How To Make Vape Liquid

E-liquid production doesn’t have to be limited to big companies—it’s actually pretty easy to do at home, which is why many vapers are mixing vape juice themselves. It’s an enjoyable and rewarding process that lets you customise your vape to your exact preferences.

However, if you don’t fully understand e-liquid production, the process can feel daunting. You need to understand the ingredients and mix them in the correct ratios to get a perfectly blended DIY e-liquid. Fear not—this guide walks you through every step.

Keep reading to discover the essentials of DIY vape juice and learn how e-liquid makers use raw materials to create so many wild and creative flavours.

Safety When Mixing Vape Juice

Before you start actually making your own e-liquid, you need to ensure your workspace and your approach is totally safe. These are non-negotiable:

- Protective gear - Wear gloves, eye protection, and even a mask if dealing with nicotine concentrates

- Ventilation - Nicotine vapours or strong flavourings can irritate so have a window open or a fan nearby

- Labels - Put labels on everything, including information about the date of creation, nicotine strengths, ratio of ingredients and the flavour

- Safe storage - Concentrated nicotine is a toxin, so store it very carefully and avoid contact with skin

- Clean, sterilised tools - Pipettes, beakers, and bottles should all be thoroughly sterilised to avoid contamination

- A DIY calculator - Getting your ratios right will avoid overdosing or underdosing, so an e-liquid calculator is your friend 

- Responsible disposal - Leftover concentrates, used containers, and any other waste should be cleaned up and discarded safely

And, most importantly, ALWAYS keep chemicals out of reach of kids and pets.

DIY Vape Juice Ingredients

To start, you’ll need nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), and flavourings. You can find these at vape shops or online.

Propylene Glycol (PG)

PG is an odourless and colourless organic compound used in vape juices. It is one of the primary bases of the juice and is responsible for the throat hits you enjoy. 

Usually, it is mixed in a 50:50 or 60:40 ratio with VG.

Vegetable Glycerin (VG)

Compared to PG, VG is thicker and has a sweet tinge. It impacts the whole flavour profile of the vape juice. More VG content will result in a sweeter vape juice. It also gives thicker clouds and a sensation closer to smoking. 

Using half and half PG and VG gives you the best of both vaping experiences - a smooth feel, thick clouds and a throat hit.

Nicotine

You can buy nicotine liquid in various strengths depending on your needs. If you're a beginner, you might want to start at 5mg and gradually try 20mg. For those switching from traditional smoking to DIY vaping, higher nicotine strengths may be more suitable. 

With some careful experimentation, you’ll find the right dosage for your vaping preferences.

Flavouring

Can you mix vape liquids? Absolutely! There are all sorts of e-liquid flavours out now, with new ones being created all the time. Fruit flavours are always popular, as are desserts and tropical medleys. Many ex-smokers like tobacco-inspired flavours  or menthol tastes for an icy kick.

Have fun mixing vape juice flavours and experiment until you find one you love. 

What Equipment Do You Need in Your DIY Vape Juice Kit?

• Measuring tools: Syringes, graduated cylinders, pipettes, and a precise digital scale.
• Empty bottles: Glass or PET bottles with drip tips/droppers.
• Stirrer: Either a magnetic or vortex (optional but helpful).
• Stationery: Notebook for recipes and ratios, log sheet, labels.
• E-liquid calculator: Keep our calculator page open while you mix.

RIOT DIY Vape Juice Kits

If you’re a beginner, a kit can be the easiest way to start without buying everything in bulk. A Riot Flavours starter kit includes the core supplies and helps you learn correct technique.

How To Make Vape Liquid

There are two main methods for mixing vape juice: by weight or by volume. 

When adding ingredients, it's always ideal to start with lower quantities in case you make a mistake and have to discard or tweak the volume. There is no perfect order to add the ingredients; however, adding too much nicotine at the end of mixing may throw off the whole vape juice's balance. So, it’s often best to add nicotine first to have more control.

1. Mixing by Weight

For this method, you'll need a scale to measure all the ingredients' weight and specific gravity. Each ml of different ingredients has a different weight attribution. For instance, a ml of VG will be heavier than a ml of flavour concentrates and PG. This is when to use the Riot DIY e-liquid calculator. It will help prevent you from making significant errors while mixing.

2. Mixing by Volume

Mixing by volume works by using different syringes for each ingredient. You will still need to work out the measurements of ingredients with the help of an e-liquid calculator. The calculator will translate the ml of the ingredients required to make a certain amount of vape juice, so you won't have to eyeball any ingredients. Make sure your ingredients add up to the total volume of e-liquid as illustrated below.

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Mixing Vape Juice – 5 Easy Steps

1. Gather all DIY supplies (or use a DIY kit).
2. In a 50 ml bottle, add PG and VG at 50/50 (adjust to preference).
3. Add 10–20 drops of flavour concentrate(s).
4. Carefully add 10 ml of nicotine shots (adjust per desired strength/legal limits).
5. Cap and shake thoroughly to combine.

Tip: Many mixers add nicotine early for better control of the final ratio.

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Mixing the Right PG/VG Ratio

The balance of PG and VG matters for a couple of reasons:

- PG gives stronger throat hit, better flavour carry, lower viscosity

- VG gives thicker clouds, and a smoother draw, but is more viscous and might not wick (be absorbed and transported through the vape) well in some devices

Common PG/VG ratios:

- 50/50 (balanced flavour & vapour)

- 30/70 (lower PG, more vapour)

- 70/30 (stronger throat hit)

Our calculator should give you proper ml amounts for both PG and VG, after accounting for nicotine and flavour volumes. When you adjust one value it can change another, so be aware of this when mixing vape juice yourself.

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Steeping

To get the most fun out of your vape juice, you need to steep it. Steeping allows the flavours to mix and mingle, resulting in a more flavourful and satisfying vape. There are a few ways to steep, but the easiest is just to let it sit in a dark place for four to five days.

The Benefits of DIY E-Liquid

1. Custom Strength

When you make your own e-liquids, you know exactly what ingredients are going into them, and can customise them to your liking. 

DIY vape juice also lets you control the nicotine content and vapour production. You can make liquids that are low in nicotine if you’re trying to wean yourself off nicotine, or you can make high-nicotine liquids if that’s your preference.

2. Save Money

Making your own e-liquids can be cheaper as you’re buying the ingredients in bulk, which can have cost savings over time. If you’re planning to make large batches, test a smaller amount first so you don’t end up wasting money on something you can’t use. 

3. Endless Flavours

With DIY vape flavours, the possibilities are endless. You can experiment with flavours and blend ratios to create unique combinations that aren't even available in the market.

If you do want a riot of flavour, then we have a multitude of expertly made e-liquids in crazy concoctions and mouth watering mash-ups for you to try.

DIY With Riot

Making your own vape juice isn’t as complex as it might seem at first. However, if you prefer buying your e-liquids with the hard work done for you, then rest assured Riot creates delicious e-liquids so you don't have to!

We mix our vape juice down to the molecular level, ensuring our e-liquid flavours are the best in the world, created from ideas in our UK lab and e-liquid production facility. From the great taste of premium blends in our BAR EDTN collection, to the new and invigorating RIOT X range, we have something for absolutely everybody.

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