It’s a question we get asked a lot, and it’s not something you’d really know as a beginner vaper, so we thought we’d shed some light for you.
First things first, let’s get an understanding of what VG and PG actually is.
What is VG?
VG stands for vegetable glycerin or vegetable glycerol. It is a clear liquid that is usually extracted from soybean, coconut or palm oils. It is prevalent in almost all E-liquids you’ll find. We don’t need to get into the science behind how it’s made, but it’s important to mention that it’s found in a lot of cosmetic products. It’s also found in lots of foods, which means it’s entirely safe, which is what’s important. In vaping, VG is used to thicken and sweeten liquid.
What is PG?
PG then in contrast, stands for Propylene Glycol which is just a food additive that is also added to many different cosmetic products. Similar to VG, PG is found in almost all e-liquids. In vaping, PG is used to replicate the ‘throat hit’ that you get when smoking cigarettes.
Has PG been used in Anti-Freeze?
This is a common misconception, and a borderline myth in relation to vaping. There are two types of anti-freeze, toxic and non-toxic. The toxic anti-freeze uses a substance called “ethylene glycol”, which is not used in any vape products.
How does VG/PG affect my vaping experience?
With VG being responsible for a smooth throat hit and PG being responsible for flavour, that means your vaping experience is going to be affected depending on the ratio you use.
Higher VG
With a high VG e-liquid, you can expect a thicker liquid, with a sweeter taste. You’ll also get a much smoother throat hit. A high VG e-liquid will almost always reduce the lifespan of coils too, as there is a thicker liquid to vaporise.
Higher PG
With a high PG e-liquid, you can expect a more intense and overall better flavour, but a much harsher throat hit. A high PG liquid will be better for coils, but it is likely that a liquid with a high PG ratio will hurt your throat. Some former smokers like this about PG, but it isn’t a comfortable feeling for most.
Well what about a 50/50 ratio then?
You might think, well surely a 50VG/50PG is the most sensible option then, best of both worlds right? Unfortunately that’s not how it works. A 50/50 is a great blend for e-liquids like nicotine salts, and beginners because it is a good starting point, but advanced vapers usually want more.
What VG/PG ratio should I use for my coils?
Coil resistance is is the single biggest factor to consider when choosing a VG/PG ratio.
As a general rule, if you are sub-ohm vaping (a coil with a resistance of less than 1.0 ohm) then we recommend a high VG e-liquid. A high VG ratio e-liquid will look be written as 70VG/30PG.
If you are vaping with a coil resistance above one (e.g 1.2ohm) then we recommend a liquid with a more balanced ratio, like a 50VG/50PG or 60VG/40PG ratio.
Coils are like fire, and VG and PG are like the thing that is being burnt (to simplify things). VG is a thick liquid, so it will take much more power to “burn through” it. This gives coils a shortened life span. If a liquid is too thick, coils simply can’t work through it to vaporise, so they work harder to do so.
What is the best VG/PG ratio?
Whilst personal preference has a huge impact on the optimum ratio for you, we would generally suggest that a high VG lower PG ratio would be considered better for advanced vapers. For beginners, a more balanced VG/PG ratio would be most appropriate like a 50VG/50PG or 60VG/40PG.
However, the “best” ratio depends on what you’re most concerned about when vaping.
Which VG/PG ratio should I choose?
If you’re looking for;
Sharp throat hit = High PG
Smooth throat hit = High VG
Huge Clouds = High VG
Little amounts of vapour: High PG
I’m using Nic Salts, what VG/PG ratio should I use?
Now nic-salts are a different ball game all together. Due to the way nic salts are made, they can clog up coils, so adding viscosity through a high VG e-liquid wouldn’t make sense. A nic salt e-liquid is usually sweetened, and the sweetener can be difficult to heat through. This is why for nic salts, we would only ever recommend a coil with a resistance greater than one.
Therefore, for Nic-Salts we recommend a more balanced VG/PG ratio like a 50VG/50PG or 60VG/40PG.
Conclusion
So that’s a little bit about VG/PG ratios. Vaping is a minefield, and our objective is to simplify it in a way you, the everyday person can understand. If you’re still confused about which ratio is best for you, or you just generally want to ask some questions, you can speak to us.
Either open up the chat in the right hand side of your screen to speak to one of our UK based vape experts, or email us at helpers@vape.co.uk. The team love speaking to customers, even if it’s to speak about your cat that plays the guitar.
What VG/PG Ratio Should I Use?
It’s a question we get asked a lot, and it’s not something you’d really know as a beginner vaper, so we thought we’d shed some light for you.
First things first, let’s get an understanding of what VG and PG actually is.
What is VG?
VG stands for vegetable glycerin or vegetable glycerol. It is a clear liquid that is usually extracted from soybean, coconut or palm oils. It is prevalent in almost all E-liquids you’ll find. We don’t need to get into the science behind how it’s made, but it’s important to mention that it’s found in a lot of cosmetic products. It’s also found in lots of foods, which means it’s entirely safe, which is what’s important. In vaping, VG is used to thicken and sweeten liquid.
What is PG?
PG then in contrast, stands for Propylene Glycol which is just a food additive that is also added to many different cosmetic products. Similar to VG, PG is found in almost all e-liquids. In vaping, PG is used to replicate the ‘throat hit’ that you get when smoking cigarettes.
Has PG been used in Anti-Freeze?
This is a common misconception, and a borderline myth in relation to vaping. There are two types of anti-freeze, toxic and non-toxic. The toxic anti-freeze uses a substance called “ethylene glycol”, which is not used in any vape products.
How does VG/PG affect my vaping experience?
With VG being responsible for a smooth throat hit and PG being responsible for flavour, that means your vaping experience is going to be affected depending on the ratio you use.
Higher VG
With a high VG e-liquid, you can expect a thicker liquid, with a sweeter taste. You’ll also get a much smoother throat hit. A high VG e-liquid will almost always reduce the lifespan of coils too, as there is a thicker liquid to vaporise.
Higher PG
With a high PG e-liquid, you can expect a more intense and overall better flavour, but a much harsher throat hit. A high PG liquid will be better for coils, but it is likely that a liquid with a high PG ratio will hurt your throat. Some former smokers like this about PG, but it isn’t a comfortable feeling for most.
Well what about a 50/50 ratio then?
You might think, well surely a 50VG/50PG is the most sensible option then, best of both worlds right? Unfortunately that’s not how it works. A 50/50 is a great blend for e-liquids like nicotine salts, and beginners because it is a good starting point, but advanced vapers usually want more.
What VG/PG ratio should I use for my coils?
Coil resistance is is the single biggest factor to consider when choosing a VG/PG ratio.
As a general rule, if you are sub-ohm vaping (a coil with a resistance of less than 1.0 ohm) then we recommend a high VG e-liquid. A high VG ratio e-liquid will look be written as 70VG/30PG.
If you are vaping with a coil resistance above one (e.g 1.2ohm) then we recommend a liquid with a more balanced ratio, like a 50VG/50PG or 60VG/40PG ratio.
Coils are like fire, and VG and PG are like the thing that is being burnt (to simplify things). VG is a thick liquid, so it will take much more power to “burn through” it. This gives coils a shortened life span. If a liquid is too thick, coils simply can’t work through it to vaporise, so they work harder to do so.
What is the best VG/PG ratio?
Whilst personal preference has a huge impact on the optimum ratio for you, we would generally suggest that a high VG lower PG ratio would be considered better for advanced vapers. For beginners, a more balanced VG/PG ratio would be most appropriate like a 50VG/50PG or 60VG/40PG.
However, the “best” ratio depends on what you’re most concerned about when vaping.
Which VG/PG ratio should I choose?
If you’re looking for;
I’m using Nic Salts, what VG/PG ratio should I use?
Now nic-salts are a different ball game all together. Due to the way nic salts are made, they can clog up coils, so adding viscosity through a high VG e-liquid wouldn’t make sense. A nic salt e-liquid is usually sweetened, and the sweetener can be difficult to heat through. This is why for nic salts, we would only ever recommend a coil with a resistance greater than one.
Therefore, for Nic-Salts we recommend a more balanced VG/PG ratio like a 50VG/50PG or 60VG/40PG.
Conclusion
So that’s a little bit about VG/PG ratios. Vaping is a minefield, and our objective is to simplify it in a way you, the everyday person can understand. If you’re still confused about which ratio is best for you, or you just generally want to ask some questions, you can speak to us.
Either open up the chat in the right hand side of your screen to speak to one of our UK based vape experts, or email us at helpers@vape.co.uk. The team love speaking to customers, even if it’s to speak about your cat that plays the guitar.
Until next time.
Vape.co.uk