Four ingredients, that is all
Vape liquid sounds mysterious until you see the list: propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, flavouring, and — usually — nicotine. That is the entire recipe for nearly every disposable and bottle sold in Germany. Understanding what each component does explains most of the differences you taste and feel between devices, and it is the fastest way to evaluate whether a product label is professional or suspicious.
Propylene glycol (PG): the carrier
PG is a thin, colourless liquid used for decades in food, medicines and inhalers. In e-liquid it does two jobs — the proportion of PG to VG is covered in our PG vs VG guide:
- Carries flavour: PG holds flavour compounds exceptionally well, which is why high-PG liquids taste sharper and more defined.
- Creates throat hit: PG is what gives the draw its cigarette-like scratch at the back of the throat.
Too much PG for your device, though, and draws feel harsh and dry. PG is also the component in the rare cases where users experience mild irritation — usually a sensitivity that settles within a week or two.
Vegetable glycerine (VG): the cloud
VG is a thicker, slightly sweet liquid, also a common food additive. It is the vapour producer:
- Dense visible clouds come almost entirely from VG.
- Smoothness: VG softens the inhale, the opposite of PG's scratch.
- Thickness: high-VG liquid is viscous, which matters for hardware — a small coil cannot wick it fast enough, producing dry hits. That is why modern high-puff disposables use balanced blends rather than max-VG formulas.
The ratio on the label
Where a bottle lists "50/50" or "70/30," it is the VG:PG balance:
| Blend | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 50/50 | Balanced throat hit, easy wicking | Disposables, pods, most sealed devices |
| 70/30 VG | Smoother, bigger vapour | Sub-ohm tanks, larger refillables |
| High PG | Sharp flavour, strong throat hit | Low-power starter kits |
You will rarely see a ratio on disposable packaging — sealed devices come pre-blended for their own coil, which is part of their appeal.
Flavourings: the big variable
Flavouring makes up a small share of the liquid but dominates the experience. EU law (the TPD) restricts what may be used — no colourings, caffeine, taurine or other additives — and requires food-grade safety assessment. Two practical notes:
- Sweet flavours age coils faster. Heavy sweeteners caramelise on the heating element, so dessert-style devices fade sooner than fruit or menthol — worth knowing when a device's flavour dies before its liquid.
- Flavour fatigue is normal. If your favourite suddenly tastes flat after weeks of exclusive use, that is your palate, not the liquid. Switching profiles for a few days resets it; our flavour guide covers the main families and how to pick.
Nicotine: optional, regulated, capped
When present, nicotine in the EU is capped at 20 mg/ml, in either freebase or salt form — the practical differences are covered in our freebase vs salts guide. Strength on the label is a concentration (mg/ml), not an absorption guarantee. Zero-nicotine liquid exists across the whole flavour range and is taxed the same in Germany; our zero-nicotine guide covers who it suits.
What should NOT be in the list
Use the ingredients panel as a fraud filter. Where that panel has to sit on the pack, and what has to accompany it, is set out in EU packaging and labelling rules. Red flags:
- Vague descriptions like "premium formula" with no ingredient list at all.
- Vitamins, caffeine, taurine, collagen or "energy" additives — banned in the EU, and a strong sign of non-compliant stock.
- Missing nicotine warning, missing 2 ml marking or missing manufacturer address — the checks in our counterfeit guide.
- Off smells or dark discolouration in a fresh device: e-liquid darkens slowly with age (oxidation), but a brand-new product should not. Storage matters too — the storage guide explains how heat and light degrade liquid, and the darkening guide separates normal colour change from fault signs, and the shelf-life timelines behind it sit in the nicotine expiry guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is PG/VG safe to inhale?
Both are extensively used in inhalable medicines and have long safety records for ingestion; inhalation research is younger and still developing. The honest position: vaping is harm reduction for adults who smoke, not risk-free. If you do not smoke, do not start vaping.
Why does my device taste burnt when there is plenty of liquid?
Almost always a wicking problem, not a composition one — the coil heated before the liquid reached it. Chain-puffing is the usual cause; rest the device for a few minutes. If it never recovers, see the troubleshooting guide.
Does the liquid contain oil?
No legitimate e-liquid contains oils — VG and PG are not oils, despite the "vape oil" nickname. Any product marketed as containing vitamin E acetate or similar oils should be avoided entirely.
Simple recipe, strict rules, honest labels: once you can read the four ingredients, you can judge any vape product on a shelf in thirty seconds.
