What does PG/VG mean in e-liquid?
The ratio between PG and VG is one of the most important factors in achieving a good e-liquid taste that best suits you
What do PG and VG mean?
PG: Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is a colourless, odourless and viscous liquid. It is widely used as an additive in food, medicines and cosmetics. PG is also used in many industrial processes to prevent moisture damage, such as in the manufacture of plastics and textiles. It is found in many products, including:
- Food products: fizzy drinks, cake mixes, salad dressings and ice cream.
- Pharmaceutical products: eye drops, toothpaste and mouthwash.
- Cosmetic products: moisturisers, make-up removers and hair care products.
VG: Vegetable Glycerine
VG is a polyol, meaning that it is a compound that can be used to make sweeteners.
Vegetable glycerine is a clear, viscous and odourless liquid with a slightly sweet taste. It is mainly used in various industries, such as medicine, cosmetics and food.
What exactly is it?
The PG-to-VG ratio is one of the most important factors in achieving a good flavour.
The higher the concentration of propylene glycol (PG), the stronger the throat hit and the more intense the sensation sought by former smokers. The higher the concentration of vegetable glycerine (VG), the greater the vapour production and the slightly sweet flavour.
Vapers who do not seek a strong "hit" prefer an e-liquid with a blend of 70% vegetable glycerine and 30% propylene glycol, which gives them just enough vapour to prevent dryness without making their vape too intense.
What are the differences?
PG and VG are two of the most common ingredients in e-liquids, but they are also two of the most confusing.
You might think they are opposites, and in a way they are. But they can also be used together to create a balanced blend of flavour and vapour production.
- PG enhances flavours and throat hit, but produces less vapour than VG. Due to its high fluidity, it is more likely to cause leaking issues than VG. It may also be poorly tolerated by some vapers (sore throat, stomach aches, allergies). In this case, we recommend a plant-based e-liquid with Végétol or vegetable propylene glycol.
- VG produces large clouds of vapour, but it reduces your perception of flavours and throat hit. It is also more likely to cause dry hits than PG.
How do you choose your ratio?
The ratio of PG to VG in your e-liquid can have a significant impact on how you vape.
If you want to vape a blend with a high vegetable glycerine (VG) content, it is best to make sure that your clearomiser can handle it in high proportions.
VG is more viscous, which means that it tends to clog coils and wicks more quickly.
If your wicks are not properly built, or if they are too small, e-liquid will struggle to flow through, and you may get a dry hit, meaning that your wicks heat up but contain no e-liquid.
Conversely, if you want to vape a blend with a high propylene glycol (PG) content, it is best to check that your equipment is suitable for this level of fluidity. It will tend to leak from your tank due to its very fluid nature.
Pay particular attention to the airflow!
Which ratio should you choose for which e-cigarette?
It is important to choose the right ratio for your e-cigarette. Ready-to-vape e-liquids are generally blended at 50/50 PG/VG, but you can also find them in our category of best 50PG/50VG e-liquids.
However, there are also other compositions, such as 80/20 and 70/30, which are more common in 50 ml formats.
The ratio is always expressed as PG/VG, so the PG content comes first and the VG content second.
This gives you enough vapour while delivering flavours and throat hit effectively.
