Flavours and nicotine are dissolved in hygroscopic (absorbs water from the air) components, which turn the water in the solution into a smoke-like vapour when heated. Commonly used hygroscopic components include propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and polyethylene glycol 400 (often sold under the abbreviations PG, VG, and PEG 400, respectively).

Safety of liquid bases

All three liquid bases are common food additives used in a variety of pharmaceutical formulations. Propylene glycol, the current dominating liquid base, has been utilised in asthma inhalers and nebulizers since the 1950s, and because of its water-retaining properties, is the compound of choice for delivering atomized medication. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes propylene glycol on its list of substances Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), and it meets the requirements of acceptable compounds within Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

The main prominent base fluid of e-liquid tends to be Propylene Glycol (PG) or it can also be Vegetable Glycerine (VG). Contents of the e-liquid solutions vary, but their common aspects include water and flavourings in a propylene glycol or glycerine base. Nicotine is also included in solutions intended to fulfil a nicotine replacement role. PG or VG liquid is used as the carrier to provide the nicotine to the user; however users also can use electronic cigarettes with zero nicotine content e-liquid. The base fluids produce the smoke simulations visible when used with an appropriate electronic cigarette device.

Flavours

Hundreds of different flavour varieties are available, such as regular tobacco and menthol. A wide variety of food flavours are also sold, from the traditional (vanilla, coffee, cigar) to the more exotic (strawberry, watermelon, mango), some flavours aim to mimic specific cigarette brands, such as Marlboro or Camel. All flavours are subjective, and each person will have a subjective experience of the taste. Generally tobacco flavours or those that aim to mimic tobacco brands are still a stretch away from having the same flavour as a traditional tobacco cigarette brand, but still effectively offer the user a similar flavour that as well as being reasonably compatible, also offers the simulation of a great throat hit, and plumes of vapour plumes whilst simultaneously delivering the desired nicotine to the user.

Nicotine

Liquid solutions containing nicotine are available in differing nicotine concentrations to suit user preference. Dosing nomenclatures are not standardised and vary by manufacturer, but tend towards the following rough figures

Liquids said to contain "low" doses of nicotine tend to correspond to a nicotine concentration of 6–8 mg/ml (milligrams of nicotine per millilitre of liquid).

"Midrange" or "medium" doses tend to correspond to a nicotine concentration of 10–14 mg/ml.

"High" doses tend to correspond to a nicotine concentration of 16–18 mg/ml.

"Extra-high" doses tend to correspond to a nicotine concentration of 24–36 mg/ml.

Actual numerical nicotine concentration ratings are usually printed on liquid containers or cartridge packaging. Often, the standard notation "mg/ml" is shortened to a simple "mg".

The Vapor Lab

7801 N Oak Trafficway,

Kansas City, MO 64118

(816) 437-7363

http://www.thevaporlabkc.com