What's the deal with Glycerin?

[howard]

Newbie here, I may have jumped the gun and bought the wrong glycerin bottle.

I checked three places.
1. Target - did not have any in my local store
2. CVS - found under the "Laxatives" isle... did not say USP on label but did say it was 100$ mineral oil(whatever that means), it was a CVS branded item
3. Duane Reade - bought from them. It was behind the counter, although there's not indication that this was not available over-the-counter.

Here's what I bought:

Glycerin(Skin Protectant) USP from HUMCO
16FL OZ(473mL) 1PT $21.09

Under Active Ingredients Purpose
Glycerin 99.5% Anhydrous Skin Protectant

Question, has anyone else used this? is this the correct Glycerin form?

How is this different from PG(Propylene Glycerin) and VG(Vegetable Glycerin)?

Description
The liquid is clear(like water).

btw, on the label of the bottle, it lists this site: http://simplehomeremedies.com/products/

[ccure]

I had read a lot of post talking about the HUMCO Glycerin and a lot of people in this post are using it, so you will not have any problem with it.

Porpelin Glicon is extracted from petroleum.

VG is extracted from Vegetables. It is sweet and would dumb the taste of the eliquid, so you will have to ad a little more flavor to your eliquid or get used to it.

[howard]

I had read a lot of post talking about the HUMCO Glycerin and a lot of people in this post are using it, so you will not have any problem with it.

Porpelin Glicon is extracted from petroleum.

VG is extracted from Vegetables. It is sweet and would dumb the taste of the eliquid, so you will have to ad a little more flavor to your eliquid or get used to it.

Is there some tutorial on how to do the mixing? I'm coming across a lot of discussions but no definitive thread on how-to mix.

Also by your description, does that mean my HUMCO Glycerin is PG? or is it in a category of it's own?

Glycerin, PG, & VG?

[Kate]

This thread should give you an idea on how to mix Howard - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/for...-recepies.html

There's not much to it really, you need something to use as a base that makes vapour - glycerine and/or propylene glycol are fine for that; flavour and nicotine (if you want that).

[howard]

This thread should give you an idea on how to mix Howard - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/for...-recepies.html

There's not much to it really, you need something to use as a base that makes vapour - glycerine and/or propylene glycol are fine for that; flavour and nicotine (if you want that).

I think part of my confusion has to do with wording. You say, "glycerine". I say, "glycerin". Are we talking about the same thing?

If so are you implying that Glycerin & PG are the same?

I've also read elsewhere that the use of distilled water is not necessary in the mixing. Some use it some done. For instance, in this video:

YouTube - Custom E-Liquid for E-Cigarette

She's doing a 1:1:1 ratio no?
Glyercin: Nicotine : Flavoring?

[ccure]

HUMCO is Glycerin, or Glycol, or Glicerine..... = VG

Propeline Glicol is a different thing = PG

You can use both of them for your liquid, or any of them. It is more a taste thing than any other thing.

Regarding the water, it is up to you as well.

[Hooyah]

Yep, same thing. I'm using the Humco stuff. I got it from WallMart. I eyeballed the adding part to my liquid. I found out if you add toooooo much it does leave a "coating" in your mouth. But, boy, does it produce vapor!

[Kate]

There are a few different spellings for glycerine/glycerin/glycerol, etc. It's not the same as propylene glycol but they do the same job and can be used interchangeably.

Water or clear alcohol are sometimes added if the mix is too thick and doesn't wick from cartridges properly. It's sometimes needed if you mix with glycerine because that's gloopy. Add it last, after the other ingredients because you might not need it at all or might put too much in.

The ratio of ingredients will change depending on how strong the flavouring is and the strength of the nicotine eliquid you use.

Hack-O-Matic E-Liquid Calculator

[howard]

Okay, glad I was able to confirm that the HUMCO Glycerin is somewhat safe to use. Least I won't be the only person trying it. I'd rather follow a group of people jumping off a bridge than doing it myself.

@ccure,

So your basically saying, it's up to the individual to play around with, whether or not to use both PG & VG, and also whether or not to add water.

Here's another question though, some suppliers have their own mixes of flavored liquids. I read somewhere in a thread that most are obtained from a manufacturer pre-mixed in a factory. Now, does that mean that some liquids arrive with PG or VG already in them? By "cutting" them even more is there any ill effects? How do we know if a liquid already has VG or PG mixed into it?

Thanks Kate, ccure, hooyah for the fast & knowledgeable responses.

I also want to add that the Glycerin bottles I found at CVS(in the laxative isle) stated that it was for oral use. But did not have USP mentioned on the label. I also noticed a large selection of Glycerin tablets, apparently for laxative use. I stood there a moment contemplating whether or not to get it. I tried to read the ingredients on the bottle, when all of a sudden this hot blonde walked by, she looked at what I was holding(the laxative bottle), and gave a half concealed smirk. I placed that bottle back where it came from and left.

I'm glad I went with the HUMCO brand. There's no indication it's for laxative use, but rather skin protection(which still leaves me quite puzzled). I know that Glycerin has over 1000 uses.

[Kate]

There are ingredient lists for some commercial eliquids here - Ingredients in cartridges or E-liquid

Most use propylene glycol as a base. Nobody has reported any problems with mixing pg and glycerine yet.