Michael Kannes
02/04/2025 • 5 min read
Can you mix your own vape juice? Absolutely — but like anything, it’s only worth doing if you do it properly. Whether you’re fine-tuning your nicotine levels, crafting the perfect flavour, or just curious about the process, mixing e-liquids can be both fun and practical. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to stay safe while mixing your own vape juice, and we’ll also explore how DIY e-liquid can actually help you reduce your nicotine intake — at your own pace.
Mixing vape juice doesn’t have to be rocket science — and if you really get into it, you can easily turn it into a bit of an art form. At its core, mixing is all about combining a few key ingredients: Vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), flavour concentrates, and nicotine (if you’re using it). Each of these plays a role in how your final vape juice tastes, feels, and performs.
VG and PG are the base liquids in e-liquids. VG is thicker and produces more vapour, while PG is thinner and carries flavour better. The ratio of VG to PG can significantly impact the texture of your vape juice. Flavour concentrates are the essence of your e-liquid, providing the taste. These can range from fruity to dessert-like and even tobacco flavours.
Nicotine, if you choose to include it, comes in various strengths, allowing you to customise the intensity of your vape. Knowing how these ingredients work together is essential if you want to mix vape juice that actually works and tastes right. You can create a vape juice that suits your preferences by experimenting with different ratios and combinations.
As we’ve just said — yes, you can mix vape juice. And honestly, many experienced vapers already do. It’s actually not just possible; it’s pretty common. Some people mix store-bought e-liquids to create new flavour combos, while others go entirely DIY and start from scratch with individual ingredients.
That said, there are a few rules to follow. Mixing is safe if you use high-quality ingredients and stick to basic hygiene and safety. Suppose you’re adding nicotine, proper handling matters even more. You can also mix nic salts with regular vape juice to customise nicotine strength and flavour profiles, but ensure you use food-grade flavours designed for inhalation to maintain safety and quality.
Mixing different e-liquids allows you to create a unique flavour profile. You can experiment with different combinations to discover new and exciting flavours that you won’t find in store-bought e-liquids. Cost-effectiveness is another significant benefit. Pre-mixed e-liquids can be expensive, especially if you vape regularly. Mixing your own can save you money in the long run, as the individual components are often cheaper than ready-made e-liquids.
But, the most important thing is that mixing your vape juice gives you full control over the nicotine strength. Vaping isn’t just a great way to switch from smoking to a less harmful alternative. Studies show it’s around 95% less harmful than cigarettes — it also lets you do something cigarettes never could: gradually reduce your nicotine intake. You can easily adjust the nicotine level to suit where you are on your journey, and eventually switch to nicotine-free vaping without worrying whether your favourite flavours are even available without nicotine. When you mix it yourself, you decide what goes in.
If you want to control the nicotine strength, or slowly cut it down, mixing your own vape juice lets you decide exactly how much nicotine goes in. While pre-filled pod kits are sold in standard strengths like 10mg/ml, or 20mg/ml, DIY mixing gives you far more flexibility. You can fine-tune the intensity in smaller steps and reduce your intake gradually.
You can even adjust it depending on the situation. A slightly stronger mix during the workday, when your chances to vape are limited and you don’t want to deal with a sudden nicotine dip, and a less strong one for evenings or social events, so you don’t end up going over your daily nicotine limit overall can be a great plan.
Start by deciding on the final nicotine strength you want. Then, use concentrated nicotine shots specially made for vaping to reach that level. When creating DIY e-liquid, it's also essential to use flavour concentrates to achieve the desired taste and ensure long-term proper storage to maintain quality.
The mixing process might be a bit complicated at first, but once you’ve tried mixing a few times, you’ll see it’s really not that hard. There are plenty of online calculators that can help you get the ratios just right. Just type “nicotine online calculator” into your search engine.
Quality vape juice isn’t just about the numbers — it also comes down to how carefully, cleanly, and attentively you make your e-liquid. It might sound simple: once you’ve measured your ingredients, just combine the nicotine and base juice in a clean bottle, seal it, and give it a good shake. But every step in the process matters. Take your time and do it properly.
Then, let the mix sit for a day or two. This is called steeping. It helps the flavours blend and settle. Steeping isn’t strictly necessary, but it can improve the taste, especially with dessert or tobacco-style flavours. Some vapers even leave their mix to steep for a week or more, depending on what they’re going for. If you’re in a hurry, you can vape it immediately, but don’t be surprised if the taste isn’t quite as smooth.
When we talk about how to mix your own vape juice, we can’t leave out safety. We’ve touched on it throughout the steps, but it deserves its own moment, especially if you’re still using nicotine in your mix. Here are a few essential precautions to follow:
And one more important note:
Never mix vape juice around children or pets. No matter how careful you think you’re being, all it takes is one curious moment for an accident to happen.
If you’re curious about vaping and pets, check out our article: Vaping Around Cats: Is It Safe or Harmful? It covers everything you should know to keep your furry friends safe while you vape.
When mixing vape juice, you might run into a few common issues. Here’s how to handle them:
PRO TIP: Just one crucial thing before the very end: no matter how creative you feel, don’t throw in random ingredients like essential oils, food syrups, or anything not specifically made for vaping. That’s where things stop being safe.
