The E-Liquid Dictionary: Every Term Explained

Propylene glycol (PG) is a thin liquid that carries flavour crisply and provides the throat hit smokers recognise. Vegetable glycerine (VG) is thicker and slightly sweet, and it is what makes vapour dense and clouds big. Every e-liquid is a blend of the two, and the ratio on the label tells you its character: 50/50 balances flavour, throat feel and thickness for pod kits, while 70/30 (VG-heavy) juices are built for powerful sub-ohm kits.

Putting a thick 70/30 in a small pod kit clogs coils and mutes flavour; a thin 50/50 in a sub-ohm tank can leak. Match the ratio to the device and both problems vanish.

Freebase nicotine is the classic form: effective, but increasingly harsh as strength climbs. Nicotine salts are a modified form that stays smooth even at the UK maximum of 20mg/ml, which is why salts dominate pod-kit vaping and disposables. Same nicotine, gentler delivery, faster satisfaction.

Strengths in the UK run from 0mg to 20mg per ml. As a rule of thumb: 20mg suits a pack-a-day habit, 10mg suits lighter smoking, and low freebase strengths (3 to 6mg) belong in high-volume sub-ohm vaping. Shortfills, the big 50ml-plus bottles, are sold nicotine-free with space to add a nicotine shot yourself.