By Vape Buyers Guide
April 6, 2022
on August 31, 2021 GUIDE
Updated: August 31, 2021
In 2014, Oxford dictionary declared Vape as the word of the year. This came after vaping started to gain popularity in the mainstream and that popularity has continued to grow into the huge industry it is today.
Newcomers to the vaping culture may feel a little overwhelmed at first. There are a lot of new terms and techniques to learn and there can be a bit of a learning curve when starting out. If you find yourself feeling this way, fear not, this guide is intended to educate you on the terms and components that encompass the vaping world so you can easily make the transition from Vape Newbie to Cloud Chaser.
All vaporizers incorporate 3 main components, your E-Juice (the liquid that you vape), the tank (where you put your e-juice), and the mod/battery (the power supply).
E-Juice
You can think of E-Juice similar to wine, it comes in different brands, flavors and strengths. Just like wine not all e-juice is made equally and a lot of time its personal choice that will determine a juice you will enjoy.What is in E-Juice?
- Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
- Propylene Glycol (PG)
- Nicotine
- Flavouring
Vegetable Glycerin
Vegetable Glycerin, also known as VG, is an organic sugar-alcohol compound that is derived from vegetable oil. It is comprised of just 3 elements, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. VG is a viscous liquid that is slightly sweet and is used to make clouds of vapor denser. The hit from a VG based liquid tends to be smoother on the throat and more inviting for new vapers.
Some people may still be uneasy putting a relatively unknown substance in your body. But the truth is that you have probably already ingested vegetable glycerin in your life countless times, if you brushed your teeth this morning than you definitely ingested vegetable glycerin as it is used in almost every dental hygiene product. Vape companies use pharmaceutical grade VG to further ensure the quality of their juices and is listed on the FDA’s “Generally Recognized As Safe”(GRAS) list. When ingested it is broken down and metabolized in the body by a process called “bet-oxidation” which turns it in CO2 and H20 which are natural elements the body can easily discard and is one of the most benign organic liquids in the world. The liquid is also hypo-allergenic, meaning that one cannot have an allergic reaction to it unlike its PG counterpart, more on that below.
What is it typically used for?
- Sweeteners
- Beauty moisturizers (plam oils, coconut oils etc)
- Baked goods (helps increase moisture)
- Replacement for alcohol in botanical tinctures
- Toothpaste
Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol also known as PG, is a petroleum by-product. The liquid is colorless and odorless and is less thick than its VG counterpart and also produces less visible vapor. Within vaping it is used to more efficiently carry flavor and nicotine of the E-Liquid. PG also can cause more of a “throat hit”, which is a slight irritation experienced in your throat similar to smoking. Some former smokers will prefer a liquid that is higher in PG because the sensation is more similar to smoking.