How to Make Your Own Vape Juice

There are plenty of reasons to make your vape juice. Some vapers love experimenting and find store-bought flavours too limiting. Others stick to a custom mix they’ve perfected and don’t want to vape anything else. And for many, making their own e-liquid is mainly about saving money. And why not? DIY vape juice is a great option. You get to make your juice taste exactly as you want it, with the ideal amount of vapour, flavour and nicotine. But what about the process itself? Is it safe? Is it worth it? And how do you even get started? Let’s break it down.

Can You Make Your Own Vape Juice?

Sure, you can make your vape juice — many vapers do! The process isn’t complicated, so there’s no need to worry about trying it at home. And when it comes to safety, just use common sense. You wouldn’t pour e-liquid into your eye or drink it straight from the bottle, right? Stick to the basics, and you’ll be just fine.

BTW: If you don’t like mixing your e-liquids, no worries. Freebase juices and nicotine salt liquids are available in a broad selection of flavours to help you ditch the cigs in no time – no experimentation is needed.

At its core, vape juice is a simple mix of four ingredients:

• Propylene glycol (PG) – A thin liquid that delivers a stronger throat hit and carries flavour effectively.
• Vegetable glycerin (VG) – A dense liquid that creates thick clouds and gives a smoother vape.
• Flavouring – The fun part! From fruity to dessert-like, the options are endless.
• Nicotine (optional) – If you’re working on cutting down your dependence, DIY vape juice is a great way to gradually reduce your nicotine intake at your own pace, making quitting as easy and natural as possible. Otherwise, just stick to the levels used in commercial e-liquids.

The tricky part? Find the right balance between PG and VG, choose safe flavourings, and get your nicotine levels right. (Hint: since the goal is to quit nicotine, the lower, the better!)

PRO TIP: A DIY starter kit can be incredibly beneficial for beginners. It includes essential items like base liquids, flavour concentrates, and mixing tools, making it convenient to start without needing to gather supplies individually.

Getting Started with DIY E-Liquids

Making your e-liquid (vape juice) can be a fun and rewarding hobby. You can create unique and delicious flavours with the right equipment and ingredients to cater to your preferences. Before you start, it’s essential to understand the basics of DIY e-liquids and the benefits they offer. By mixing your own vape juice, you can save money, explore your creative side, and enjoy a more personalised vaping experience.

Equipment and Ingredients Needed

To get started with DIY e-liquids, you’ll need some essential equipment and ingredients. Some are obvious, but others are worth sticking to — especially if you want your homemade results to be genuinely good. These include:

• A clean and sterile workspace
• A digital scale or measuring cups
• A mixing container, such as a beaker or glass bottle
• A pipette or syringe for measuring and transferring liquids
• Vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG) base liquids
• Flavour concentrates, such as fruit, dessert, or tobacco flavours
• Nicotine shots or freebase nicotine (not necessary)
• Empty bottles for storing your finished e-liquid

How to Make Your Own Vape Juice with Household Items

Can you grab a few things from the kitchen and whip up a vape juice? Not really. While PG and VG sometimes appear in food or skincare products, they must be pure and safe to inhale. And as tempting as it may be, regular food flavourings or essential oils aren’t designed for vaping and can be dangerous. E-liquids are typically stored in glass bottles with pipettes, which make it easy to dispense the liquid into vape tanks and ensure the purity and safety of the ingredients.

Creating Your Base Liquid

The base liquid is the foundation of your e-liquid, and it’s essential to get it right. You’ll need to mix the proper ratio of VG and PG to achieve the desired consistency and flavour. A general rule of thumb is using a 50/50, 60/40 or 70/30 VG/PG ratio, but you can adjust this to suit your preferences. Use an e-liquid calculator to determine the exact amount of VG and PG you’ll need for your recipe.

Adding Flavour and Nicotine

Once you’ve created your base liquid, it’s time to add flavour and nicotine. Use a pipette or syringe to measure and transfer the flavour concentrates and nicotine shots into your mixing container. Start with a small amount of flavour and nicotine and adjust to taste. Remember to use a flavour concentrate that’s specifically designed for vaping, as essential oils can be harmful when inhaled.

Mixing and Bottling Your DIY Vape Juice

Now it’s time to mix and bottle your DIY vape juice. Mix the ingredients using a pipette or syringe, and then transfer the finished e-liquid into empty bottles. Label each bottle with the flavour, nicotine strength, and date created. This will help you keep track of your creations and ensure you know exactly what you’re vaping.

Steeping and Testing Your DIY Vape Juice

Steeping is the process of allowing your e-liquid to mature and develop its flavour. Depending on the recipe and your preferences, this can take a few days to several weeks. Once you’ve steeped your e-liquid, it’s time to test it. Use a vape kit to test the flavour and nicotine strength and make any necessary adjustments to the recipe.

Top Tip: Always follow proper safety precautions and use high-quality ingredients to ensure a safe and enjoyable vaping experience.

Is It Cheaper to Make Your Own Vape Juice?

Short answer? Yes, a single bottle of store-bought e-liquid costs much more than what you’d pay for the ingredients in bulk. By the way, bulk buying is usually the only option, so keep in mind that if you want to start mixing your own vape juice, you’ll need to purchase a lot more ingredients than just one test batch. But that’s exactly where the savings come in.

Making your vape juice allows for cost-effectiveness and customisation. You can experiment with different base liquids and flavour ratios, creating a unique vaping experience. If you only want to try it once, consider teaming up with other vaping enthusiasts to share the supplies.

The Biggest Savings Come from Nicotine Strength—Especially If You Quit

If you’re still using it, buying high-strength nicotine and diluting it yourself is far cheaper than constantly purchasing pre-mixed e-liquids. Plus, if you’re working on cutting down, you can reduce the nicotine bit by bit in each batch without needing to buy different strengths every time — which saves you even more in the long run. There’s an upfront cost for the ingredients and mixing tools, but once you’re set-up, making vape juice at home can save you a lot of money — especially if you vape regularly.

Is It Safe to Make Your Own Vape Juice?

As we’ve said, making your own vape juice isn’t complicated. However, the key is to use only high-quality ingredients from trusted sources. We get it — you might be making your own e-liquid to save money. But cheap, low-grade ingredients won’t just ruin your vaping experience; they could also be harmful. So don’t cut corners — stick to top-quality materials.

Using e-liquid calculators is crucial for precise measurements and ensuring safety. Never use oils, syrups, or random flavourings that aren’t designed for vaping. And if you’re using nicotine, handle it with care: always wear gloves, measure precisely, and keep it away from kids and pets.

DIY or Store-Bought?

The best choice is the one that keeps you off cigarettes.

A good rule of thumb is to start small, use high-quality ingredients, and double-check your measurements. If you’re unsure, buying pre-made e-liquid is the safer choice. And if you’ve been reading this and wondering whether DIY vape juice is really for you — that might be your answer right there.

There’s no shame in sticking with store-bought e-liquids — there are hundreds of great options out there (we stock the best of the best – shop them here!), and vaping is still a far better alternative to smoking, whether you mix your own juice or not. What matters is that you stay off cigarettes.

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