DIY E-liquid mixtures are an increasingly popular way to create taste explosions made specifically for you.. and by you. Here is a hobbyist’s guide to get you started.
When it comes to mixing our own E-liquids, it is difficult to find a starting point. What do you need? Which flavours work together? Where can you buy e-liquids for DIY mixing at home? Each of these questions we answer in the article below.
We will cover the essential tools and ingredients you need to create fabulous, fruity, savoury, or sweet e-liquids. We will cover the safety precautions you should follow while mixing your own DIY e liquids. We will tackle ratios, mixing skills, and how to understand nicotine strengths.
By the end of this hobbyist’s guide to mixing your own vape juice, you will be fully equipped with the knowledge you need to create a vape juice flavour that is truly made for you.
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Exploring DIY E-Liquid Mixing: A Hobbyist’s Guide. 1
Essential Tools and Ingredients. 1
Understanding Nicotine Strength. 2
Mixing Techniques and Ratios. 2
DIY E-Liquid Mixtures are Within Your Grasp. 3
Essential Tools and Ingredients
There are tools and supplies you will need before you begin mixing your own e-liquids. Arm yourself with the following ingredients should you wish to try it for yourself:
- VG and PG liquids. That’s vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol. These form the base of your e-liquid mix.
- Flavours. Once you have your base liquids to carry the flavour, you can add your favourite flavours. Usually you would do this using shortfill bottles.
- A nicotine shot. Added to your new vape juice, this will deliver the nicotine hit you are looking for as an ex-smoker.
- Tools – you will need empty vape juice bottles, syringes for measuring, measuring cylinders, gloves, scales, and perhaps some tissues to soak up any spills.
Be aware that nicotine and flavourings are entirely optional. You can vape using only the base VG:PG ratio. Remember, a higher PG is best for sub ohm and DTL vaping, while VG is best for a thicker vape juice which hits the back of your throat in a similar way to cigarettes.
Safety Precautions
Mixing up your own flavours of vape juice is a truly rewarding experience but it does come with safety precautions. There are things you should not add to your vape juice which might impact the quality of your vape juice.
Don’t add water to your vape mixture. Thin it out with PG instead. You should also avoid adding essential oils since these are not approved for inhalation use. You should not, in fact, use any flavour which isn’t made for vape use. You never know what new chemicals will do to your lungs.
A further thing to avoid if you are mixing your own e-liquids for the first time is the harshness of a strong nicotine mix. Using too strong a nicotine strength will hurt your throat and ruin your vape experience.
Keep in mind that you might not like mixing your own vape juice. Try these beginner e-liquids instead if you are new to vaping entirely. Mixing your own liquids is better suited to those who have experience as vape users.
Keep your gloves on while you mix to prevent damage to your hands. You can also keep that tissue or kitchen role at the ready in case you spill it.
Understanding Nicotine Strength
Nicotine strengths vary depending on how much of the 10ml bottle of nicotine shot that you add. If you want a low nicotine dose, add only 1.7 ml of e-liquid per 10ml bottle. This works out at around 3mg nicotine strength. 3mg of nicotine strength is a suitable measurement for beginner vape users. It is equivalent to 2 disposable vapes. These tend to have a nicotine strength around 1-3mg.
If you would like a stronger blend, then use a full bottle of nic shots per 30 ml used. That means that for every three bottles of vape juice you will require one full bottle of nic shots. This works out as the equivalent of 6mg. Likewise, if you want to make it stronger still then doubling up to two bottles of nic shot per 3 x 10 ml bottles will earn you a 12mg nicotine strength.
If you would like a 20 mg nicotine strength DIY vape juice, then you should add 1 nic shot for every bottle, instead. You can browse our past guide to nicotine strengths online if you need further information.
Choosing Flavour Profiles
There are thousands of flavour profiles to choose from. Those base liquids will carry any and all flavours, especially your favourites. Have you ever puffed on your vape and realised that you have more than one favourite flavour? Wouldn’t it be epic if you could blend them together?
Flavour profile mixes don’t always turn out how you think they will. Mixing flavour is a little like mixing colours. If you use too many, those vape flavours will become muddy. You will create a taste which has too much flavour, which can be just as bad as having not enough.
As a basic guide, sticking to the group of flavour profiles your main flavour comes from will help keep the tastes pure. For example, mixing fruity flavours together is a common favourite of manufacturers. See Punx strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry nic salts, or Ohmbrew’s passionfruit and mango flavour.
Mixing Techniques and Ratios
To begin with, try mixing a 50:50 ratio of VG: PG. This forms the simplest base for a complete vape juice. Try mixing this together in a measuring cylinder and start using a 50ml shortfill bottle. Next, add your favourite flavours, one drop at a time. 20 drops will give you the maximum dose needed. To do this, fill your syringe and drip the flavours into the cylinder.
Next comes adding the nicotine to your mixture. For a 50 ml bottle, one 10ml bottle of 20mg will create a 3mg or less effect. Add two bottles for 6mg, 3 for 12mg, and so on. Remember that the strongest maximum legal dose of nicotine is 20mg per 10ml. If you go beyond this you will run the risk of contracting nicotine poisoning.
DIY E-Liquid Mixtures are Within Your Grasp
If you use this E liquid guide, you should be able to mix and prepare your very own e-liquids from now on. Although technically tricky, once you learn the correct processes to create new e-liquids you open your vaping experience up to a whole world of new flavours.
Get out there and start mixing your e-liquids. It might just change the way you vape forever.
