Making your own e-liquids can be difficult, but with the right time management and
determination you can create something absolutely breathtaking. There are so
many different variables to be controlled, and changing one of these variables
can affect the delicate balance of the others in ways you cannot predict.
Fortunately, there are some key factors that definitely effect your DIY
creations in predictable patterns.
One of the major variables in DIYe-liquids is the diluent, or diluent ratio,
you use. Diluents are the bases of your vape juice, compounds that will store
your juice and retain the flavor. The two used in vaping are propylene glycol
(PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG). While these perform the same function –
retaining flavor and producing vapor – they have some functionally different
properties. Furthermore, e-liquids use different ratios of these two diluents
to create different vaping experiences. Vegetable glycerin is known to produce
much thicker clouds of vapor. It also retains sweeter flavors much better, but
can also add a cloying taste to the vapor itself. Propylene glycol is much
thinner, but tends to provide a better throat hit in conjunction with proper
nicotine levels. Depending on the flavoring you choose, the ratio of these two
diluents might change. If you want a sweeter flavor to be brought out, then
increasing the ratio of VG to PG would be wise. Conversely, if you want the
other flavors brought out, increasing the ratio of PG to VG would be in order.
Another factor in DIY e-liquid
fabrication is what device you intend to use the e-juice with. Referring back
to the PG and VG ratios, certain devices may not be correct to use with certain
diluents. Too high of a VG concentration may create a more viscous vape juice,
which would be nearly impossible to correctly pull using an e-cigarette. Along
with that, certain devices may not be wise to use with certain flavors or
nicotine content levels. For example, you would never want to create an
e-liquid with high nicotine content that would be used in a
MOD. Why not, you may ask?
With a MOD, you’re inhaling far more vapor (and therefore e-liquid) per pull
than with any other device. Therefore, you’re also inhaling a far higher
nicotine concentration than you would with other devices. If you vape with this
liquid too much, it’s quite possible for too much nicotine to enter your body,
and you’ll start feeling the not-so-great side effects. Nobody enjoy nausea,
abdominal pain, and headaches very much, all of which are common nicotine
overdose symptoms.
Yet another key factor is device
temperature. Understanding flavor chemistry is key to finding the right
temperatures for your e-liquids, and understanding your device’s temperature
range is key for designing your DIY e-liquids. Your device most likely has a
strict temperature range that it can heat the coils to. If you’re
technologically advanced, you may already have a temperature control mod in your
system. Each e-juice you create will have a “sweet spot”, where all of the
finer textures and tastes will blossom to the forefront. This is due to the
actual molecules the flavors are made from. Different compounds will have
different melting temperatures, meaning that they will in essence dissolve and
lose all flavor. While the diluents buffer this temperature somewhat, finding
that critical temperature that turns the liquid to vapor without losing flavor
is absolutely critical. There is a point at which flavors are most attractive
toward sensory receptors in your nose and mouth, creating that amazing taste.
Go too far past that and you’ll get that charred flavor, a product of burning
e-liquid. It’s important to consider your device’s temperature range while
you’re making your e-liquids, as creating an e-liquid with a sweet spot above
your device’s range would be unwise.
E-liquid creation is truly an art
form. With these key factors and some experimentation, you’ll be creating
flavorful juices in no time. Temperature, device type, and diluent ratio are
all critical elements that you should keep in your mind while designing your
flavors. Make those blends perfect and enjoy the new, unique textures that only
you have the privilege of tasting.
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