DiY e-liquid: Crafting your own E-cigarette liquids
How to make your own vape juice?
DiY e-liquid, short for "Do it Yourself," involves creating your own e-cigarette liquids. This practice allows you to select ingredients, flavors, and concoct personalized recipes instead of relying on ready-made liquids.
Crafting homemade e-liquid involves mixing propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine, and flavor
Vapers adjust nicotine levels to ease the transition from tobacco
They then compose their DiY recipe to suit their preferences
To succeed, understanding ingredients, mastering equipment, and following storage guidelines is crucial
Comprehensive guide: How to make vape juice at home ?
Creating your own e-liquid for an electronic cigarette is much simpler than you might think. Just mix the four essential ingredients: PG/VG base, nicotine, and flavor. It's even easier if you omit nicotine and flavor to create a neutral, nicotine-free liquid.
How to create your e-liquid blend?
Experienced vapers who kindly guide newcomers on forums often mention DiY e-liquid or Do it Yourself to cater to personal preferences and save on recurring purchases of pre-made liquids.
If you're wondering how to make your own e-liquid, it's time to learn the art of creating a vaping product.
Making your e-liquid can be enjoyable for some and frustrating for others.
However, this depends on your level of experience.
Whether it's your first time or you already have limited experience with DIY e-liquids, here's the simplest step-by-step technique to create your affordable homemade e-liquid.
- Essential ingredients for e-liquid blend
- Nicotine dosage for E-cigarettes
- Using neutral base for DiY e-liquids
- Liquid flavor for vaping
- The art of DiY e-liquids
Ready to dive in? Let's get started!
Crafting your own e-liquid: A step-by-step guide
Some might lead you to believe that crafting your own e-liquid requires advanced DIY e-liquid skills and chemist-level expertise.
The truth is quite different!
Anyone can achieve this straightforward mixture and make their e-liquid affordably!
All you need are a few utensils and specific ingredients. Start with simple recipes and work your way up to more complex ones, allowing you to create extreme flavors and achieve vaping bliss while saving money.
Here's how to make e-liquid for your vape device.
Choosing the right ingredients for your DiY e-liquid ?
Thinking about how to prepare e-liquid? It might seem complex, right?
What does e-liquid contain?
Creating an e-cigarette liquid requires just four ingredients.
They are known as PG, VG, e-liquid flavorings, and nicotine liquid for e-cigarettes.
You can simplify further by omitting nicotine and using a 50/50 PGVG base!
In this case, only two ingredients are needed: base and e-liquid flavoring, to create an aromatic e-cigarette liquid!
Making e-liquid with nicotine: How to do it?
It's not just about asking "how many cigarettes does one e-liquid bottle equal".
Vaporized nicotine doesn't behave the same way as nicotine in tobacco cigarettes.
It's slower, more like a nicotine patch, never reaching a sharp peak in a matter of seconds like in smoke.
However, its presence in an e-liquid allows managing any withdrawal effects when trying to quit smoking and replicates the characteristic throat hit sensation for any smoker.
- What are the risks of nicotine?
We've dedicated a comprehensive article answering all your nicotine-related questions
- How to measure nicotine in the base?
Since January 2017, French regulations require nicotine to be supplied only in 10ml bottles.
Nicotine boosters contain a solution composed of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, preservatives for diluted nicotine at a concentration of 20mg/ml.
To accurately measure your base, feel free to use our nicotine booster calculator
All scientific information about nicotine
Which e-liquid base to choose?
Propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin will be the diluents for your DIY e-liquid preparations.
- Which PG VG ratio to choose?
There are differences between PG and VG. They have different tastes, different viscosities that impact the vapor experience.
Most e-liquids available on the market come with a PG VG ratio.
The most common ratios are 70/30, 50/50, or 30/70.
1- Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is a diol, an organic chemical compound, used in the food industry, tobacco, and personal care products.
It's used topically, orally, injectably, and inhaled by the pharmaceutical industry.
PG doesn't alter flavors unlike vegetable glycerin.
It provides a stronger throat hit, which for some, might turn into irritation.
This phenomenon is rare, but some users have developed an allergy to PG and now prefer a higher VG ratio.
A major ingredient in vape liquids, propylene glycol is a widely used preservative in the food industry and is approved by health authorities.
All scientific information about propylene glycol
2- Vegetable Glycerin
Vegetable glycerin (often derived from vegetable oils, coconut, soy...) is milder but more viscous than PG.
Here too, this substance is approved by health authorities, used in the food industry and cosmetics.
Most homemade liquids consist of a mixture of PG and VG. We'll come back to that.
A high VG content will saturate the wick of the atomizer less quickly and tends to alter flavors.
All scientific information about glycerin
Of course, you'll need the e-liquid flavor.
There are many varieties of food flavors that are readily available in the market.
However, it's important to carefully select flavors intended for vaping.
Most flavors are not meant to be inhaled and may pose potential risks to vapers.
We therefore advise you to purchase specific flavors for making your own e-cigarette liquid.
- How many drops of flavor for e-liquid?
The average dosage of an e-liquid flavor is 10 to 20%.
Too little flavor will deceive the quality of the recipe, an overdose of DIY flavor destroys its harmony.
As a beginner, we recommend starting this experience by working with one or two flavors and using a 10ml bottle to start with a small quantity.
- DIY E-liquid Preparation - Nicotine
Nicotine boosters in 10ml bottles have simplified the calculations for making a DIY e-liquid.
Simply pour the corresponding number of nicotine bottles into a neutral base to create a nicotine base at the desired strength.
Just follow this nicotine e-liquid mixing table to adjust your dosage to your situation:
E-liquid Mixing Table (for nicotine boosters)
- Preparing the E-cigarette base
You can choose any PG/VG ratio you want.
The most common ones are 50/50 e-liquid base and 70/30 base - the first number always corresponds to propylene glycol.
Propylene glycol allergy forces some users to increase the proportion of glycerin, sometimes even to use a pure VG base, also called full VG base.
How long to steep an e-liquid?
Steeper, which means "letting the liquid rest," gives it time to steep.
In truth, steeping is a preference for some, but it's also true that just like a good wine, some recipes improve with time.
You can of course taste your e-liquid right after making it.
Optimizing e-liquid maturation for the best flavor
If your e-liquid tastes just right and satisfies your palate, the steeping time becomes less relevant.
However, if it doesn't meet your expectations, you can allow its components to oxidize by storing it away from light in a cool place.
There's no fixed period for steeping, but for certain blends, several months of maturation might be needed for the flavors to harmonize.
After steeping your e-liquid, its color might change due to nicotine oxidation.
If your liquid was clear at the end of preparation, it's normal for it to turn slightly brownish over time due to oxidation.
E-liquid maturation: How to steep your liquid?
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How to taste an e-liquid?
After the steeping period, it's time to try your recipe.
We recommend using a dripper for the best experience.
What's a dripper?
A dripper is a tankless atomizer. Opt for a high-quality dripper over a tank for enhanced flavor perception.
Recommended dripper for flavor
Remember that your e-cigarette mod's power settings, delivered ohms, and temperature can affect flavor perception.
A liquid that's acceptable at 10 watts might be unpleasant at 30 watts.
Storing your e-liquid properly
Sunlight, heat, and air can negatively impact your e-liquid.
It's recommended to store them away from light and in a cool place, although not necessarily in a refrigerator.
Why does my DIY e-liquid taste bad?
Just as your e-cigarette mod settings influence your experience, maintaining your equipment has a direct impact on your e-liquid's perception.
An old atomizer coil that hasn't been replaced in a while can produce altered taste, diminishing flavors, or even an unpleasant burnt taste.
Mishandling that accidentally pushes the watts to their maximum can destroy flavors and completely alter the liquid.
Remember, any abnormal flavor perception should lead you to stop vaping.
Vaper's tongue
Can't taste your e-liquid anymore?
This medical term, agueusie, refers to the loss of taste.
There's also dysgeusie, which involves an altered taste leading to a perception error, and hypogeusie, which results in a significantly diminished taste.
These taste disorders are often transient and related to tobacco withdrawal.
The reconstitution of taste buds can lead to strange sensations, even a complete rejection of a previously loved flavor.
Time tends to improve this sensation without any specific treatment.
Experienced vapers might also notice a change in their flavor perception due to saturated taste buds.
If you experience agueusie, dysgeusie, or hypogeusie, it's recommended to vape an unflavored base or one with lemon or mint for a few days, preferably choosing a single flavor.
How to make nicotine-free e-liquid?
Creating a nicotine-free e-liquid follows the same process.
Choose a nicotine-free base of your preferred ratio (50/50, full VG...) and add the flavor(s) of your recipe.
Can you vape essential oils?
Vaping essential oils is not recommended.
While their healing properties might be tempting, the heat can degrade their aromatic compounds.
Moreover, some substances might be irritating or even caustic to the lungs through direct inhalation.
Calculating e-liquid dosage
Need help with e-liquid dosage?
The average flavor dosage for e-liquid is 10 to 20%.
However, perfecting it is essential for great results.
Too little flavor compromises quality, while too much can disrupt harmony.
As a beginner, start with one or two flavors in a 10ml bottle for precision.
Looking for the right dosage for your DIY e-liquid? → For 10 ml, use the following calculation formula: (10 ml x 15) / 100 = 1.5 ml of aroma
So, to create your e-liquid, mix 8.5 ml of base with 1.5 ml of aroma.
To formulate a recipe, apply the same principle by adjusting the aroma proportions.
- Example for 10 ml:
Raspberry: 3% or (10 ml x 3) / 100 = 0.3 ml
Strawberry: 5% (10 ml x 5) / 100 = 0.5 ml
Blueberry: 5% (10 ml x 5) / 100 = 0.5 ml
Plum: 5% (10 ml x 5) / 100 = 0.5 ml
In this case, the sum of the 4 chosen aromas for this recipe will be 1.8 ml, to be mixed with 8.2 ml of liquid base to fill your 10 ml bottle.
- How much aroma for 100 ml of base?
→ The rule remains the same: (100 ml x 15) / 100 = 15 ml
You'll need 85 ml of DiY base and 15 ml of aroma to craft your e-liquid.
How to create your own e-liquid
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From one flavor to another, aroma dosages vary significantly.
We typically recommend a 10% percentage to avoid overloading your DIY e-liquid with aroma.
This dosage is often sufficient for fruity or indulgent flavors.
For DIY tobacco recipes, a light touch is essential, and depending on the brand, start with minimal proportions like 2 or 3% aroma for the e-liquid.
We strongly advise following product sheet instructions and using appropriate materials for DIY e-liquid.
How to make your e-liquid - Practical tips
- The first crucial tip is to take notes of the entire process.
It would be a shame to create the perfect e-liquid blend and not be able to replicate it because you've forgotten the exact proportions !
- Explore e-cigarette forums and online resources
The "veterans" of DIY liquid can always teach you something new.
- Only use aromas designed for vaping, avoiding potentially harmful food flavors
- For your initial attempts, avoid making a large quantity of e-liquid and try simple e-liquid recipes
- Remember that if you're unhappy with your recipe, you might waste 100 ml of nicotine base !
- If you want a pronounced "hit" (throat hit), add more propylene glycol
- If you desire an e-liquid producing a lot of vapor but with a less intense hit, include vegetable glycerin
- Always store your e-liquids out of reach of children and pets
E-liquid Recipes is a specialized website that brings together a community of vapers sharing DIY e-cigarette recipes and tips.
Reddit is also a highly active forum for e-liquid recipes.
E-cigarette Forum also hosts numerous recipes, including renowned e-liquid clones within the vaping community.
Even Arom-Team dedicates its Pinterest page to a variety of illustrated e-liquid recipes and offers simple DIY recipes to help you get started smoothly!
How to make your e-liquid for E-cigarettes
DIY e-cigarette is not suitable for every vaper.
It requires patience and perseverance.
However, enthusiasts will find satisfaction in creating a personalized DIY e-liquid while mastering the art of flavor combinations.
There are not only economic reasons for making your own e-liquid.
There's also a lot of joy in the process.
So, what are you waiting for? Embark on this adventure and create your own DIY e-liquid!
How to make your e-liquid?
By following this e-liquid making guide and the suggested recipes on our website, and adapting them to your preferences, the possibilities for creating different e-liquids are endless.
So, it's your turn to play now!
- DIY dosage calculator - Arom-Team
- E-liquid calculator - Liquid Nicotine
- E-liquid recipe (& vape clones) - Pinterest Arom-Team
Read more:
E-liquid flavor dosage calculation
Best DIY e-liquid recipes
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