PG vs VG - The vaping experience

Whether you’re a veteran vaper or new to vaping, you may have noticed that most e-juices contain a PG/VG label followed by numbers (50/50, 30/70, 60/40, etc.). In this post, we are going to explain what these mean and how they affect your vaping experience. Let’s go for it!

In each bottle of our e-liquids, you can see the ingredients with which they made it: monopropylene glycol, Vegetable Glycerine, deionized water, food flavourings and nicotine (when the vape juice has nicotine).

The PG/VG label shows the percentages of two of the main ingredients in our e-juices: monopropylene glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerine (VG). But what are they exactly? Let’s see it!

What is monopropylene glycol (PG) in vaping?

PG stands for Propylene Glycol. It is an organic compound (C3H8O2 is its chemical formula). This Glycol, also called Monopropylene Glycol, is a colourless, oily, practically odourless alcohol with very low volatility.

PG is less dense than VG, so it is used as a diluent and is very efficient at transporting nicotine and flavours.

The US FDA considers PG a substance “generally recognized as safe for human consumption.” It is used in the manufacture of many personal care products and the pharmaceutical industry, such as nicotine inhalers, oral hygiene products, beauty products, shampoo, baby wipes, medical products such as asthma inhalers, and oral or injectable medications.

What does PG contribute when we vape?

Watery consistency: The consistency of PG is practically the same as water, which is why e-liquids with high concentrations of PG are quickly absorbed by vape coils of smaller devices such as vape pens and vape pods.

Strong Throat Hit: PG provides a powerful sensation in the back of the throat, much like what you feel when smoking traditional cigarettes.

It does not affect the taste: it is an odourless and tasteless substance, so it does not affect the taste of the e-liquid.

Low Residual: Due to its low density, PG does not stack in resistances as fast as VG does and this is favourable for the duration of your vape coils.

What is Vegetable Glycerine (VG) in vaping?

VG stands for vegetable glycerine, which is one of the base substances of the e-liquid. It is a natural chemical, derived from vegetable oils, so is safe for vegetarians. VG is denser than PG and slightly sweeter. E-liquids with higher concentrations of VG produce more vapour, making them a favourite for vapers looking to create enormous clouds.

The US FDA also recognized vegetable glycerine as a “generally safe for human consumption” substance. Like PG, it has multiple uses in medicine, food and personal care products, such as sweeteners, cosmetic products, shaving cream, deodorants, pet food, etc.

What does VG contribute when we vape?

Density: VG is much denser than PG, therefore its absorption into the atomizer wicks is slower. The larger tanks, for example mod tanks, contain larger diameter holes for the resistant so that the vape coil can effectively absorb the VG.

Sweeter Taste: VG has a sweetish taste. It is not as effective at transporting flavours in the e-liquid as PG, and its sweetness makes flavours more difficult to detect. High VG e-liquids have more flavouring to offset their sweetness.

More residual: VG, due to its high density, tends to quickly accumulate more residue on the resistances of your vape device, so you will have to clean the resistances and replace them more frequently.

Mild Throat Hit: Vaporizing VG is much smoother to inhale, and you won’t feel much of a throat hit. Therefore, many users prefer it.

Large cloud production: VG is very efficient in generating a large volume of cloud. Because of its thick consistency, high VG e-liquid creates much more vapor and is less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions.

So what is the best PG/VG ratio when vaping?

Neither is better than the other. Everything will depend on your taste and the type of kit you use. What PG/VG ratio do you vape? Which is your favourite? If you are new, do not forget to see our guide to vaping, and we hope that we have clarified questions you have about PG vs VG. Remember that you can comment on this post with questions you have or use our contact form.

Happy vaping!

Marketing Team – LSVape