Creating your own e-juices
Creating your own e-juices can both save you money and allow you to get the flavor, vapor volume and strength you desire. In other words, it is much more versatile. Here's what you need to know.
Basic E-Juices
Basic e-juices are available from a number of stores on-line. As these contain nicotine, they cannot be bougt elsewhere or made at home. Typically, strengths range from around 10mg/ml to 30mg/ml. This is often shortened to '10mg', for example, but means 10mg/ml. A ballpark figure for an e-juice small size (20ml - enough for only about 4 days) is / $4
It is more economical to buy larger quantities (and higher strength nicotine too - see below, 'cutting').
On the other hand, it is not wise to buy a large quantity of a flavored juice unless you are sure you have tried exactly that same brand before. You can add your non-tobacco flavors (see below).
'Cutting'
Vapers often after the first few weeks or so start to 'cut' their juice. So somebody who likes to vape 15mg juice will start to buy 30mg juice then 'dilute' or 'cut' this in a 1-1 ratio with vegetable glycerine (VG). The primary advantage is that it saves money. A bonus is that VG adds some welcome thickness to the juice and produces more visible vapor too.
Make sure your Glycerine is Vegetable Glycerin(e); food or pharmacy grade (pharmacy grade is denoted USP in the US and BP in the UK). It is also sometimes called Glycerol (a more scientific name). VG is commonly found in supermarkets (cake baking section) and pharmacies.
A small percentage of people have an allergy or intolerance to PG (Propylene Glycol, the most common base in commercial e-juices). This is generally mild with symptoms including itchiness. However, for most of us it makes sense to use a PG based nicotine juice to cut with VG.
Both PG and VG are sugar-alcohols and have a sweet taste, but rate as low on the glycemic index.
A Typical Recipe
To make about 9-10 ml (for a 10ml bottle - these can be bought online or at certain speciality shops):
You may want to start off with 5-10 drops (not dropperfuls!) of flavoring first - you can always add more later. If the flavor is too strong, add more nicotine juice and VG in a 1-1 ratio.
Optionally, 4 drops of distilled water or Vodka / EverClear (a high alcohol content spirit) can be added - useful if the juice seems too thick (viscous).
The ideal thickness is a little thicker than water. If too thick, the juice will be slow to wick through the metal meshing - a problem if you take frequent puffs. If too thin, there is a greater chance of juice leakage, either from the cart or into or towards the battery (overfilling or over-dripping can also cause leaking). Too much water will also diminish the visible vapor.
Some weaker flavors may require more drops. Experiment with small quantities before mixing a large batch.
Flavors can be mixed, in various proportions, providing an almost limitless range of possibilities. For example, strawberry and peach, or coffee and vanilla.
Don't forget to label your bottles; if you don't, you will regret being lazy later on! Note the flavor, base (PG or VG) and nicotine strength.
Also make a note of your recipe; how many drops of flavoring were used in the end, for what overall volume. A recipe can be scaled up - to make twice as much, use twice as much of each part.
Some people report that the addition / use of a small amount of alcohol (ethanol) in the mix provides a greater 'throat-hit'.
Droppers and Syringes
For measuring drops, a dropper is best. Eye-droppers are fine. These can be bought from a pharmacist quite cheaply.
For measuring in the 0.5ml - 10ml range, a flat ended (non-sharp) syringe is best. These can often also be bought from a pharmacist. Because VG is viscous, you will find it easier to remove the 'needle' from the syringe, if you can, to draw-in VG. A syringe is also ideal for filling carts as one can fill the cart from the bottom by inserting the 'needle' to the side of the filler.
Note than 1 cc (cubic centimeter) = 1 ml (milli-litre).
0% Nicotine Juices
Some vapers graduate their nicotine intake down to zero (no nicotine at all). In this case, there is very little reason to buy any part of your juice from an e-cig store. A 0% nicotine juice will be mostly VG (it could be PG but VG is far easier to get hold of).
If PG, add a little flavoring, to your personal taste (about 15% of the total as an average; or 4 times more PG than flavoring).
If VG, the same applies, though if the resulting juice is too thick add just a few drops of water / Vodka / EverClear.
Flavorings
LorAnns flavorings which are used to make candy. They are sugarless and very powerful. You will get very small bottles, but since you are using only drops, they can last a long time. You can order LorAnns online (for example, http://www.lorannoils.com), but they can be found in some large supermarkets or speciality shops, such as cake-making, in the US.
Common home-baking flavorings are not very strong and the range is very small but can be used at a pinch; vanilla and strawberry are ok.
Whether you use LorAnns or a different brand, you must ensure that it has a water or alcohol base and is not oil based. Confusingly, sometimes the word 'oil' is used to mean simply 'extract' or essence'. It is the base that you need to take note of.
An interesting listing of suitable and unsuitable LorAnn flavorings can be viewed here:
http://www.exogenesis.co.uk/Loranne1.htm.
Safety
Take great care to store your juices not only in a manner to promote a long shelf life (in a dark, cool place and air-tight) but also unavailable to children. In a locked place is ideal. If you have children, or children might visit, also mark the bottles as poison and seperately make sure your children know not to go near all such items, using other examples to not draw any interest towards your juices.
Also, take great care not to spill your nicotine containing juices and rinse off well and quickly if you get any on your skin.
Popular Flavors
These include vanilla, coffee, strawberry, peach and various approximations to tobacco blends.
Creating your own e-juices can both save you money and allow you to get the flavor, vapor volume and strength you desire. In other words, it is much more versatile. Here's what you need to know.
Basic E-Juices
Basic e-juices are available from a number of stores on-line. As these contain nicotine, they cannot be bougt elsewhere or made at home. Typically, strengths range from around 10mg/ml to 30mg/ml. This is often shortened to '10mg', for example, but means 10mg/ml. A ballpark figure for an e-juice small size (20ml - enough for only about 4 days) is / $4
It is more economical to buy larger quantities (and higher strength nicotine too - see below, 'cutting').
On the other hand, it is not wise to buy a large quantity of a flavored juice unless you are sure you have tried exactly that same brand before. You can add your non-tobacco flavors (see below).
'Cutting'
Vapers often after the first few weeks or so start to 'cut' their juice. So somebody who likes to vape 15mg juice will start to buy 30mg juice then 'dilute' or 'cut' this in a 1-1 ratio with vegetable glycerine (VG). The primary advantage is that it saves money. A bonus is that VG adds some welcome thickness to the juice and produces more visible vapor too.
Make sure your Glycerine is Vegetable Glycerin(e); food or pharmacy grade (pharmacy grade is denoted USP in the US and BP in the UK). It is also sometimes called Glycerol (a more scientific name). VG is commonly found in supermarkets (cake baking section) and pharmacies.
A small percentage of people have an allergy or intolerance to PG (Propylene Glycol, the most common base in commercial e-juices). This is generally mild with symptoms including itchiness. However, for most of us it makes sense to use a PG based nicotine juice to cut with VG.
Both PG and VG are sugar-alcohols and have a sweet taste, but rate as low on the glycemic index.
A Typical Recipe
To make about 9-10 ml (for a 10ml bottle - these can be bought online or at certain speciality shops):
- 4ml Nicotine juice (flavored or unflavored).
- 4ml Vegetable Glycerin (this is about 80 drops).
- About 10-15 drops of LorAnns flavoring (or other concentrated flavoring).
You may want to start off with 5-10 drops (not dropperfuls!) of flavoring first - you can always add more later. If the flavor is too strong, add more nicotine juice and VG in a 1-1 ratio.
Optionally, 4 drops of distilled water or Vodka / EverClear (a high alcohol content spirit) can be added - useful if the juice seems too thick (viscous).
The ideal thickness is a little thicker than water. If too thick, the juice will be slow to wick through the metal meshing - a problem if you take frequent puffs. If too thin, there is a greater chance of juice leakage, either from the cart or into or towards the battery (overfilling or over-dripping can also cause leaking). Too much water will also diminish the visible vapor.
Some weaker flavors may require more drops. Experiment with small quantities before mixing a large batch.
Flavors can be mixed, in various proportions, providing an almost limitless range of possibilities. For example, strawberry and peach, or coffee and vanilla.
Don't forget to label your bottles; if you don't, you will regret being lazy later on! Note the flavor, base (PG or VG) and nicotine strength.
Also make a note of your recipe; how many drops of flavoring were used in the end, for what overall volume. A recipe can be scaled up - to make twice as much, use twice as much of each part.
Some people report that the addition / use of a small amount of alcohol (ethanol) in the mix provides a greater 'throat-hit'.
Droppers and Syringes
For measuring drops, a dropper is best. Eye-droppers are fine. These can be bought from a pharmacist quite cheaply.
For measuring in the 0.5ml - 10ml range, a flat ended (non-sharp) syringe is best. These can often also be bought from a pharmacist. Because VG is viscous, you will find it easier to remove the 'needle' from the syringe, if you can, to draw-in VG. A syringe is also ideal for filling carts as one can fill the cart from the bottom by inserting the 'needle' to the side of the filler.
Note than 1 cc (cubic centimeter) = 1 ml (milli-litre).
0% Nicotine Juices
Some vapers graduate their nicotine intake down to zero (no nicotine at all). In this case, there is very little reason to buy any part of your juice from an e-cig store. A 0% nicotine juice will be mostly VG (it could be PG but VG is far easier to get hold of).
If PG, add a little flavoring, to your personal taste (about 15% of the total as an average; or 4 times more PG than flavoring).
If VG, the same applies, though if the resulting juice is too thick add just a few drops of water / Vodka / EverClear.
Flavorings
LorAnns flavorings which are used to make candy. They are sugarless and very powerful. You will get very small bottles, but since you are using only drops, they can last a long time. You can order LorAnns online (for example, http://www.lorannoils.com), but they can be found in some large supermarkets or speciality shops, such as cake-making, in the US.
Common home-baking flavorings are not very strong and the range is very small but can be used at a pinch; vanilla and strawberry are ok.
Whether you use LorAnns or a different brand, you must ensure that it has a water or alcohol base and is not oil based. Confusingly, sometimes the word 'oil' is used to mean simply 'extract' or essence'. It is the base that you need to take note of.
An interesting listing of suitable and unsuitable LorAnn flavorings can be viewed here:
http://www.exogenesis.co.uk/Loranne1.htm.
Safety
Take great care to store your juices not only in a manner to promote a long shelf life (in a dark, cool place and air-tight) but also unavailable to children. In a locked place is ideal. If you have children, or children might visit, also mark the bottles as poison and seperately make sure your children know not to go near all such items, using other examples to not draw any interest towards your juices.
Also, take great care not to spill your nicotine containing juices and rinse off well and quickly if you get any on your skin.
Popular Flavors
These include vanilla, coffee, strawberry, peach and various approximations to tobacco blends.
G ratio for higher or lower strength.
