With technology constantly bringing us the latest in tobacco products, vapers now find themselves faced with a product they may not fully understand — which brings us to this post.
Here, we will be taking a look at vape juice and answer some frequently asked questions like:
- What is vape juice made up of?
- How is vape juice stored?
- When does vape juice expire?
1. WHAT IS VAPE JUICE MADE OF?
The vape industry adheres to all regulations like any other legitimate company. Each individual ingredient is identified and clearly presented to every consumer on each product packaging.
Vegetable Glycerin VS Propylene Glycol
At the heart of vape juice lie two substances: vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol.
- Vegetable Glycerin, often referred to as VG, is a substance that is derived from natural vegetable oils. This compound has been deemed “generally recognized as safe” by the FDA and contributes to the feeling of thickness a vaper feels in each puff.
- Propylene Glycol, abbreviated as PG, is derived as a by-product of petroleum. The substance carries no color or odor. PG is most used to hold an e-liquid’s nicotine and flavor concentrate.
2. HOW DO I STORE VAPE JUICE?
Vape juice is a new substance that most users do not have a great deal of experience with. This liquid often baffles novice vapers. Some common questions include:
- How long does vape juice last?
- Can I freeze it?
To get started, let's talk about proper vape for how to store vape juice. Essentially, there are three enemies of juice freshness.
- Air
- Heat
- Light
Exposure to any of these elements will drastically affect your e-juice. The Nicotine and vegetable glycerin will begin to oxidize, and your flavor will diminish or turn sour. Vapers who enjoy sweet and fruity flavors know this sour taste all too well. So, how long is vape juice good for? It depends on how you store it.
Tips
Here are some storage tips that are sure to come in handy:
- Find a dry and cool space to keep your E-liquids.
- Keep the juice in a spot that is away from sunlight.
- If you’re looking for long-term storage, the freezer is your best bet.
- For optimal storage, use a dark-tinted glass container to keep out as much light as possible.
There are some who believe that the cold temperatures end up affecting the taste negatively. Yet, in terms of long-term storage, the freezer is the best tool we have. It is important to note that e-liquids do not freeze in domestic household freezers due to their freezing point being much lower. Do note that you should always give them some time to adjust back to room temperature before using them.
3. DOES VAPE JUICE GO BAD?
The answer to this question is both yes and no. Firstly, it is important to define what the meaning of “bad” is. In many ways, the product does age. Let's take a look at the aging process of e-juice.
E-juice is classified as being shelf-stable. This means that the product contains no ingredients that will spoil at room temperature. If stored correctly, these types of products can achieve a long-lasting shelf life. Generally speaking, a consumer should plan on enjoying their vape juice within 1–2 years of purchase. It is important to take into account a couple of factors here.
When Does Vape Juice Expire?
Always make sure to take a quick glance at the packaging before buying or consuming the product.
It is important to remember that an expiration date is based on a product kept in an optimal storage scenario. The casual user is most likely looking at a shorter time frame than they believe. Simply put, the sooner the better. If you are not willing to take the extra step of proper storage, you are best off buying in small doses and working through your supply quickly.
The longevity of a juice often reflects the quality of the product. In terms of flavoring, natural flavorings are believed to oxidize and diminish in levels before artificial flavorings. Yet, inferior e-liquids are believed to degrade more quickly than high-quality juices.
4. HOW DO I KNOW IF VAPE JUICE HAS GONE BAD?
Visual Symptoms
Look at the visuals. “Healthy” vape juice will most often have a uniform look and consistency throughout the substance. Use this as your reference when comparing juices. Take a look at the juice in question and see if you can spot any key differences. You are likely to find that the texture or consistency of older juice may be quite different.
Old juices can change in two ways:
- One juice may separate into different levels with oils separating and the overall appearance greatly changing.
- Others may start to gel together and even create bits of solids in the liquid.
In either scenario, it is important to identify these phenomena as signs of expiration. . Many users find their vape juice turning brown as the product ages. This is not a good sign regarding the health of your juice, but this is no cause of concern for your health. It is totally normal for the juice to brown over time.
Taste and Smell Symptoms
Next, let's look at smell and taste. Unlike the visuals of a liquid, smell and taste are a bit more subjective and require a bit of expertise. An experienced vaper is much more likely to taste something off in a juice than a new user.
One way to start when taste testing is by looking at the concentration of flavor. Interestingly enough, some users report that they find the aged juice flavor superior to a younger juice. They believe that the extra time the flavor had to develop and darken leads to a more pleasurable experience. Yet, this can only go so far. At one point every juice passes the point of no return.
Here is when even an experienced vaper should start to raise an eyebrow. Another quick test to run is a smell test. Again, a long-time user will have an easier time with this than a new vaper but make sure to give the juice a good smell. An old juice will most likely give off an offensive smell that most can recognize.
Ultimately, as time passes the compounds found within e-juice inevitably breakdown. There is no way to truly stop the effects of aging. As the product ages, many of its desirable properties vanish. An e-liquid loses its concentration of nicotine in the product, which may become unsatisfactory to users subsequently.
Moreover, the flavor that the consumer picked out turns or diminishes in concentration, leaving them with an undesirable taste. A user is left with a product that is deemed safe yet holds no value or taste.
BOTTOM LINE
There is not much public literature on the topic and some users simply don't have enough taste yet to recognize the signs of a past due product. Just because a product is safe for consumption, does not mean it is good for use.
We all deserve to enjoy vaping at the best quality. When buying e-liquids make sure to always check the packaging. Hopefully, as awareness surrounding vape juice expiration grows, we can decrease the amount of expired vape juice on the market and get back to vaping only the freshest and best product available.