through this process.

Nicotine Salt

Also known as ‘Nic Salt,’ this is a newer offering in vape culture and refers to e-liquid manufactured with nicotine salt, rather than traditional nicotine. Nicotine salts provide a more potent hit of nicotine and are great for ‘buzz-chasers.’

Max VG

A commonly used-term for e-juices that contain a VG-mixture higher than 85%, and a very popular option for many different vapers. Max VG vape juices foster maximum cloud density, as well as a smooth vape, devoid of much of the original harshness.

PG/VG Ratio

Listed on all vape juices, this ratio will often be listed in the following format: “50/50, 30/70”. Every e-juice mixture contains some percentage of both PG and VG to create a liquid capable of carrying and producing the right amount of flavor and vapor. The two most common ratios are 50/50 and Max VG.

E-liquid/e-juice

A synonym for vape juice, all of these names are referencing the same thing, so you don’t need to worry if different manufacturers or distributors use a variety of terminology.

ADV

All Day Vape, this is your favorite e-juice. If someone says that a flavor is an easy ADV, they mean that it’s an enjoyable vape for use throughout the day. A good all day vape will eliminate the craving to rotate juices during a sometimes busy daily routine.

No Nic/0 Nic

These juices truly have no nicotine added, and can be a great step down for long-time vapers, or make for a fun hobby for 18+ people who don’t enjoy nicotine.

Iced/Cool

Some juice manufacturers will affix this term to their e-juice names to refer to mixtures that include menthol or some sort of cooling compound. These juices are enjoyed by many, but it can often be a very different experience, due to the chilling effect in your throat and sinuses. This a great choice for warm weather to help you keep cool!

There are many more terms that may be seen in reviews and other forums, but these are the majority of commonly-used terminology seen across the vape industry. Hopefully, this will help you make the perfect vape juice purchase, as much of the initial journey can be a sometimes annoying trial and error as you learn different definitions. Every vape purchase should be as enjoyable as the last, as half the fun of vaping is exploring a whole new world of enjoyable flavors, in a world that was previously dominated by one, rather unenjoyable one. There are so many different flavor families to choose from, like fruit, candy, dessert, coffee/espresso and of course, tobacco, all of which fall impressively close to the real-life counterparts. A candy vape can often satisfy your sweet-tooth long enough to grab a healthier snack (or not, hehe). Bookmark this guide if you’re planning on making a juice purchase soon, and check back for clarification as needed!

PG vs. VG

As we all know, all but the 0mg variety of e-juice contains nicotine, but did you ever wonder what the nicotine, or flavoring for that matter, was suspended in? You’ve probably heard the terms PG and VG when browsing our vape juice selection, or in your local B & M. Either way, we’re here to help make sense of it all, and hopefully, by the end of this, you feel a little bit more confident when talking with your experienced vape friends or ordering your next batch of e-liquid!

Every e-juice mixture is created with a mix of two chemical compounds as the base, with all of your favorite flavors mixed in to create that vape you know and love. The first of these is called PG, short for Propylene Glycol, and while many mixtures now utilize a lower ratio of PG, it would be near-impossible to create an e-juice without at least a little. Propylene Glycol often gets a bad reputation by anti-vape advocates, but much of this is questionable, as the compound is found in many other edible or ingestible products. Regarding the effect on the end product, PG controls the level of harshness, otherwise known as throat hit, as well as the density of flavor. Higher PG ratios will give a harsher vape, but also one with a more vibrant flavor, and before nicotine salts were often preferred by vapers who had recently quit smoking tobacco for the increased throat hit.

The second half of a 50/50 vape juice and the primary ingredient in the majority of flavors on the market right now is VG, also known as Vegetable Glycerin. This compound has crept into the spotlight due to the main appeal of vaping for many - vape clouds. VG controls the smoothness of an e-liquid, while also influencing cloud production in a major way. Max VG formulas can be found through many of our e-juice brands in-stock, and use over 90% Vegetable Glycerin to achieve maximum cloud output, without hurting your throat. As mentioned, these mixtures still have to use a tiny bit of propylene glycol to make a proper mixture. High VG e-liquid is generally the first choice for use with drippers, or by veteran vapers who are more interested in flavor and puffy clouds over replicating the draw of a traditional cigarette.

A great in-between if you want to try and have it all (and why shouldn’t you?) is to use a vape juice with a nicotine salt base. Nicotine Salt, as covered in that portion of the guide, increases nicotine potency, and with it, that feeling of throat hit that many tobacco smokers are familiar with. What’s nice is that nicotine salts are available in high VG mixtures, so you can get a smooth, refreshing vape without sacrificing on tight hits.

No matter your vaping background, or your preference when it comes to PG/VG mixture, we know that this information will help you make more informed purchases - and DirectVapor stocks them all, so pick up a few and try them all out to see what your favorite combo is.

How to Choose the Right Nicotine Strength for Your Vape Juice

Even for the most experienced vaper, a new vape setup or even a different style coil can throw off the level of nicotine that you find most enjoyable. Not to mention the difficulty that new vapers or cigarette converts go through when it comes to the tedious buy-to-try process to find the perfect nicotine strength. There’s already a slew of information to digest for the someone new to the vaping game. The desire to go with a higher than recommended nicotine level can be strong - especially to someone who has never really been able to control their level of nicotine intake, but only the duration of time they chose to enjoy nicotine. We’ve put together some information, tips, and advice to help you make the best purchase for you!

Nicotine strengths available

Before vaping became a societal norm, the offering of nicotine levels varied fairly drastically from vendor to vendor, but as we’ve learned more on an industry level, it’s obvious that too much nicotine is almost never a good thing. For this reason, many e-juice manufacturers will cap their offerings at ~18mg nowadays. Traditionally, nicotine strength is available in multiples of 6, but the rise of popularity with rebuildable atomizers, or drippers, has led to many opting for a step-up of 3mg each, or at least a 3mg option below for those looking for strength lower than 3mg. The 3mg e-juice variant is also very convenient for vapers currently at 6mg who are looking to further taper down on their nicotine consumption, as it can be rather jarring for some to go from 6mg to 0mg.

Different mods/setups and their effects

Depending on your vape mod, atomizer type, coil resistance, and a variety of other factors, the right nicotine strength for you can often be different. For this portion of the guide, we’ll briefly focus on ohms and resistance, as this plays a part in how potent each hit off of your vape will be. A rebuildable atomizer, or one of the more advanced replaceable coils in tank-style atomizers, can easily facilitate coil setups that dip below .5 ohms. With a focus on high wattage vaping, many vapers now have mod setups that allow for a more powerful vape, and therefore opt for a weaker nicotine strength in their favorite juice. This prevents nicotine sickness and allows for a more enjoyable vape. One note on the topic of nic-sickness; if you experience this on a lower powered setup, or after consistent vaping, definitely considering stepping down on your nicotine, even if it’s just for your ADV (all day vape.) Other than coil resistance and mod wattage output, other factors may change based on where you live or your lifestyle. You may notice that your juice reacts differently in cold weather, or becomes too harsh and potent after steeping quickly in hot weather. A sample pack can not only be good for testing flavors but also includes smaller portions, so you can see how a particular nicotine strength suits you over a multitude of different flavors - all for a very affordable, often-discounted price.

Nicotine Salts

If you are a recent or hopeful ex-smoker or find the “buzz” the best part of vaping, you’ll want to pay extra close attention to this segment, as we’ll review nicotine salts - an extra-potent form of nicotine that allows for a higher concentration than traditionally available. Nicotine salts were introduced to solve the problem many new vapers experienced - how much nicotine is right for me vs. how much nicotine will I need to prevent any tobacco cravings? Often, people would select a nicotine level far too high for what their throat was used to handling, as traditional nicotine increases rather drastically in harshness, creating a problem for those looking to get a real buzz from their vape. Nic salts, as many call them, provide a more intense hit of nicotine, without the disadvantages found in regular nicotine e-liquid. It’s still important to be mindful of how often you're vaping, or if you like to “chain-vape,” as nicotine consumption can still lead to nicotine sickness, which can cause an upset stomach and other uncomfortable ailments. This is exasperated when vaping on an empty stomach. It’s also important to note that nicotine salt is not meant for sub-ohm vaping, but rather pod-based or low-powered setups.

That’s the low-down on nicotine in e-juice and the various terms, options, and varieties that are associated with it. Use this information, and your own experience, to make the right call for you and avoid wasting hard-earned money on an unenjoyable vape experience.

How to Properly Store Your Vape Juice

All forms of e-liquid include a mixture of various substances and compounds that all combine to create the perfect cloud of yummy goodness. The challenge for vapers can arise from the mass production, or even small-scale rapid production of popular flavors, which quite necessarily removes the added time it takes for the e-juice to full mix, or “steep.” Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to you can store your juice, depending on what your intentions for it are. In an often uncertain space when it comes to local and state law, it makes sense to prepare yourself with techniques that help you properly store your short-term and long-term vape supplies. We’ll cover steeping, a term unfamiliar to a lot of new vapers, as well as how to some of these techniques for proper storage.

We’ll first delve into steeping, as this process aids with your ready-to-vape stash of e-liquid, and helps to give you the full flavor experience intended by the e-juice chemist. Knowing about the process will also help you decide if steeping is right for you, and hopefully dissolve a lot of the mystery surrounding the word. It’s not uncommon to hear conflicting advice about steeping within the same the vape shop, and this just adds to the confusion that besets a new vaper. The term refers to the process of accelerating the chemical processes and interactions between the nicotine and the remainder of the vaping liquid. This process speeds up the higher your nicotine strength, as there is more of the compound to trigger a reaction. For lighter e-liquids, the level of darkness can often indicate how far into the steeping process you already are. Many vape juice manufacturers have also started printing a “made on” date to help you gauge how many steepings you’ll need to do.

A reliable way to safely steep (process ~1-3 days), is to begin by vigorously shaking the juice. There are many techniques for this, but if shaking by hand, 1-3minutes x2 is recommended to mix the compounds fully. At this point, place the juice in a dark cupboard or cabinet with the cap off. This will control the number of factors impacting the compound, and limit it to one, air. Light, heat, and air can all affect how quickly your juice steeps, and this matters because once fully steeped, the nicotine will start deteriorating over time. After a day or so with the cap off, it’s safe to re-cap, shake vigorously, and store on a shelf that gets some light, but not direct sunlight, until it’s ready to put into your daily rotation.

If you’re looking to avoid initial steeping in favor of a long-term solution, you can avoid all factors which impact the process, light, heat, and air. By using a glass bottle (tinted or darkened is a plus), you can safely store your e-liquid in a dark cupboard, or in an ideal scenario the refrigerator. Just remember, if you have children, it’s important to always store your e-liquid in a way that prevents their unintended access! A lockbox can go a long way in creating peace of mind, and ensure that your juice will be ready-to-vape whenever you choose to use it.

Most Common Questions About Vape Juice

Given the vast amount of information we’ve covered in this guide, we wanted to take a deep-dive on the most frequently asked questions from new and old vapers alike. This convenient list will help clear up any remaining questions you have, or maybe even settle a dispute with your vaping friends. As is in line with the rest of the guide, we focused these questions on those related to vape juice, but go in-depth on many other FAQs in our other comprehensive guides. Let’s jump into these most commonly asked questions about vape juice!

What strength e-liquid do I need?

Vape juice is available in various levels of nicotine strength, starting with 3mg, traditionally used with drippers. Strength goes up to 6mg, then 12mg, for an ultralight or light sensation of nicotine. New vapers may want to opt for a low-power or pod-based mod that utilizes nicotine salt for a more potent hit of nicotine, without additional harshness.

What is the best flavor for me?

Depending on what family of flavors you tend to gravitate more towards, there are many options, and often no best choice that blanket-fits everyone’s palette. Fruity and candy flavors deliver a more purely sweet experience, focusing on different aspects of candied fruit and real-world delectables. Dessert vapes offer the flavors of yummy baked goods and ripe fruit. Tobacco and Menthol e-liquids have fewer fans overall, but many delightful flavors, and can be very enjoyable depending on your preferences.

How long does e-liquid last? (Shelf Life)

If stored properly, in a small, dark, cold place, e-juices can have quite an impressive shelf life. Dark or tinted glass bottles stored in the fridge make for the longest available storage time, sometimes extending beyond the normal shelf life. Traditionally, flavorings will deteriorate around the one year mark, but VG and PG act as a preservative, extending the total life to two years, or the shelf life of PG.

What is the difference between VG & PG?

VG stands for vegetable glycerin and is the chemical compound responsible for overall vapor density, and smoothness. Propylene glycol, or PG, is the other main compound in e-liquid and dictates the level of flavor delivered, as well as throat hit, or harshness. Both of these chemicals are required to make a vapable mixture.

My e-liquid has slightly changed color, is it still safe?

This shouldn’t be cause for alarm, as long as the juice does not rapidly darken, often as a result of overexposure to heat (left in the car, etc.). A slight change in color is normal and indicates the juice is naturally steeping, a process that occurs as nicotine interacts with the VG/PG mixture and any flavorings.

What blend should I use to blow big clouds?

Generally, a max VG liquid is recommended for maximum cloud production, and vapor density. A max VG e-juice is any mixture that includes over 80% VG, as every vape juice needs some level of PG to deliver the flavor. Cloud competition entrants sometimes utilize a high VG combo with no added flavoring (or very minimal). However, that doesn’t make for a relaxing, refreshing vape experience.

What’s in my e-liquid?

E-juice is made up of only a few different compounds, as opposed to the laundry list of ingredients associated with more archaic forms of nicotine delivery. Vegetable Glycerin and Propylene Glycol make up the majority of the mixture, suspending the flavoring and nicotine for proper vapor production and flavor delivery.

How long does a bottle of e-liquid last?

This is rather dependant on a few different factors, but veteran vapers can go through 100ml+ in about a week of everyday vaping. Not everyone needs so much, especially if you aren’t using a dripper. A 15ml bottle of juice traditionally lasts 1-3 days depending on the power of your setup. Higher wattage means faster juice consumption, in favor of cloud production.

Should I refrigerate my e-liquid?

This one is kind of tricky because while it can be a very good idea to refrigerate your ejuice, there are a couple of reasons why you might not want to. The process of refrigeration increases shelf life but can slow down the steeping process, if you’re interested in vaping that flavor soon. Another consideration would be children in the house, as the refrigerator is much more accessible to kids, especially young ones who may assume all contents are edible. If you do decide to refrigerate your juice with children in your home, be sure to pick up a lock box for use inside the fridge.

Hopefully, we covered your burning questions, but if not, we put out plenty of vape content to help you keep up with the ins and outs of this rewarding hobby. Check out our other guides for more information, from basic to advanced vape topics, DirectVapor has you covered!