PG and VG are two vital ingredients used to make vape liquids. They are both necessary for creating an enjoyable e-liquid, so it is impossible to label one as better than the other. However, they contribute different effects to e-liquids, so there are specific PG/VG ratios that are better for different kinds of vaping. Read on to understand everything about PG vs VG and maximise your vaping experience.
What are PG and VG?
PG is the abbreviation used for the e-liquid ingredient Propylene Glycol. Propylene Glycol is a colourless, odourless and virtually tasteless liquid, which is a little thicker than water. It is used in many products, including in food, medical, cosmetic and other industries. The properties of PG make it useful as a carrier agent and moisture preserver. In e-liquids, PG provides throat hit and is the carrier agent for flavourings and nicotine.
VG is the abbreviation used for the e-liquid ingredient Vegetable Glycerol. Vegetable Glycerol is another clear and odorless liquid, but has a more syrupy consistency and a slightly sweet taste. Vegetable Glycerol is also widely used in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, often to sweeten, moisten or improve consistency. In e-liquids, VG provides the signature vapour clouds.
How safe are PG and VG?
Both PG and VG are approved as food additives by the FSA and are Generally Regarded As Safe by the FDA. They both have very low levels of toxicity and current evidence suggests they ‘should be safe for inhalation’. However, as with many aspects of vaping, more research is needed to confirm the long term effects. PG retains moisture, which causes some vapers to experience dry mouth and throat, especially when they first start vaping. This can easily be avoided by simply taking a drink of water. PG has been proven to occasionally cause allergic reactions, but the rate of this is very low. If you experience any symptoms more extreme than dry mouth while vaping, stop immediately and consult a doctor.
How do PG and VG affect the vaping experience?
In e-liquids, PG is a carrier agent for flavourings and nicotine. This means that e-liquids with higher levels of PG are good for vapers who want higher nicotine strengths. Because PG is flavourless, e-liquids with a high PG ratio can also be better for a pure flavour experience. As well as acting as a carrier agent, PG is used in e-liquids to create throat hit. The higher the PG levels, the stronger the throat hit.
VG is used in e-liquids to produce vapour clouds. High, or Max, VG e-liquids are made with higher levels of VG so that they will create larger clouds when vaped. Increasing the levels of VG in vape juices can also reduce throat hit and give them a slightly sweeter taste.
What is the best PG and VG ratio?
The best PG/VG ratio really depends on the kind of vaping experience each individual vaper wants.
A high PG vape experience is good for vapers who want a strong throat hit, less vapour production, a high nicotine strength level or very pure flavours. These experiences can be achieved by vaping e-liquids with a PG ratio of greater than 50%. The PG ratio of a vape juice generally won’t be higher than 70%, as this would be unpleasantly harsh on the throat.
A large number of e-liquids are mixed with a 50/50 PG/VG ratio, which gives a good balance of throat hit, flavour and vapour production for a well rounded vaping experience.
High VG vape juices generally have a VG ratio more than 60%. They are a good choice for vapers who want to enjoy sweet flavours with large amounts of vapour production and a gentle throat hit.
When choosing the best PG/VG ratio, make sure to consider the electronic cigarette you will use the e-liquid with. E-liquids for high PG vaping should not be used with low resistance coils as they may leak or end up tasting slightly burnt, however 50/50 ratio e-liquids are suitable for most devices. High VG e-liquids work well with low resistance coils because the thicker e-liquid can be wicked easily and heated quickly to produce the very large clouds of vapour.
At LiQuid, we stock a fantastic range of High VG e-liquids and are also the first UK company to vary the PG/VG ratios of our standard e-liquids. This allows users to experience every nicotine strength with the best balance of throat hit and vapour production.
Which ratio should I choose?
When choosing the best PG/VG ratio for you, focus on the vaping experience you enjoy the most. Make sure to consider your enjoyment of throat hit, flavour, nicotine strength and vapour production, as well as the vaping device you will be using. If all else fails, don’t be afraid to try something new!
