All about DIY e-liquid

SUMMARY

1. What is a DIY liquid made of?

2. What are the advantages of DIY?

3. How do I choose the right PG/VG base for my needs? 

4. How much nicotine do I need to add?

5. How do I choose my flavour? 

6. How do I dose my additive (optional)?

7. What do I need to make my DIY liquid?

8. I am a beginner, are there any kits available to help me get started?

Making your own e-liquid is easy! Discover our tutorial to make your own e-liquid

DIY stands for "Do It Yourself". DIY has quickly found its place in the world of electronic cigarettes as an alternative, more economical and customizable way of smoking.

Unlike ready to vape liquids, DIY e-liquid offers endless possibilities. DIY liquids allow you to create your own recipes, manage the intensity of flavours and the volume of vapour. You may think that DIY is only for experts, but it's not. Don't be afraid to get started with Freevap with this comprehensive guide that will hopefully make you a successful juice maker!

Ingredients used in the composition of DIY e-liquid

DIY e-liquid ingredients
DIY e-liquid ingredients

There are several elements involved in making a DIY liquid. The most important ingredient is the neutral PG/VG base (propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine), which makes up almost 85% of your juice. Then come the flavourings to give taste and the additives (which are optional) to enhance it all. Finally, if you vape with nicotine, you will need to add nicotine boosters.

The PG/VG base

A PG/VG base, the main element of your future recipe, is tasteless (neutral) and contains no nicotine! It is composed of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine.

Propylene glycol is not toxic. It is present in shower gels, syrups, toothpaste and dairy products. It is the one that provides a hit in the throat (associated with nicotine) and an exceptional taste.

Vegetable glycerine is, as its name suggests, 100% vegetable! This is what allows you to produce large clouds of sweet and abundant steam.

Depending on the dosage of these two elements, the sensations felt when inhaling will not be the same.

For more information on propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, please see our guide "How to choose the right PG/VG ratio".

A DIY base is packaged in a bottle ranging from 115ml to 1L. The larger the size, the more you can make liquids in quantity at a lower price!

The flavor

The flavouring or DIY concentrate is the element that will give taste to your recipe. At Freevap, we offer a multitude of flavours to suit every DIY vaper (classic, gourmet, fruity, fresh, drinks...). There are flavours known as "mono flavours" or "concentrated flavour recipe" when there are several.

Please note that a DIY flavouring cannot be consumed as is. It must be mixed with a PG/VG base. A dosage (in % or drops), to be diluted for a 50PG/50VG base, is indicated on the product sheet. Each flavour has its own maturation time (steeping), also indicated on the product sheet. We will come back to the steeping stage later.

The nicotine booster

The nicotine booster, in addition to the flavours and the PG/VG base, will boost your blend to the nicotine level that suits you best.

It comes in a 10ml bottle, as the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) prohibits the sale of vials larger than 10ml containing nicotine.

Like the base, the nicotine booster has a PG/VG ratio that differs from one product to another. You can find the following ratios: 100%PG, 80PG/20VG, 70PG/30VG, 50PG/50VG, 30PG/70VG, 20PG/80VG, 100%VG.

Recently, propylene glycol has also been replaced by vegetol for a natural vape. To learn more about vegetol, please consult our guide "Eliquids and nicotine: the help guide to understand everything".

In addition to boosters containing standard nicotine, you will find in our catalogue boosters with nicotine salts. The hit (tingling in the throat) is milder than standard nicotine. But that's not the only advantage, so you'll feel fuller faster. If you want to know more about nicotine salts, go to our article "What are nicotine salts?

The additives (optional)

An additive, optional, allows you to enhance your recipe in taste, in sensations (for example with a "so fresh" effect) or to colour it for some types of additives.

Good to know: each additive has its own dosage (in % or drops per 10 ml of DIY e-liquid), listed on its product sheet. We will come back to the doses to be respected in the "Additives dosage" section.

Advantages of DIY e-liquid

Making your own liquids allows you to customize them to your image and needs. Moreover, it allows you to control the components, to make your all-day in large quantities, but above all to make considerable savings!

A cheaper liquid

Designing a DIY liquid is indeed THE most economical solution. A vaper who consumes a lot of liquid can quickly see his bill rise, even if it is nothing compared to the cost of tobacco. Making your own liquid from scratch can have a real positive impact on a vaper's wallet.

Let's take a few concrete examples to support this statement:

An e-liquid in a 10ml bottle costs an average of 5.9 CHF. For 100ml of the same e-liquid the total is 59 CHF, or more precisely 50.15 CHF with our discount offer. Let's say you vape 3 mg/ml nicotine and you are a fan of Cirkus Authentic by VDLV Polar Mint e-liquid.

If you design the same e-liquid yourself, you will need a 115ml DIY base (50/50 DIY base from Fuu) at 3.9 CHF, two nicotine boosters ("The Boost" from Vaponaute) at 3 CHF, two flavourings (DIY Polar Mint Concentrate from Cirkus Authentic by VDLV) at 11.8 CHF and an empty graduated 230ml DIY bottle at 1.8 CHF. You can also add a 10ml DIY syringe (for more comfort and precision in your dosage) at 0.8 CHF. The total of your basket is 21.3 CHF.

In this case, you will save 28.85 CHF or 58% with a total of 133 ml.

Let's start now with a 100ml e-liquid (Mawashi from Fighter Fuel by Maison Fuel) at 24.9 CHF boosted to 3mg (20 boosters "Le Boost" by Vaponaute) at 30 CHF. For 1L of this juice, the total is 279 CHF. For the same capacity in DIY you will need a 1 litre 50/50 DIY base at 14.5 CHF, 18 boosters ("Le Boost" by Vaponaute) at 27 CHF and 4 flavourings of 30ml capacity (Fighter Fuel DIY Mawashi Concentrate by Maison Fuel) at 51.6 CHF, 6 empty graduated 230ml DIY bottles at 10.8 CHF and a 30ml DIY syringe at 1.4 CHF. Please note that the choice of DIY bottles may vary, this is just an example. The total cost of your recipe is therefore 105.3 CHF.

You will save 173.7 CHF or 53%. In addition, you will still have the basis for designing another DIY liquid.

In conclusion and in the light of these examples, you can see that the manufacture of a DIY liquid is very advantageous compared to the purchase of e-liquids ready to vaper. The larger your volume, the greater the savings.

Customized e-liquid and infinite recipes

Beyond the monetary aspect, DIY allows you to get a totally customized liquid in terms of flavour, nicotine level and PG/VG ratio. You can even combine flavours for a unique juice that's just like you. However, we do not recommend blending multiple concentrated flavours. These are tested to ensure that they are safe to use. If you mix two flavourings, no study will have been carried out beforehand to guarantee the sanitary aspect of your mixture.

By adding an additive, you can also enhance the taste of your juice to make it even more unique. As long as you stick to the recommended dosages, your liquid will be a success!

Which PG/VG base should I choose for my DIY e-liquid?

The first thing you will choose is your PG/VG base! And it is not decided randomly. You will have to take into account your electronic cigarette equipment (including coils), your nicotine needs, the desired sensations and the volume of DIY liquid that you want to produce.

The bases according to your nicotine needs and the expected effect

A PG/VG base is composed of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine. The PG/VG ratio will strongly determine the final choice of your DIY base. Indeed, each ratio delivers different effects.

For a perfect balance of flavour and vapour, and so as not to overdo it, the best choice is to go for a 50/50 PG/VG base. This is THE ideal base for vapers who are new to DIY. In addition, it will fit most of your electronic cigarettes.

For a sustained "hit" and exceptional flavours, then, go for DIY bases containing more propylene glycol than vegetable glycerine. For a dense, compact vapor and the ability to create large clouds (notice to fans of cloud chasing) it will be towards the DIY bases, called "high VG" composed mainly of vegetable glycerine that your choice should be.

Beware, even if very little used in these types of ratio, it is important to know that 100% PG and 100% VG can cause discomfort. The 100% PG can cause a dry throat due to the powerful hit it generates as well as oozing from your clearomizer, it will also make little steam, but more flavour in the mouth. The 100% VG, on the other hand, is very viscous and can cause premature clogging of the coil, but it will deliver a compact and abundant steam.

You now know everything about the effects of the PG/VG dosage. To go further, you can read our guide "How to choose the right PG/VG ratio for an e-liquid (coming soon)".

Each vaper has different nicotine needs and this will also be an element to take into account when choosing your base. To obtain a nicotine base, you will need nicotine boosters. We will return to this concept in a second part.

To find out how many nicotine boosters to mix into your DIY base, you can use our DIY calculator.

The bases according to the desired volume

There are different sizes of DIY bases: 115 ml, 125 ml, 210 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml or 1 L.

The more volume you want to produce, the larger the capacity you will choose. However, the 1 L size is the most economical. For example, you can use a beaker to measure it out and use it for several of your DIY recipes.

Be careful, however, to use the appropriate protective equipment (latex gloves and goggles) when handling the DIY base, especially when you want to nicotine it.

A DIY calculator can help you determine the amount of neutral PG/VG base you will need depending on the flavour you have selected and the nicotine level required.

The bases according to the type of e-cigarette

The last criteria to take into account in the choice of your DIY base is the type of vape material you use (coil and clearomizer in particular).

For an electronic cigarette in DL air draw (direct inhalation), prefer a ratio 30PG/70VG, 20PG/80VG or 100%VG. Liquids with less VG may "drown" the coil and may cause leaks and projections at the airflow and / or the chimney. For example, some clearomizers only use liquids with more than 70% VG. However, beware of the 100%VG ratio which is very viscous and can clog your coil.

For an electronic cigarette with a tight MTL draw (indirect inhalation), opt for a 70PG/30VG, 80PG/20VG or 100% PG ratio. For example, there are clearomizers to be used with a maximum of 60% VG. Beware of the 100% PG ratio which can cause a feeling of dehydration.

Good to know: the 50PG/50VG ratio is suitable for all types of equipment.

If you want to know more about the type of clearomizer to choose according to the ratio PG / VG you can consult the guide: "What is a clearomizer and how to choose it?"

How much nicotine booster should I use?

If you want a nicotine base, you will need nicotine boosters. Of course, you don't have to add them to your preparation if you want to vape un 0 mg/ml!

Just like the base, the PG/VG ratio differs from one booster to another. Ideally choose the same ratio as your PG/VG base. A quick reminder of existing ratios

  • Ratio 100% PG
  • Ratio 80PG/20VG
  • Ratio 70PG/30VG
  • Ratio 50PG/50VG
  • Ratio 30PG/70VG
  • Ratio 20PG/80VG
  • Ratio 100% VG

The number of nicotine boosters will depend on the desired nicotine level. But which one to choose? Simply the same as your ready to vape liquids or boosted shortfills. If you want to know more about the ideal nicotine level for your needs, you can read the guide "What nicotine level should you choose for your vape?".

To find out how many nicotine boosters you need for 100 ml of nicotine base, here is a table. If you want a different amount of nicotine base, we advise you to use an online DIY calculator.

TO OBTAIN NUMBER OF BOOSTERS TO BE PURCHASED NUMBER OF BOOSTERS TO BE USED
3 mg 2 1 and 1/2
6 mg 3 3
9 mg 5 4 and 1/2
12 mg 6 6
14 mg 7 7
16 mg 8 8
18 mg 9 9

Freevap's tip: you don't want to bother with the calculations, so buy a DIY pack. Here you only need to choose the nicotine level (3, 6, 9 or 12 mg/ml) and mix everything together to get your nicotine base. We'll come back to DIY packs later in this article.

Which flavour should I choose for my DIY e-liquid?

Choosing a flavour is not an easy task, especially when you have so many possibilities. By following your tastes and taking the format adapted to your needs, the trick should be done!

The different flavours and formats available

At Freevap, you will find a multitude of fruity, fresh, mint, classic or gourmet flavours in single flavour or concentrated recipes.

  • If you are a fruit flavours lover: 
  • If your heart is set on delicious sweet flavours: 
  • If mint flavours makes your taste buds tingle: 
  • If you are a classic flavours fan: 

Good to know: You will also have the option of vaping a neutral blend, without flavouring. To do this, simply remove the flavourings or DIY concentrates from your mix.

In addition to the choice of flavour, you will also need to consider the size of the bottle of your future flavour(s), which is usually available in 10ml or 30ml. For more details, please refer to the flavour dosage chart.

Table of flavouring dosages

To measure out your flavours, we advise you to use a DIY syringe or pipette to make your preparation easier. Please note that not all flavours are dosed in the same way, depending on the intensity of flavour desired. The recommended dosage (in % or drops) to be diluted in a 50PG/50VG base is specified on each product sheet.

It should be taken into account that a liquid with a high dosage of Vegetable Glycerine will need a higher dose of flavouring to achieve the same flavour result as a 50PG/50VG liquid.

The number of drops is given for 10ml using a 50/50 base. This quantity depends on the flavour chosen and the final capacity expected.

Here is a summary table to help you in the dosage of your flavours:

PG/VG Base Intensity of aromas 10 ml 30 ml 50 ml 100 ml 200 ml
70PG/30VG to 60PG/40VG Average 0.5 ml 1.5 ml 2.5 ml 5 ml 10 ml
High 1 ml 3 ml 5 ml 10 ml 20 ml
50PG/VG à 100%VG Medium 1.5 ml 4.5 ml 7.5 ml 15 ml 30 ml
High 2 ml 6 ml 10 ml 20 ml 40 ml

Good to know: to find out how much flavouring to add (in ml) to another capacity (in ml), here's a little calculation: 0.15 (i.e. 15%) x bottle capacity. For example, for a 150 ml bottle, here is the calculation: 0.15 x 150 = 22.5 ml of flavourings. This is a tip, but it is easiest to use a DIY calculator.

Freevap's tip: if you are using more than one flavour, divide the resulting figure (in ml) by the number of flavours you want to add

The importance of steep time

When making DIY, the steep is essential for the flavours to be as good as your creation. This is the time it will take for your liquid to mature in its bottle. During the maturation process, it is essential to keep your flask away from light and in a temperate place.

There are 5 main categories of flavours in DIY and each has a recommended maturation time:

  • Gourmet flavours: 2 to 4 weeks
  • Classic flavours: 2 weeks minimum
  • Single fruit flavours: 0 to 5 days.
  • Multi-fruit flavours: 3 to 7 days.
  • Fresh or minty flavours: 1 to 2 weeks.

These maturation times may vary according to the manufacturer's recommendations. We advise you to let the flavours mature for at least 48 hours. Please refer to the characteristics on our product sheets or sometimes to the notices for more precision depending on the product.

Table of steep times

Maturation can take from a few days to several weeks depending on the flavour.

FLAVOURS MATURATION TIME
Fruity single flavour 0 to 5 days
Fruity multi-flavours 3 to 7 days
Mint, anise, absinthe, liquorice, coffee, spices, vanilla 7 to 15 days
Gourmet 15 to 30 days
Classic / Tobacco 15 days minimum

Good to know: Let it mature longer when your PG/VG base is higher in VG.

The dosage of additives

We remind you that using an additive is optional! Choose it according to the desired effects and flavours of your e-liquid.

ADDITIVES EFFECTS FOR WHICH FLAVOUR
Sweetener Sweet note (beware of strong sweetening power!) All the flavours
Koolada Freshness without the mint taste Fruity and minty. Avoiding gourmet flavours
Acetyl pyrazine Smoked/grilled Gourmet and tobacco. Avoid fruity flavours
Sour Tangy and sour sensation, reminiscent of cola candy Fruity
Vanilline Vanilla note Gourmet and drink
Ethyl maltol Sweet note Candy and other sweets
Cinnamon Spicy flavour Fruity and gourmet
Cloves Spicy flavour Classic / Tobacco
DNB Taste of classic cigarette smoke Classic / Tobacco

As with flavourings, the dosage of the additive for a 50PG/50VG base is indicated on the product sheet, either as drops or as a percentage.

In the case of drops, the dosage is indicated for 10 ml. As with the flavourings, the number of drops will depend on the capacity of the bottle.

Please note that the addition of an additive is done on the scale of your liquid. We strongly recommend that you do not add more than 3% of this proportion to your mixture. This will prevent the additive from overpowering your flavours and the juice from simply becoming impossible to vape.

Freevap's tip: if you are using more than one additive, divide the resulting figure (in ml) by the number of additives you want to add.

The essential equipment for making a DIY e-liquid

Equipment for making DIY e-liquid
Equipment for making DIY e-liquid

Making your own e-liquid is not just about ingredients, it's also about equipment and accessories! First of all, you need empty bottles to store your preparation. There are several capacities 15 ml, 30 ml, 60 ml, 100 ml, 200 ml … to choose according to your needs.

There are also DIY syringes and pipettes to achieve precise dosages of your flavours and additives, for a successful DIY e-liquid. There are also various capacities 1 ml, 10 ml or 30 ml. For mixing, nothing better than a beaker. And don't forget a funnel to pour your nicotine base into the empty bottle.

Good to know: if you add nicotine to your juice, use gloves to protect your skin from irritation and protective glasses for your eyes. Remember to wash your hands before and after handling the products.

Freevap's tip: stick a label on your bottle to write down the flavours in your DIY eliquid and the date of manufacture.

DIY e-liquid kits for beginners

If you want to start making DIY eliquid little by little, there are DIY packs that are easy to use and require little or no calculation. Each pack contains a PG/VG base and several 10ml bottles of nicotine boosters to make your own express nicotine base. The PG/VG ratio and the number of nicotine vials vary from pack to pack. The latter depends on the nicotine level that suits your needs: 3, 6, 9 or 12 mg/ml. When buying, choose the desired PG/VG ratio (see our guide on how to choose your e-liquid) and the desired nicotine rate (use the same nicotine rate as for ready-to-use juices).

In terms of manufacturing, simply pour all the nicotine boosters provided in the vial containing the base. This contains the right amount of base to obtain the desired level. So if your bottle of base contains very little, don't panic! This is the amount needed to obtain your nicotine level. Then shake vigorously. This is how you obtain your nicotine base. All you have to do is add your flavourings and leave to stew for as long as necessary depending on the flavouring you have selected.

Good to know: For those who want an unflavoured juice, you can let your nicotine base mature for 2 days by shaking it from time to time so that the nicotine diffuses evenly. Your liquid is then ready for vaping.

Congratulations! You have made your first DIY eliquid! We're sure you've got lots of ideas in your head for DIY recipes that are just waiting to be done.

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