Published on: 04/11/2022
Guide to maturing e-liquids
The production of liquids for electronic cigarettes is an aspect that attracts many experienced vapers who opt to dose ingredients in search of new flavours and special aromatic notes. However, to create quality liquids, more is needed to have all the components on hand, but it is essential to give the final product time to mature (just like a good wine).
In the following few lines, you will learn why it is essential to let liquids rest, how long they need to mature and how you can speed up the process.
How long an e-cigarette liquid needs to mature
Sooner or later, every vaper wants to try their hand at the artisanal preparation of vape liquids, partly out of curiosity and partially to mix the different flavourings available on the market to their liking. After all, once one has acquired a certain amount of experience in the vaping world, it is natural to want to search for different and more personalised flavours than ready-made creamy or fruity liquids.
However, a relatively common mistake that many people make is not waiting for the various components present in the liquid, i.e. the e-liquid base (composed of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine), the vaping flavourings and possibly the liquid nicotine, to reach the right homogenisation.
For the elements to mix and ensure an excellent aromatic yield, it is advisable to wait until the oxidation process is complete. This is because the bond that glycol and glycerine establish with the flavourings and nicotine (if present) gives rise to this phenomenon. Therefore, to understand whether a liquid is ready to be vaped, one only has to observe its colour (it becomes darker with oxidation), smell it, and, if necessary, try vaping it with an e-cig.
As the mixing of fruity flavours, creamy flavours or tobacco flavours takes place differently depending on their aromaticity and quantity, there is no standard time frame for the maturation of DIY e-cigarette liquids; in general, however, one week is a reasonable time frame.
Read also: How to choose an excellent electronic cigarette (if you have just started vaping)
Why it is better not to vape a freshly made liquid
As mentioned above, a first-time vaper often does not hold back his curiosity about his product and starts using it immediately. But what is involved in vaping a freshly made liquid? Are there any health hazards?
In reality, the substances contained in an e-cig liquid, whether commercial or artisanal, do not change chemically. Yes, there is indeed oxidation, but it does not affect the health impact of the liquid in the slightest. So vaping an unripe liquid has no such implications. However, it is not recommended to load your electronic cigarette tank with a freshly made liquid. How come?
All the effort to create a crafted product is lost if you do not wait for the right amalgam to form between its components. In two words, forcing the timing and not waiting for homogenisation means thwarting the aromatic potential of the liquid. The result is that you will vape a poor product. But since the basis of the desire to create a craft liquid is undoubtedly not this premise, let us find out what methods are most commonly used to speed up maturation.
How to speed up the maturation of e-cigarette liquids
How to speed up the maturation of DIY electronic cigarette liquids
It can take time to obtain a product capable of releasing its properties and aromas in the best possible way. We have already said that. But is there anything you can do to reduce the wait and get a good mix in less time than if you store it in a cool, dark place?
Of course, there is. There are three main techniques one can resort to:
- breathing:
- steeping;
- or streathing.
Calm down. There is no need to be frightened by these neologisms. Now let us see what these methods consist of.
Breathing consists of leaving the bottle of liquid open so that any residual alcohol evaporates. This procedure can help to mix the components more quickly, but the liquid should be kept from ‘breathing’ for a maximum of a few hours, or the risk is to speed up oxidation too much.
Steeping, on the other hand, is classic closed-top storage. However, unlike passive steeping, this technique requires the bottle containing the liquid to be shaken for a few minutes every day. By doing so, the amalgam will form in a shorter time than a week.
Finally, streathing is a technique that involves the use of heat to encourage mixing. One can put the bottle in a bain-marie in a pot or under hot water. Some even venture to use the microwave oven. This method makes it easier (and not a little) to mix the components but includes the risk of degrading nicotine and e-cigarette flavourings; to avoid this risk, it is best to keep the temperatures manageable.
Read also: Can we vape on the beach? Here’s what the legislation says on the subject.
In conclusion
If you thought that crafting your liquids was enough to keep to the dosages, after reading this article, you would be aware that to vape a product with an optimal yield, you have to wait for it to mature. At Terpy, you can find a wide selection of ready-made liquids and all you need to create your liquid, i.e. vape flavourings, nicotine bases and e-liquid bases.
