Guide to vape pods, e-liquids & strengths

In this guide, we'll take a look at the different types of vape pods and e-liquid. We’ll also explore nicotine strengths. Let’s get into it.

What is e-liquid?

E-liquid (or vape juice) is the liquid or fluid that goes into your electronic cigarette or vape. Heating it up creates the vapour that you inhale, and it supplies the flavour, mouth feel and any nicotine – everything that contributes to your overall vaping experience.

These liquids are available in various flavours, nicotine strengths, and PG/VG ratios to cater to different vaping preferences and styles.

What Is e-liquid made of?

E-liquids typically contain just a handful of ingredients:

• Vegetable Glycerin (VG): Thick, sweet and odourless liquid responsible for producing vapour clouds.
• Propylene Glycol (PG): Thin, odourless petroleum by-product delivers a throat hit.
• Flavour Concentrates: E-liquid gets its flavour from artificial or naturally derived ingredients.
• Nicotine: An optional ingredient, typically found in a variety of strengths.

How does e-liquid work?

E-liquids work with your vape device to create the vapour you inhale. Your device's battery powers a coil that heats the e-liquid, making it evaporate into an aerosol or vapour. This vapour is then inhaled through the mouthpiece of your vape device. The process is similar to boiling water on a stove, where the e-liquid is heated until it evaporates. When the vape device's coil heats the e-liquid, it turns into a vapour, which the user inhales. This mimics the act of smoking but without the combustion of traditional tobacco products.

How to pick your e-liquid? 

It’s down to personal taste, strength preference and nicotine content. E-liquids come in a wide range of flavours, formulas, and even liquids with different nicotine levels, offering more choice. For beginners, we recommend using a 50/50 blend e-liquid, which is equal parts PG and VG. This blend is a versatile and designed for users of all experience levels, while delivering a balance of flavour, vapour and compatibility with a range of devices.

What type of e-liquid does your device need?

A common mistake made by beginners is choosing an e-liquid that is incompatible with their device. Your device needs an e-liquid that will work properly with it. For example, some devices are designed to produce bigger clouds of vapour, which requires thicker e-liquid, while low-powered devices are work with a traditional 50/50 PG/VG ratio.

What is a pod system in an e-cigarette? 

Pod systems consist of a battery that powers the atomiser and turns the liquid into vapour, and a pod that contains the e-liquid. Vape pod kits tend to come in one of two types of systems: closed pod systems and open pod systems.

Closed pod system

In a nutshell, these pods are pre-filled. You can easily put them into your Vuse device and replace when necessary. This system is user-friendly because there is no maintenance work like refilling the liquid. And, because they are convenient to use, they are well suited to inexperienced vapers. Let's unpack closed pod systems in more detail. 

Open pod system

An open pod system has a similar construction: there’s the battery section that powers the atomiser and the pod that contains the e-liquid. The difference is that these pods are refillable. They work for users who don’t mind some maintenance work and prefer a more personalised vape. With an open pod system, you can choose from a large selection of flavours and nicotine strengths. So, as you’re refilling the pod, you can create a more personal blend and adjust to your own preferences.

Which pod system is right for me?

A closed pod system is ideal for beginners those looking for occasional use, and those looking for an uncomplicated and low-maintenance solution. Thanks to their user-friendliness and low technical effort, a closed pod system is particularly easy to handle.

An open pod system is better suited for experienced vapers who value an individual steam experience. An open system allows you to choose different e-liquids and performance settings according to your own preferences.

How is nicotine strength measured?

The nicotine concentration in an e-liquid is measured in milligrams per millilitre of e-liquid. This is usually shown as ‘mg’. The higher the number, the more nicotine in your vape pod. This is the number you’ll see on the front of Vuse e-liquids, eg. 0.6 on your pod refers to nicotine strength.

Types of E-Liquid

Broadly speaking, there are a few types of e-liquids you're likely to come across:

Freebase Nicotine E-Liquids

Many e-liquids contain freebase nicotine, which is the purest form of nicotine. These e-liquids are a suitable option for users who prefer a stronger throat hit, similar to that of traditional cigarettes. Freebase e-liquids are widely used in different types of vape devices, including starter kits and sub-ohm devices.

Nicotine Salt E-Liquids

Nic salts aim to make higher concentrations of nicotine more palatable for adult nicotine consumers. E-liquids containing nic salts provide a smoother throat hit at higher nicotine strengths, making it suitable for those seeking a higher nicotine strength without discomfort. They are often used with low-power devices and pod systems due to their ability to vaporise at lower temperatures.

Shortfill E-Liquids

Shortfill e-liquids are nicotine-free e-liquids that come in larger bottles than those containing nicotine, and are 'shortfilled' so that the bottles have extra space left at the top for adding nicotine shots. Shortfill e-liquids have gained popularity among vapers who are looking for more flexibility in terms of nicotine strength and value for their money.