Giving up smoking is no easy thing. It can require superhuman levels of discipline and self-control. So much so that sometimes you might need a little help along the way.
E-cigarettes are a proven and effective weapon in combating the withdrawal symptoms and the cravings associated with nicotine dependency. But zero nicotine e-liquids without an added “nic shot” can seem a little toothless when you’re trying to kick the habit.
As any former cigarette smoker will tell you, liquid nicotine is essential for this weaning process when vaping. But what is it? Is it legal? Is it safe, even? And for that matter, how do you go about adding liquid nicotine to your favourite zero nicotine e-juice?
This guide to adding nicotine to e-liquid is designed to help you answer those questions.
Nicotine Mixing Charts
Unflavoured 50mg Nicotine Mixing Chart
| 100ml Eliquid Bottle | 60ml Eliquid Bottle | 50ml Eliquid Bottle | 30ml Eliquid Bottle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required Nicotine Strength (mg) | Nicotine Required (ml) | Nicotine Required (ml) | Nicotine Required (ml) | Nicotine Required (ml) |
| 1 | 2 | 1.2 | 1 | 0.6 |
| 2 | 4 | 2.4 | 2 | 1.2 |
| 3 | 6 | 3.6 | 3 | 1.8 |
| 4 | 8 | 4.8 | 4 | 2.4 |
| 5 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| 6 | 12 | 7.2 | 6 | 3.6 |
| 9 | 18 | 10.8 | 9 | 5.4 |
| 12 | 24 | 14.4 | 12 | 7.2 |
| 15 | 30 | 18 | 15 | 9 |
| 18 | 36 | 21.6 | 18 | 10.8 |
Unflavoured 100mg Nicotine Mixing Chart
| 100ml Eliquid Bottle | 60ml Eliquid Bottle | 50ml Eliquid Bottle | 30ml Eliquid Bottle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required Nicotine Strength (mg) | Nicotine Required (ml) | Nicotine Required (ml) | Nicotine Required (ml) | Nicotine Required (ml) |
| 1 | 1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| 2 | 2 | 1.2 | 1 | 0.6 |
| 3 | 3 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.9 |
| 4 | 4 | 2.4 | 2 | 1.2 |
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 2.5 | 1.5 |
| 6 | 6 | 3.6 | 3 | 1.8 |
| 9 | 9 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 2.7 |
| 12 | 12 | 7.2 | 6 | 3.6 |
| 15 | 15 | 9 | 7.5 | 4.5 |
| 18 | 18 | 10.8 | 9 | 5.4 |
Regulations as They Stand
Liquid nicotine is classified as a Schedule 4 Prescription Medicine in the Poisons Standard.
The sale of nicotine e-cigarettes and nicotine-based products without a prescription is illegal throughout Australia. From 1 October 2021, the law for consumers to import nicotine e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine was changed to be the same as when buying such products domestically.
Consumers can continue to import nicotine e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine legally (other than in Queensland, where it’s illegal) to stop smoking or at least reduce dependency, as long as they have a doctor’s prescription; this can be done through the Personal Importation Scheme.
This allowance does not, however, come without strings. The amount of nicotine legally imported for personal therapeutic use cannot exceed a three-month supply at any one time.
In the future, nicotine e-cigarettes will also be available from local pharmacies and Australian-based online pharmacies, with a prescription from an authorised prescriber or under the TGA Special Access Scheme.
Currently, there are no TGA-approved nicotine products in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
What Is Liquid Nicotine?
Liquid nicotine is extracted from tobacco, purified of impurities, and then added to Vegetable Glycerin (VG) or Propylene Glycol (PG) for vaping purposes.
When buying a bottle of nicotine, you should look for a natural extraction process that uses leaves from real tobacco plants, even organically grown if possible. Maximum purity is the goal here; this process generally ensures e-liquid nicotine solutions are tasteless and won’t taint your vaping experience.
Liquid nicotine is packaged and sold in various bottle sizes and nicotine strengths, ranging from 50 millilitres to 500.
PG or VG Base: Which Should I Buy?
PG and VG are odourless liquids combined with nicotine (and flavourings) to create a vapable e-juice. Technically speaking, both substances belong to the alcohol chemical class—more precisely, sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohols can be found in a great many foods.
PG and VG liquids, either independently or combined, act as a support or “carrier” for the nicotine.
It’s important to remember that they’re not oils and are not associated with any medical issues caused by inhaling oils, such as lipoid pneumonia.
PG and VG are used in vaping because they produce vapour when heated, making them ideal for inhaling substances. It’s worth noting that the two fluids have a distinct consistency and taste; throat sensations when vaping also differ.
A high PG content produces what is known as a “hit”, while VG generates a slightly sweet flavour and encourages vapour production. The ideal is to find a balance between the two.
Our No.1 Recommended Nicotine Base
Let’s take a closer look at PG and VG bases.
PG Base
PG or Propylene Glycol is a petroleum by-product. The fluid is colourless and odourless and has more viscosity than its VG counterpart. It’s also a more effective carrier than VG, making it the ideal suspension fluid for flavour concentrates and nicotine—ideally suited to vaping.
PG-based liquid nicotine is characterised by a throat “hit” when vaping, a sensation not unlike the one experienced when smoking a cigarette.
That said, high PG levels can also irritate the throat; that’s worth bearing in mind.
The most common side effects of using e-liquid containing Propylene Glycol include dehydration, a sore throat, and increased thirst. It’s a good idea to drink more water when first using e-cigarettes. Symptoms of this kind usually last for only a few days.
Remember, some side effects might be from quitting smoking rather than the PG.
Pros
- Thinner than VG. Kinder to vaporisers.
- Provides a throat “hit” similar to smoking tobacco.
- Purer flavour than VG. Does not corrupt the flavour of the juice.
- PG produces less vapour than VG and is more discreet.
Cons
- Harsher on the throat than VG liquids.
- A small percentage of people have mild allergic reactions to PG.
VG Base
VG, or Vegetable Glycerin, is a natural chemical derived from vegetable oils. VG is significantly thicker in substance and sensation than its PG cousin and comes with a slightly sweet aftertaste.
Because of its thickness, it’s a little less suitable for vape pens and vaping—unless you go in for sub-ohm vaping. VG-based nicotine can clog up coils and stop certain vape pen tanks from working correctly. The last thing you need when vaping.
Vegetable Glycerin is much smoother on the throat than Propylene Glycol.
While it’s true to say liquid nicotine is more commonly suspended in PG or a combination of PG and VG, some vendors do offer a purely VG alternative.
Like PG, VG e-liquid can cause a dry mouth, sore throat, and increased thirst. Always be careful to rehydrate when vaping.
Pros
- Smoother on the throat.
- VG produces more vapour. Great for cloud chasers.
- Does not cause allergic reactions.
Cons
- Thicker consistency clogs vaporisers.
- Sweet taste taints e-liquid flavours.
- More temperature resistant. It requires higher wattage to hit its sweet spot.
PG and VG Combination
The third option is a combination of PG and VG. It gives you the best of both worlds. The kick of PG combined with the smoothness of VG-based e-liquids. It’s advisable to start with a fifty-fifty PG to VG ratio and then tinker with combinations to get the perfect vape.
Pros
- Perfect hit and big clouds.
- Ideal for vaping.
Buying and Importation
Now you know what to look for. It’s time to import your own nicotine liquid.
Make sure you select a reputable retailer. Use social media to your advantage. Join online forums and pay attention to reviews. Anything to better understand what you’re buying and who you’re buying it from.
Generally speaking, a supplier that produces their own nicotine solution rather than re-selling someone else’s juice is preferable. And wherever possible, try and buy liquid nicotine that contains pharmaceutical-grade ingredients.
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty of adding nicotine to vape juices, let’s talk safety.
Handle With Care
Liquid nicotine is a highly toxic substance that contains potent neurotoxins. Tiny amounts can cause vomiting, dizziness, and convulsions, whether inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin. As little as 40 to 60 milligrammes can even cause death. It should be treated like poison.
Precautions
- Use gloves.
- Wear protective glasses.
- Avoid breathing fumes.
- Keep away from children and pets.
Adding Nicotine to Zero Nicotine Ready to Vape Liquid
There are two ways of adding a “nic” shot to zero nicotine e-liquid. Let’s start with the syringe method.
The Syringe Method
Accuracy is the key when using this method. Mixing charts are available to ensure you add the correct amount of nicotine liquid to your zero nicotine e-liquid, depending on your required strength.
Simply find the size of your ready-to-vape liquid bottle on a nicotine chart, decide on your preferred nicotine strength, and the chart will tell you how many millilitres of nicotine liquid to add to the nicotine-free vape juice.
The key thing to remember is to remove precisely the same amount of your vape juice from the bottle.
In other words, if you have a 60-millilitre bottle of e-liquid and want a nicotine strength of 8 milligrams, a mixing chart will indicate that you need 4.8 millilitres of 100 milligrammes (millilitres) of nicotine liquid. This means you must remove this “4.8 millilitres” from your nicotine-free juice before adding it.
It’s simply a case of measure for measure.
DIY e-liquid syringes are available to make the process as accurate and failsafe as possible.
How Is It Done?
E-liquid bottles generally come with two caps—an outer and an inner. The inner needs to be removed.
To perform the procedure, you will need two syringes to prevent cross-contamination.
Start by drawing out the correct quantity of e-liquid with syringe number one. Remember the “correct” quantity is the amount indicated by the nicotine chart. Next, draw the same quantity of nicotine liquid into syringe number two and with it replace the e-juice that you have just removed.
Then all you have to do is shake. Vigorously. The two liquids must be thoroughly mixed. Afterwards, your nicotine-ready vape juice must be left to settle before use.
And that’s it.
To Recap
- Import your own nicotine solution.
- Purchase your favourite nicotine-free e-juice.
- Use a nicotine chart to establish the amount of nicotine liquid you need to add.
- Apply the “measure for measure” technique using two syringes.
- Shake and leave to settle.
The Doubler Method
If you’re looking for a more straightforward, less fiddly way to add nicotine to vape juice, the doubler 50/50 method could be for you.
What Is a Doubler?
A doubler is a bottle of “double flavour” concentration, nicotine-free e-liquid that’s half-full. Half-full because the user fills the rest of the bottle with an equal amount of liquid nicotine or a “nic” shot.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmGOzS0TNXU
Topping Up Your Doubler
In other words, if you’ve purchased a 50 millilitre-size “doubler” of e-liquid from your favourite Aussie supplier and imported a bottle of 24 milligrammes (millilitres) strength nicotine solution. You need to take your doubler—which will contain 25 millilitres of double-strength e-Juice—and add 25 millilitres of your nicotine solution—a 50/50 ratio.
Doublers are always sold half full. You’re simply topping up the doubler and then giving it a shake. Easy really.
Doublers are very common in Australia; they’re designed specifically for adding liquid nicotine.
Doses and Mixology
Pure nicotine is a no-no and should be seriously avoided. As described above, you will be using a doubler; if you stick to the fifty-fifty method, nothing could be simpler.
To know the dose, you simply double the strength. The nicotine you purchase needs to be double the strength that you want to vape at.
If you usually vape at 12 milligrammes of nicotine, you double the dose of nicotine solution to 24 milligrammes. You will need to import 24 milligrammes (millilitres) of nicotine.
As previously mentioned, with the syringe method, nicotine mixing charts and online calculators are available for the purposes of precision.
Shake Before You Vape
Lastly, don’t forget to shake. You’re looking for an even distribution of your juice. After a minute or so, tiny bubbles should appear in the mixture. Simply wait for them to disappear, and you’re good to go.
To Recap
- Import your own nicotine solution.
- Purchase a doubler with your favourite “double strength” nicotine-free e-juice.
- Mix your nicotine solution into your doubler at a 50/50 ratio.
- Shake, and you’re ready to vape.
Conclusion
At times in a former smoker’s life, nicotine is an essential part of the cure. Importing and adding your own nicotine to premade e-juice needn’t be difficult.
By carefully following the steps in this guide, you should have no difficulty producing the perfect vape liquid with a nicotine level to banish any cravings, leaving you with the strength and determination to beat the addiction for good.
