What is used as flavouring in DIY vape juice?
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The flavorings used in DIY e-juice (or "e-liquid") are a crucial component, and using the right kind is essential for safety and quality.
In short, the primary flavorings used are concentrated food-grade flavor extracts that are water-soluble and oil-free.
Here's a detailed breakdown of what is used, what to look for, and what to absolutely avoid.
1. The Primary Flavorings: PG-Based Concentrates
The vast majority of DIY flavorings are suspended in Propylene Glycol (PG). These are the industry standard for several reasons:
Water-Soluble: They mix perfectly with the PG and Vegetable Glycerin (VG) base of e-juice.
Oil-Free: This is critical. Inhaling oil-based compounds can cause serious lung damage (like lipoid pneumonia).
High Concentration: You typically only need to add 1% to 15% of total flavoring to your mix, making them very cost-effective.
Heat-Stable: They are designed to be vaporized and inhaled at typical vaping temperatures.
The most trusted and widely used brands in the DIY community include:
The Flavor Apprentice (TFA/TPA)
Capella (CAP)
Flavorah (FLV)
Flavor West (FW)
Inawera (INW)
LorAnn Oils (LA) - Note: You must carefully select their water-soluble, PG-based flavors and avoid their oil-based ones.
Flavor Art (FA)
These brands specialize in creating flavors specifically for vaping or for use in food and beverages that are also safe for vaping.
2. Common Flavor Categories
Just like commercial e-liquids, DIY flavorings cover every imaginable profile:
Fruits: Single flavors like strawberry, apple, watermelon, and mango, as well as complex blends ("forest fruit," "tropical punch").
Desserts: Creams, vanillas, custards, cakes, biscuits, and pastries.
Candies & Sweets: Bubblegum, cotton candy, butterscotch, and caramel.
Beverages: Cola, lemonade, coffee, and various cocktails.
Tobaccos: Ranging from authentic, smoky notes to sweet, aromatic blends with hints of caramel or nuts.
Menthols & Mints: Peppermint, spearmint, ws-23 (a cooling agent, not a flavor), and various menthol crystals.
Savories & Novelty: Sometimes used in tiny percentages to add complexity, like flavors for butter, cheesecake, or even bacon (used very sparingly!).
3. Additives and Sweeteners
Beyond the main flavor profiles, DIY mixers use specific additives to perfect their recipes:
Ethyl Maltol: Adds a light sweetness and a cotton-candy-like note. Can also mute other flavors at high percentages.
Sweetener (Sucralose): The most common sweetener used to make a recipe sweeter, similar to commercial e-liquids. Many DIYers avoid it to prevent coil gunk.
Smooth & Mellow Agents: Additives like Triacetin (also in some flavorings) or FA Mellow Sunset can help blend flavors and reduce harshness.
Cooling Agents: WS-3 (often called "Koolada") and WS-23 provide a cooling sensation without a minty taste. WS-23 is particularly popular for its strong, odorless cooling effect.
⚠️ What NOT to Use (Critical Safety Information)
❌ Oil-Based Flavorings: As mentioned, inhaling oils is dangerous and can lead to lipid pneumonia. This includes essential oils and flavorings meant for aromatherapy.
❌ Alcohol-Based Extracts: While some flavorings contain trace amounts of alcohol (which can be allowed to evaporate), high concentrations are unpleasant (harsh throat hit) and potentially irritating.
❌ Supermarket Food Extracts & Flavors: These are often oil-based (like vanilla extract in oil) or contain other ingredients not intended for inhalation. Do not use them.
❌ Flavorings with Diacetyl, Acetoin, or Acetyl Propionyl: While these compounds are safe to eat, there was public concern about their safety when inhaled over long periods. Most reputable flavor manufacturers for vaping now offer "DX" or vape-safe versions that are diacetyl-free. The community is generally aware of which flavors contain them.
Getting Started with DIY
If you're interested in trying it:
Buy from Reputable DIY Vendors: They specifically sell the PG-based flavor concentrates from the trusted brands listed above.
Find Recipes First: Go to sites like AllTheFlavors.com or e-Liquid-Recipes.com (ELR). Find a few highly-rated recipes that sound good to you, then buy only the flavors needed for those recipes. This prevents you from buying dozens of flavors you may never use.
Start Simple: Begin with single-flavor tests or simple 2-3 ingredient recipes to understand how different concentrates behave.
By sticking to PG-based concentrates from reputable brands made for vaping, you can safely create an endless variety of e-liquid flavors tailored precisely to your taste.
