In this DIY E-Liquid Mixing Guide we will show you how to make your own Liquid also known as Mixology.
Why would you want to make your own E-Liquid?
- Save money!
- Mix and match flavours
- It is fun!
Warning: Before you even start thinking about mixing your own e-Liquid. The first thing to warn you about is that handling concentrated or non-diluted nicotine is deadly and you should always use protective equipment such as eye protection and disposables gloves. Be extra cautious if you have children or pets in your home and keep all ingredients locked away and out of reach at all times.
E-Liquid Ingredients
There are 4 main ingredients found in E-Liquid which are:
- Nicotine
- Propylene Glycol (Also known as MPG/PG)
- Vegetable Glycerin (Also known as VG)
- Flavorings
Protective Equipment
This is one of the most important purchases when mixing your own e-Liquid to protect you against any Nicotine spillages or leakage. It is also best to handle flavourings in the same way as Menthol can also be an irritant.
Latex or Nitrile gloves will help protect any Nicotine from leaking onto your skin.
Protective Equipment includes Gloves, Glasses and Apron which can be purchased from eBay cheap.
Nicotine
When mixing your own E-Liquid then you need to purchase unflavoured concentrated Nicotine.
Concentrated Nicotine is available in different strengths, the higher percentage or milligram means that you need to dilute it more but will be more cost effective in the long term. You also need to be extra cautious handling higher concentrate strengths otherwise you may end up in hospital or even dead. You cannot purchase higher than 72mg / 7.2% concentrates due to regulations.
When purchasing you will usually get a choice of VG (Vegetable Glycerin) or PG (Propylene Glycol) based nicotine, if you have any allergies to PG then may want to consider purchasing a VG based nicotine concentrate.
Price guide: The average price for 500ml of 72mg/7.2% is around £30 in the UK but if shop around then you can pick up a bottle of 72mg PG or VG Nicotine for £50!
Flavour Concentrates
There are a range of manufacturers that make concentrates specifically for DIY E-Liquid and you should not use flavourings made for any other purpose.
The percentage of flavourings will vary depending on the manufacturer, flavour and your own preference. This part is really trial and error or you can look around on the internet for a range of recipes websites and forums.
Some popular flavour concentrates include:
Find suppliers selling flavour concentrates
Price guide: Flavouring concentrates cost around £2-£4 for 10ml but this will allow you to make any between 10-20 bottles of 10ml e-Liquid.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
This is a thick clear liquid that produces the clouds of smoke and sweet taste. It is used in products such as cosmetics such as toothpaste and mosturisers.
VG is easier to work with when it is in a warm environment so consider putting it near a radiator or in some hot water before starting the mix process.
You can buy VG from some vape shops but it can be bought from eBay at a very reasonable price in large quantities.
Propylene Gycol (also known as PG)
This is a thin clear transparent liquid that helps produce the flavour and gives the throat hit. It is also used in cosmetics, food and many other products.
It has been found some people may have a reaction to this ingredient such as a dry/sore throat so consider using more VG if you have any problems.
You can buy PG from some vape shops but it can be bought from eBay at a very reasonable price in large quantities. If you are intending to mix in larger quantities then consider buying 2-5 litres.
Bottles
I recommend purchasing a few different sized bottles so you can mix in different quantities, most standard e-Liquid bottles are 10ml or 30ml.
If you decide to produce larger batches then consider buying 100ml or 200ml as the e-Liquid is much easier to shake in a larger bottle and then transfer into a smaller bottles.
Price range: You can find bottles on eBay at a reasonable price and expect to pay around £20 for 100 x 10ml bottles or you can purchase larger size bottles in a smaller quantity for a similar price.
The quality of plastic bottles will vary, some will dent easily and others will be flexible depending on what they are made from.
Find suppliers selling bottles
Syringes
Syringes are required to measure your ingredients and the size of syringe will depend on how much you want to mix.
A good starting point is to purchase a 2.5ml, 5ml and 10ml size syringe if you want to make a few bottles of e-Liquid.
Find suppliers selling syringes
Understanding Ratios
Now that you have all the above ingredients and equipment to protect yourself the first thing to understand is the ratios of VG and PG in the mix.
The majority of e-Liquid that you purchase in the shop will either be a 70PG/30VG or 50PG/50VG mix as this gives a good flavour, throat hit and vapour production.
If you want to produce huge clouds and run at a high wattage with your device then you may want to mix at 80VG/20VG or consider 100VG but this may clog up your wicks.
Use a Calculator for Ratios
There are a number of ways to work out the ratios but I would recommend using an app or website.
We hope this mini guide helps to get you started with mixing your own e-liquid!