Modified on: 06/12/2022
Composition and uses of the neutral base for electronic cigarette
The neutral base for electronic cigarettes (e liquid base) is a viscous substance with or without nicotine that makes up the base liquid for E-Cig without the addition of flavours. The vaping flavours are added to the base to enrich it and give it certain tastes and smells, which would otherwise be neutral.
If you are approaching the world of the electronic cigarette you will probably want to know the composition of the neutral base and its use, so you can make it at home or buy it ready-made.
Today we want to provide you with these explanations: at the end of this article you will know everything about the neutral base for E-Cig and you will be ready to order our flavours to customize it as well as you can and obtain truly unique e cigarette liquid!
Neutral base for electronic cigarette: composition.
The composition of the neutral base for E-Cigarettes is very simple: Propylene Glycol (PG) + Vegetable Glycerin (VG) and possibly, for those who want it, also liquid nicotine.
Some people have allergic reactions to Propylene Glycol, such as irritation of the respiratory tract. Consequently, they make or buy neutral bases of only Vegetable Glycerin (and possibly nicotine).
The neutral base can constitute a liquid for E-Cig: this is nebulized by the electronic cigarette and has a neutral taste and smell, tending slightly to sweetish. Lots of people don’t like vaping a tasteless and odorless substance; consequently they add flavours for electronic cigarettes in order to obtain a liquid that is pleasant to the taste and to the smell.
You must know that the percentage ratio between PG and VG determines some characteristics of your base. Let’s see below how.
Read also: Neutral bases with nicotine: 3 essential aspects to avoid making mistakes.
Ratio between Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin in the neutral base for electronic cigarettes.
Among the studies, relating to E-Cig liquids, that people carry out on Google, some phrases such as Base for electronic cigarette 70 30 and Base for electronic cigarette 50/50 stand out. These figures refer to the ratio between Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin: indeed, they are the quantities most used by the vapers to make the neutral vape base.
Actually, to compose your base, you can use the ratio you prefer between PG and VG, considering the following peculiarities of the two substances:
Both Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin are preservatives, used both in the food and cosmetic sectors (and, of course, in the world of electronic cigarettes). Being suitable for food use, they are perfect for vaping as our body absorbs the inhaled substances. Although both are transparent and very similar, Glycol is more viscous than Vegetable Glycerin – also called Glycerol -. This information links to the next point.
Since Vegetable Glycerin is less viscous than Glycol, the cotton of the coils needs a few more seconds to absorb it than it takes to absorb the PG. The so-called “dry shot”, or vaping when the cotton is not yet soaked in the E Cig liquid, is a much more frequent phenomenon in liquids with quantities of VG greater than those of PG.
Propylene Glycol gives a greater hit in the throat (HIT) than Vegetable Glycerin. There are those who like it and those who do not love it.
The presence of Vegetable Glycerin increases the amount of steam produced during nebulization. The vapor produced by using VG alone is very dense, maybe too excessively.
Compared to Vegetable Glycerin, Propylene Glycol retains the molecules of vaping flavours more and consequently makes the aerosol produced during nebulization more fragrant and tasty.
In the light of this information, you can create the neutral base you prefer (but if you are new to the electronic cigarette, we recommend starting with a 50/50 ratio).
In addition, you will also need to consider adding flavours and possibly liquid nicotine.
Neutral base + flavours: what you should know about it.
There are several varieties of flavours on the market: natural, natural-identical and synthetic.
As you can imagine, natural flavours are made from the extraction of the molecules of raw materials.
On the other hand, natural-identical flavours are made from molecules produced in the laboratory but identical to those found in nature.
What about artificial flavours? They are made with molecules created in the laboratory that does not exist in nature, which imitate (or try to imitate) certain tastes and smells.
The flavors must be diluted in specific percentages in the neutral base to make vaping liquids, and percentages are indicated in the package of each flavour.
After adding the flavours, you can shake vigorously and use directly your e-cigarette flavored liquid!
What if you want to add nicotine to your neutral base? Then you have to do this before diluting the flavours.
Read also: Magnetic stirrer: what it is and what characteristics it must have for vaping
Liquid nicotine for electronic cigarettes and neutral base
You must know that liquid nicotine is not traded pure, as it is a harmful substance that could also kill those who use too much. Consequently, in the UK and throughout Europe, nicotine is already diluted in a neutral base in bottles of maximum 10 ml.
When making your E-Cig liquid you must consider that Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin are already present in the nicotine bottle.
When purchasing nicotine base, you can choose the PG / VG ratio (generally 50/50 and 70/30). Usually the 50/50 bottle has nicotine quantities ranging from 0 mg / ml to 18 mg / ml, while the 70/30 bottle usually contains nicotine amounts between 0 mg / ml and 3 mg / ml.
In conclusion
The neutral base for electronic cigarettes is basically the E-Cig liquid without the addition of flavours; it may contain or not the liquid nicotine and has a neutral flavour (quite sweet due to the vegetable glycerin). The use of vape flavours gives your liquid a unique taste and significantly improves your experience. Do you want to customize your neutral base for electronic cigarettes? Take a look at our catalog of e-liquid flavours and bases right now on Terpy and choose the ones you prefer, or contact us to create the perfect liquid for your needs!
