If you’re just getting started in the world of vaping, it’s no surprise that there’s a ton of knowledge to gain– from current trends to age-old tips and tricks, it’s easy to feel out of the loop until you’re well into the hobby. An important aspect of finding the right balance of flavor and hit strength is by getting the VG/PG ratio balanced to your personal preference.

These two acronyms, PG and VG, stand for propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, respectively; their use in the vaping industry is widespread, and creating the perfect blend between the two compounds helps vapers create the exact feeling and flavor profile they want. When shopping for your next favorite vape juice, we hope this guide helps you determine the ideal PG/VG ratio for your palette: you’ll learn what each compound does, how they play together to form the vape juice you want, and what you should be on the lookout for when determining your desired ratio or shopping for your favorite e-juices.

So, we’ve gone over what PG and VG stand for, but what exactly are they? Before we get into the details surrounding both, the short answer is that propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine are both liquids that are used to create the flavor profiles in vape juice that you know and love. Because of their differing viscosities and ingredients, the amount of either (or both) in your e-liquid can change how your hits taste, feel, and affect you. Some may prefer a balanced PG/VG ratio, while others may prefer one over the other. Knowing how they work will help you decide what you want out of your next vape juice purchase.

Propylene glycol is a thin, odorless and tasteless liquid used to help build a vape juice blend. Because of its thinness, it produces less clouds and has less of a risk of clogging your rig. It gets wicked up faster by coils, meaning you’re ready to vape again almost immediately after refilling. All around, it’s a stronger compound– meaning your throat hits will feel bolder and harsher from PG, and flavors will taste much more intense.

Vegetable glycerine, however, is naturally thicker and sweeter than PG. Its thicker viscosity creates bigger pulls and bigger clouds, and is also more prone to clogging rigs. It also tastes and feels less intense, in terms of flavor and throat hit strength– making it a smoother choice for vapers, if that’s what they prefer. Because of the liquid being naturally thicker, it is wicked more slowly by the coil, meaning it takes longer to start vaping after refilling.

While it’s possible to get 100% blends of either PG or VG, e-liquids most commonly come with a blend of both– and ratio between them can vary. Next up, we’ll discuss how to choose the ratio that’s right for you, or if you should consider getting pure blends of either.

So, what makes for the best PG/VG ratio? This will largely depend on your personal preferences, but it’s important to discuss the risk of allergic reactions as well. Propylene glycol has been known to irritate a small percentage of vapers’ mouths, throats, and/or lungs, and is considered to be more allergenic than vegetable glycerin; VG does not tend to irritate or activate vapers’ allergies. Due to VG’s thicker consistency, it can, however, cause phlegm to build up in the throat– the thinness of PG does not cause phlegm to build up as much or as quickly; and again, this tends to be on a case-by-case basis.

If you have transitioned to vaping from smoking, you’ll probably lean more toward a higher PG concentration in your VG/PG ratio. This is due to PG’s stronger throat hit, and how it emulates the feeling of cigarette smoke. However, it is also possible to experience more intense flavors with a high-PG ratio: because vegetable glycerine is naturally thicker and sweeter, it tends to “mask” the intensity of certain flavors– so, high-PG ratio blends give way to those sharp notes more often.

High-VG blends are sweeter and produce more clouds, and may be better suited to casual enjoyers. But be warned– the higher the VG is in your PG/VG ratio, the more likely you are to clog your coil or mouthpiece.

The best-case scenario for most vapers’ PG/VG ratios hovers around a 50/50 blend, with options that float between 70/30 and 30/70. Blending the two compounds helps guarantee a better flavor profile, intensity, and smoothness. You get the strength of PG, with the softer finish of VG’s thickness. This helps deliver an optimal vaping experience. Remember, if you experience any irritation, it could likely be the propylene glycol’s presence. Try a higher VG amount first, and if it persists, consult your physician.

We hope our comprehensive guide on choosing your VG/PG ratio helps you choose your next vape juice with ease. VaporFi’s inventory is full of options that make the most out of both of these helpful ingredients– many of your favorite flavors wouldn’t be the same without them! Feel free to contact our customer support team with any questions you have concerning products, shipping, or safety!