(Newswire.net — December 19, 2018) — It’s easy to get confused with vaping terminology, especially if you’re a beginner. In this article, we’ll make sense of the difference between two popular bases for e-liquid: propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG). These two e-liquid bases are the most commercially available.
Propylene Glycol (PG)
PG is the less viscous of the two. It’s thinner than VG and has a runny consistency. As a result, the cotton fabric and poly fill inside wick tanks and cartomizers easily absorbs PG. Unlike VG, it doesn’t lead to as much gunk accumulation in the tanks and coils.
PG is a great base for a variety of flavors because it’s tasteless. Nonetheless, it delivers a throat hit comparable to that of tobacco, so people who want to transition from smoking to vaping prefer PG.
Development of PG with antimicrobial properties is ongoing, but evidence of its suitability for vaping is not yet available. You might feel dehydrated after vaping PG e-liquid without drinking water for a while because it absorbs moisture inside your throat.
Keep in mind that PG causes allergic reactions in some people. If you’re among these people, VG is a good alternative.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
VG has a higher viscosity than PG. It’s thicker and produces a much larger cloud of vapor. When choosing flavors for VG, keep in mind that it’s sweet-tasting.
You’re going to have a tougher time cleaning tanks and coils when using VG because of its high viscosity. To clear the gunk effectively, you’ll need to use alcohol or another cleaning solvent. It’s harder to wick with VG; you’ll give to it time to soak into the cotton. Some users report buildup of more phlegm in their throat when vaping with VG. You can minimize these problems by using the best dry herb vaporizer.
Compared to PG, there are fewer cases of allergic reactions to VG. It doesn’t lead to as much dehydration after vaping for extended periods.
Most of the users who prefer VG like it because it produce a large vapor cloud. But this comes at the cost of the throat hit that many vapers love.
Mixing PG and VG
Most e-liquids available in the market today seek to achieve a balance by mixing PG and VG to give users the best of both bases. In most cases, e-liquids feature a ratio of 60/40 or 70/30 VG to PG ratio. Both achieve a balance of vapor production and flavor.
Are PG and VG safe?
Both PG and VG are food grade liquids that are present in numerous food products. The FDA has deemed both liquids safe for human consumption, meaning they are a good choice for e-liquids.
It is important to note that while both liquids exhibit a low risk for allergy, effects vary from one person to another. People are rarely allergic to both so, for most people, using a blend of the two is fine.
Which one is better?
The answer depends on what you’re looking for so it comes down to preference. Experiment with both and different blends of the two to discover your preference.