The Best DIY E-Juice Recipes: An In-Depth How-To

Best DIY E-Juice Recipes

Let us start off by explaining DIY e-liquid. Put simply, it’s a homemade version of e-juice. It comes with all the same ingredients as the commercially produced version. However, you are at liberty to play around with it until you achieve the flavor and consistency you want.


As a growing industry, the DIY e-juice market is now flooded with people who have come to the realization that what the e-liquid brands do can be done at home.

Of course, creating your own DIY liquid isn't for everyone. If you'd prefer the taste and convenience of pre-made e-juices, our friends over at Centerfold Vape Co have some great deals.

how to make vape juice

Some big names in the e-juice basically throw all the ingredients into a large tub and using technology, mix it up, bottle it, label it, and sell it. DIY e-liquiders are also following the same principle at a much smaller scale.

As more people realize that they can make their own e-juice, you can see the increase in experiments on threads in different forums where they discuss their successes and failures.

In this article, I will show you how to beat the branded e-juice at its own game. But first, do you want to learn how to make e-juice and find the best DIY e-juice supplies?

DIY e-liquids is a great way to save money and vape cheaply. Apart from that, they also allow you to customize your vaping experience and have some fun doing it. Why incur the hassle of making your own vaping juice, and from scratch for that matter, when you can get one ready-made from the store?

Well, as any vaping enthusiast knows, the beauty of vaping lies in both the flavor and the vapor.

Why DIY E-Juice?

Many people who make their own e-juice want more from their vaping experience than they get from the commercially available e-liquid. This ranges from the strength of the flavor to the thickness of the vapor to good old value for money. Spending on store bought e-liquid could set you back quite a bit while do it yourself e-liquids cost as little as a few pennies per milliliter to make.

To be exact, you could spend around $15 to $30 on a ready-made e-liquid.

Understandably, most people are discouraged from starting due to the upfront cost of purchasing all the ingredients and supplies required. However, using cheaper materials will not set you back too much. When you put into consideration that the more you make the lower your cost becomes, it's definitely worth a try. In the long run, you will save a substantial amount of money.

I do, however, advise that you should look into making your own vaping juice only if you vape on a regular basis. An occasional vaper maybe better off with commercial e-liquid as they don't use it regularly.

What Do You Need?

Below I have listed the basic ingredients and supplies you will need to get started. I buy most of my supplies at My Freedom Smokes. They have everything you need for DIY vape juice at low prices.

As a matter of fact, their DIY e-juice kit is great for a beginner as it even has VG/PG flavorings. Check out the list of recommended do it yourself e-liquid suppliers at the end of this article or my e-cigarette vendor black book for trusted vendors.

DIY E-Juice Recipe's Ingredients:

  • Nicotine e-Liquid
  • (PG) Propylene Glycol
  • (VG) Vegetable Glycerin (optional)
  • Concentrated Flavoring(s)

Not all e-juice recipes ingredients look the same. S0 be sure to follow through this keenly to see how everything is supposed to be done.

Nicotine e-liquid usually comes in strengths of 24 to 100 mg per milliliter. The strength will be diluted when you add flavoring, PG, and VG.

PG is an organic, odorless, and colorless chemical compound that is used as the suspension fluid in vaping as it carries the flavor more efficiently than VG, which is more viscous. It is also responsible for the "throat hit", the sensation one gets when you smoke tobacco. The FDA has described PG as safe to ingest making it a prevalent ingredient in food additives, asthma inhalers, baby wipes, makeup and medical products.

VG is also a natural chemical found in vegetable oil. The vaping sensation from VG is smoother and almost sweet. For those unable to handle PG in their vaping juice because of allergies and other reactions, 100% VG vaping is just as great an option.

In fact, vendors now have the alternative of VG mixes that have incorporated nicotine and flavors. FDA has also categorized VG as a safe ingredient for human consumption.

To learn about PG and VG including their side effects, watch the following video:

When it comes to flavoring, use high temperature resistant and food grade flavoring with high water solubility. Room temperature resistant flavorings are not meant to be vaped in a personal vape.

The amount of each ingredient you use will depend on what you like in your e-liquid. In general, higher PG ratio liquid will produce better flavor and a higher VG ratio will increase vapor production. I usually have a 80PG/20VG ratio, but a 50/50 split ratio is very common. Note that adding too much nicotine or flavoring will ruin the e-liquid.

The great thing about DIY e-liquid is you get to experiment and create mix that you love. So start off with a lower amount and increase as you figure out what works for you. Also, limit the number of flavors you mix together.

DIY E-Liquid Supplies:

  • Bottles (preferably plastic with the childproof caps)
  • Pipettes and/or Droppers
  • Syringes (1-30ml) and/or Measuring Devices
  • E-Liquid Calculator app
  • Milk Frother for mixing (optional)
  • Latex Gloves
  • A pair of goggles
  • A tray (to contain any spills from your supplies)

I have recommended plastic bottles above only because of their convenience. You do not need to keep cleaning them like you would a glass bottle.

I use syringes. They can measure out small amounts precisely without making a mess. You can buy them online or at a local animal feed store.

The feed store may be the cheapest option, my local store sells perfect 3ml syringes for just .35 cents. You will probably want a small 1ml syringe and larger 10-20ml syringes as well.

To make your own e-juice, it is imperative to have a bottle for the juice and some kind of measuring device. Now that we’ve given one of the best e-juice recipes ever and you feel ready to make your DIY e-liquid, just follow the simple step-by-step instructions below.

The Process

It is possible to make DIY e-juice by measuring out each ingredient with drops. It’s not very exact, but the e-liquid calculator I recommended will provide measurements in drops. You can also use separate syringes for each ingredient which you then mark and clean with distilled water after every use to keep the flavor pure.

While some people consider using latex gloves optional, we strongly recommend using them as they prevent the nicotine from being absorbed into your skin. Nicotine is an ingredient that quickly gets absorbed by your skin and even small quantities can result in an immediate nicotine high. What a lot of people do not know is that nicotine in its liquid form can cause acute feelings of sickness and even worse, blindness should it get into your eyes.

How to Make DIY E-Juice [Step-by-Step]

Prep Your Workstation

  • Put on your goggles and gloves
  • Get all of your supplies ready (Measuring cups, syringes etc.)
  • Get all your ingredients together. Nicotine, PG, VG, and flavoring
  • Use e-liquid calculator and write down each ingredient’s measurement (start with 5% flavoring) or a scale if you prefer to use grams.

Choose Your Ratios And Preferences

For a first timer, I would recommend using a simple recipe. Alternatively, I think one shot is the best e-juice flavor concentrate for a beginner. Having found the best DIY e-juice recipe, decide on what ratio of PG to VG you would want to use.

A 70/30 VG/PG ratio is great to start with for a smooth vaping experience that you can tweak as you go. Now choose the nicotine levels you want but keep it to a minimum and build it up as you prefer. With your preferences out of the way, move on to measurements.

Measure Your Ingredients

  • Measure out Propylene Glycol – Put it in the dropper/ container
  • Measure out Vegetable Glycerin - put it to in the dropper/container
  • Measure out Nicotine, wipe off any drips or leaking - put it to the syringe
  • Measure the flavoring in a syringe

Mixing

Begin by dripping in the correct measurement of flavor into the bottle. Next, add the recommended amount of nicotine using a syringe to avoid spills. Add in the measured out PG and VG as this is a base. Measure the contents on a scale to ensure they match those in the recipe if you are using grams.

If you are using volumes, remember that this are the least accurate measures. Measure out your ingredients in the syringes (use separate syringes for each ingredient) and add them to your bottle. Try and gauge how many ml you are measuring out.

Alternatively, you can use the drop method. This usually means you use drops from similarly sized droppers as your measurements. However, do not use the dropper to measure out the nicotine. Instead, stick to the syringe for safe and less clumsy workings. In all three instances mix all the ingredients with the frother or shake them up vigorously.

After Mixing

Great! You just made your own e-liquid! However, the excitement that comes with having mixed your first ever batch of e-liquid can overshadow this very important process. What happens after mixing?

  • Rinse off utensils
  • Sample the e-liquid and add extra flavoring as needed
  • Label
  • Clean Up
  • Store all the items used safely and out of reach of others
  • Storage of the e-liquid (keep away from sunlight or heat)

The strengths of e-liquid flavorings vary. I have found that most flavors are good at about 10%, but I recommend starting out at 5% and increase to taste. Know that some flavors will only require 1-2%, and I have heard of some people using 30%+ flavoring. Just start with low amounts and increase flavoring to your preference.

Some flavors will taste great right away, however, to get some of your e-liquids just right, you may want to steep them. Steeping is simply the process of letting your e-liquid age in the bottle. The aging process allows the ingredients to be chemically broken down and merged into the flavor organically thus enhancing them.

As a general rule if you do not like the flavor of your e-liquid from the get go steep it and see if the flavor improves. Also, steep e-liquids that contain nicotine for better results. For satisfactory results, keep your e-liquid steeped for a minimum of five days. The process is simple

How To Steep Your E-Liquid

Step 1

The most important step is the shaking of the bottled e-liquid. Do so lightly for only 1-2 minutes. Watch for the micro bubbles which will tell you if you are over shaking.

Step 2

Take off the bottle's cap and let the e-liquid sit undisturbed in a dark room at room temperature. This is to allow the alcohols and other solvents which have been dislodged to the top by the shaking to evaporate. Leave the e-liquid for 24 hours and then gently squeeze the bottle (another reason why I recommend a plastic bottle) to further dislodge any lingering air.

Step 3

Replace the cap onto the bottle and let it sit for two days undisturbed in the same environment. Keep repeating the step 2 and 3 until you see a color change and are satisfied that you have arrived at a good flavor. Remember a minimum of five days will give you good results however you can go as long as you want to for an even better flavor. Most people say that after 2 weeks the flavor cannot ripen any further, but remember - DIYing is based on experimenting.

So experiment and see it this is really so or whether your e-juice' flavor will exceed that flavor ceiling.

Here's a quick video on steeping...

How to Make E-Juice Without Nicotine

Your First Steps

Before we even get started talking about the nitty gritty, go and get yourself a notepad and a writing tool. Be sure to write notes about everything you do whilst making e-juice. Write notes about things you read, recipes you find and general thoughts you have regarding the process. It may seem silly now, but trust me it will pay off down the track.

Imagine vaping the last tank of the best DIY e-liquid you have ever created and then you realise you have no idea of what was in it or how you made it. Suddenly it dawns on you that you cannot simply re-create it by following your custom recipe, you’ll have to redo those hours and hours of testing and tweaking to get your juice to that perfect level again.

At some point this will happen to every DIYer. Trust me it has happened to me on more than one occasion and I wish that I had been more diligent about recording what was in my mix. So go and get that notepad and writing tool now, before you read any further.

With a notepad in hand, write down the following:

  • Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
  • Propylene Glycol (PG)
  • Flavoring and additives
  • Mixing tools
  • Safety Equipment

These are all the things that you will need to get you started making e-liquid without nicotine like a Wizard. Well, apart from time and effort, blood, sweat and tears.

Breakdown

VG is a natural chemical found in vegetable oil. The vaping sensation from VG is smoother and almost sweet. For those unable to handle PG in their vaping juice because of allergies and other reactions, 100% VG vaping is just as great an option. In fact, vendors now have the alternative of VG mixes that have incorporated nicotine and flavors. VG contributes to the amount of vapor produced from your device and is thick in viscosity.

PG is an organic, odorless, and colorless chemical compound that is used as the suspension fluid in vaping as it carries the flavor more efficiently than VG which is more viscous. It is also responsible for the "throat hit", the sensation one gets when you smoke tobacco. The FDA has described PG as safe to ingest making it a prevalent ingredient in food additives, asthma inhalers, baby wipes, makeup and medical products. PG is a thin liquid and runs a lot faster than VG.

Flavor concentrates and additives are what gives the e-liquid certain flavor profiles. As with cooking, flavours can be mixed and matched to create a recipe of sorts. Also as with cooking, people’s taste buds are subjective. You know this as you like certain foods that others may not necessarily enjoy eating or opt to go for. Additives can be added such as sweeteners, menthols, smoothers and sour(ers).

We will talk about mixing tools and safety equipment further on.

Mixing Calculators

You can use many mixing calculators that are available either online or as apps for your smart phone. Find one that suits your needs and is the most user friendly for you to use and understand.

The mixing calculator will let you know what percentages of each component should go into creating your e-liquid masterpiece. It will automatically adjust the percentages based on the total volume of liquid being made and what ratios you desire for your final product.

Flavor and Supplies

There are countless manufacturers that supply flavorings that can be made to make e-liquid without nicotine. Please be aware that not all flavours are safe to vape and you will need to research the best e-juice flavor concentrates that you plan on using before you consider purchasing them. A general rule of thumb, stay away from flavors that contain the following ingredients;

  • Sugar
  • Oil
  • Diketones (diacetyl, acetoin, acetyl propionyl)

Here are the most common flavor makers that are used widely for the purposes of DIY e-juice making. The common abbreviations are also included as these are often referenced in DIY e-juice recipes or online forums:

  • The Flavor Apprentice (TFA/TPA)
  • Capella Flavor Drops (CA or CAP)
  • Flavor West (FW)
  • Real Flavours (RF)
  • Flavorah (FLV)
  • FlavourArt (FA)
  • Hangsen (HS)
  • LorAnn’s (LA or LAN for the Naturals line)
  • Inawera (IW)

This not an extensive list, however more the popular choices for DIY e-liquid makers. Another thing to note is that not all flavours taste universal across each vendors lines. A strawberry flavor from one maker can taste radically different to another maker.

You will have to keep in mind that taste is also subjective, so be prepared to do some tasting for yourself and bear in mind you may need to substitute flavours from different manufactures to suit your specific taste buds.

The best reseller that we have found here at Vaping Cheap is ecigexpress.com. They can supply you with everything you will need to get started at very competitive prices. Their customer service is also next to none, which provides you with plenty of peace of mind to purchase from them as a one stop shop.

Mixing Tools and Safety Equipment

Here is a basic idea of what is needed to successfully create your first batch of e-juice;

  • Bottles (preferably plastic with the childproof caps)
  • Pipettes and/or Droppers
  • Syringes (1-30ml) and/or Measuring Devices
  • Latex or Rubber Gloves
  • A pair of goggles
  • A tray (to contain any spills from your supplies)
Eliquid mixing tools

It is possible to create e-liquid recipe entirely by counting the amount of drops necessary to reach that flavor percentage. You can also measure it out in mis depending on how big of a batch you are creating.

Gloves are an important safety precaution, as you do not want any liquid or potentially nicotine (if you choose to use it) in contact with your skin. Due to the flavors being so concentrated, they can take a very long time to come out of your skin and you may smell like Vanilla Custard for 2 weeks.

Goggles are just another safety recommendation as we do not want anything to come in contact with your eyes by mistake.

Choosing your First Recipe

For a first timer you could try a one shot concentrate, which means you only have to use one flavor. This is a good idea as you can easily play around with different percentages of that one e-juice flavor concentrate to find your perfect mix. Also you don’t have the daunting task of measuring out the exact measurements in a complex recipe that requires a lot of different concentrates. This is something you can work up to once you master the simple stuff.

Alternatively I would recommend using a simple recipe with only a few ingredients. Having found a best e-juice recipe, decide on what ratio of PG to VG you would want to use. A 70/30 VG/PG ratio is great to start with for a smooth vaping experience that you can tweak as you go. The calculator will allow you to experiment with different ratios and save them out individually. Remember to write down what ratios you use and keep the dates of mixing handy - this will come in handy later. 

It is easier to start with a lower percentage of a particular concentrate and build up from there, rather than have to dial it down later. This is also more forgiving on your taste buds as they aren’t hit with too much flavor at once.

Have a few ideas in mind before you make your first order, but remember to keep it simple. Have a play around with the calculators before you make an order to see how much of each component you will actually need without forking out unnecessary money to begin with. Start small and work your way up to bigger batches once you start getting the hang of mixing and get comfortable with the process.

Getting Down and Dirty

Start by preparing your workstation and ensure it is clean to begin with. It is easier to mop up spills as you go rather than create a huge pool of mess to deal with at the end. Begin by dripping in the correct measurement of flavor into the bottle. It’s good to use a bottle that is slightly bigger than your total volume, just to ensure there is enough room for shaking.

Next, add in the measured out amount of PG and VG as this forms your base. Measure the contents on a scale to ensure they match those in the recipe if you are using grams. Measure out your ingredients in the syringes (use separate syringes for each ingredient) and add them to your bottle. Try and gauge how many ml you are measuring out. You can then wash each syringe in water afterwards.

Alternatively, you can use the drop method. This usually means you use drops from similarly sized droppers as your measurements. You will have to keep count of your drops though, so pay close attention.

Well done, you’ve just mixed up your first batch of DIY e-juice! Now you need to shake the bottle vigorously for as long as you can, but remember to put the cap on your bottle first. You will see the ingredients start to combine together and there will be thousands of little air bubbles all through the e-liquid. This is what you want as the air bubbles will do their thing to help oxidise your new e-juice.

Some flavors will taste great right away, these are referred to as shake and vape - most commonly single flavor profiles. However, to get some of your e-liquids just right, you may want to steep them. Steeping is simply the process of letting your e-liquid age in the bottle. The aging process allows the ingredients to be chemically broken down and merged into the flavor organically thus enhancing them.

Think of how a good wine tastes better after some ageing, or how whisky is steeped oak barrels for years on end. It is the same principle with your e-liquid, it will taste better with some steeping time. At least 5 days steep time is recommended for juices that aren’t of the shake and vape variety. Steeping will also become visually evident as the color usually darkens after the oxidisation processes kick in.

Safety Precautions

Latex Gloves for DIY

It is important to keep yourself and those around you safe before, during and after making your e-liquid. Nicotine is poisonous in its liquid form. It can be fatal on small children, pets and adults alike. Since it is easily absorbed through the skin even just direct contact with your body is considered dangerous. Keep it under lock and key and far away from others. Also ensure you thoroughly clean your apparatus after use and store appropriately.

If you come into direct contact with the nicotine, leave the process, go and thoroughly wash it off. Make sure you use latex gloves during the entire process. Nicotine is meant to be diluted and not vaped in its pure form. Adding flavoring, PG and VP will dilute it some but ensure you use the amount recommended in the recipe you are adopting. Lastly, invest in a pair of goggles. Nicotine fumes can be dangerous and an involuntary rub on your eye during the process can result in blindness.

Flavor Profile Information

Tobacco

As most of us made the switch to Vaping from smoking regular cigarettes, tobacco flavors are the most common first step into the Vaping experience for many of us. Tobacco flavors are very important here, because a lot of the time this is the make or break for people sticking to the change from smoking.

Thankfully there are a wide variety of different choices to choose from when it comes to tobacco flavors. And these are quite a simple choice for people to make as they usually mimic the name of the cigarettes they used to smoke.

From Marlboro to Camel, Pipe to Cigar – the possibilities are endless. It’s really a no-brainer, find an e-juice that resembles what you used to smoke and your good to go.

RY4, in its many different varieties, is often quite a popular choice for tobacco flavors. RY4 got its name from the creator of e-juice and e-cigarettes, Mr Hon Lik, who worked for the company called RUYAN.

They produced the first e-cigarette and its accompanying e-liquid back in 2004. RY4 was the name he gave to the recipe he decided to finally push out to the public and this name has stuck around ever since.

Quite a number of smokers use Menthol cigarettes and guess what? Yes, there is a plethora of Menthol infused Tobacco flavors out there to take your pick from. Menthol has also found its way into many other flavor profiles and is often used as a cooling agent in other recipes – more on this later.

Tobacco connoisseurs who are now into vaping can also enjoy NET vaping. This is called Naturally Extracted Tobacco and involves the process of steeping the tobacco leaves themselves in PG to draw out the natural flavor of the tobacco. This process eliminates the need for artificial flavoring and can yield some wonderful results.

Tobacco flavors are also the stepping stone from beginner vaping to starting to explore other flavor profiles. So we see a lot of tobacco flavors having the addition of either sweeteners, caramels, menthols or fruits etc. which start to expand the users options for delving further into different flavor profiles.

Some popular flavors in the Tobacco flavor profile are:

  • Flue Cured or Fired Cured
  • Marlboro (USA Blend)
  • Camel
  • Cherry Tobacco
  • Cuban
  • Coumarin
  • French Pipe
  • Menthol
  • RY4
  • 555

Fruit

Fruit is a very accessible flavor profile as we are all accustomed to the taste of fresh fruit. The move to a single fruit flavor is non intimidating for a new vaper who may have started with tobacco. Fruit is a safe bet, because we all have our go to favorite, so it is also a good alternative to starting on a tobacco flavor.

We generally know what each fruit tastes like, so it’s known what the e-juice will be like. You have the standard run of the mill type fruit or you can venture into the more exotic territory and taste fruit that you wouldn’t normally have access to in your part of the world.

If you like your fruit ripe and extra sweet go for things like mango, raspberry and pineapple. However if you prefer more subtle type fruits, head for the likes of melons, berries and apple. To go out on a limb, you can try dragonfruit, pomegranate or durian.

Some popular flavors in the Fruit profile are:

  • Strawberry
  • Banana
  • Grape
  • Apple
  • Blackcurrant

Dessert/Savory

We all love our desserts, right? Something we look forward to after our meal or as a cheeky treat. Desserts can be a very popular flavor profile as they often provide that satisfaction or comfort as the actual food product itself does.

Desserts are usually sweet, but can also be slightly savory as well. Dessert can take many forms and fear not, they have all been encapsulated into various eliquid recipes for you to choose from.

Custards are one of the most popular flavors in this list of the best vape juice flavors and are usually built off the standard Vanilla Custard. A good custard can leave you super satisfied in its thick eggy taste with a creamy after tone left lingering in your mouth.

Variations we often see here are the inclusion of fruits, chocolate and biscuits. Even though this is true, some of the most popular flavors include boosted e juice which is a strawberry and cream/milk flavor, which is another favorite in this category.

Cake is most certainly an inclusion on the dessert table and is most welcomed in this list of the best e-liquid flavors. Chocolate cake, pound cake, cupcake, cheesecake the list goes on. Don’t forget all of the varieties of Pie we enjoy as food, are also available in the e-juice variety. Not to forget Donuts, Cannoli, Pastries, Cinnamon Buns, Cookies, Ice Cream and Gingerbread just to name a few.

Some popular flavors in the Dessert profile are:

  • Vanilla Custard
  • Apple Pie
  • Bavarian Cream
  • Donuts
  • Cheesecake
  • Cinnamon Roll
  • Sugar Cookie
  • Banana Nutbread
  • Marshmallow

Breakfast/Cereal

It is argued that Breakfast can be the most important meal of the day, so why would we discount having that available to us in a vapable form? No-one wants to miss out on the best part of their morning, so why not be able to enjoy it at anytime of the time of the day.

Cereals are a great option as they translate very well to e-liquid recipes. From fluffy rice crisps to sweet, fruity, pebbly loops of crunch all drowned in a generous helping of milk. Or those nut clusters that leave your mouth with notes of oats, honey and coconut.

Maple Syrup fans are sure to be satisfied with the inclusions of Pancakes and Waffles in this flavor profile. And don’t be disappointed, pretty much anything you can think of to eat alongside your Pancakes or Waffle is included in an e-juice somewhere.

Some popular flavors in the Breakfast profile are:

  • Captain Crunch
  • Fruit Loops
  • Pebbles
  • Belgian Waffle
  • Coco Chocolate

Yogurts

Yogurt e-juices are typically semi-sweet fruit flavors with a creamy base. Yogurt e-liquid tend to be light bodied with just enough sweet from the fruit and tang from the Greek Yogurt to keep you satisfied all the way through the day.

Some popular flavors in the Yogurt profile are:

  • Kiwi Yogurt
  • Strawberry Yogurt
  • Blueberry Yogurt
  • Greek Yogurt
  • Creamy Yogurt

Candy

We all have our favorite candy that reminds us of being kids running around the candy store. Whether you are craving chocolate, fruit chews, lollipops or even candy mints you can find the e-liquid to satisfy your sweet tooth.

What’s better is that you can enjoy all that flavor without the guilt. Pretty much any candy you can think of is represented in this flavor profile so go ahead and be young again.

Some popular flavors in the Candy profile are:

  • Jolly Rancher
  • Skittles
  • Blue Raspberry
  • Bubblegum
  • Gummy Bears
  • Peanut Butter Cups
  • Cinnamon Hots
  • Fairy Floss

Menthol

This is another popular profile for those menthol fans. If you smoked menthol cigarettes or just enjoy a cool, refreshing hit then something from the menthol range will most likely take your fancy. Menthol will give you that icy blast you know and love and is just as effective in vaping form.

Menthol is also added to other flavors to give them a unique twist or to cool them down. It is always a good idea to try your favorite flavor with a menthol option if it's available. Even if it's just a drop of menthol, you may not even taste it, your flavor may just seem a little cooler as a result.

There are also many sweet/fruity menthol flavors commercially available along with the traditional menthol tobacco flavors. Along with straight menthol flavors, they are all different strengths and some may be too strong of a menthol hit for you, so you may need to try a few to find your sweet spot.

With a good e-liquid vendor you should be able to choose the menthol strength. For those extreme menthol junkies, you can also get menthol e-liquids with added mint, koolada or eucalyptus which really takes things to the next level to help you keep your cool.

Some popular flavors in the Menthol profile are:

  • Subzero
  • Menthol Freeze
  • Thug Juice
  • Frost

Beverages

Everyone has their favorite go to drink of choice when certain cravings kick in. Fancy an ice cold cola on a hot day to quench your thirst or even kick it up a notch with a rum and cola? Think of an effervescent soda fountain brimming full of your favorite drinks or if you need a pick me up you could opt to go for a red bull style energy flavor or an ice tea.

Then there are the hot beverages such as coffee, tea or hot chocolate Alcoholic flavors don't always have to mixed with soda, think of cocktails, straight spirits, shooters or Irish creams. If you prefer milkshakes or a milk based drink, there are also may varieties of e-juice that will tantalize your taste buds here as well.

Some popular flavors in the Beverages profile are:

  • Coffee
  • Cola
  • Pink Lemonade
  • Dream Tea
  • Redbull
  • Strawberry Milk
  • Cream De Menthe
  • Etco Cooler

Summing Up Vape Flavors

Check out these e liquids and you’ll discover some of the best vape juice on the market today. Each is crafted by expert mixologists, who work tirelessly to perfect their flavor. Whether you enjoy a vape that’s fruity and fun or decadent and complex, there’s a choice for whatever your taste buds desire.

In no way is this an extensive list or even scratched the surface of what is widely available to you in e-liquid flavors. As you are starting to figure out, the possibilities are endless, however by utilizing profiles it can certainly open up your options and quickly rule out others.

One thing to keep in mind is that the name of the e-liquid may be far from the actual taste. So be sure to read the notes and figure out where it sits in each flavor profile.

Also the name of an e-liquid may mimic the name of your favorite flavor, this is obviously done for copyright reasons, so if there is a flavor you are after and you see one that is mimicking that taste – go for that one.

When you start to mix different flavors, the flavor profiles can blend and get closer together in weird and wonderful combinations. You can take a two flavors from different flavor profiles and when you mix them together you get something totally unique which brings it into it's own unique profile. Think of Rum and Tobacco, Cucumber and Mint, Peaches and Cream, Strawberry and Cheesecake, Fried Cake Batter and Peanut Butter. You get the picture.

Vaping and e-liquids are such an exciting culmination and evolution of our palettes. The beauty of this is that you are sure to find a variety of e-juice that will tickle your tastebuds and keep you satisfied.

And there will always be new and inventive flavors coming out in each of the flavor profiles we have talked about earlier. As with all good food and drink, there is always something to cater for everyone's taste and this rings true with e-juice and vaping.

DIY E-Liquid Supplies Recommended Stores List:

  • My Freedom Smokes
  • Wizard Labs
  • Mt Baker Vapor
  • Mad Vapes

Wrap Up

As you can see, the whole process isn’t that difficult once you have taken the first few steps. There is nothing to be scared of, the worst you can do is muck up a small batch of e-juice that you tip down the sink or give to a friend. If you are curious, the first step is to have a look for the best DIY e-juice recipes and play around with the e-liquid calculator. 

It will start to make sense once you do this and understand how the ratios work. We haven’t touched on adding nicotine to your juice in this article, however stay tuned to learn how you can do this, if that’s what you are aiming for, in a future article.

Best of luck in your DIY mixing endeavours. Remember the sky is the limit and you will be learning how to make vape juice that surpasses those with a premium price tag in no time. Please let us know of your progress or if you have any questions or comments down below.

26 thoughts on “The Best DIY E-Juice Recipes: An In-Depth How-To”

    1. I think a good minimum would be about $50 bucks to get started. It really depends on where you buy it and how much you want.

    2. Honestly, and I could get chastised for this from long time DIY flavor makers, but – for myself, its always been about clouds and flavor- so if you’re not in to nicotine, I personally got myself started with 15-20 dollars. I go to my local super market here in Oklahoma City (buy4less if you want to be exact its like a aldis or something close to it), they have Vegetable Glycerin (VG) for 1.79 for 60 ml bottle, HOWEVER, don’t make the mistake of buying “GLYCERIN (anyhydrous, vegetable-based)” [labeled close, if not identical to what’s in quotations] that you easily find in Walmart in a clear bottle. What I get is 100% Pure Vegetable Glycerin and is labeled as such. I know CVS carries it, have never checked any other major chains..
      Anyways, along with that (and here’s the second thing I’ll catch flack for) all you REALLY need is a concentrated flavor, EASIEST ones to attain (and more than likely cheapest) are “Tasty Puff” cigarette flavor drops. Those little bottles you see at the gas station or ‘head shop’ (novelty stores for smoking) with a guy in sunglasses, has an afro, says TASTY across the top. They’re small bottles, but these are concentrated so a drop will go a ways. This however is not what I personally use, (and the third thing that people will say I’m stupid for-) I use Watkins (I’m not sure if it is local or what, McCormicks would be most popular comparison) flavors for baking.. For example, I currently have banana, cherry, strawberry, coconut*, raspberry, coffee**, vanilla, butter, root beer and pumpkin spice. *=additional ingredient besides pg/water/alcohol, ** no pg, only (alcohol / water). I haven’t tried the coffee yet, but I have used every other flavor and have not died. Don’t get me Wrong – do i keep a bottle of premium or a local store’s ejuice? 90% of the time yes. But I’ve made about 10 bottles for the total cost of $40 {keep in mind this is for ALL my flavors, you only NEED one, I suggest 2-3} and I’m on my last of 5 bottles of VG. And when you’re broke and you don’t know a ton of people that vape, this comes in handy. ESPECIALLY when these regulations come into effect and you’re searching for flavor/vg/pg for under $10 for 3-5 ml..

      I don’t use Propylene Glycol(PG) but did locate it a LOT faster than VG at CVS. I can’t remember where the PG is, but VG is by the cosmetics and facial astringent/cleansing items.

      I will say this as well, while I notice the difference in my juice and premium, I have had people ask for mine over the premium, and have tasted premiums that arent as good, so it’s not sub-par juice by any means, but I garuntee if you can perfect flavors/mixtures by these means, when you do spend 50-100 dollars on the concentrated flavors, and “special” VG (I call crock of shit, 100% is 100% no matter what graph its in), you will be making masterpieces.

      1. Honestly Naked Nicotine offers VG and PG or if you like a VG/PG blend with nicotine already in it. It has the best on the market that I’ve personally come across so far and is excellent for DIY because there’s no worries about adding too much nicotine on accident since the mix is premade. After that it’s all about just finding the right flavors, through Flavor Apprentice or any other flavor supplier. You can actually learn a lot on DIY vapor on Reddit (oddly enough), such as the best places to find high quality nicotine and other DIY supplies.

  1. Liquid Barn has been a tremendous help. Their kits are the best kits on the market. I got everything I needed to start making ejuice, and the kit comes with a manual, mixing mat, anf recipe tracker book.
    : )

  2. Rick, Mt.View

    I’d go even simpler! Get some VG/NIC juice from VELVET CLOUD, some flavorings, 5mil glass measuring beaker, pipettes. No need to overbuy! Get a few 10ml flavorings you think are interesting and your on your way to big savings. I’ve found the Capella brand good but haven’t had much luck with FlavorArt.
    I get my Capella flavoring from RTS and they also have DIY supplies. I’ve found the plastic syringe markings go away fairly quickly because they’re meant to be a use once, throw away item, whereas a glass beaker may be used multiple times. Pipettes are useful quite often.
    The VELVET CLOUD VG/nic mix is a high quality VG and I’ve found using PG just complcates the process. I found 2 flavors I like and that satisfies me 90% of the time. A bottle of Halo Sub Zero is a must, as a shot of menthol can improve even a so, so juice mix. Plenty of online calculators and you’ll find the one just right for you. I figure my cost is about $3.50/30ml. Higher than Nathan’s cost figures, but low enough not to matter. A long ways from the $22 that most juice companies are trying to push.

  3. I have tried DIY and my flavors seem just so-so no matter how much or little flavoring I use. I’ve used Mt. Baker Cinnamon Roll and Sweet Cream, as well as some Loranns. I just can’t seem to get the flavor right and I’m ready to just give up and buy my juice again. I got 50/50 24mg juice from MFS and the nic tastes very peppery. Just can’t seem to get it right or figure out why. Any advice would really be appreciated as I live in a small town where hardly anybody DIYs their juice.

  4. Thank you for this clear, concise article. I’ve been looking for homemade vape juice instructions for a while, and this is probably the best one I’ve come across. Bookmarked for future reference :).

    Just an FYI though: I think Mt. Baker is out of the DIY game. I searched all over their site, and there doesn’t seem to be anything there related to home-made stuff.

  5. I am thinking about making my own vapor eliquid and doing a lot of research on this matter now.I am currently getting liquid from my son who makes it but it is never satisfying enough.I beleive i will start making my own soon.Thank you for all this information.I am sure you will get some of my business soon as some other companies will also.

  6. What nicotine strength i have to pick up for my first DIY liquid? Also the 70/30 PG?VG ratio is good for a first time vaper

  7. There is some misinformation here.

    – Nicotine is optional
    – VG (Vegetable Glycerine) is what gives off the nice ‘clouds’. It also cuts the over-rich throat=hit that can come with straight PG.
    – Glass bottles are best, as they are reusable more often and the flavors do not stick to the interior like plastic bottles can.
    – Some bubbles are expected when mixing. Having them in your e-juice right after mixing in no way indicates over-oxidation.
    – DO NOT leave the lid off as this WILL cause over-oxidation, resulting in muted flavors and nicotine. You also state: “This is to allow the alcohols and other solvents which have been dislodged to the top by the shaking to evaporate.” There is no alcohol in PG, VG, flavoring, or nicotine.

    Hope this helps..

  8. Greg L Goetz

    Can you make your own eLiquids out of Pure Vanilla Extract, or any other grocery store extracts (i.e. mint, raspberry, etc.)?

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