Understanding Vape Juice: PG, VG, Nicotine Levels, and Flavors Explained
What Is Vape Juice Made Of?
Vape juice — also called e-liquid or e-juice — is simpler than most people think. At its core, every bottle contains just a few ingredients: propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavorings, and usually nicotine. That's it. There's no tar, no carbon monoxide, no ash, and none of the thousands of combustion byproducts found in cigarette smoke.
Understanding what these ingredients do and how they interact isn't just trivia — it's genuinely useful information that will help you pick the right juice for your device and your preferences. The difference between a satisfying vape experience and a frustrating one often comes down to choosing the right PG/VG ratio and nicotine level. Once you understand the basics, you'll be able to walk into East Side Cigars & Smoke Shop and know exactly what you're looking for.
Propylene Glycol (PG): Throat Hit and Flavor Carrier
Propylene glycol is a thin, odorless liquid that's been used in food products, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics for decades. The FDA classifies it as "generally recognized as safe" for ingestion, and you'll find it in everything from ice cream to asthma inhalers. In vape juice, PG serves two important roles: it carries flavor more effectively than VG, and it produces what vapers call "throat hit" — that slight catch at the back of your throat when you inhale.
If you're a former smoker, throat hit matters more than you might expect. A big part of the cigarette experience is that physical sensation of inhaling, and PG replicates it in a way that VG alone can't. Juices with higher PG content tend to deliver crisper, more pronounced flavor and a more noticeable throat sensation, which is why many people transitioning from cigarettes prefer PG-forward blends.
The trade-off is that PG produces less visible vapor than VG. If you're someone who enjoys blowing big clouds, a high-PG juice won't deliver that. PG can also cause mild throat dryness or irritation in some users, particularly at very high concentrations. If you find that a juice feels harsh or scratchy even at a comfortable nicotine level, the PG ratio might be too high for your sensitivity.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG): Clouds and Smoothness
Vegetable glycerin is thicker, slightly sweet, and produces significantly more visible vapor than PG. It's derived from vegetable oils — typically soy, palm, or coconut — and is also widely used in food and personal care products. In vape juice, VG is responsible for those dense, billowy clouds that you see experienced vapers producing.
Beyond cloud production, VG delivers a much smoother inhale. Where PG gives you that cigarette-like throat hit, VG softens the experience. This makes high-VG juices popular among vapers who find PG-heavy blends too harsh, or among those who have moved past the "I need this to feel like a cigarette" stage and simply want a pleasant, smooth vape.
The downside of VG is that its thickness can cause wicking issues in smaller, low-power devices. Pod systems and other compact vapes are designed for thinner liquids, and a heavy VG juice (say, 80/20 VG/PG or higher) can struggle to saturate the coil quickly enough, leading to dry hits and burnt taste. VG also mutes flavor slightly compared to PG, so the same flavor concentrate will taste less intense in a VG-heavy blend.
PG/VG Ratios and When to Use Each
Most e-liquids list their ratio as PG/VG — so a "50/50" juice is half propylene glycol and half vegetable glycerin. Here's a quick guide to common ratios and what they're best for:
50/50: The all-rounder. Works well in pod systems and most low-to-mid-power devices. Good balance of flavor, throat hit, and moderate vapor production. This is the most common ratio in nicotine salt e-liquids and a great starting point if you're not sure what you prefer.
70/30 VG/PG: Leans toward smoother hits and bigger clouds while still delivering solid flavor. Works well in mid-power devices and some pod systems with larger coils. A popular choice for vapers who want more vapor without going full cloud-chaser.
80/20 or Max VG: Designed for sub-ohm tanks and higher-powered devices. Maximum cloud production, very smooth inhale, slightly muted flavor compared to higher-PG options. Not recommended for most pod systems — the liquid is simply too thick for small wicking ports.
The right ratio depends on your device as much as your personal preference. If you're using a small pod system, stick with 50/50 or 60/40. If you're running a larger mod with a sub-ohm tank, you can go higher VG without issues. When in doubt, ask us at East Side Cigars & Smoke Shop — we'll match the ratio to your specific device.
Nicotine Levels: 3mg to 50mg Explained
Nicotine strength in vape juice is measured in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL), and the range available is wide enough to accommodate everyone from heavy smokers to people who are nearly nicotine-free. Here's how the common levels break down:
3mg: Very light nicotine. Popular among experienced vapers who've stepped down over time, or recreational vapers who enjoy the act but don't want much nicotine. Typically paired with high-power devices that produce lots of vapor — you're getting your nicotine through volume.
6mg: Light-to-moderate. A common "settled" level for vapers who've transitioned from cigarettes and stepped down. Still paired with higher-power setups in most cases.
12mg: Moderate. Sometimes used in low-power mouth-to-lung devices. This is about where freebase nicotine starts getting noticeably harsh for many people.
20mg (2%): The entry point for nicotine salt e-liquids in many markets. Delivers solid satisfaction in a compact pod system. A reasonable starting point for light-to-moderate smokers.
35mg (3.5%): Strong. Good for moderate-to-heavy smokers making the switch who find 20mg doesn't quite cut it.
50mg (5%): Very strong. Designed for heavy smokers who need maximum nicotine delivery to stay off cigarettes. This level is only comfortable in nicotine salt form — at 50mg freebase, the throat hit would be unbearable.
If you're currently smoking, a good rule of thumb is: under half a pack a day, try 20mg to 35mg salts; half a pack or more, start at 35mg to 50mg salts. You can always adjust from there.
Nicotine Salts vs. Freebase: The Real Difference
Freebase nicotine is the traditional form — it's been used in e-liquids since vaping began. It works well at lower concentrations (3mg to 12mg) but becomes increasingly harsh on the throat as you go higher. That harshness is why early vapers who needed lots of nicotine had to use powerful devices that produced massive amounts of vapor at low concentrations.
Nicotine salts changed the game by adding benzoic acid to the nicotine, which lowers the pH and allows your body to absorb nicotine more efficiently. The practical result is that you can vape 35mg or 50mg nic salt juice without the throat hit feeling like sandpaper. It's smooth, it's satisfying, and it reaches your bloodstream faster — making the experience closer to an actual cigarette.
For most people starting out, nicotine salts in a pod system are the way to go. They're simpler, more satisfying, and more intuitive. Freebase has its place — particularly for vapers who enjoy bigger devices, more vapor, and have already stepped their nicotine down to single digits — but salts have become the standard starting point for good reason.
How to Choose a Flavor Profile
Flavor is the most personal part of vaping, and there's genuinely no wrong answer here. That said, we've noticed some patterns over the years at East Side Cigars & Smoke Shop that might help narrow things down.
Coming from cigarettes? Many people assume they'll want a tobacco-flavored vape juice, and some do. But a surprising number of ex-smokers find that tobacco e-liquid doesn't taste quite like they expected — it's an approximation, not a replica. Don't be afraid to try a menthol, a mint, or even a simple fruit flavor. You might be surprised at what satisfies the craving.
Fruit flavors are the most popular category by a wide margin. Mango, strawberry, watermelon, blueberry, and mixed fruit blends dominate sales. They tend to be clean, refreshing, and easy to vape all day without getting tired of them.
Dessert and bakery flavors — think vanilla custard, cinnamon roll, cookie butter — are rich and complex. They're great for short sessions but can feel heavy as an all-day vape for some people. They pair particularly well with higher-VG blends and bigger devices.
Menthol and mint remain consistently popular, especially among former menthol cigarette smokers. The cooling sensation adds an extra dimension that many people find satisfying, and menthol flavors tend to keep their taste profile consistent from the first puff to the last.
The best advice we can give: don't buy a huge bottle of something you've never tried. Start with a smaller size, see if you enjoy it over a few days, and then commit to a larger bottle once you've found your favorites.
Shop E-Liquid at East Side Cigars & Smoke Shop in New York
Choosing the right vape juice doesn't have to be overwhelming. At East Side Cigars & Smoke Shop in New York, NY, we stock a carefully selected range of e-liquids across every PG/VG ratio, nicotine level, and flavor profile covered in this guide. Our staff can help you match a juice to your device, your taste preferences, and your nicotine needs — whether you're buying your first bottle or your fiftieth.
We carry trusted brands that we've tested ourselves, and we're always happy to make recommendations based on what other customers in the Lower East Side area have been enjoying. Vape juice is one of those things that's easier to get right when you have someone knowledgeable to bounce questions off of, and that's exactly what we're here for.
Come see us at Monday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Thursday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Friday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Saturday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sunday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM, call (212) 228-2882, or get in touch online. We'll help you find your perfect juice.