Vape Juice & E-Juice

The Ins & Outs of Vape Juice

With over 7,000 chemicals in each cigarette, at least 60 of which are carcinogenic, it is hardly surprising that people are turning to e-cigarettes to satisfy their nicotine hit. But as the range of e-juice options increase, and now include options for zero nicotine, e-cigarettes have become a great option for those just wanting to enjoy a relaxing and pleasant experience. Read on and learn more about the ins and outs of vape juice.

The difference between e-juice & vape-juice

Starting with a really easy question for those just starting to look into the world of cigarette alternatives. Although each company that sells e-cigarette products has a range of different products and often uses different terms, the terms e-juice and vape-juice are completely interchangeable.

You may also see the term e-liquid. These are all names for the liquid that is heated inside an e-cigarette device (of which there are several variations) until the liquid is vaporized and can be inhaled.

What about e-cigs, vapes & e-cigarettes?

The original term “e-cigarette” became popular as a portable smoking alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes. As the amount of nicotine that went into an e-cigarette product could be controlled by the consumer e-cigarettes became a very popular option. This was particularly true for people who were looking to reduce the amount of nicotine they consumed and were looking for a way to decrease their tobacco consumption.

However, as the products become more popular the variety and flavours continued to be developed, vapes became more associated with flavoursome products that contained little or no nicotine. Now you will find the terms vape, e-cigs and e-cigarette are also completely interchangeable.

Flavours – What are my options?

There are reported to be over 8,000 flavours currently available around the world. But like all things, not all brands are equal, and not all flavours should really have been created. With suppliers like ejuice Canada you can get flavours that include drinks, tobacco, sweets, desserts and a huge range of other options.

Flavours include refreshing peppermint, a delicious cherry, sweet ‘Juicy Chew’, and flavours like Butter Rum, a Chocolate-Mint, Pina Colada or even an Absinthe flavour for those that are game. There are hundreds of options. If you’re turning to vape to reduce the amount of tobacco or cigarettes you consume, you can even get several different tobacco flavours.

Despite the fact that the initial set up costs for e-cigs are more expensive than just buying a packet of cigarettes and a lighter, the ongoing costs for purchasing vape flavours tends to be significantly cheaper. Most suppliers of vape liquid give you the option of a nicotine free flavour, or anywhere from 1mg of nicotine through to 30mg’s. For people who are looking at cutting down or giving up smoking completely, being able to cut down slowly over a period of time can certainly make things easier.

The flavours are blended from different food grade flavourings, and more come on the market regularly. Check you are buying a reputable brand. A very small number have been found to use less than desirable ingredients, but the vast majority are safe.

What is the liquid made from?

Although different vape liquids from different companies will have variations in the ingredients, most will have either Vegetable Glycerin, Propylene Glycol or a mixture of the two.

•    Propylene Glycol (PG)

This is a thick colourless, odourless sweet synthetic liquid that is often used in food processing. In the EU you will see it as E1520 in the ingredients list. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_glycol

•   Vegetable Glycerin (VG)

This is also a colourless, odourless sweet liquid; however, vegetable glycerin is normally made from palm oil, soy or coconut oil.

Which is better?

Whether you prefer a stronger PG component or more VG in your vape liquid really comes down to personal preference. Sometimes the VG can be a little sweeter so might be preferable if your taste buds prefer a sweeter taste.

The rest of it

PG/VG makes up the majority of your vape liquid. Added water helps to create an easily vaporized mix, and of course your flavour. Nicotine may also be added in a quantity that you prefer. If you are buying off the shelf you may find that you have fewer options as to your base and nicotine quantities.

What about CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive chemical found in the Cannabis plant that has increasingly become popular for its medical properties – particularly in treating seizures.

There has been much research released around this as laws around America and the world are changing to make this and THC (the psychoactive chemical of Cannabis) legal. CBD is available in a variety of forms, including as a vape liquid.

How is vape different from smoking?

Both smoke and vapour are consumed by inhalation. That means effectively any active ingredients (e.g. nicotine) are absorbed through your lungs. It can also mean that the act of inhaling a foreign substance can cause irritation to your lungs. There are also fewer carcinogenic ingredients in vaping than in smoking. Generally, cigarette smoke contains a LOT of chemicals that have been proven to increase the risk of developing cancer. These include hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, lead, arsenic, ammonia and carbon monoxide.

Vaping may contain nicotine, but the vapour generally does not contain this number of carcinogenic chemicals. However, e-cigs are a relatively new invention, and research into the long term effects of vaping is still underway. Although generally they are thought to be significantly healthier than tobacco smoke, there is still some debate around the effect of breathing in the vapour. The effect this has on the body, whether the properties of the food grade flavourings which are used change when they are heated and breathed in rather than digested.

How does it all work?

Smoking is pretty easy – you have a cigarette, you hold a flame against one end and suck to draw the flame in. You ignite the tobacco. Then you cough because your lungs aren’t enjoying the foreign substance. With vaping, you are inhaling a liquid that has been heated by an electronic device (e-cigarette) and turned into a breathable vapour.

What’s better, what’s worse … vaping is getting more and more popular, that’s a fact. 

Klaudia xx

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