E-Liquid 101

E-Liquid is the solution used in electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) to produce a vapour the user inhales. The liquids can often be referred to as e-juice, smoke juice, juice or nicotine juice (if they contain nicotine). A typical e-cigarette is composed of a tube, atomizer and battery pack, all fitting together to appear much like a traditional cigarette. An e-Liquid cartridge is placed in the atomizer, which includes a heating coil. The battery pack powers the heating coil, which heats the e-Liquid to a point of vaporizing. The user then inhales the vapour.

When e-cigarettes first hit the Chinese market in 2004 they were touted as an alternative to analog cigarettes, even as aids in smoking cessation. E-Liquids produced at the time were fairly crude and habitually contained nicotine. As export to other markets began the following year, different flavours emerged and the choice of including or excluding nicotine became available. It is important to understand e-Liquids do not contain the over 4000 chemicals that analog cigarettes contain, which means no tar or carcinogens. However, it also means the solutions with nicotine have a very high concentration.

Let’s put things in perspective. Milligrams refer to the amount of nicotine per millilitre, with both analog cigarettes and e-Liquid. A typical analog cigarette contains 1mg of nicotine which translates into approximately ten puffs at 0.1mg of nicotine per puff (according to the WHO). One millilitre of a nicotine solution cartridge at 16mg strength will produce the equivalent of 27 traditional cigarettes, which means each puff could contain as much as 0.16mg of nicotine. The trick for the smoker is to know when to stop. One cannot simply puff away on their e-cigarette until the cartridge is empty, that will produce very undesirable physical effects and will certainly not aid in smoking cessation.

E-Liquids certainly do not contain all the thousands of chemicals that tobacco cigarettes do, but they are definitely a better alternative. The main ingredient is usually propylene glycol, a product very common in cosmetics, inhalers, food colouring and special effects smoke. A base ingredient becoming increasingly popular in North America is vegetable glycerol because it produces more vapour. On the other hand, there are some users who feel the veggie base tastes soapy. E-Liquid mixers add varying flavouring liquids or nicotine solutions to produce the desired effect.

A few things to keep in mind when choosing an e-liquid: the “Made in …” refers to where the e-Liquid was mixed, not where the base was made. Choose e-Liquids from companies that strive for natural flavouring, it cuts down on your chemical intake. Chinese made e-Liquids will almost always be cheaper and the quality will be questionable. If choosing a nicotine e-Liquid be very careful with the strength, choose something a step down from your usual cigarette strength for your first time. Most smokers transitioning between analog and electronic cigarettes will mistakenly puff away on an e-cigarette for far longer than is recommended, causing nausea and vomiting. Take it slow, limit yourself to one puff every 60 seconds and then stop at the ten minute mark.

For every brand of e-Liquid there is an argument for and against the healthfulness of e-cigarettes. The facts are these. Tobacco cigarettes contain over 4000 chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic and poisonous. Smokers become physically addicted to the nicotine in the tobacco and the oral sensations, among other things. We have discussed the ingredients of the e-Liquids used in e-cigarettes, so we know there is an absence of carcinogens. There is no second-hand smoke or fire hazard like there is with analog cigarettes. The heating coil is activated only by the user pressing a button during a puff, so no more smouldering cigarettes in bed or tossed in the forest. However, perhaps the biggest fact with the most impact on health is this: the user is inhaling vapour, not smoke. Therefore there is no tar building up in the lungs.

Flavourings are produced from the same substances used to give food and candy their taste. Consequently the available flavours for e-Liquids read the same as candy flavours. There are the ever popular vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, coffee and coconut; but many mixers have also attempted to recreate notable tobacco cigarette flavours such as Marlboro, Turkish Blend, just plain tobacco and even Cuban Cigar. It is hard to know where to start when experimenting with vaping, so we recommend a sample set of eLiquids. If you are looking to replace tobacco cigarettes, get samples of tobacco flavours. If you are exploring vaping as a new hobby or toy, try a little of each category. Have fun with it!

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