What Ingredients Are in E-Liquids?

E-liquids, or vape juice, are essential to vaping – they provide the vapour and flavour every vaper experiences. With so many options on the shelf, it helps to understand the basic ingredients that make up e-liquids and how different types, like freebase and nicotine salts (nic salts), affect the experience. In this guide, we break down those ingredients and explain how freebase and nic salt e-liquids differ.

Key Ingredients in E-Liquids

While formulations vary between brands, most e-liquids are made up of four primary ingredients: Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerin (VG), flavourings, and nicotine.

1. Propylene Glycol (PG)

• What it is: PG is a colourless, odourless liquid with a slightly sweet taste. It is widely used as a base ingredient in food, cosmetics and medical products.
• Purpose in e-liquids: PG carries flavour effectively and produces the stronger throat hit many ex-smokers associate with traditional cigarettes.
• Considerations: A small percentage of users are sensitive to PG, which can cause throat irritation or, rarely, an allergic-type reaction.

2. Vegetable Glycerin (VG)

• What it is: VG is a thick, naturally sweet, plant-derived liquid used in a wide range of food and personal care products.
• Purpose in e-liquids: VG produces a smoother throat hit and is responsible for the dense vapour clouds many vapers prefer.
• Considerations: Higher VG ratios are thicker and can lead to faster residue buildup (gunking) in coils, meaning more frequent cleaning or coil changes.

3. Flavourings

• What they are: Food-grade flavour compounds covering everything from fruit and dessert profiles to menthol and tobacco.
• Purpose in e-liquids: Flavourings are what make vaping enjoyable and allow for endless variety between brands and blends, though vaping the same flavour for extended periods can lead to flavour fatigue, sometimes called Vaper's Tongue.
• Considerations: Not every food-safe flavouring is necessarily safe to inhale. Reputable brands specifically test and select flavour compounds suitable for vaping rather than assuming food-grade automatically means vape-safe.

4. Nicotine

• What it is: An addictive compound naturally found in tobacco plants. Many e-liquids contain nicotine, which is the primary reason most former smokers turn to vaping in the first place.
• Purpose in e-liquids: Nicotine provides the satisfaction many users are looking for, and comes in two main forms: freebase nicotine and nicotine salts (covered below).
• Considerations: Nicotine strength varies widely, letting users choose a level that matches their needs – lower strengths for minimal intake, higher strengths for a more intense hit.

PG vs VG: How the Ratio Affects Your Vape

PG/VG Ratio	Throat Hit	Vapour Production	Flavour Intensity	Best For
High PG (e.g. 70/30 PG/VG)	Strong	Lower	Very sharp	MTL vapers, pod systems, nic salts
Balanced (50/50)	Moderate	Moderate	Balanced	All-round vaping, most starter kits
High VG (e.g. 70/30 VG/PG or higher)	Smooth	Higher	Rounder, milder	Sub-ohm and cloud vaping

Types of Nicotine: Freebase vs Nicotine Salts

Nicotine in e-liquids comes in two main forms, and the choice between them significantly affects the vaping experience.

Freebase Nicotine E-Liquids

• What it is: The purest and most common historical form of nicotine, originally developed by tobacco companies to increase potency and absorption speed.
• Higher pH level: Creates a noticeably harsher throat hit, especially at higher nicotine strengths.
• Slower absorption: Absorbs into the bloodstream more gradually, which suits vapers who prefer longer sessions at lower strengths.
• Typical strengths: Most commonly found at lower nicotine concentrations, paired with higher-VG e-liquids for cloud production.

Nicotine Salt (Nic Salt) E-Liquids

• What it is: Nicotine combined with an acid (commonly benzoic acid) to create a smoother, more easily absorbed form of nicotine.
• Lower pH level: Significantly smoother on the throat, even at higher nicotine concentrations.
• Faster absorption: Reaches the bloodstream more quickly, closer to the sensation of a cigarette.
• Typical strengths: Commonly available from around 20mg/ml to 50mg/ml, popular with ex-smokers or anyone wanting a stronger nicotine hit without harshness.

Additional Ingredients You Might See

• Sweeteners: Ingredients like sucralose enhance the sweetness of certain flavours, but can increase coil gunk buildup over time.
• Cooling agents: Compounds like WS-23 or menthol create a refreshing, icy sensation without needing additional mint flavouring.
• Acidity adjusters: Small amounts of mild acidic compounds are sometimes used to fine-tune throat feel without changing the flavour.

Choosing the Right E-Liquid Type for You

• Want strong, fast nicotine satisfaction: nic salt e-liquids offer a smoother, quicker hit and suit pod systems well – browse our salt nic e-liquid range.
• Want big clouds and a traditional vaping feel: freebase e-liquids at lower nicotine strengths, paired with a sub-ohm setup, are the better fit.

If you are still unsure how freebase and nic salt differ in practice, our companion guide on freebase vs nic salt e-liquids goes into more depth on device compatibility.

FAQ

Is PG or VG better for vaping?

Neither is objectively better – it depends on preference. PG carries flavour and throat hit more strongly, while VG produces smoother, denser vapour. Most e-liquids use a blend of both to balance the two.

What's the difference between freebase nicotine and nic salts?

Nic salts are chemically smoother on the throat, absorb faster, and are typically used at higher strengths (20–50mg/ml). Freebase nicotine has a harsher throat hit at high strengths and is more commonly used at lower strengths with higher-VG, cloud-focused e-liquids.

Are e-liquid ingredients safe?

PG, VG, nicotine and vape-tested flavourings are widely used and studied ingredients when sourced from reputable manufacturers, as reflected in independent reviews such as the UK's OHID nicotine vaping evidence update. Always buy e-liquid from trusted brands and retailers rather than unregulated or unlabelled sources.

Why does my coil get gunked up faster with some e-liquids?

Higher VG e-liquids and those with added sweeteners tend to leave more residue on a coil over time, which can shorten coil lifespan. Storing e-liquid properly also helps – see our guide on storing vape juice correctly.

Here at Skyline Vape Shop we stock a wide variety of freebase e-liquids and nic salt e-liquids, including a growing range of local e-liquids – we're confident we have something for everyone. Looking for help picking the right vape juice for you? Visit our online store or get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction. Happy vaping!