The shelf life of vape e-liquid is a really important consideration for every vaper – from beginners to pro cloud chasers. But the answer to the question ‘How long does e-liquid last?’ is far from a one-size-fits-all scenario.
If you’re dealing with expired e-liquid or simply want to find out more about how to gauge how long your vape juice will last, you’re in the right place. Let’s get down to business and discuss the longevity of e-liquid so that you know what’s what in the world of vaping.
Vape Juice Explained
Vape juice, also known as e-liquid or e-juice, is the liquid that is used in vapes to produce inhalable vapour. Vapes work by heating up e-liquids, which generate vapour as they get hotter.
Typically, e-juice is made up of four main components:
- Propylene glycol (PG): PG is a clear, thin liquid that gives a similar throat hit to traditional cigarettes.
- Vegetable glycerine (VG): VG is a slightly thicker liquid that is slightly sweet. This liquid usually produces bigger smoke clouds, more vapour, and a smoother inhale.
- Flavouring: E-liquids all have a flavour to them, which is what gives the vapour a taste when you inhale. You can also get tons of different e-liquid flavours to suit your palette.
- Nicotine: Some e-liquids contain a certain nicotine level, while others are nicotine-free. E-liquids with any percentage of nicotine content measure their strength per millilitre. They are mainly used by people who are transitioning away from traditional smoking.
How Long Does Vape Juice Last In The Bottle?
E-liquid comes with an expiry date, much like food products or other perishables. In most cases, the expiration date is set at two years after the manufacturing date. However, the longevity of your e-liquid will depend on how stable the e-liquid ingredients are. But does vape juice expire?
The main thing to remember is that you can vape expired e-liquid, even past its liquid expiration date. However, it may not taste the same or produce the same throat hit. The flavour may fade a little, and the nicotine may not be as strong.
PG and VG work as diluents and can maintain their quality for a long time. Flavourings have a shelf life of around a year. But when they’re mixed with PG, they have a longer e-liquid shelf life. The two-year expiry date will normally apply across the board, regardless of VG content or nicotine levels.
The way that you store your e-liquid can have an impact on how long it lasts, though. So proper storage is really important (whether or not it has been opened already). Here’s how to make sure your e-liquid is stored correctly:
- Keep it away from direct sunlight
- Keep it at room temperature (not too hot and not too cold)
- Keep it in a cool, dark place (a cool dark cupboard works well)
- Keep the cap on all of your vape juices to avoid them mixing with oxygen
Factors Impacting How Long Vape Juice Lasts in a Device
Vape Juice Composition
How long your e-liquid will last in a device is influenced by its composition, namely the ratio of propylene glycol to vegetable glycerin. PG e-liquid has a lower viscosity, but it also has a stronger throat hit. Usually, vapers will puff less when using liquids with a high PG ratio. However, e-liquid that has a high VG ratio can be used up relatively quickly since it has a higher viscosity and makes denser clouds.
Device and Coil Efficiency
The type of device you have can affect how long your e-liquid lasts. For example, pod systems are designed for efficiency and often will use less vape juice.
Another important factor is your coil. Sub-ohm coils produce bigger clouds and use up more e-liquid than high-ohm coils. On the other hand, high-resistance coils vaporise e-liquid at a much slower rate, which means your e-liquid will last longer.
Besides this, you should always adjust your wattage settings and airflow. High wattage and more airflow will use your e-liquid up a little quicker.
Personal Vaping Habits
The longevity of your vape liquid is usually affected by how you vape, too. Factors like how often you vape, the length of each puff you take, and the power settings you use can affect how long your e-liquid lasts.
If you take frequent, longer puffs at high wattages, you’re going to use much more e-liquid than someone who takes shorter puffs at a lower temperature.
Bottle Size and Nicotine Strength
The size of your bottle of e-liquid and its nicotine strength will directly affect how long your e-liquid lasts. Of course, bigger bottles that contain more liquid will last longer. Even under the same conditions, a 120ml shortfill e-liquid bottle will outlast a 30ml bottle of juice.
You should also remember that higher nicotine levels will satisfy your cravings more quickly, while you may take more puffs per session if you use nic salts with lower levels. Ideally, you should try to buy an e-liquid that has the right nicotine levels for your preferences.
How to Estimate Vape Juice Longevity in Refillable Devices
Estimating the life of your e-liquid in a refillable device like a vape kit, pod system, or box mod, requires a little more of a hands-on approach. Besides your personal vaping habits and the strength of the nicotine (if you use nicotine-based e-liquid), there are a few things to think about.
Here’s how you can gauge the life of your refillable vape:
- Track puff count: Keep track of how many puffs you’ve taken by either counting them or using your device’s built-in counter.
- Monitor levels: Always check your tank to get a visual representation of how much longer your juice will last.
- Know the capacity: It’s always good to know how much e-liquid your device can take and see how long it takes you to finish it.
How to Estimate Vape Juice Longevity in Disposable Vapes
Because disposable vape pods come with a pre-loaded amount of e-liquid, it’s much easier to estimate how long it will last. Usually, disposable devices come with a label that indicates how many puffs or the amount of hours the device contains. For TPD-regulated disposable vapes in the UK, this is often around 500-600 puffs.
It’s important to remember that in some cases, the battery of a disposable vape can outlast the puff count that it is pre-loaded with. So make sure to stop vaping when the liquid runs out!
Conclusion
If you want to make your e-liquid last, you need to understand how your vaping habits can affect how long your e-liquid will last. You also need to make sure it’s stored correctly to extend its shelf life.
With the superior-quality e-liquids that we stock at Legion of Vapers for unbelievably low prices, it doesn’t matter how quickly you use them up. As long as you store them properly, we guarantee that your juice will last! If you need some guidance, don’t hesitate to contact us.
