How to choose the right essential oil?
You have the perfect e-cigarette device, but the bottle of e-liquid that came with it is empty, what to do?
If the battery is the heart of the e-cigarette and the atomizer is its brain, then the e-liquid is the soul of the device. Once you run out of e-liquid, all that's left is a useless device.
And with so many essential oils available in a variety of brands and flavors, how can you choose the right one for your needs?
First criterion: Taste
The first thing you should consider when buying e-liquid is its flavor. Even if you are satisfied with all the other criteria such as nicotine strength, PG and VG ratio, and vapor production, if the taste of the e-liquid is not to your liking, you should not buy it. Luckily, e-liquid comes in almost every flavor you can think of: food, cocktails, and of course, tobacco.
New e-cigarette users often choose e-liquids that taste similar to the cigarette brand they are used to. E-liquid manufacturers understand this very well, so they have created many flavor blends that are similar to the taste of famous cigarette brands.
As people get used to it, they also become more adventurous and start to try fruit or food flavour blends. Many people like food flavours like muffins, cakes or pizza, while others like fruit flavours like grape, watermelon or mango. There are also many other flavour blends where manufacturers mix different fruit, food and tobacco flavours to create a more unique flavour.
With so many flavors and combinations to choose from, cocktail flavors are bound to come into play. Beer, spirits, and wine are just a few examples of the flavors available in alcoholic beverages.
Essential oils come in a wide variety of flavors.
So when you start choosing your essential oils, start with the ones that you are sure you will like. Once you have a good selection, you can start experimenting with other flavors. Some people don’t even like to use the available essential oils, and instead make their own.
Second criterion: Nicotine
Once you have chosen the e-liquid flavor you like, the next step is to choose the amount of nicotine that suits your needs.
Nicotine is one of the substances found in cigarettes, e-cigarettes are a safer way to get nicotine into your body, because you can control the amount of nicotine you are using. The percentage of nicotine in e-liquid is quite diverse, with average concentrations being 0%, 0.6%, 1.2%, 1.8%, 2.4% and 3.6% in a certain volume. The percentage of nicotine is the percentage of nicotine contained in each puff, the rest is water, PG or VG and flavorings.
Different nicotine concentrations even with the same taste
For example, if you choose an e-liquid with a nicotine concentration of 1.2%, then only 1.2% of the ingredients are nicotine, the remaining 98.8% is water, PG or VG, and food flavorings. Some companies often measure nicotine in milligrams. Instead of 1.2%, they will say 12mg. It’s the same thing, just written differently. The more nicotine in the ingredients, the more nicotine you get when you inhale.
The number of packs of cigarettes you smoke daily should be the basis for choosing the appropriate nicotine concentration for your e-liquid. If you used to smoke cigarettes regularly and continuously, you should choose e-liquids with high nicotine concentration to balance. Over time, you can gradually reduce the amount of nicotine used by switching to e-liquids with lower nicotine concentration until you can completely eliminate the use of nicotine without worrying about any side effects.
0% - This e-liquid is suitable for people who have quit smoking but still want to keep the habit or people who just like vaping but do not want to absorb nicotine.
0.3% - 0.6% - This is the lowest nicotine concentration e-liquid on the market. This concentration is lower than the amount of nicotine found in light cigarettes. Recommended for those who have smoked in small quantities. It is also used as the last nicotine e-liquid before the user switches to nicotine-free or quits completely.
1.2% (12mg) – This e-liquid is for people who used to smoke light cigarettes (low nicotine) and those who like vaping and use nicotine but do not need too much.
In addition, there are some e-liquids with high nicotine concentrations (from 1.8% - 3.6%) that are only for heavy smokers. However, e-liquids with such high nicotine concentrations are very rare, usually made by vapers themselves or ordered on request.
It will take some time to decide which nicotine strength is best for you. It depends on your previous smoking habits and how you like to use your e-cigarette. If you want to vape all day, it is best to choose a low nicotine strength to avoid taking in too much nicotine or making your nicotine cravings worse. If you only want to take a few puffs a day, you can use a stronger nicotine strength to satisfy your cravings.
Choosing the right nicotine strength is also important, as too little will make you vape constantly to compensate, while too much will give you a headache. It’s best to start with a moderate strength and work your way down.
PG and VG, what is it?
The main solvent in essential oils can be PG (Propylene Glycol), or VG (Vegetable Glycerol) or a mixture of both. Essential oils with PG as the main ingredient will produce less smoke, but will have a stronger taste. VG is thicker and has a slightly sweet taste, so it will affect the taste of the essential oil a little, but in return, essential oils with a lot of VG will produce a lot of smoke.
Because of the difference in vape quality between the two, manufacturers often produce e-liquids that are PG-only, VG-only, or a mixture of both in appropriate proportions.
The most common ratio of PG to VG blend is 40:60, and many vapers are very satisfied with both the flavor and vapor this blend can produce.
However, some people are allergic to PG. If you experience itching, rashes, or difficulty breathing after using pure PG or PG/VG blends, you should switch to pure VG or a PG/VG ratio of 20:80.
Propylene glycol is an organic compound commonly used in some foods such as coffee, ice cream, whipped cream products and soda, some asthma inhalers and other medications. It is recognized as safe by the FDA for consumption or as a food additive. PG-only e-liquids are generally thinner than VG-only e-liquids. They can create a great throat hit, but produce less vapor than VG. PG also has a slightly sweet taste, and PG e-liquids can help prolong the life of cartridges and coils because they are thinner. However, some people are sensitive to pure PG e-liquid formulations. This is quite rare, only about 2%. The common side effects of people sensitive to PG are a dry mouth and throat.
Vegetable Glycerin, also known as glycerol, is a clear, colorless liquid derived from vegetable oils, usually palm, soybean, or coconut oil. It is used as a low-carbohydrate sugar that does not promote tooth decay. It is also used in some household and cosmetic products for its moisturizing properties. VG e-liquids are thicker than PG e-liquids. VG does not taste as good as PG, but it produces better vapor. There have been no reports of users being sensitive to VG. However, you will need to clean the tank and replace the cotton after about 3-4 uses, or replace the cartridge after 4-5 uses.
Try it yourself and choose.
The sheer number of blends available can be enough to give vapers, both new and experienced, a headache. If possible, try to taste test the e-liquid before you buy.
The importance of vaping cannot be overemphasized, as it will give you a firsthand experience of the e-liquids available. Not all e-liquids are created equal, with the variety of flavors and nicotine levels, different manufacturers will have different blends to create their own unique flavors.
For example, one brand’s mango flavor may be different from another’s. Nicotine levels may also vary between brands, even if they both advertise the same strength. You may find one brand’s 12mg e-liquid to be just right for you, but another brand’s e-liquid at the same strength may be too strong or too weak for your taste.
Most brick-and-mortar stores will let you try e-liquids on the spot. Online stores are a different story. While you can’t try them in person, you can buy sample packs. Sample packs are usually different e-liquids in small bottles, and a sample pack can contain 5, 10, or even 20 of them. After trying them, you can easily choose a flavor combination and nicotine level that suits you.
It can take some time to find the flavor, nicotine strength, and PG/VG ratio that works best for you. Try not to get complacent with what’s available. Part of the fun is trying new things, so don’t be afraid to try different brands of e-liquid. Make sure you buy quality products from reputable manufacturers and distributors. Cheaper knock-offs may save you a lot of money, but the question is whether that money will save you from future harm.
It just takes a little experimentation, and once you find your rhythm, you’ll be an essential oil expert.
