As a new vaper, finding a flavor of e-liquid that works for you can be tricky. With so many options and variations, how do you know what’s right? There are more factors than just the flavor at work here. Brand, viscosity, and nicotine level are all things to be carefully considered, along with finding your ideal flavor type that keeps you coming back for more.

On your first trip into a local vape shop or browsing an online vape store, it is likely that you will feel out of your element. If you are anything like me, you'll take more than twenty minutes browsing through the flavor catalogue, in awe of how many concoctions there truly are from minty to fruity to savory to sweet.

When I began vaping two years ago, I probably tried on about fifteen to twenty different flavors and ten or twelve different brands of e-liquids within the first two months. I felt too intimidated to ask the questions that I should have asked, but that’s where I went wrong in my search for the perfect everyday vape juice. First and foremost, never be afraid to ask questions if you aren’t sure about a flavor, brand, or nicotine level.

Let’s discuss some of the factors that are important, such as flavor categories, brands, and viscosity (thickness).

What Flavor is the Right Choice for Me?   

Vape flavors typically fall into these categories: tobacco, dessert/candy, fruity, beverage inspired, and menthol (though there's a lot wider variety of menthols, like accented fruits, than you'd expect). A good way to narrow these down, if you don’t want to spend two hours sitting at a counter trying out all of the options (like I did), is to think about the sort of flavors and scents that you're typically drawn to. If you really like fruity flavors or certain types of beverages, start there, and try out something that you think is a sure-fire winner with you no matter what. For instance, I typically don’t enjoy artificial strawberry flavors, so I should have ruled those out in my first test run. However, I didn’t stop to consider this and was enticed by the sound of Strawberries and Crème. Obviously, a poor choice for me. Also, something else to consider, if you like the way something tastes, but don’t really like the smell, you might want to steer clear of that flavor - scent and taste, especially in vaping, tend to go together. For all the smokers who are transitioning, that should make sense to you. Go for the flavors and scents that never disappoint you in candies, sodas, drinks, desserts, or mint/menthols. Personally, I've found a home in e-liquid flavors such as pina colada, mojito, dulce de leche, watermelon, Sprite, and Cactus Cooler.

Once you've started to develop your own personal flavor profile, it'll be much easier when it comes to trying on new flavors. This will save you time, money, and plenty frustration, especially when it comes to ordering your juices online.

It’s All Juice, so how Different Can a Brand Be?

Let me start by saying that as with anything you are eating, drinking, ingesting, chewing, or inhaling, brand matters! Not all companies are equal and not all brands are for everyone. I go by experience in making this statement. I have tried countless brands now, and there are certain juice companies that simply crush the competition. Some of this is a personal preference, but it is also very important to know what juice quality is before you purchase. Make sure that you are purchasing your vape juice from a brand that is reputable; purchasing a juice that is not widely distributed or basically unheard of aside from eBay is not a good idea. You want to know what it is that you’re purchasing (seek out reviews – there are plenty online), and if you can’t find information on the brand, it’s probably best left alone. I have found that this is one of those cases where you get what you pay for, but that's not to say that you can’t find great brands at a good cost.

There are plenty of reviews direct from experienced vapers available on the vape blogs and forums, which can help guide you in your purchases if you're ever uncertain about which brands are right for you.

If you're new to vaping and would like some basic information about e-liquids and their ingredients, here's a good place to start.

Some of my favorite e-liquid brands include Naked Fish, BLVK Unicorn, Crème de la Crème, and Charlie Noble, but there are so many great options out there it's impossible to name them all! It is, however, important to find a brand that you really click with - one that fits your flavor needs as well as works well with your vape mod and tank.

Viscosity: What’s the Difference between VG and PG? Why Does It Matter?

One question that I have heard repeated is the difference between vegetable glycerin-based juices (VG) versus propylene glycol-based juices (PG). New vapers may not understand the importance that thickness, or viscosity, has when choosing your ideal liquid.

To keep this relatively simple, a lower (thinner) viscosity e-liquid is going to contain a higher percentage of propylene glycol, whereas a higher (thicker) viscosity e-liquid will contain a higher percentage of vegetable glycerin. So, what difference does this make?

Well, if you own a tank that is suited for direct lung hits (meaning larger inhales and bigger clouds) then you're probably going to want a liquid that has a higher viscosity, which means a vegetable glycerin-based liquid. Some of this is based on individual preference as well, and the best thing to do is make sure you know your tank and mod’s capabilities. This being said, it seems that most people with a sub-ohm tank (most modern clearomizers, built for direct lung hits) generally prefer vegetable glycerin-heavy liquids because of the performance in flavor, cloud production/density, and tendency to deliver less harshness on the throat in large inhalations.

If you own a smaller setup, there's the potential to burn out your coils much faster if your liquid is too thick, which is why it is a good idea to use a propylene glycol-based liquid if you are more of a mouth-to-lung vaper.

These are things to take into consideration. The best way to know your ideal viscosity is a mix of your tank set up, smoking style, and personal preference. If this all seems too in over your head, don’t worry. It sounds more complicated than it really is, and once you have some experience under your belt, it will be something that requires little thought.

Nicotine Levels: What’s Good for Me?

A common question for new vapers everywhere, nicotine levels are yet another factor in choosing the right e-liquid. When I began vaping I didn't smoke cigarettes, though I did occasionally visit hookah lounges. My smoker friends were all talking about making the switch from cigarettes to vaping, and there were a lot of questions that came up concerning nicotine and vapes.

As a nonsmoker, stick to 0 mg nicotine, since your body is not used to it, and it will most likely be a considerably unpleasant feeling getting acquainted with nicotine, a practice best avoided in the first place. For smokers who are switching from cigarettes to vapes, it generally depends on the style of vaping that you wish to use (mouth-to-lung or direct-lung). Luckily, <a href='https://breazy.com/blogs/education/nicotine-options-for-new-vapers-selecting-a-starting-level'>we've got a guide for that, too</a>.

Finding Your Everyday Vape Juice

Once you have a pretty good idea of what flavors sit well with you, as well as what works best for you as far as brand and viscosity goes, you'll be well on your way to finding that perfect e-liquid. It seems like it’s an impossibility to find a flavor that is your go-to, signature, everyday liquid, but coming from someone who has been through the trial and error, it is possible! There are a couple brands and flavors that I know I will never tire of, and once you find those gems it will never be as difficult to choose your juice again – though for some of us variety always remains the spice of life, and we've certainly got plenty of flavors to vape your way through.