If you’ve just bought your first vape kit (or are just about to!) and are now looking to buy vape juice for your vape kit, with the amount of choice available it can be a little daunting and overwhelming.
There’s a lot of new terminology to learn and hundreds of flavours to choose from, so where do you start? We’ve put together a guide to e-liquids, answering some of the most commonly asked questions to clear a few things up.
TL;DR:
E-liquid, also known as vape juice, is the fluid used in vape devices. It usually contains a mix of propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavourings, and nicotine. Beginners should start with a 50:50 PG/VG blend, using nicotine salts at 10–20mg for a smoother throat hit, especially if transitioning from smoking.
Best nicotine strength for beginners:
Social/very light (1 to 5 a week): 0–3 mg freebase.
Light (5 to 10 a day): 5 mg salts or 6 mg freebase.
Average (10 to 20 a day): 10 mg salts or 12 mg freebase.
Heavy (20+ a day): 20 mg salts (Australia max) or 18 mg freebase.
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- Table of Contents
#1 What is in E-Liquid? #2 E-liquid Ratios Explained #3 Pick Your Vaping Style #4 Choosing Your Nicotine Strength #5 What Nicotine Strength Should Beginners Use? #6 How to Choose an E-Liquid Flavor #7 How Do I Choose A Kit To Go With The Strength And Ratio I Need? #8 Browse Our Complete E-Liquid Range What is in E-Liquid?
E-liquid is a simple blend of propylene glycol (or PG for short), vegetable glycerin (VG), food-grade flavorings and, optionally, nicotine, where PG carries flavor and throat hit while VG creates vapor; beginners typically choose a balanced 50:50 PG/VG ratio for commonly used in refillable and prefilled pod kits.
E-liquid Ratios Explained:Understanding the ratio of the base ingredients Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerine (VG) is important. E-liquids are mixed to varying consistencies depending on what type of kit you are using. Balanced 50:50 PG/VG ratios like those found in nicotine salts are thinner e-liquids good for beginner MTL pod kits. Thicker high VG e-liquids work best in powerful DTL sub-ohm vape devices.
10ml Nic Salts – 50:50 PG/VG or 60:40 PG/VG – Thin liquid, Great for MTL/RDL vaping: Strong flavour, Smooth throat feel, High nicotine levels.
10ml Freebase – 50:50 PG/VG or 60:40 PG/VG -Thin liquid, Great for MTL vaping: Very strong throat hit, Muted flavour, Best at lower nicotine levels.
10ml High VG – 30:70 PG/VG or 20:80 PG/VG – Thick liquid, Great for DTL vaping: Rich flavour, Dense vapour, Little to no throat hit, Low nicotine levels.
Pick Your Vaping Style:
Mouth-to-lung (MTL)
Replicates a cigarette draw, Noticeable throat hit, Wide range of nicotine strengths, Great flavor, Discrete vapor production.
Direct-to-lung (DTL)
One deep inhale, No throat hit, Low or no nicotine, Big flavour, Big clouds
Restricted-direct-to-lung (RDL) vaping is an inbetween style that uses the mouth to lung method but with a wider airflow and more vapour. A popular style because you get more flavour and nicotine. Best with modern pod kits using 0.4ohm – 0.9ohm pods.
How Different Vaping Styles Work:
MTL
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Pull small amount of vapor into mouth
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Inhale into lungs
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Exhale low vapor
RDL
- Inhale slightly more vapor into lungs
- Exhale greater amount
DTL
- Inhale huge amount of vapor into lungs
- Exhale a cloud of vapor
Optimal Vape Kits for Every Vaping Style
Style
Refillable Pod Kits
Pre-filled Pod Kits
Sub-ohm Kits
Nicotine Priority
Cloud Production
MTL
✓ ✓ ✓ DTL
✓ ✓ ✓ RDL
✓ ✓ ✓ Choosing Your Nicotine Strength:
Nicotine is available in two forms – freebase which is much harsher on the throat when you go above 6mg and then nicotine salts which are designed to deliver a smooth experience no matter the strength and can go as high as 20mg/ml (2%). You can also purchase hybrid nicotine, which is a combination of the two and provides a smooth experience with a slightly more pronounced throat hit. The strength of nicotine on the bottle is how much nicotine you get per 1ml of juice.
- Sharper throat hit
- Muted flavors, above 6mg.
- Good for tapering down or if you prefer a more pronounced hit at lower strengths.
- Takes longer to work and leaves the body sooner.
Nicotine Salts Strength Recommendations
- Strengths: 5mg, 10mg, 20mg (legal Australia max is 20mg).
- Smooth throat feel, fast relief, flavour holds up at higher strengths.
- Ideal for cravings and MTL pods.
- Bioavailability – works almost instantly and satisfies cravings much longer.
- Extensive range of flavour options.
Tip: if your vape feels harsh at higher strengths, switch to salts. If it feels too smooth and you miss the kick, try freebase or step down your strength more gradually.
Nicotine Strengths by Vaping Style
When You’re Choosing Nicotine Strength, It Comes Down To How Much You Used To Smoke.
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Social smokers (who smoke once or twice a week) should go for a low nicotine option like 3mg, this is often the final step for people who have quit smoking and don’t need much of a hit anymore. You can also get 0mg juice if you simply enjoy the feeling of vaping but no longer have a craving to satiate.
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For a light smoker, someone who has less than ten cigarettes a day, we would recommend a strength of 5mg nic salts or 6mg freebase. This strength is still considered on the lower end of the scale and suits people who enjoy vaping but still require a bit of a nic buzz.
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An average smoker who has up to a pack a day should go for a 10mg nic salts or 12mg freebase e liquid, an ideal place to start for your run of the mill smoking habit as it helps you migrate and substitute from the amount you’d get from regular cigarettes.
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Finally, for the heavy smokers (more than a pack a day) you should go for the maximum strength of 20mg of nicotine salts or 18mg of freebase. This is for people with a serious habit who need a high dose to get proper satisfaction from vaping.
It’s really important to get the right nicotine strengthso when you are using your vape to help you quit, you’ll be getting enough of a nicotine hit to satiate the cravings whilst also not over-doing it and finding the effect too strong.
Pro Tip: Nic-salts were a game changer when I was trying to stop smoking. They feel smooth, have the best flavour and satisfy my cravings quickly. If you’re unsure what nicotine strength to use, start high and get off cigarettes first, then you can start to work your way down if you wish.
What Nicotine Strength Should Beginners Use?
Smoking Habit
Recommended Nicotine Type & Vaping Style
Recommend Strength
Reason
Heavy (20+/day) Nic salts (MTL) 20mg Feels like smoking, satisfies strong cravings quickly Average (10–20/day) Nic salts (MTL/RDL) 10mg salts Versatile styles that match medium to strong cravings Light / social (1-10/day) Nic salts or Freebase (MTL/RDL) 5–10mg salts or 6mg freebase Lower range will satisfy mild cravings Ex-smoker reducing Freebase (MTL) or High-VG DTL 3–6mg (MTL) or 3mg (DTL) Use Freebase strengths to gradually reduce No nicotine MTL for discreet flavour, DTL for big cloud flavour 0mg Setting is most important here How to Choose an E-Liquid Flavor
Choosing an e-liquid flavor all comes down to personal preference as there’s hundreds of e-liquid flavors and brands to choose from. Historically vapers would begin with a tobacco or menthol e-liquid if they were coming off cigarettes so the taste and feel is more familiar, however more and more people are starting out with a fruity or dessert flavor instead.
Deserts
Fruity
Menthol
Tobacco
Top Tips to Get You Started
Skip the guesswork. Use these quick rules to land a flavour you’ll actually vape all week, not just on day one.
1. Match your taste history
If you smoked menthols, start with tobacco or menthol. If you love sweet coffees or colas, try dessert or soda notes. Like citrus? Go lemon, lime or mixed berry.
2. Start clean, then get fancy
Begin with a simple, single-note flavour. Add layered desserts or candy later once you know your baseline.
3. Mind coil life
Dark, sweet liquids taste great on day one but gunk pods fast. If you want fewer pod swaps, pick lighter profiles like mints, berries or tobaccos.
5. PG/VG affects flavor clarity
50:50 or 60:40 is crisper in small MTL pods. High VG (70–80%) is smoother and bigger on vapour in DTL.
6. Avoid flavor fatigue
Rotate two contrasting bottles. Example: fruit in the day, mint or tobacco in the evening. Your palate resets and your coil lasts longer.
7. Shortfill users: steep if needed
If a fresh dessert tastes flat, give it 24–72 hours after adding nic shots. Shake, vent, store cool and dark.
10ml Premixed Bottles:
Once you’ve figured out your nicotine strength it’s time to start experimenting with flavours. For this we recommend starting with a 10ml bottle, they’re a low cost investment and you won’t be stung too harshly if you pick a flavour you don’t like.
You can find 10ml bottles in Freebase and Nicotine Salt options. No matter which you choose, you’ll find an endless variety of flavors to choose from.
There are a lot of affordable options in a 10ml bottle so you can try a bunch at home. Once you find your favorites, you can buy them in a short fill (a larger bottle with 0mg nicotine that you mix with a nic shot to create your desired strength) to save yourself money.
High PG 0mg Shortfills:
Made for MTL mouth-to-lung pod kits that use higher resistance coils, High PG Shortfills offer excellent value for money but are limited to a 3mg max nicotine strength, which is perfect for social/light smokers or those who have lowered their nicotine levels.
High VG 0mg Shortfills:
Made for DTL (direct-to-lung vaping), high VG e-liquids require more powerful devices, known as sub-ohm kits, to vaporize the e-liquid. These kits utilize coils with a lower resistance, which produce large plumes of rich flavor with a silky smooth draw that has virtually no throat hit. You can add a nicotine shot to create a 3mg strength shortfill bottle or vape them nicotine free. Consider where you use these kits as they may not be suitable to use in all public situations.
How Do I Choose A Kit To Go With The Strength And Ratio I Need?
Choosing the right e-liquid is not just about VG/PG ratios; it also depends on the compatibility with your vape device. Not all liquids work well with every type of kit. For instance, high-VG liquids are better suited to powerful sub-ohm devices, while a 50:50 ratio might be ideal for simpler pod and pen kits. If you’re wondering, “Can you use any liquid in any vape?” it’s important to understand how different e-liquids interact with various devices.
When starting, a 50:50 VG ratio with a pod kit or vape pen starter kit is recommended. These kits are easy to use, and once you gain some experience, you can experiment with different combinations to find the best match for your preferences. If you need a higher nicotine level, opting for a simpler kit will prevent an overly strong nicotine hit.
If, after gaining experience, you find you enjoy a milder throat hit and want to fill the room with vapor, consider a sub-ohm vape kit paired with a higher VG liquid. Remember, since VG is thicker, you’ll need a more powerful vape to achieve those big clouds.
High PG Vape Juice (50PG/50VG or higher)
If you’re trying to stop smoking, a 50:50 PG/VG ratio with a pod kit or vape pen starter kit is recommended. These kits are easy to use, and once you gain some experience, you can experiment with different combinations to find the best match for your preferences. If you need a higher nicotine level, opting for a simpler kit will prevent an overly strong nicotine hit.
High VG Liquids (30PG/70VG or higher)
If, after gaining experience, you find you enjoy a milder throat hit and want to fill the room with vapor, consider a pod kit with lower resistance coils in the range of 0.4ohm to 0.6ohm, or a sub-ohm vape kit paired with a higher VG liquid. Remember, since VG is thicker, you’ll need a more powerful vape to achieve those big clouds.
Can My Vape Liquid Go Off?
Once you’ve opened a bottle of vape liquid, air can get into it and will start to oxidize it. However, this process is very slow and unless you’re keeping your juice for a long time (we’re talking over a year here) it should be fine. The colour may darken slightly and the flavour may become a little bit sweeter but it’s typically the juices with a higher nicotine content that will degrade faster and lose some of its potency meaning you won’t get as much of a hit from it.
To keep it fresh just store it somewhere away from heat and light and you’ll be able to enjoy it for ages. If it’s in your vape and you’ve not used it in a while you may notice a bit of a colour change there too. The reason behind this is the fibres in your coil absorb smaller particles more easily, whereas the darker ones get left behind so your tank may look a little darker over time.
If you are new to vaping check out our Ultimate Vaping for Beginners Guide, where we give you low low down on everything you need to know in an easy to to understand format that will get you started in no time.
Recycling:
It’s important to minimise your waste do your bit for the environment, empty vape juice bottles should be rinsed out and recycled with your household recycling. Learn more about environmental responsibility in our guide to recycling your vape.
Browse Our Complete E-Liquid Range:
Ready to find your perfect e-liquid? Browse our complete e-liquid collection featuring hundreds of flavors from top brands, or jump straight to the specific type that suits your needs:
- Nicotine Salt E-Liquids – Perfect for recent ex-smokers
- 50/50 E-Liquids – Balanced ratio for MTL vaping
- High VG E-Liquids – For DTL and cloud production
- Shortfill E-Liquids – Cost-effective larger bottles
FAQS:
What’s best for a first kit?
An MTL pod kit with 50:50 nic salts (10–20mg depending on cravings) is the perfect setup for a beginner vaper. It closely matches the feel of smoking and uses fast acting nicotine salts that will rapidly satisfy your cravings.
Can I use any liquid in any vape?
To ensure an enjoyable experience, you should make sure the ratio of your e-liquid is suitable for the kit you are using: 50:50 liquids work great in MTL vapes, 70VG+ are perfect for DTL devices.
Why does my coil burn quickly?
Burnt coils usually come down to three things: the wrong e-liquid ratio for your kit (thick juice in an MTL setup can starve the wick), chain-vaping that overheats the coil, or running too much power for the coil’s resistance. To prevent it, prime new pods, start at a lower wattage, and give the wick a moment to re-saturate between puffs.
Freebase or salts if I’m quitting?
Most new switchers start with nicotine salts because they’re smoother on the throat and tend to feel satisfying more quickly. If you prefer a stronger throat hit, try freebase.