If you use a refillable vape, the e-liquid you choose matters as much as the device. The two main types, freebase and nicotine salt, are made for different kinds of devices. This guide explains the difference, how to read the numbers on the bottle, and which sizes you will find at Puff Love.
What is in e-liquid?
Most e-liquids are made from four basic ingredients:
- Vegetable glycerin (VG), which is thicker and makes more visible vapor.
- Propylene glycol (PG), which is thinner and carries flavor.
- Flavoring.
- Nicotine, unless the bottle says 0 mg.
The VG/PG ratio is usually printed on the label, for example 70/30. Higher-VG liquids are thicker and suit larger coils. Thinner, more balanced liquids suit small pods and coils.
Freebase e-liquid
Freebase is the original style of e-liquid. It is usually sold in larger bottles and in lower nicotine strengths, most often 0 mg, 3 mg or 6 mg per milliliter.
- Best for: higher-power devices, such as box mods and sub-ohm tanks.
- Why low strengths: these devices produce a lot of vapor, so a lower nicotine level is typical.
- Common bottle sizes: 60 ml, 100 ml and 120 ml.
Salt nic e-liquid
Nicotine salt, or "salt nic," e-liquid uses a different form of nicotine that works at higher strengths in small devices. Salt nic is usually sold in 30 ml bottles and in strengths such as 24 mg, 30 mg, 35 mg, 48 mg or 50 mg per milliliter.
- Best for: low-power pod systems and pod kits.
- Why higher strengths: pod devices make less vapor, so salt nic is made in higher strengths.
- Common bottle size: 30 ml.
Do not put high-strength salt nic in a high-power sub-ohm tank. Match the liquid to the device the way the device maker recommends. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
How to read the strength on the bottle
E-liquid strength is shown in milligrams of nicotine per milliliter (mg/ml). A 30 ml bottle labeled 50 mg holds the same strength in every drop as a 10 ml bottle labeled 50 mg; the bottle size only changes how much liquid you get. Some brands show a percentage instead. To convert, 5% is about 50 mg/ml and 3% is about 30 mg/ml.
Many lines come in more than one strength. For example, we carry the same freebase flavor line in 0 mg, 3 mg and 6 mg, and salt lines in 24 mg and 48 mg or 30 mg and 50 mg.
Bottle sizes at a glance
- 30 ml: the usual size for salt nic, and some freebase.
- 60 ml: a common freebase size.
- 75 ml and 100 ml: larger freebase bottles.
- 120 ml: the largest freebase size we stock.
Larger bottles often come "short-filled" with room left at the top, and the cap may have a narrow tip for filling. Always keep e-liquid capped, upright and out of reach of children and pets.
Brands we carry
These e-liquid brands are on our shelves now. Flavors and strengths vary by store.
- Vapetasia
- Beard Vape
- Riot Squad
- Naked100
- Coastal Clouds
- Pachamama
- Skwezed
- Noms X2
- Glas Basix
- Fruit Monster
- Milk Monster
- Jam Monster
- Tobacco Monster
- Keep It 100
- Air Factory
- The Salty One
- The One
- Innevape
- Pod Juice
- Mrkt Plce
- Cloud Nurdz
- Juice Head
Browse all e-juice and vape juice, our salt nicotine e-liquids, or find replacement pods and coils and mods and kits.
Quick checklist
- Check what your device is built for: pod system or sub-ohm.
- Choose freebase or salt nic to match.
- Pick a strength, then a flavor and bottle size.
- Bring a valid ID. You must be 21 or older to buy e-liquid in Texas.
Not sure which liquid fits your device? Bring it in and our team can help. See our store locations.
Ask at any of our 5 DFW stores — Plano is open 24/7. Adults 21+.