If you are new to electronic cigarettes, the myriad of brands, e-liquids, and flavors to choose from can be intimidating. This is especially true for people whose taste buds have become accustomed to the regular tobacco and menthol flavors of popular cigarette brands.
Whatever your reason for turning to e-cigarettes, there are some cardinal things to understand. One of the basic things to remember is that e-liquids or e-juice are essential to the vaping experience and are not harmful. If you do not take the time to find the right e-liquids containing flavors suited to your taste buds, vaping might be boring. Most vaping vets have discovered the particular flavors and blends of e-juice that suits them perfectly.
Unlike tobacco cigarette which contains some cancer-causing chemicals, e-liquids don’t contain harmful properties. However, they can still deliver your desired amount of nicotine.
The chemicals in e-liquids especially those made by reputable e-juice brands are considered safe. The two most important e-liquid ingredients (vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG)) as safe for human consumption. Most e-juice brands contain VG and PG or a blend of both.
So What’s the Difference
One recurring question among people who are new to vaping is; what is the difference between VG and PG?. Both VG and PG are organic compounds which appear as thick and clear liquids. However, VG is a little thicker and sweeter than PG.
VG is a favorite ingredient among the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. VG is used to make cough syrups, and it is included in some cardiac medications. It is also employed in the manufacturing soaps and skin moisturizers.
Both VG and PG assist the process of vaporization and the delivery of nicotine. However, VG produces more vapor than PG but doesn’t last as long as the later.
VG is quickly metabolized and is considered a hypoallergenic which will not cause irritation to the skin or eyes. Although this is transitory, some people may experience increased thirst when they use e-liquids with VG for the first time.
Most vapers have mixed feelings when it comes to using PG. The history of the industrial use of PG has created a bad reputation for the organic compound. Many people consider PG to be toxic for human consumption because of its use in the manufacturing of polymers and plastics. PG is also used in asthma inhalers, toothpaste, shampoo, and lotions.
When vaped, PG has more flavor than VG but it produces less vapor. However, it has a longer shelf life than VG. Some people have had allergic reactions after using PG in e-liquids. These allergic reactions may include increased skin irritation for people suffering from eczema. Irritations of the eyes and discomfort in the respiratory tract have also been recorded. These reactions usually occur when very high doses of PG are consumed within a very short time. The long-term risks of taking PG can be reduced by using low-doses.
Another difference between VG and PG can be found in their effect on the throat. While VG is ideal for sub ohm vaping due to its massive vapor production, PG has the opposite effect. The latter provides an excellent throat hit similar to tobacco cigarettes but produces considerably less vapor. Several e-liquid brands have sought to create perfect blends of VG and PG. Some vapes have been designed to allow vapers choose if they want a mild or strong throat hit or are interested in blowing massive amounts of vapor.
There is still no consensus among vapers as to which is a better e-juice material; VG or PG. For beginners, it is advisable to try out both to be in a better position to make an informed choice.