DIY E-liquid - Beginner's Guide

Making your own e-liquid is entirely doable, and well worth it if you vape regularly. DIY e-liquid (Do It Yourself) can cut your vaping budget by up to 70% while letting you tailor your own recipes. This guide covers everything you need to get started.

Why take up DIY?

DIY e-liquid is winning over more and more vapers. Here are the main reasons:

The kit you need

To start mixing, you will need:

1. A plain base

The e-liquid base is the main component. It is made up of:

• PG (propylene glycol) — Carries the flavour and delivers the throat hit
• VG (vegetable glycerine) — Produces the vapour and softens the vape

2. Nicotine shots

Nicotine shots (boosters) let you add nicotine to your base. In France they are sold in 10ml bottles at a maximum of 20mg/ml.

3. Concentrates (flavourings)

E-liquid concentrates are what give your mix its taste. They are the same flavours you find in ready-mixed e-liquids, only in concentrated form.

Usual dosage: 10 to 15% concentrate in your mix.

4. Graduated bottles

To measure and mix accurately you will need graduated bottles. The 60ml and 120ml sizes are the handiest.

Our most popular concentrates

These are the flavours our DIY customers reach for most:

• Tallak - Vape Institut — Nuts and sweet vanilla milk
• La Chose - Le French Liquide — Salted butter caramel, hazelnut, coffee, pecan
• Red Astaire - T-Juice — Black grape, eucalyptus, aniseed, menthol
• Heisenberg - Vampire Vape — Fresh red berries, the cult secret recipe
• Goose Juice — Silky vanilla custard, a classic
• Lemon Tart - Dinner Lady — Lemon meringue pie

How to mix your first DIY e-liquid

Follow these simple steps to make your first blend:

Step 1: work out the quantities

For 100ml of e-liquid at 3mg with 12% flavouring:

• 15ml of nicotine shot (1.5 x 10ml)
• 12ml of concentrate
• 73ml of plain base

Step 2: mix

1. Pour the plain base into your bottle
2. Add the nicotine shots
3. Add the concentrate
4. Cap it and shake hard for two minutes

Step 3: steeping

Some concentrates need a period of steeping before they give up all their flavour:

While it steeps, keep the bottle out of the light and give it a shake every day.

Mistakes to avoid

What does it really cost?

Here is a sample starter budget:

That works out at roughly €12 per 100ml, against €30-50 for a ready-mixed e-liquid. Over time the saving is considerable.

FAQ

Is DIY e-liquid legal in France?

Yes, DIY is entirely legal. The only restriction concerns nicotine: shots cannot exceed 20mg/ml or 10ml per bottle (TPD rules).

Can you blend several concentrates?

Absolutely, and that is the whole point of more advanced DIY recipes. Start with simple blends (2-3 flavours) before attempting anything elaborate.

How long does a DIY e-liquid keep?

Properly made and stored away from light, an e-liquid keeps for one to two years. Nicotine may oxidise and darken over time, but the liquid remains usable.

What kit do you need to vape DIY?

DIY works with any kit. That said, high-VG ratios (70%+) are better suited to sub-ohm tanks and rebuildables.

In short

DIY e-liquid is an excellent way to save money and tailor your vape. With a base, some nicotine shots and a few concentrates you can make litres of e-liquid for a fraction of the price. Get started with our best-selling concentrates and discover the satisfaction of mixing your own.