What Is VG And PG?

Vegetable glycerine (VG) and propylene glycol (PG) are the two main ingredients or base solutions found in the majority of vaping e-liquids or vape juices. Referred to as “carrier liquids,” VG and PG allow the key components in e-juice like flavours, nicotine and additives to be vapourised and later inhaled when vaping.

But what exactly are these two ubiquitous liquids present in most e-cig solutions? And how do they influence the vaping experience? This guide aims to explain it all. We’ll cover:

• Key traits, origins and uses of PG and VG
• How tuning the PG/VG ratio impacts clouds, throat hit and taste
• Recommended ratios for new vapers or cloud chasers
• Matching ratios appropriately to devices like pods or sub-ohm tanks
• And more key considerations for getting the most from these important e-cigarette liquids!

So whether you're hoping to replicate the sensation of smoking tobacco or desire huge billowing clouds when vaping PG/VG, read on to uncover the science and experience behind propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine!

Safety Considerations with Ingesting and Inhaling PG and VG

Before diving further into applications, an important question is - how safe are PG and VG? The good news is health authorities generally recognise both as safe for ingestion and inhalation:

• Both VG and PG have GRAS status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Public Health England has extensively reviewed exposure data and also considers vaping e-liquids with PG and VG acceptably safe
• The ingredients have been used for decades in food production, asthma inhalers and more with minimal issues

However, some precautions apply when vaping e-liquids containing nicotine:

• Avoid nicotine addiction or use when pregnant
• Handle and store nicotine e-juice properly out of reach of kids and pets
• Be mindful in rare cases of potential PG sensitivity leading to minor skin or throat irritation

Overall, both pharmaceutical-grade VG and PG are well-established as safe, especially compared to health risks from smoking. But general precautions like avoiding underage access to nicotine are still warranted.

Origins: Prior Uses of Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerine

Both PG and VG had wide applications long before becoming staple ingredients in vaping liquids:

Propylene Glycol

• A petroleum by-product that is a thin, odourless, syrupy liquid
• Extensively used since the early 1900s in food production as a preservative and additive owing to its moisture-retaining properties
• Also found in various pharmaceuticals such as asthma and fog machine vapour

Vegetable Glycerin

• A thick, odourless, slightly sweet-tasting liquid derived from plant oils
• Used for decades across food manufacturing as a natural humectant sweetener in baked goods, candy etc.
• Provides smooth texture in commercial goods from toothpaste to makeup

Thanks to long-standing ingestion in foods, medicines and more, both PG and VG have been thoroughly tested and enjoy GRAS designations as Generally Recognized as Safe by the U.S. FDA among health authorities globally. Their safety and acceptance by humans when consumed paved the way for later vaping applications once e-cigs were developed.

Unique Properties: What PG and VG Each Bring to Vaping

Although some characteristics overlap, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin provide quite different properties that allow both to play unique roles improving the vaping experience:

Propylene Glycol Attributes

• As a petroleum product, it efficiently carries and enhances flavour intensity in e-liquids thanks to its solvent properties.
• Creates a noticeable throat hit - the tingling mouth/throat sensation closely resembling smoking traditional cigarettes.
• Generates a density of vapour on par with cigarette smoke rather than massive billowing clouds associated with vaping.
• Has a thin, low viscosity allowing rapid flow and wicking crucial for avoiding dry hits in vape coils.

Vegetable Glycerine Characteristics

• As a derivative of plant oils, produces enormous clouds of dense, thick vapour easily visible when exhaling.
• Thanks to its high viscosity, provides an ultrasmooth, wetter throat and chest hit compared to sharper PG sensation.
• Imparts a very subtle sweetness and enhances mouthfeel.
• Does slightly dilute or mute e-liquid flavours due to thick consistency slowing airflow.

How do these traits directly impact the practice of vaping e-cigs though?

Throat Hit Difference: PG vs. VG Vaping Sensation

One of the most noticeable differences between PG-based or VG-based e-juice comes in the form of throat hit - that tingling, peppery feeling in the mouth and throat when vaping.

Users report propylene glycol provides a much sharper throat hit closely replicating the sensation of traditional smoking. This makes PG-heavy juices like a 50/50 PG/VG ratio well-suited for switchers transitioning from cigarettes.

In contrast, vegetable glycerine offers an extremely smooth, almost wet throat hit. The vapour feels thick and heavy, but easier to inhale for most. This makes high VG juices popular for direct lung vaping common with mods and sub-ohm tanks.

Cloud and Vapour Production: More Billowing Plumes with High VG Ratios

While wispier vapour resembling traditional smoke can be desirable, generating massive clouds is one major advantage vaping has over cigarettes!

Here also lies another core difference between PG and VG in action:
Propylene glycol naturally produces much lighter vapour when vaped resembling cigarette smoke.

Meanwhile, vegetable glycerine is renowned for enormous, thick plumes of vapour production. A key reason VG is a go-to for tricks like smoke rings or “cloud competitions.”

So for fans wanting huge, satisfying clouds when exhaling vapour, higher VG e-liquids are your friend! Vaping 100% VG would maximize this, but a touch of PG (around 20% is common) helps carry tastes too.

Flavour Intensity Impact: PG vs VG Ability to Carry E-liquid Tastes

Beyond sensation and vapour density, e-liquid flavour is crucial to enjoyment. Here PG and VG again differ quite substantially:

• Propylene glycol exceptionally carries and projects most e-liquid flavours. Credited to reactive hydroxyl groups, PG effectively pops and lifts flavours including fruity, minty or creamy notes in juices.
• Higher vegetable glycerine ratios will mildly dilute or dampen flavours. Due to its thickness, VG restricts flavour volatile airflow to taste receptors. 80/20 VG/PG is a common balance that retains taste and clouds.

So flavour intensity can decrease incrementally with higher VG if cloud chasing. But for brand new vapers wanting taste mimicking tobacco, higher PG ratios around 50% enhance this flavour experience. Food for thought when selecting an ADV (all day vape)!

![PG vs VG flavour carriage differences in sample ratios indicated][PG vs VG Flavour Differences Chart]

Viscosity Difference: VG as Thicker than Water, PG Thin like Alcohol

Viscosity - or thickness between liquids - also substantially impacts vaping performance and customization.

Vegetable glycerine is an especially thick solution - thicker than honey or even olive oil. Similar in density to 90% glycerine itself.

Meanwhile, propylene glycol has a very thin, runny viscosity - akin to alcohol. This allows PG to flow and wick efficiently in vape coils and cotton. Thinner PG-based e-juices readily soak coils, minimising dry hits from poor e-liquid flow. PG's thinness also allows it to carry flavours well too.

In contrast, vegetable glycerin's honey-like thickness impedes mobility. Pure VG liquids often struggle wicking fast enough when vaping, leading to dreaded dry puffs. However a touch of PG, like 20%, thins out VG-heavy juice allowing better flow. Additionally, while muting flavours slightly, VG's density produces enormously thick, rich vapour.

Choosing VG/PG Ratios for Different Vaping Goals

With their varying traits, tuning PG and VG ratios lets vapers customise for preferred experience:

1. New vapers seeking to replicate smoking may prefer higher PG ratios up to 50/50. This enhances throat hit and flavour resemblance.
2. Sub-ohm vapers chasing huge clouds will maximize VG - often 70%+ VG favoured. But some PG is still useful to carry flavours.
3. For discreet, pod system vaping, a midpoint like 60% VG strikes a balance of clouds, taste and coil compatibility.
4. Adding distilled water also thins mixes for better wicking too. 10% is common for 70/30 VG/PG ratios.

Consider end-goals, then leverage PG and VG traits accordingly. Tinker to find your perfect ratio for enjoyment!

Examples of Common PG/VG Ratios in Vaping

To give you an idea of typical e-liquid mixes, some examples of common PG/VG ratios across vaping styles include:

• 50/50 PG/VG: Default ratio for many beginner vapers seeking throat hit and flavour similarity to smoking cigarettes.
• 60/40 PG/VG: Enhanced throat hit appeal for mouth-to-lung devices like pods and tanks.
• 70/30 VG/PG: Popular balance of ample cloud production with solid flavour carriage in sub-ohms.
• 80/20 VG/PG: Priority is dense, voluminous clouds for tricks/competitions while retaining taste
• 90/10 even 100% VG: Pure glycerin ratios for maximum vapour density in rebuildables with super-low resistances

Again, more PG brings out tastes and throat hit while higher VG creates massive clouds. Tuning ratios lets you strike the ideal balance for your vaping needs!

Choosing Your Ideal PG/VG Ratio

When selecting a PG/VG ratio, consider the following factors:

1. Vaping Goals

• What is most important to you - flavour, vapour production, or throat hit? Prioritise your main vaping goal.
• Cloud chasers should use high VG juices (70-80%+) for maximum vapor density. But retain some PG (20-30%) to carry flavors.

2. Device Type

• Pod systems and lower power devices suit 50/50 to 60/40 PG/VG ratios best.
• Sub-ohm tanks require high VG juice (70%+) but ensure proper wicking to prevent dry hits.

3. Vaping Background

• Former smokers may prefer higher PG ratios for stronger throat hit.
• Flavour and cloud chasers tend to prefer high VG ratios to maximize both.

Consider your priorities and device, then select PG/VG ratios to optimize your preferred vaping experience.

Matching VG/PG Ratios to Coil Resistances

Why pay attention to ohms when choosing e-juices? It comes down to wicking performance.

Essentially, lower resistance coils found in sub-ohms rely on higher VG ratios for sufficient flow. Typical resistances include:

• 1.0 ohms: higher resistance more common in older vape pens and clearomizers. Tends to suit 50/50 PG/VG well.
• 0.5 ohms: midrange resistance striking balance for pods and tanks. Often favours 60-70% VG ratios.
• < 0.2 ohms: very low resistances seen in sub-ohms. Requires 70%+ VG for proper wicking.

Meanwhile, higher resistance coils above 1 ohm found in tighter MTL tanks and pods wick just fine with greater percentages of PG. General guidance is to match the VG/PG ratio accordingly with lower ohms demanding more vegetable glycerine.

Other E-Liquid Ingredients: Flavours, Nicotine & More

While the base makes up 80-90% of e-juice, various supplemental ingredients complete recipes:

• Flavours: typically 8-20% concentration. Enhance taste replicating fruits, desserts, beverages etc.
• Nicotine: optional, varies in concentration from 0mg to 50mg+. Provides stimulative effect for vapers.
• Sweeteners: optional, enhance flavour intensity. Common ones include sucralose, ethyl maltol.
• Distilled Water: optional, thins VG-heavy juices aiding wicking.
• Food-grade additives: minor components like preservatives or acidity regulators maintaining stability.

When picking an all day vape, factor desired nic strength, authentic tastes, sweetness level etc. Then leverage PG and VG ratios to refine the experience further.

Key Takeaways on PG and VG Vape Juice Mixes

In summary, tailoring PG and VG ratios provides extensive customization of clouds, throat hit and taste when vaping e-liquids:

• PG efficiently carries flavours and creates throat sensation resembling smoking.
• Higher VG levels generate substantially denser vapour production.
• Tuning ratios strikes preferred balance of taste, clouds and sensation.
• Match ratios to lower ohm coils/wick better avoiding dry puffs.
• Consider end-goals and device specs when selecting juice ratios.

So try a few PG/VG blends to optimise enjoyment! Then continue leveraging their varying traits to enhance your ongoing vaping journey.