E-Liquid Explained: A Beginner's Guide to High-PG, High-VG, 50/50 & Nic Salts

The secret to a perfect vape lies in the liquid you choose. Understanding the difference between High-PG, High-VG, 50/50, and Nic Salt e-liquids is the key to unlocking the best flavour and performance from your device. Let's dive in and demystify the jargon. 

When you're new to vaping, the sheer variety of e-liquids can seem baffling. Bottles are labelled with ratios, acronyms, and terms that can feel more like a chemistry lesson than a simple choice. But understanding these core concepts is the most important step you can take to ensure you have a satisfying and enjoyable vaping experience. 

This guide is designed to provide a clear, straightforward explanation of the different types of e-liquid. We'll start by breaking down the two foundational ingredients that define every vape juice and then walk you through each of the main categories. By the end, you'll know exactly what to look for and feel confident choosing the perfect e-liquid for your kit and your personal style. 

Key Takeaways 

• E-liquids are primarily made of Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG), which determine the liquid's flavour, throat hit, and vapour production. 
• High-PG liquids are best for flavour clarity and a more tactile, cigarette-like throat hit, ideal for MTL vape kits. 
• High-VG liquids are thicker, smoother, and produce large vapour clouds, designed for powerful, sub-ohm devices. 
• 50/50 e-liquids offer a versatile balance of flavour and vapour, suitable for a wide range of starter and pod kits. 
• Nicotine Salts are a specialised type of e-liquid that deliver a smoother throat hit at higher nicotine strengths, perfect for new vapers using pod systems.

The Foundation: Understanding PG and VG 

Every e-liquid, regardless of its flavour or nicotine content, is built on a base of two simple, food-grade ingredients: Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG). The ratio of these two liquids in the mix is what dictates the fundamental characteristics of your vape. 

What is Propylene Glycol (PG)? 

Propylene Glycol is a thin, colourless, and odourless liquid. In vaping, it has two primary functions. Firstly, it's an excellent carrier for flavourings, meaning that e-liquids with a higher PG content tend to deliver a more intense and defined taste. Secondly, it provides a noticeable "throat hit"—a sensation at the back of the throat that many people who have moved away from cigarettes find familiar and satisfying. A higher PG ratio results in a more tactile draw. 

What is Vegetable Glycerin (VG)?

Vegetable Glycerin is a much thicker, more viscous liquid with a slightly sweet taste. Its main role in e-liquid is to produce vapour. The more VG in a blend, the denser and more voluminous the clouds will be. Because of its thickness and sweetness, it also creates a much smoother, gentler sensation on the inhale, which many vapers prefer over the more pronounced hit of PG. 

High-PG E-Liquids: For Flavour and a Classic Throat Hit

High-PG e-liquids typically contain a ratio of 60% PG or higher. You might see these referred to as 'classic e-liquids', a nod to the fact that they were the most common type available in the early days of vaping and remain hugely popular today. 

The experience of using a high-PG e-liquid is defined by flavour intensity and a distinct throat hit. The thinner consistency of the liquid allows it to be easily absorbed by the wicking material in smaller coils, leading to excellent, clear flavour delivery. This type of liquid produces a discreet amount of vapour, making it a great choice for those who prefer not to draw attention to themselves while vaping. 

• Best For: Vapers who prioritise flavour over clouds and appreciate a more tactile throat sensation. 
• Ideal Devices: Low-powered Starter Kits and mouth-to-lung (MTL) pod kits with higher-resistance coils (1.0ohm or above). 
• Explore the Range: High-PG E-Liquid Collection 

High-VG E-Liquids: For Smoothness and Vapour Clouds 

Often sold in larger nicotine-free bottles known as shortfills, high-VG e-liquids contain a ratio of 70% VG or more. These liquids are designed for one thing above all else: producing dense, thick clouds of vapour. 

The high concentration of VG makes the liquid thick and smooth, resulting in a very gentle inhale with almost no throat hit. While the flavour can be slightly more muted compared to high-PG blends, it is often fuller and richer, complementing the voluminous vapour. Due to its thickness, high-VG e-liquid requires a more powerful device with larger wicking channels (the ports that allow e-liquid to saturate the coil’s cotton core) in its coils to be vaporised effectively. 

• Best For: Vapers who love producing large clouds and prefer a very smooth, gentle inhale (Direct-to-Lung style). 
• Ideal Devices: High-powered, sub-ohm vape kits paired with tanks that use low-resistance coils (0.6ohm or below). 
• Explore the Range: Shortfill E-liquid (High-VG) Collection 

50/50 E-Liquids: The Versatile Middle Ground 

As the name suggests, 50/50 e-liquids contain an equal balance of 50% PG and 50% VG. This blend is designed to offer the best of both worlds, providing a satisfying middle ground that suits a huge number of vapers and devices. 

With a 50/50 e-liquid, you get a noticeable but smooth throat hit, good flavour clarity, and a satisfying amount of vapour that isn't overly dense. This versatility is their greatest strength. The medium viscosity of the liquid means it works perfectly in the vast majority of modern vape kits without causing wicking issues. For many, it's the perfect "all-day vape" liquid that performs consistently and reliably. 

• Best For: Vapers looking for a perfect balance of flavour, throat hit, and vapour production. 
• Ideal Devices: An enormous range of Pod Vape Kits and starter kits. 
• Explore the Range: 50/50 E-Liquid Collection

Nic Salt E-Liquids: For a Smoother Inhale and Fast Satisfaction 

Nicotine Salt e-liquids, often called 'Nic Salts', are a modern innovation designed to deliver nicotine more efficiently and smoothly than traditional 'freebase' nicotine e-liquids. They achieve this by using a different chemical formulation that has a lower pH level, which makes the nicotine less alkaline. 

The result is a remarkably smooth inhale with minimal throat hit, even at the highest nicotine strengths. This allows users to comfortably vape a 20mg e-liquid without the harshness that would be present in a high-strength freebase e-liquid. This smoothness is precisely why nic salts have become the standard e-liquid choice for convenient, user-friendly prefilled pod kits and their replacement pods, as they provide a satisfying high nicotine experience in a small, low-powered format. The nicotine in nic salt e-liquids is also absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly, providing faster relief from nicotine cravings. 

• Best For: New vapers or those who require a higher nicotine strength but prefer a smooth, gentle inhale. 
• Ideal Devices: Low-powered pod kits and starter kits. 
• Explore the Range: Nic Salts E-Liquid Collection