A Comprehensive Guide To PG And VG In E-Liquids

Thick, swirling clouds. A smooth hit at the back of your throat. Flavour bursting with every puff. Sounds like the perfect vape, right? What makes all of this possible comes down to two powerful ingredients of an e-liquid: PG (Propylene Glycol) and VG (Vegetable Glycerin). These unsung heroes of vape juice control everything from cloud size to flavour intensity. If you're new to vaping or looking to fine-tune your experience, understanding what PG and VG are is the first step. We're here to help you know about PG and VG in e-juice and how they work.

Both these components are an important part of an e-juice. Let’s take a look at what PG and VG do in e-liquid!

What is PG In Vaping?

PG stands for Propylene Glycol. It is a clear, odourless liquid made from different organic compounds with a mild, sweet taste. PG has a diol chemical structure with two OH groups and the same chemical composition as alcohol.
It is formally added to the UK’s Food Standards Agency's Approved Additives List (E1520). When it comes to vaping, PG is responsible for carrying most of the flavour and giving a similar sensation to smoking with an intense throat hit. The chemical properties of propylene glycol vape are perfect for stimulating an ideal smoking experience. If you have just moved towards vaping from smoking, then high PG vape juice can offer you a better satisfying vaping experience.

Beneficial Aspects of PG in Vaping

Propylene Glycol Vape provides lots of benefits when it comes to e-liquid usage, which are:

• PG is thinner than VG, which is very suitable for stealth vaping.
• It carries nicotine and flavour better than VG.
• PG requires less heat than VG, making the user less susceptible to burn injuries while puffing.

VG stands for Vegetable glycerine, an odourless, clear, and sticky liquid made from vegetable fat. It has a similar chemical structure to PG but an extra OH group, falling under the chemical composition of triol groups. This is why it has a syrup-like consistency and holds a subtle sweetness.

VG vape juice is responsible for two main functions: one is adding sweetness and giving a smooth hit, while the other is massive vapour production. High VG e-liquids are suitable for sub-ohm devices. VG vape juices usually do not carry flavours well, so the VG/PG blend is always recommended for vapers.

Pros of VG Vape Juice

VG vape juice gives several benefits, like:

• E-liquids with high VG concentration can make massive and thick clouds, making the vaping journey more thrilling.
• Vapers who are health-conscious should be glad that VG is 100% natural.
• It promotes a smoother throat hit and facilitates the smoothness of e-liquid. It is also less dehydrating than PG.

Many people wonder whether propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin are safe to inhale. When smokers are trying to quit smoking to improve their health, it's their biggest concern is whether vape ingredients are safe or not. But hey, don't worry! The UK Food Standards Agency has approved them safely! Moreover, the Public Health England estimates that vapes are 95% less dangerous than cigarettes.

The UK has strict policies for the composition of e-liquids and undergoes regular testing to meet safety standards. This is not to prove that vaping is completely risk-free, but famous health institutes have agreed that vaping is significantly less dangerous than smoking.

For further information on e-liquids, check out our comprehensive guide on vaping juice!

Matching Coil Resistance with PG/VG and Nicotine

One of the most important factors in choosing your e-liquid is your device's coil resistance, measured in Ohms (Ω). This single factor dictates which PG/VG ratio and nicotine strength will work best. Using the wrong combination can lead to a poor experience or even damage your device.

• High Resistance Coils (1.0 Ohm and above): These coils are designed for Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) vaping, which mimics the sensation of smoking a cigarette. They use less power and work best with thinner e-liquids.
  • Recommended Ratio: 50/50 or higher PG blends (e.g., 60/40 PG/VG). The thin consistency wicks efficiently in smaller coils, preventing dry burns.
  • Recommended Nicotine: Higher strengths (e.g., 10mg, 20mg) are effective because less vapour is produced. This is the standard for nicotine salts, which provide a strong throat hit at high strengths.
• Low Resistance/Sub-Ohm Coils (below 1.0 Ohm): These coils are for Direct-to-Lung (DL) vaping, producing large clouds. They use high power and require e-liquids that can withstand the heat.
  • Recommended Ratio: High VG blends (70/30 VG/PG or higher). The thicker liquid vaporises effectively at high temperatures and produces dense clouds.
  • Recommended Nicotine: Low strengths (e.g., 3mg, 6mg) are essential because sub-ohm devices produce a much larger volume of vapour. Using high nicotine in a sub-ohm device will result in an uncomfortably harsh throat hit.

How Nicotine Type Affects Your PG/VG Mix

Your choice of PG/VG ratio is directly linked to the forms of nicotine and how e-liquids are sold.

Nicotine Salts (Nic Salts): This type is Ideal for a smooth throat hit at high strengths. They are perfectly paired with 50/50 PG/VG ratios in low-power pod devices for a satisfying, cigarette-like experience.

Freebase Nicotine: This is the traditional choice and is known for a stronger throat hit at lower strengths. It is best used in high-VG blends for sub-ohm vaping, typically at low strengths like 3mg or 6mg.

Shortfills: These are large, nicotine-free bottles of high-VG e-liquid. You add separate nicotine shots to create your preferred strength, making them the most popular way to buy sub-ohm e-liquid.

Choosing the perfect blend depends on your device, your flavour and throat hit preferences, and how much vapour you want to produce. To make it easier, we’ve combined all the essential information into one clear guide below. Use this table to quickly compare VG and PG ratio and find the one that best suits your vaping style and setup:

Thinking of mixing your own e-juice? Our e-liquid calculator makes it simple and precise.

Troubleshooting PG/VG Mismatches

Even experienced vapers occasionally run into wicking or throat-hit issues. These common problems often come down to using the wrong ratio for your hardware.

Dry Hits or Burnt Taste

• Why it Happens: A thick, high-VG liquid struggles to soak into the narrow cotton channels of a high-resistance coil. The coil heats faster than the wick can keep up, scorching the cotton.
• Fix: Switch to a 50/50 or other higher-PG blend, or swap to a tank with larger juice ports designed for high-VG liquids.

Leaking or Gurgling

• Why it Happens: Thin liquid—like a 50/50 mix—in a sub-ohm tank can seep straight through the coil and out the airflow holes.
• Fix: Use a thicker 70/30 or max-VG e-liquid, or fit an MTL tank that’s built for thinner juices.

Harsh Throat Hit

• Possible Cause 1: Nicotine strength is too high for the coil and wattage. A 20 mg nic salt in a 70-watt sub-ohm mod will feel brutal.
  • Solution: Drop to a lower strength or a freebase 3 mg blend.
• Possible Cause 2: Sensitivity to PG.
  • Solution: Try a higher-VG mix to soften the hit.

After understanding the difference between PG and VG, choosing the right PG and VG can be tedious initially if you are a beginner, but it will determine your vaping satisfaction, making all the trial-and-error worthwhile. When choosing the key ingredients for your vape juice, it's all about your personal preferences, vaping needs, and device compatibility.

So, we recommend you keep experimenting, as it takes time to find the best ratio for your vaping style. You can contact our customer service team to get a better idea of what the best PG/VG ratio e-liquid is for you!