Essential oil selection guide for new vape users (Part 1)

No matter what era an electronic cigarette is in, its uniqueness lies not only in the external things such as aesthetics, body material, burner ..., but also in the small things such as coils or essential oils. If the battery is the heart of the electronic cigarette and the burner is the brain, then the essential oil is the soul of the device.

Without essential oils, you are left with a useless vape device . So in the midst of a vast forest of flavors, how can you choose a flavor that suits your needs? Please follow the article below for more details!

Flavor: New or familiar?

If you are new to vaping, start with simple, refreshing flavors that can be used all day, because these flavors are just as diverse as complex flavor mixes. Most stores will let you try the product before buying, which makes it easy for you to choose the flavor you like.

New e- cigarette users often choose e-liquid flavors that are similar to the flavors of traditional cigarettes they have used before or based on their own preferences. E-liquid manufacturers understand customer psychology well when creating flavor combinations based on familiar scents from fruits, cakes, cigarettes and cigars...

Familiar flavor combinations like fruit are a great place to start for beginners.

After a long enough period of vaping, you can confidently start your journey to experience the scents mixed into many layers of scents such as fruit or candy mix. Some users prefer rich flavors such as milk biscuits, lemon cake or vanilla. On the contrary, there are users who do not like rich scents so they will tend to prefer fruit flavors such as apple, grape, mango,... And of course, in the world of vape essential oils Extremely diverse, there will be flavor mixtures you have never heard of before, seemingly incompatible but surprisingly compatible.

In general, when you first start out, you should choose flavors that you like and stick with them. As you get used to them and feel ready for new experiences, don’t hesitate to delve deeper into your journey of discovering the world of scents.

Nicotine: How much is enough?

Once you have chosen your favorite flavor, the next step is to choose the right nicotine level for your needs. Nicotine is one of the main ingredients in traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Using e-cigarettes can help you control the amount of nicotine you consume, thereby minimizing the harmful effects compared to smoking traditional cigarettes.

The nicotine content of vape juice varies widely, allowing users to choose the level that suits their needs. Common concentrations in freebase juice include 0%, 0.3%, 0.6%, 1.2%. This nicotine percentage represents the amount of nicotine in each puff, while the rest is water, PG (propylene glycol), VG (vegetable glycerin) and flavorings.

Common concentrations of essential oils in nicotine salts are 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0%, 3.5% 5.0% and 6.0%.

For salt nicotine , this essential oil has been added with Benzoic Acid to help reduce the feeling of throat irritation when using high levels of nicotine, while helping the body absorb nicotine more easily. Common concentrations in salt nicotine include 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0%, 3.5% 5.0% and 6.0%.

If you choose an e-liquid with a nicotine concentration of 1.2%, then only 1.2% of the e-liquid is nicotine, the remaining 98.8% is PG, VG and flavoring. Some companies often use the unit of nicotine dosage in milligrams, instead of stating the concentration as 1.2%, they will write 12mg.

So what nicotine strength is right for you? It depends on how many cigarettes or packs of cigarettes you’re used to smoking in a day. If you’re a regular smoker, choosing a higher nicotine strength e-liquid can help you maintain a balance when switching from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes.

You can then gradually reduce your nicotine intake by switching to lower-strength e-liquids, or even eliminate nicotine completely without experiencing any resistance. This process will not only help you reduce your nicotine dependence, but will also help protect your long-term health.

PG and VG: What is it?

PG (propylene glycol) and VG (vegetable glycerin) act as solvents to create a complete bottle of e-liquid. As for PG, also known as Propylene Glycol, this is a laboratory-made liquid that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers safe for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics. It is also used to create artificial smoke for performances.

Next is VG, which stands for Vegetable Glycerin – VG is a colorless, odorless liquid with a slightly sweet taste. Like PG, it is also considered safe by the FDA. PG is found in many products, including foods and drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Paying attention to the ratio of VG (Vegetable Glycerin) and PG (Propylene Glycol) on the e-liquid packaging is also a very important note. These ratios determine the viscosity of the e-liquid as well as the performance and user experience on different vape devices.

Common rates and characteristics:

• 70/30 VG/PG: Essential oils with this ratio will be thicker, suitable for devices with high combustion capacity. It helps create a lot of smoke, ideal for those who like to play with smoke.

• 60/40 VG/PG: Also suitable for high power devices, however there will be less smoke than the 70/30 ratio but still ensures good flavor.

• 50/50 VG/PG: E-liquid with this ratio has a moderate liquid consistency, suitable for devices with low heating power. It provides clear flavor and can produce little smoke, suitable for those looking for a balance between smoke and flavor.

Benefits of choosing the right VG/PG ratio:

• Device performance: Ensures that the essential oil can be completely vaporized, without causing "dry hits" or affecting the coil.

• User Experience: Delivers satisfaction and optimizes flavor and smoke volume to user's desired level.

Experience is everything

Just the numbers and the ingredients can sometimes give experienced users a headache. If possible, try to taste the e-liquid before deciding to buy. The importance of experience must be emphasized, because not all e-liquids are mixed according to the same formula. With the diversity of flavors and nicotine concentrations, manufacturers will have different ways of mixing to create their own unique flavors.

For example, a bottle of butter cigar flavored e-liquid, although both bottles are labeled with the same nicotine concentration, when you experience it, you will feel that one bottle is stronger than the other, in terms of flavor, some brands have more cigar flavor than butter flavor. Therefore, practical experience is extremely necessary and also a prerequisite to find the true love for your vape.

Read part 2 here: Essential oil selection guide for new vape users (part 2)