5 Simple Steps to Make DIY Vape Juice

Feeling Creative? 5 Simple Steps for Making Your Own DIY Vape Juice

You hit up your local vape store, look through the shelves, and realize none of the e-liquids on offer quite fit what you want. You can leave disappointed, or you can mix your own DIY vape juice at home.

It is not as hard as it sounds, and you end up with a juice dialed in exactly to your taste. All you need is your base (PG and VG), flavor concentrates, optional diluted nicotine, bottles, syringes, and a pair of gloves to get started.

Keep reading to find out how to combine these ingredients into a great-tasting DIY blend so you are never boxed in by the shop's selection again.

1. What You Will Need

Before you start mixing, gather your ingredients, something to transfer them, something to store the final product in, and your safety gear.

Diluted Nicotine

Nicotine is a completely optional ingredient. Keep in mind that nicotine has its own faint peppery flavor, so a high concentration will shift the taste of your blend. To find the right amount, experiment in small test batches or use a vape calculator.

As a rough starting point, 36 mg of nicotine base in a 100 ml bottle lands around a 3 mg/ml finished strength. Always handle concentrated nicotine with caution and store it locked away from children and pets.

PG or VG

PG and VG form the base of your juice. Which ratio you use comes down to the kind of vaping experience you are after.

PG, or propylene glycol, is a thin carrier that does not mask flavor much and delivers a sharper throat hit. VG, or vegetable glycerine, is thicker, adds a touch of natural sweetness, produces more vapor, and gives a smoother throat hit. Many mixers settle on a 50/50 split for balance or 70/30 VG/PG for bigger clouds.

Flavors

The last ingredient is flavor concentrate. This part is entirely up to your taste. There are thousands of single concentrates to choose from, and combining a few of them is how you build a unique recipe.

Bottles

You need something to mix and store your juice in. Squeeze bottles with a fine nozzle tip make transferring easy. Pro tip: amber or dark-colored bottles help protect the blend from light, which keeps it tasting fresh for longer.

Syringes

Syringes are essential for measuring ingredients accurately and moving them into your bottles. Use a separate syringe for each ingredient so you do not cross-contaminate your flavors and base.

Gloves

Concentrated nicotine should be treated with respect. Direct skin contact with high-strength nicotine base can be hazardous, so wear nitrile gloves and long sleeves while you handle it, and clean up any spills right away.

2. Measuring the Nicotine

If you are using nicotine, measuring it is the first step. As noted above, around 36 mg in a 100 ml bottle gives roughly a 3 mg/ml mix. Once measured, use a syringe to add it to your bottle.

Get the amount right when you draw it from its container, because too much will overpower the rest of your recipe. Keep your gloves on for this entire step.

3. Adding the Flavor(s)

Next, add your flavor concentrates. This can be any combination you like, but remember you can have too much of a good thing. A total flavor load of roughly 10 percent is a sensible starting point for most concentrates.

Push much higher and the blend can start tasting harsh or chemical rather than true to the flavor. Some potent concentrates need far less, so dialing in a recipe usually takes a little experimenting.

If the first batch comes out wrong, resist piling in more flavors to fix it. Often the recipe just needs a small tweak to one ingredient.

4. Add the Base

The final ingredient is your base, the PG and VG. Keep in mind your mix may already carry some PG from the nicotine and certain flavor concentrates, so factor that into your ratio.

When you add the base, leave a little headroom at the top of the bottle rather than filling it completely. That empty space makes it far easier to shake everything together.

5. Shake, Steep, and Enjoy

Once the juice is mixed, shake it for several minutes so every ingredient blends evenly and nothing overpowers the rest. Ingredients can separate over time, so a quick shake before each use is a good habit.

It is worth letting the mix steep for a few days before vaping it. Steeping simply means storing it in a cool, dark place to let the flavors mature and meld. Light fruit recipes may be ready quickly, while richer dessert or custard blends can take a couple of weeks to peak.

Don't Like What's in the Store? Mix Your Own

As much as you love your local vape shop, sometimes the shelf just does not have what you want. That is exactly when DIY mixing shines. Use this guide to gather your ingredients and gear, then get to work building a blend that is all yours.

Ready to start but not sure where to find the supplies? We have you covered. Visit our shop to browse our DIY e-juice products.

Frequently Asked Questions

These products are intended only for adults 21+. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. This article is general product information and is not a smoking-cessation claim.