Vegetable Glycerin vs HUMCO glycerin-warning!

[Kate51]

I remembered reading this particular post before buying the Humco glycerin at Walmart. Works fine for me for mixing and diluting, and I have no problems with it. But I was just surfing around and looked up the word "anhydrous" and found a wikpedia page on it.

Now I'm not a pharmacist. You say you are, and I'm certainly not saying you're not, BUT, you stated that anhydrous means that .5% is water, when anhydrous actually means that it contains NO water. How does one get that mixed up? Anhydrous - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anyway that brings us back to the question again. If it's listed on the label as "Glycerin 99.5% Anhydrous", then what is the remaining .5% ?

Anhydrous does mean no water, therefore water is added. Aqueous VG means it contains water. or has not been distilled to no water. ECOpure VG is an example of aqueous VG, I use it and love it! Little thinner.

 

[kc0cmp]

Anhydrous does mean no water, therefore water is added. Aqueous VG means it contains water. or has not been distilled to no water. ECOpure VG is an example of aqueous VG, I use it and love it! Little thinner.

A bit stiff in the price tag too . I don't think i pay more than .50c/ml for any of my juice unless i'm ordering something else from the same site and saving on shipping. Typically i pay .30/ml or so. Ecopure is out of the question for that reason.

 

[Kate51]

A bit stiff in the price tag too . I don't think i pay more than .50c/ml for any of my juice unless i'm ordering something else from the same site and saving on shipping. Typically i pay .30/ml or so. Ecopure is out of the question for that reason.

The ECOpure I use is the Krystal, $188 for 500ml, it is 36mg/ml nic juice. They also have a 'mixer' that is the same thing without the nic. I ordered mine from UK (Intellicig.com) I don't know if the US stores carry it in the big bottle, both also contain Ethyl Maltol, and is the best thing for mixing, because flavors don't get muddied or lose flavor after a day or two. I believe I paid about $35 for 500ml of the 'mixer'. No need to ever add water, especially for my 801 carts. But in all seriousness, I can make 33 - 30ml bottles of 18mg nic for about $6.99ea., so when you do the math it turns out to be very conservative pricing. That works out to $.23 per ml, not counting the minuscule amount for my tobacco, caramel, and hazelnut flavorings/ml. So that price shows how sometimes to get the very best is cheaper in the long run than a little bit of so-so. I can't help it, I'm a purist!!
Yes, it smarts when you're paying it out. But I have about six more months worth of good juice before fessing up for the next batch. With an estimated 2 year shelf life, I may just do a double next time, just to have a stash ahead, never know.

 

[Scottes]

I don't think i pay more than .50c/ml for any of my juice unless i'm ordering something else from the same site and saving on shipping. Typically i pay .30/ml or so.

Kate's mentioned using EcoPure for 23 cents an ml. The "Do you like money?" thread shows that MFS juice can get you 24mg for 21 cents an ml.

 

[the86d]

Arnold [FONT="]Schwarzenegger[/FONT][/I] (GOV of Cali, the Govenator/Governor) returned the SB 400 without his signature, and VERY specific as to why...

[I][FONT="]http://gov.ca.gov/pdf/press/2009bills/SB400_Corbett_Veto_Message.pdf[/FONT]

YUP, "I" VOTED FOR HIM, & JUST BOUGHT THE POSTER OF THE "TERMINATOR" FOR $10 at a clearance at blockbuster!!!

My 8 year old son just saw the "TERMINATOR" for the first time (the language was worse than I remember, but he lives with me not his mormon mother and I CAN CORRECT, CORRECTLY) and I had to explain that he is the Governor in CA. Now I can tell him about the great thing he did for his daddy by returning this without his signature!!!

 

[Jimbo52]

OK, I was watching the Vids and adding a drop or three of Wilton Glycerin to some of the juice I was mixing. I mentioned to a friend that I may not be able to take VG because it made me feel ill. Then I read this thread.

Yesterday night, I vaped "Exclusively" ECOpure ‘Pure Max’ & ‘Gold Max’ from a fresh PTB 510 cart (pretty heavily) and didn’t feel queasy or nauseous at all.

This morning, I grabbed a bottle of the ‘LorAnn Carmel’ I previously mixed with TW Flavourless 36mg. juice and some Wilton Glycerin when going to work; Guess what, nauseous by the end of the day! Obviously, I can’t take the Wilton Glycerin. Bottle doesn't say what it's made of.

Since ECOpure now makes a flavorless e-liquid called ‘Krystal’, it will be my next order.

 

[markarich159]

I remembered reading this particular post before buying the Humco glycerin at Walmart. Works fine for me for mixing and diluting, and I have no problems with it. But I was just surfing around and looked up the word "anhydrous" and found a wikpedia page on it.

Now I'm not a pharmacist. You say you are, and I'm certainly not saying you're not, BUT, you stated that anhydrous means that .5% is water, when anhydrous actually means that it contains NO water. How does one get that mixed up? Anhydrous - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anyway that brings us back to the question again. If it's listed on the label as "Glycerin 99.5% Anhydrous", then what is the remaining .5% ?

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. The term Anhydrous Glycerin USP, is a pharmacopeial definition. The term anhydrous literally means no water in common language, but for the USP definition of "anhydrous glycerin, USP" they allow 0.5% of the formulation to, most likely, be water. Although it may be something else. You would have to actually look up the definition of Anhydrous Glycerine, USP in the United States Pharmacopeia to see exactly what the USP/NF allows that 0.5% to be and not to be. I can guarantee you whatever the 0.5% is, if it's listed USP it has been found completely safe by the USP, but it probably, is 0.5% water.

P.S. I Graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy & Science in 1996(Since changed to the Univeristy of the Sciences in, University City, Philadelphia , PA) I was registered as a Pharmacist shortly after. So yes, I am indeed a Pharmacist.

 

[emus]

So far, I have vaped 20ml of Wilton Glycerine with no side effects.
I vape the Wilton at concentrations up to 50%.
I mix it with PGA and PG juices.

 

[Ez Duzit]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. The term Anhydrous Glycerin USP, is a pharmacopeial definition. The term anhydrous literally means no water in common language, but for the USP definition of "anhydrous glycerin, USP" they allow 0.5% of the formulation to, most likely, be water. Although it may be something else. You would have to actually look up the definition of Anhydrous Glycerine, USP in the United States Pharmacopeia to see exactly what the USP/NF allows that 0.5% to be and not to be. I can guarantee you whatever the 0.5% is, if it's listed USP it has been found completely safe by the USP, but it probably, is 0.5% water.

P.S. I Graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy & Science in 1996(Since changed to the Univeristy of the Sciences in, University City, Philadelphia , PA) I was registered as a Pharmacist shortly after. So yes, I am indeed a Pharmacist.

Not a problem with the time frame, and thank you for the original post. It's nice having forum members with your knowledge.

 

[Hanika]

Wow, can't believe I read the whole thing. lol

To a newb this thread was very informative. This forum rocks.
About to head out to Walmart to pick up some VG.
All the Juice I ordered is just to high for me, need to cut it down some.

 

[Jaschris]

Below is a link to a good article on glycerine. Looks like the food grade (Wiltons) and the USP grade (Humco) are comparable and both meet the requirements "mandated by U.S FDA regulations for use in food, drugs, medical devices and certian other products requiring ingredients of the highest purity"
Go to cleaning101.com and type glycerin in the search box.

 

[planetjacker]

I just read the whole thread and it answered so many questions. I do have one though.

I am looking to getting some of this and making some 0 nic juice for myself. Should I cut this down with water/alcohol or is that personal preference?

 

[ProfessorDaffy]

I just read the whole thread and it answered so many questions. I do have one though.

I am looking to getting some of this and making some 0 nic juice for myself. Should I cut this down with water/alcohol or is that personal preference?

I always mix propylene glycol with my VG. It's colorless and odorless.

--Prof Daffy

 

[bluesuede]

I got a 4 oz bottle of Swan USP Glycerin from Walmart the other day. I had to ask the pharmacist for it as they kept it behind the counter. When I got home I finally read the lablel(s) and on the front it says for External Use Only and on the back there's a warning that states: In case of accidental ingestion consult a doctor or Poison Control Center.

I'm scared to death to use this. I should probably just bite the bullet and buy some NOW VG from Amazon...

 

[Liz!]

I found this new brand of glycerine called Soylent. I wonder what it's made of?

 

[Scottes]

I should probably just bite the bullet and buy some NOW VG from Amazon...

I think the 100% Vegetable Glycerin, like NOW or Heritage, is a heck of an improvement over the stuff that CVS or Walmart carries. You can get heritage at someplace like a Whole Foods Market, and I've heard that many health/vitamin stores carry NOW.

 

[HippyGirl]

OK...this is going to be SO off topic, but I just read this entire thread ONLY because of the mention of Soylent Green...

1974 "Movie of the Week"...completely pegged my then 14-year-old Holy S--- O Meter.

Sorry, but I just had to comment...

 

[markarich159]

I got a 4 oz bottle of Swan USP Glycerin from Walmart the other day. I had to ask the pharmacist for it as they kept it behind the counter. When I got home I finally read the lablel(s) and on the front it says for External Use Only and on the back there's a warning that states: In case of accidental ingestion consult a doctor or Poison Control Center.

I'm scared to death to use this. I should probably just bite the bullet and buy some NOW VG from Amazon...

I'm reposting this from a previousl place in this post to answer this person's question, so I don't have to re-type the whole thing over again:

I'm a pharmacist in PA. I'm going to copy and paste a post I wrote in another subforum:

Go to the skin care aisle of most any pharmacy and you'll find a small(usually 6oz) bottle labled Glycerine, USP(Some pharmacies don't carry outright , but will special order for you). The label may have it listed as CVS Glycerine, USP or Rite Aid Glycerine, USP or Humco Glycerine, USP or Family Pharmacy Glycerine, USP etc.. you get my point. Whatever it's labeled, it's Glycerine, USP 99.5% anhydrous(meaning 0.5% water). It will cost anywhere from $3 to $6 for 6oz.(CHEAP) This is vegetable glycerine, absolutely, positively, no doubt. How do I know this? I'm a pharmacist. All OTC glycerine,USP is made by 1 single manufacturer, HUMCO. It is then contract packaged into the different pharmacy labeled bottles. I've personally called HUMCO and spoke with their QA(quality assurance) person. He assured me that HUMCO's Glycerine is in fact Vegetable source Glycerine. The reason it's labeled Glycerine and not Vegetable Glycerine is because #1 it is listed in the USP as Glycerine, USP and therefore(in order to keep the USP certification) must be labeled as it's listed in the USP. #2 it would cause confusion as Glycerine is Glycerine(regardless of the source - chemically 1,2,3-propane triol), to add the moniker VEGETABLE, makes it sound like it's two different and distinct products, it isn't. Also, USP grade Glycerine is the purest you can get. Food Grade "vegetable Glycerine" you get in health food store saying 99.9% is BS. Since they do not have to meet any standard(such as USP standards) they could say anything, they could say 10000% pure. If you get USP grade, you know you are getting exactly what is labeled(within allowable USP limits) and it is made to most stringent requirements available in the US. (i.e. USP stands for United States Pharmacopeia- drugs have meet higher standards then foods do). Kashrut(kosher) laws are Jewish religious dietary laws having to do with the preparation of food products and really have nothing to do with the labeled purity of the product. Also, Kashrut(kosher) laws are jurisdictional(handled differently in different places). In some cases a rabbi must come to the manufacturer and verify processes and equipment conform to kosher law and in some places it's enough that the manufacturer says or thinks he is conforming to the kosher laws. In any case USP and Kosher are 2 different things. There is no such listing in the USP for "Kosher Glycerine". To the people who are feeling naseous using pharmacy bought Glycerine, USP, it may be a placebo effect(thinking your not using the real VG) or you may have a sensitivity to Glycerine(unlikely). But it is not because the Pharmacy bought Glycerine,USP is inferior or NOT Vegetable Glycerine.

 

[Scottes]

Just to make sure I'm reading this correctly - it's late - are you saying that all glycerin labeled as USP is made by Humco and made from vegetable oils, not animal fats, or petrochemicals?

Can you explain why I notice such a difference between Heritage "100% vegetable glycerin" - also labeled USP - and the "generic" glycerin like the stuff found in a pharmacy?

Before you say "placebo" you should note that I've identified them 2 for 2 in a blind test. That is, I made two "identical" batches of juice - one with the generic stuff, one with Heritage - and had my wife mix them up on me. I did this because I thought I was tasting something weird in some juices, and finally thought about the VG, so I tested it blind (because that's the way such a test should be done).

And I'm very curious as to what the difference could be.

 

[Ez Duzit]

Just to make sure I'm reading this correctly - it's late - are you saying that all glycerin labeled as USP is made by Humco and made from vegetable oils, not animal fats, or petrochemicals?

Can you explain why I notice such a difference between Heritage "100% vegetable glycerin" - also labeled USP - and the "generic" glycerin like the stuff found in a pharmacy?

Before you say "placebo" you should note that I've identified them 2 for 2 in a blind test. That is, I made two "identical" batches of juice - one with the generic stuff, one with Heritage - and had my wife mix them up on me. I did this because I thought I was tasting something weird in some juices, and finally thought about the VG, so I tested it blind (because that's the way such a test should be done).

And I'm very curious as to what the difference could be.

Simply put, according to the post by the pharmacist, all USP grade Glycerin is chemically equal. Doesn't matter who made it. If it says USP, they must adhere to a very strict, very specific set of guidelines.