Vaping FAQs: Your Questions Answered

12 July 2021 | Daniel Hollyman

Whether you’re new to vaping or an experienced professional, there are always questions about vaping that need answering. Consider this a guide to all things vaping. If you already feel ready to go, then feel free to browse our selection of premium nicotine salt infused E-liquids here.

If you read that and weren’t sure what a nicotine salt is, then read on.

What Actually Is Vaping?

Vaping refers to when you take an oil substance that is packed with flavouring that is then heated up inside a vape device, leading to vapour being released. A typical vape device will have a few attachments, such as a battery.

A vape battery's power can dictate the use of a device. A more powerful device could lead to sub-ohm vaping, which is about creating bigger external clouds of vapour. This can also be enhanced with specific coils too.

A coil’s purpose is to heat up the actual E-liquid that’s inside your device. It makes the liquid turn into the vapour that goes into the lungs before coming out into smoke. The coil is usually situated within the tank of a vape device.

The tank is the main storage for the E-liquid itself. This will be where you insert the E-liquid. It can come in a variety of different shapes and sizes but traditionally it’s a cylinder shape. Usually, tanks are pre-fitted and won’t be adjustable, but it is possible to buy vapes that allow you to take them apart, with some devices allowing them to be disposed of and replaced with disposable tanks.

Of course, you will also have a mouthpiece as a part of it. This is usually just a simple hole that allows the vapour to come out with ease, but some devices will actually have mouth-sized holes designed to fit a mouth with comfort.

What Is Inside An E-Liquid?

E-liquids are made with similar ingredients, aside from different flavourings. The core ingredients include something called propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerine (VG). You will also get water and nicotine in them, with varying different strengths depending on the mix.

You can get nicotine-free liquids that just have flavourings. Most vapers will transition down in strengths until they reach 0% for a seamless experience. Then they can enjoy vaping without the nicotine addiction.

PG within an E-liquid is there to give the throat hit that comes with traditional smoking. It is a colourless liquid that gives off no smell, usually quite a thin substance. You will find more of this in tobacco flavoured liquids to give a more authentic feel. In general, they can also increase the flavouring of all liquids if more is applied.

VG comes from vegetable oil. Its main purpose is to thicken the E-liquid up, which, when burned, releases a denser vape cloud. You can get specialised liquids that have stronger amounts of VG to serve this purpose, usually in a 70/30 variation.

Likewise, you can get vape devices that are built not to give out much vapour if you’re looking for a more discrete vaping experience, such as the PS One.

Do You Always Need Nicotine in Them?

As mentioned, it’s perfectly possible to get nicotine-free E-liquids. If this is what you’re looking for, you could try our Shortfill range. Brands will usually sell their flavours in different variations of strengths, depending on an individual’s needs or wants.

Similarly, they may have stronger nicotine salt infused liquids with their classic flavourings to give a more authentic feel to vaping.

What Are Nicotine Salts?

Nicotine salts are found from tobacco leaves and are used to help create a smoother vaping experience. They do this as they can be lined with a vape device or more commonly infused into E-liquids.

The bonus with them is that they can be absorbed into your bloodstream much faster than any freebase nicotine that is common within normal E-liquids. Not only that, but they also give a different hit compared to their normal counterparts, creating something similar to a cigarette.

How Do They Help with Quitting Smoking?

Vaping helps with quitting smoking in a number of different ways. For example, as there is no actual tobacco inside, there won’t be any harmful chemicals ingested when burnt, such as tar. This is already a big motivator for those looking to quit to help improve their health.

It is also a financial help, as a vape device can cost the same as a few packs of cigarettes but last for years. Of course, you will have to top it up with E-liquids over this time, but they themselves are cheaper to purchase and can last longer in general. Most of the time, you’ll be able to buy them in bundles, helping to save costs further down the line.

Of course, the big motivator is that they help with quitting nicotine through a process of cutting down and feeling better within your body.