The Biggest Vape Myths: Busted

As vaping becomes more popular and more mainstream, everyone seems to have an opinion on it. Some people say vaping allowed them to quit smoking or drinking and get healthier, while other people point to rumors of the dangers of vaping and advocate against it. It’s hard to muddle through all the talk and figure out the truth.

As vape experts, we have quite a bit of experience in the field. We know vaping inside and out, and we hope to clear up some rumors and get the truth out there. Here are the top five vape myths that you’ve probably heard – busted.

1. Vapes explode randomly.

Let’s start with the rumor that seems to have the most factual support. While it may seem like vapes are exploding left and right with no real warning or explanation, that’s not really the case. The media has popularized this phenomenon to create a great story. In reality, exploding vapes are just a simple issue of battery safety.

Vapes and e-cigarettes contain lithium ion batteries, which are the same batteries you’ll find in your smartphone. These batteries are designed for safe consumer use as long as they’re used properly. What exactly does this mean? It comes down to a few simple guidelines:

• Store your batteries safely in an insulated case. Batteries should never be loosely floating around pockets or in the bottoms of bags.
• Use vape-recommended chargers.
• Replace your batteries regularly.
• Never use damaged batteries or devices that may short circuit.

Basically: Treat your vape and its batteries well, and it won’t ever go boom.

2. Vape juice contains formaldehyde, anti-freeze and other harmful ingredients.

This rumor, while definitely terrifying, is entirely untrue. Depending on the type of e-liquid you use, there are usually only three ingredients included. Those ingredients are propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin and natural/artificial food grade flavoring – all products that we consume in everyday life through cosmetics, food and drink. You should always be able to easily see which ingredients are included in any e-liquid you choose, and take even more autonomy over what ingredients you inhale by making your own custom e-liquid.

Some e-liquids contain nicotine, which is an addictive ingredient. While it’s not good to consume high amounts of nicotine on a regular basis, nicotine does not cause cancer or damage your lungs like many anti-vape advocates will say. It’s also easy to omit nicotine from your vape routine by opting for nicotine-free flavors.

3. Vaping hurts your lungs.

If when you first started vaping you experienced some minor throat soreness, this is completely normal and usually goes away after a short period of time. Other than that, vaping should not cause any discomfort at all, especially to your lungs. Vaping does not hurt your lungs.

If vaping is causing you discomfort in your lungs or anywhere else, consider trying a different e-liquid, cutting down on how much you vape or staying hydrated. You should also make sure your device isn’t heating up too much before inhaling, as this can cause an overly harsh hit. All of these solutions should provide you some relief and let you return to a comfortable vaping experience.

4. Vaping will stain your teeth.

It may seem like vaping could stain your smile. Traditional smoking does, and sometimes the colors of caramel and coffee-flavored e-liquid look pretty ominous. But in reality, there is no evidence that vaping, even dark colored flavors, stains your teeth. In reality, drinking coffee, tea or soda will make your teeth more yellow than any e-liquid. Maybe consider trading in your Coca-Cola for Capella’s Cola Flavor for extra pearly whites.

5. Vaping will make you gain weight.

Cherry pie and banana split and fudge brownie flavor – oh my! We typically associate these tastes with lots of calories and weight gain – but this couldn’t be further from the truth. While it may taste like you’re inhaling dessert, you’re really just getting a burst of flavor that averages out to around 4 calories per gram. Vaping does not have a negative effect on your waistline. In fact, with so many indulgent flavors to choose from, you might never crave real dessert again!

There you have it – the truth behind the five biggest rumors about vaping. We hope your mind has been put to rest as you wade through the pro-vape/anti-vape debate with some new knowledge and reassurance. Any more rumors you’ve heard that you want debunked? Let us know in the comments to learn the truth about vaping!
 it. It’s hard to muddle through all the talk and figure out the truth

A Guide to Storing Your E-Juice

When it comes to vaping, one of the best ways to improve your experience is by experimenting with a variety of different flavours. With all these flavours to try, you may find yourself with a large number of bottles to handle – and store. Arguably one of the worst feelings in the world is looking forward to enjoying the flavour you’ve been slowly savoring only to find it’s become stale and old. If you’re anything like us, you want your flavours to last as long as possible. Not sure how to keep your favorite e-liquids fresh? Read on for some tips to keep in mind for vape liquid storage.

Find a cool, dry place away from children and pets

When looking for the perfect place to keep your e-juice, it’s important to find a spot that is not only cool and dry but also out of the reach of children or pets. Exposing your e-juice to heat will speed up the chemical processes that make it lose its flavour and strength. Because of this, you should never leave your substances outside or in a car where they can be exposed to direct sunlight. 

Ideally, the best place to store your e-juice would be any cupboard or cabinet. Not only does this provide a dry, cool and dark place, it will also make it hard for children or pets to get their hands on it. If your house has a basement, this is also an excellent place for storage because it’s often cooler and darker than any other room in the house. 

Another possible place for storage would be in the refrigerator. Although this could be a great option, it is not always the best option, as it may lead to a change in consistency of the liquid. If you do opt for fridge storage, be sure to let your liquid warm up to room temperature before using it. Storing your substance in the fridge may also make it more accessible to children. If you’re planning on refrigerating your e-juice, keep it on one of the higher, out-of-reach shelves. 

Store e-juice in tinted glass bottles 

While storing in plastic containers can be acceptable for short-term storage, the best way to store e-juice for the long term is to use glass bottles. Unlike plastic bottles, glass bottles are better at keeping oxygen out of the bottle. When oxygen gets into the bottle, the vape liquid will oxidize faster, causing it to lose its flavour faster than otherwise. Glass bottles do a great job of keeping your juice sealed away from the harmful substances outside.

Exposure to light will also have a huge effect on the flavour of your vape liquid. Because the chemicals in e-juice are highly affected by heat and light, the ideal container in which to store your product is a tinted glass bottle, minimizing the amount of light allowed into the bottle. 

Label your bottles

More often than not, people forget to do the little things that could help make their e-liquid last. Something as simple as labeling the bottle with the date can make a world of difference. Even if you think you’ll remember when you got your favorite banana split-flavoured e-juice, you’d be surprised how easily that information can get lost in the excitement of receiving your new blueberry pomegranate-flavoured e-juice. 

Labelling your e-liquid will ensure you know exactly what you’re opening as well as allow you to see which flavours you should use up first. When looking through your cabinet of flavours, you’ll find that it’s probably better to prioritize the older yet still delicious options when choosing a flavour. By taping a label to the bottle, you’ll not only feel more organized, but you’ll also be able to get the most out of your precious liquids. 

 

You don’t always have to wait until you finish the first flavour to move on to the next. We know how important it is to make the things that we love last as long as possible, and these simple tips could make a huge difference. As long as you don’t go overboard, you can have a nice variety of flavours while still being able to enjoy the fresh taste of new bottles. 

Top Vape Gifts for the Holidays

Picking gifts for friends and family who are into vaping is fun and easy when shopping here at DIY Flavours. With more than 1,000 flavours available, you’ll have no trouble finding flavours you like that will go well with your tried-and-true favourites. If you're not a vaper yourself but want to make a great impression on someone who is, take some time reading through the reviews found on many of our product pages. You can gain some great insights learning about the experiences of others who have used the products you’re considering. Read on for where to start on finding the perfect vapor gifts.

Where To Start

At DIY Flavours, we offer an almost unlimited range of flavors and flavor combinations to help make vaping experiences uniquely enjoyable. In tailoring your gift to get someone started on creating their own e-juices, you'll want to give one of the two available bases – propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerin (VG) – right off the bat.

VG has a naturally sweet taste that enhances many of our sweet flavors, such as the fruit, confectionery and sweets made by Capella. We offer a wide range, from French Vanilla to Blueberry Cinnamon Crumble to Orange Creamsicle.

PG has no taste whatsoever, allowing it to mix seamlessly with any flavour of your choosing, whether you lean toward a tobacco-tasting flavour, such as Mild Seven, Dunhill Super Concentrated or Cherry Cigar Flavour, or one of our bakery flavours, such as Fluffy White Cake, Pretzel Dough or Croissant.

Choose your base – whether PG or VG – in the milliliter amount of your choice. PG is available in 60, 120, 250, 500 and 1000 ml sizes, or it comes in wholesale sizes of 4000 ml and 5-gallon sizes. VG is available in 60, 120, 250, 500 and 1000 ml sizes as well as 4-liter, 10-liter, 20-liter and 5-gallon sizes.

Giving the Gift of Flavour

Once you’ve chosen your base, the second gift to bestow upon your favored vaper should be one or more flavors. If you check out the Flavourings category on our site, you'll have access to all the different manufacturers whose products we offer as well as the categories those flavorings fall under. You'll find fruit, drinks, confectionery, menthol & mints, tobacco, emotions, bakery, candy, cereal, dessert, DX (diketone free), and sweets. Pick one or more flavors that sound good and that you think your gift recipient would appreciate. Whether they’ve tried them before or have never heard of them, they’re sure to enjoy the process – and perhaps may discover a new favourite!

When gift giving, you can play it safe and start small if you’re unsure of the recipient’s preferences, or you could up the ante and go with a larger supply. Some of our flavours are available in 1000 ml bottles while others come in quantities of up to one gallon!

Add Some Tools

Making a homemade e-juice will require the use of some essential tools, so add some glassware to your gift package. Glassware options include our graduated cylinders and beakers that are available in a number of sizes, including 50 ml, 100 ml, 150 ml and 250 ml.

Bottle It Up for Safe Keeping

The lucky recipient will also need some bottles for transporting and storing his or her e-juice once it's been concocted. You'll find several types of bottles here, including Chubby Gorilla bottles, dropper bottles, capped bottles and glass bottles. These come in many different sizes and are available in child-proof and tamper-evident styles.

To Top It Off

And finally, the icing on the cake: that perfect DIY Flavours coffee mug, large enough for even the most sleep-deprived coffee addict with our vape logo on the side to remind you of all those great flavors. This coffee cup will be an all-year reminder of the vape gifts your loved one has received – and nothing goes better with a good cup of coffee than a tasty DIY vape!

Vape TLC

Maybe you’ve had your vape for a few weeks, months or even longer. Whatever time you’ve spent with your device, if you haven’t been performing proper vape maintenance, it’s likely that it just doesn’t run like it used to. Your vape is dirty and gunky, and your hits are not nearly as flavourful as they were the day you purchased your device. What’s the deal?

Turns out, vapes are like cars, iPhones or basically any other device that you use on a regular basis: The more tender love and care you put into them, the better they will serve you. In order to get the best experience, you need to be regularly cleaning your vape so it is in tip-top shape. If you’re not sure what this means, don’t worry. All newbies need a quick lesson in the basics of vape TLC. Read on to learn how to love your vape so it will love you back.

Head to Toe

First off, let’s go over the basic parts of the vape that you need to know. To be very general, a vape is made up of a few basic parts:
1. The tip: This is where you inhale the vapor.
2. The tank: This is where the e-liquid is held.
3. The heating element: This turns the liquid into vapor. It’s also called the coil or the atomizer, because the heat speeds up the atoms in the liquid, causing it to change into vapor.
4. The wick: This draws e-liquid to the heating element. Pay special attention to this piece when cleaning between flavors, as residue from past e-juice can affect the taste of new e-juice. Nobody wants to mix Loranns’ Watermelon with FlavorWest’s Buttered Popcorn Flavor (but if you do, we’re not going to stop you).
5. The cartomizer: This separates the e-liquid from the heating element in some vapes. If you clean your vape regularly and still notice a funky burnt taste while vaping, you might need to replace your cartomizer.
6. The battery: This is what powers the device.

Cleaning

A quick rinse of your vape device on a regular basis is a good idea, and especially when changing your e-juice flavor. You’ve spent the time creating your own custom e-juice, so get exactly what you asked for by following the steps below:

1. Detach and dissemble the tank, disposing of any residual e-liquid.
2. Fill a bowl with warm water and a few drops of dish soap, and place the tank parts into the bowl.*
3. With your fingers, gently wash tank components in water until they look clean.
4. Carefully dry off each component with a paper towel.
5. Leave parts out to air dry until they are completely dry. DO NOT reassemble your device until you are certain all pieces are dry, as this might damage your device. This usually takes anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.

*Note: If your device uses a disposable coil, you don’t want to soak it; instead, replace the coil and soak the other pieces.

If you’ve had your device for months and have never cleaned it, the quick rinse is not going to be sufficient. Even if you have been cleaning your device, treating your vape to a deep clean every now and then is necessary – and you’ll be glad you did it. Think about what it feels like to have your car detailed!

For a deep clean, you’re going to need a solvent that is stronger than water. Lots of people will suggest using rubbing alcohol to clean your vape, but we strongly advise against that. Isopropyl alcohol can damage your device. Instead, purchase vape-specific cleaning liquid, or use high-proof, unflavored grain alcohol:

1. Detach and disassemble the tank, disposing of any residual e-liquid.
2. Dampen a paper towel with the cleaning liquid and scrub any dirty areas until they are clean.
3. Wipe down and rinse with warm water.
4. Leave parts out to air dry until they are completely dry. Again, DO NOT reassemble your device until you are certain all pieces are dry.

Voila! Your device is good as new. Follow these steps regularly to keep your vape happy and functioning well into the future.

One last thing – if you follow all the steps above and your vapor still tastes sour, your device isn’t producing as much vapor as it used to, or your coil is visibly dark and crusty, it’s time to replace your coil and/or cartomizer. It may seem like a pain, but good upkeep of your vape will ensure a superb flavour experience, and with all the flavours we have to offer, you don’t want to miss out.

Top Vape Flavors This Fall

Fall is probably the only season that has such universally loved smells and flavours. Watching the leaves change while enjoying all the delicious food that this season is known for makes it a truly enjoyable time for everyone. However, if you vape, you’ve got even more reason to rejoice this season as there are so many options for fall-themed vape flavours. Below are some of the best vapor liquid flavours for this autumn.

Apple Cider

If there were ever two flavours that together could define an entire season, they’d be apple and cinnamon during fall. This is exactly what you’ll get with this Apple Cider flavour if you decide to create your own e-liquid this fall. This delicious flavour combines just the right amount of sweet and spice to make you feel like you are literally inhaling apple pie all season long.

Ginger Snap

Another autumn favorite, this ginger snap cookie e-liquid flavour offers all the pleasure and satisfaction of enjoying a plate of freshly baked ginger snap cookies – and without all of the guilt. This spicy creation will keep you satisfied throughout the entire season.

Pumpkin Spice 

It is hard to really describe how quickly pumpkin spice rose from complete obscurity to being at the top of everyone’s fall favorites list. However it happened, we are sure glad that it did, because this pumpkin spice flavor is impossible not to love. Combining all your favorite things about pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and, of course, pumpkin spice lattes, this pumpkin spice flavoring will put you in the fall spirit after just one puff. On that note, you can check out our pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread flavours, too.

Baked Cinnamon Roll 

Continuing our theme of baked goods and cinnamon, this baked cinnamon roll flavour actually tastes and smells like the real thing, cream and all. In fact, this flavor smells so realistic that any friends or family nearby might actually think that you’re baking cinnamon rolls. It’s so irresistible, they may even ask for a puff once they realize where the smell is coming from. Be prepared to share with others ;)  

Maple 

Possibly one of the most underrated fall tastes of all time, maple makes an incredible flavour addition to your e-juice creations, both during fall and any other season for that matter. The natural warm sweetness of this maple syrup flavour is hard to describe, but it strikes the perfect balance, leaving you wanting more without overdoing it. 

There are so many ways that you can add some delicious autumn flavours to your e-juice creations this fall. We highly recommend you try at least one of these flavours to get the full experience. What’s more, you can even mix and match these flavours yourself and see if you can create something even more delicious. We believe that making your own e-juice should be an enjoyable experience, and we hope these suggestions will help you do this while embracing the fall season. What’s your favorite fall flavour? 

A What’s What on Vaporizers

While most people probably know what "vaping" is, not everyone may understand what a vaporizer is, what it does or how it works. This guide will attempt to clear up the confusion by analyzing the anatomy of vaporizer devices.

What Are Vaporizers?

Vaporizers, which are sometimes called e-cigs or just "vapes”, are small battery-powered devices that produce vapor by heating a liquid. They are intentionally designed to replicate the sensation of smoking as to provide a safer alternative for tobacco users and the people around them.

What is Vapor?

Although some vapes can vaporize dry plants, most devices are designed to hold e-juices, which are composed of water, nicotine, artificial flavors and a non-toxic base such as propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. You can also find e-juices without nicotine. Some e-juices come in prefilled cartridges that are designed specifically for certain devices, but most e-juices are usually sold in bottles and can be used in any vaporizer.

The Anatomy of A Vaporizer 

Here is a rundown of the parts that comprise most vapes:

Batteries - There are two types of batteries: automatic and manual. Vapes powered by automatic batteries are activated when the user inhales, so they work similarly to traditional cigarettes. Manual batteries require the pressing of a button, which can give the user more control over the temperature. 

Heating Element or Atomizer - The battery supplies energy to the heating element, which is also called an "atomizer" because heat speeds up atoms and transforms liquid into vapor. The heating element, which is usually a metal coil, turns the e-juice into a mist that the user then inhales and exhales. 

Cartomizer - Sometimes the heating element is separated from the e-juice by a piece of plastic called a cartomizer, which may need replacing if you start to notice a "burnt" taste while vaping.

Tank - E-liquid is stored in the tank for vaping.

Wick - The wick lies partially submerged in the tank and wraps around the atomizer to draw e-juice to the heating element.

The Different Types of Vapes

When shopping for your first vape, you may find yourself overwhelmed with options. There are a number of different types of vapes available today. Some vapes are designed to resemble traditional cigarettes; others are larger to accommodate different temperature and voltage settings. Here are a few common terms you may encounter as you search.

Cig-a-likes - Created to look and handle exactly like a tobacco cigarette, cig-a-likes are often sold as one inseparable unit. They may take e-juice cartridges or they may be designed to be disposed of after the prefilled e-juice runs out.

Vape Pens - Unlike cig-a-likes, vape pens are a little bigger and can be easily taken apart. The largest piece of a vape pen is always the battery, which will be either manual or automatic. 

Mods - With mods, or modifications, every part of the device is detachable. Some vapers build their own mods while others like to buy pre-made mods and swap out the parts to meet their preferences. Mods give users a lot of control over temperature and voltage, which means they are capable of producing thicker vapor clouds.

Commercial e-cigs come with safety features that prevent overheating, but most mods don't have these protections, so you should only build your own vaporizer if you have an understanding of the physics behind them.

Choosing the Right E-Juice

There are thousands of different types of e-juices on the market, but there's no need to waste your money buying products you may or may not like when you can customize your own. DIY Flavours has everything you need to create e-juice flavors specifically tailored to your tastes, including bases, bottles and mixing tools. All ingredients are safe and easy to combine. What are your vaping preferences? 

PG vs. VG: Which E-Liquid Base Is Best?

One of the most exciting aspects of vaping is the control one has over the experience, from choosing flavors to the nicotine level to the likeness (or not) of smoking cigarettes. The more you vape, the better you’ll understand what exactly you’re looking for. If you’re new to vaping, however, the choices might seem overwhelming at first. To make the decision-making process a bit clearer, we’ve tackled one of the first questions you’ll be asked: PG or VG base?

E-liquid is the fluid that is used to smoke vaporizers and electronic cigarettes. Almost all e-liquids consist of PG or VG bases. While both PG and VG are non-toxic and organic, the taste and overall experience of vaping with each varies greatly. As a result, the quality of a PG-based versus a VG-based e-liquid is hotly debated amongst the vaping community, with no clear winner.

Curious what PG and VG even mean? Well, PG stands for propylene glycol, and VG stands for vegetable glycerin. Each one can be found as additives in tons of commercially available food products, such as ketchup, salad dressing and soda. PG and VG are used as bases to dilute e-juice and contain the nicotine and flavor one inhales and tastes while vaping. Nicotine and flavorings need to be diluted, as they are highly concentrated. The e-liquid is held in suspension so that the vaporizer or e-cigarette will produce smoke-like vapor.

While a PG e-liquid base is the more popular of the two, this does not necessarily mean it’s ‘better’. PG-based e-liquids are tasteless and odorless, meaning they will not alter the e-liquid flavor. VG-based e-liquids are naturally sweet and can alter the e-liquid flavor so much that, at times, some find it overpowering.

To help differentiate the two substances, we have compiled the following list of pros and cons.

PG Pros: 

• Does not alter flavor of e-liquid
• Produces a stronger throat hit similar to tobacco cigarettes
• Minimal gunk buildup in vaporizer or e-cig (i.e. less frequent cleaning is required)

PG Cons: 

• Causes dry throat after consistent use
• Is known for potentially causing allergic reactions, like tingling sensations or serious irritations (if you experience anything unusual, stop using PG-based e-liquids)
• Less viscosity (thinner consistency) results in a faster burn

VG Pros:

• Produces billowing stacks of vapor
• Minimal likelihood of experiencing an allergic reaction
• Thicker consistency results in longer lasting flavor

VG Cons:

• The slightly sweet flavor could be considered a pro, but most consider it a con in that it alters the e-liquid flavor
• More gunk buildup requires more cleaning and upkeep of e-cigs
• Weak throat hit, unlike that of smoking cigarettes
• Known to potentially build up phlegm and cause a dry throat

So is vaping with PG or VG-based e-liquids better?

Though VG-based liquids are considered to have more cons than PG, some of their pros strongly outweigh the cons. Not to mention, many of the aforementioned pros and cons are subjective, like throat hit and flavor. 

Those who are new to vaping are generally recommended to try PG-bases first in order to fully experience e-juice flavors. From there, you can experiment with PG versus VG to decide what suits you.

The flavoring you choose when making your own e-juice will typically come with a recipe, which includes instructions for how much of which type of base to use. Be sure to follow these suggestions until you’re confident enough to experiment with your own ratios. 

Can PG and VG bases mix?

Absolutely! Mixing PG and VG-bases is incredibly common, allowing those who vape to enjoy the best of both substances. Popular ratios are 60/40, 50/50 or 70/30 of VG and PG respectively. There are plenty of benefits in mixing the two, such as creating even more opportunities to experiment with flavors or cutting down on the amount of e-cigarette cleaning that is necessary – not to mention lowering the risk of allergic reactions. 

Let us know your PG/VG preference in the comments below!