Highbrow News — e-liquids

If there’s one thing that most sub-ohm vapers desire more than anything else, it’s those thick, enormous clouds of vaping glory.  Vapers go to a lot of trouble to buy the right hardware to increase their abilities to chase beautiful clouds all day long.

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We at Highbrow Vapor take great pride in the fact that we create high-quality, absolutely delicious e-liquids that are made from the best ingredients possible.  But, even our top-selling flavors can only taste so good if our customers are using subpar technology.

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If you’re a vaper whose main priority is replicating the experience of smoking a cigarette as closely as possible, you’re probably a fan of tobacco flavors.  And, you’ve probably been considering grabbing a pod mod system so that you can enjoy the effects of salt-based nicotine. As you probably know, nicotine salts give you a stronger throat hit and a more potent nicotine experience, meaning that you’ll likely find that your cravings are perfectly satisfied whenever you hit your mod.

But, if you’re a tobacco flavor connoisseur, you might be wondering how the taste of your e-liquid will differ whether you’re using a pod mod system or the box mod setup that you’ve been using.  As you’ll see, the answer is a little, well, complicated.

Freebase vs. Salt-Based Nicotine: Do They Taste Different from Each Other?

First, let’s get one thing straight: both salt-based and freebase nicotine are flavorless and odorless.  Therefore, if your e-liquid tastes different since you made the switch, it’s not because of the flavor of the nicotine itself.  Neither of these types of nicotine have an effect on the flavor of your juice.

Pod Mod Systems Do, in Fact, Affect Your Flavor Experience

However, the fact that you’re using a pod system may be the culprit.  If you’re used to using a box mod kit, you’ve been enjoying your vape juice at a high wattage with a low-resistance coil, not to mention other unique output attributes.  Now that you’ve switched to a pod kit, you’re using a low-wattage device with a high-resistance coil. The output settings and the resistance level of your coil can most definitely alter the taste of your e-liquid.

This is because of how heat affects flavor.  Different output settings heat your e-liquid to different temperatures.  And, different temperatures bring out unique flavor notes in your liquid.

Mouth-to-Lung Vaping Creates a Stronger Flavor

There’s also the fact that pod mods are MTL devices.  When you’re using this type of device, you’re inhaling differently.  With box mods, you’re sucking the vapor straight into your lungs without giving it much of a chance to sit on the palate.  Meanwhile, with pod systems, you’re inhaling the e-liquid vapor into your mouth, letting it sit on the taste buds for a moment, then drawing it into your lungs.  Believe it or not, those few seconds during which the vapor is still in your mouth can give you a much stronger flavor experience overall. Luckily, most vapers view this as a good thing.

Throat Hit Changes Everything

The throat hit that nicotine salts provide can definitely influence the taste experience that you’re having while you vape.  That hit to the back of the throat provides you with a much stronger flavor simply because of the potency of the pull.

The E-Liquid Brand May be to Blame

Another factor to consider is the brand that made your tobacco-flavored e-juice.  If you only vaped one brand’s tobacco flavor when you were using a box mod, and now that you’ve switched to pod vaping, you’re trying a new brand, the flavor will be different.  After all, no two juice companies use the same recipe.

Bottom Line…Find Your Taste

If you’ve been thinking that your tobacco flavor tastes a bit different since switching to a pod mod system, you’re probably not imagining it.  As you can see, there are a few reasons why this may be the case. The good news is that your tobacco flavor shouldn’t taste unpleasant in any way.  So, you can continue to enjoy that rich, smoky taste while you enjoy the many benefits of salt-based nicotine and pod mods.

Have you ever left your tank somewhere for a few days, only to come back and find that it’s half empty?  If so, you probably allowed the e-liquid to evaporate.  Believe it or not, your juice can most definitely evaporate in your tank if it sits there long enough.  But, luckily, there are some things that you can do to prevent this from occurring so that you don’t end up wasting e-juice.

Why Does E-Juice Evaporate in a Tank?

E-juice is a liquid, and any liquid is prone to evaporation.  However, certain factors can make your e-liquid evaporate at a fairly rapid speed.

You’re Not Vaping Frequently Enough

One culprit is that you’re simply not vaping frequently enough.  If you fill your tank and then leave it for a few days before using it, you’re going to find that your e-liquid is evaporating simply because you’re not going through it quickly enough.  Once your vape juice is in a tank, it will begin to evaporate because a tank is exposed to a lot of oxygen.

Too Much Light or Heat Exposure

Another factor to consider is how much heat and light your tank is exposed to.  Both heat and light speed up the evaporation process.

How to Prevent Your E-Liquid from Evaporating in Your Tank

Now that you know why vape juice evaporates in a tank, it’s time to figure out how to prevent that from happening in the first place.

Pour Your E-Liquid Back into the Bottle

The best thing that you can do is pour the vape juice that’s in your tank back into your bottle when you’re not using your device.  Sure, this can be tedious, but your bottle is really the best place for it to be.

Finish Your Tank’s Worth Before Switching to Another Setup

If you’re prone to switching between different setups regularly, consider finishing the vape juice in your tank before putting it away for another mod system.  Otherwise, you’re just allowing that e-liquid to sit in the tank until you’re ready to use it again.

Leave Your Setup in a Cool, Dark Place

As we said, heat and light speed up the evaporation process.  So, when you’re not actively vaping, try putting your setup in a location that’s cool or dark such as a closet or a bag.

Keep These Tips Handy

While e-liquid is capable of evaporating more quickly when left in a tank, there are some easy steps that you can take to prevent losing too much.  After all, e-juice can get expensive. And, who wants to go to vape, only to find an empty tank? Follow these tips so that you can enjoy your juice purchases to their fullest.

Vaping is one of the fastest growing pastimes and hobbies in the world.  As it continues to expand, more people are exploring what our industry has to offer.  With that said, there are certain unwritten rules one should follow in order to have some safe, fun and productive vape sessions.  This list will imbue you, regardless if you’re a novice or "professional" vaper, so let’s get right to it.

Rule #1: Safety

E-juices consist of 4 ingredients:

• Flavoring
• Propylene Glycol (PG)
• Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
• Nicotine (though some juices contain 0%)  

For your own health and safety, seek out juice manufacturers that pledge to use only natural ingredients in their batches and make sure to figure out what ratio works best for you.  What we me mean is, for example, if you have a PG allergy, your best bet is to vape an e-liquid that is MAX VG.

Rule #2: Nicotine Strength
Nicotine levels in your e-liquid depend on your personal preference.  Heavy cigarette smokers trying to quit should start at the highest doses (typically 24/28g per hit) and wean themselves down as they see fit.  Nicotine can be toxic in high doses, so use these higher levels cautiously.

For very light-smoking users, vaping at a lower nicotine strength between 3mg-6mg is recommended.  Vaping at too high of a level that you’re not accustom to could have some negative effects. If you’re uncertain as to the nicotine content of your e-juice, for your safety, it is recommended you get new juice entirely.

Rule #3: Using Your Vaping Device
Read the manual that comes with your electronic cigarette, mod, vaporizer or even pod system!  There are so many means to vape today, that it can be difficult to gauge otherwise how to properly use your device.  In a unit that has modular temperature settings, the VV/VW applied are very important: too low, and you'll get no vapor.  Too high and the juice will burn, or worse, you'll blow out your coil.

Coils are replaceable, but coil blowouts can be a major frustration.  However, they can also be entirely avoidable, if you know how to properly use your device; meaning how far you can set the wattage level to and the kind of coil being used.  Also, the type of e-liquid being vaped with and the tank that it’s in make a difference. These are just some of the many factors that must be taken into consideration before vaping with a fresh new coil.

Rule #4: Being a Respectful Vaper
As we all know, vaping offers the user, and even the environment a better alternative to traditional cigarettes, but some people are still upset by vapers, especially from mods that billow out heavy clouds.  It’s always a good idea to ask those around you if they mind if you vape. If they do, or there are posted signs that unfortunately include no vaping in the establishment, you may need to step outside in order to vape. However, vapers aren’t confined to the length of a cigarette’s time when it comes to being outside, so you should be back indoors pretty quickly.

Also, always vape in a well-ventilated area and try and clear the air when you're done.  Be courteous and thankful when you’re allowed to vape indoors. Take note, do not vape near areas where it is restricted such as school zones.

Keep These Rules in Mind

By keeping these tips handy, you’re on your way to becoming the perfect and respectful gentleman vaper. 

If you’re trying to watch your weight, you might be wondering how your vaping hobby is affecting your weight loss attempts.  After all, e-liquids come in sinful flavors like cake, candy and cookies.  It’s not crazy to wonder if these sweet flavors are filling your body with unwanted calories.

The good news is that vaping won’t sabotage your weight loss endeavors.  As you’ll see, the way in which e-liquids affect your body can actually help you lose weight rather than add inches to your waistline.

Truth about Calories in E-Liquid

As it turns out, e-liquids contain approximately four to five calories per milliliter.  If you go through 2mL of juice a day, you’re getting about ten or so calories. Those calories come primarily from the flavoring agents that are used in the batch.  These flavoring agents make up only about 10%.

Needless to say, ten or so calories a day is absolutely not going to have an effect on your weight.  That amount is far less than even a small cup of coffee or a little glass of fruit juice. So, you really have nothing to worry about.  Even if you’re a chain-vaper who can’t put their mod down for more than ten minutes, you’re really not going to gain weight from the calories that are in vape juice.

Plus, scientists can’t really prove that those calories affect your weight on a biological level.  While the calories we digest do affect our weight, e-liquids aren’t digested. If the calories in the juice only sit in the lungs for a brief period of time, it’s unlikely that they trigger fat production at all.

How Vaping Can Actually Help You Lose Weight

Nicotine

If you’re vaping an e-liquid that contains nicotine, your chances of losing weight are higher than your chances of gaining weight.  Nicotine is a known stimulant that increases your metabolism while gently suppressing your appetite. Many people who vape regularly don’t feel the need to binge on snacks throughout the day, because nicotine keeps them satisfied.  

Another fascinating thing about nicotine is that it reduces insulin levels.  Therefore, it can actually curb sugar cravings as it doesn’t cause the user to desire sugar in order to get a boost of energy.  This is part of the reason why people who quit cigarettes cold turkey tend to pick up addictions to candies and other sweet snacks.

Goodbye to Cravings

Another way that vaping helps people lose weight has to do with all of the sweet flavors that are available.  Many have found that simply vaping a sweet flavor helps them ward off sugar cravings. If you’re the type of person who can’t control themselves around a box of cookies or a bag of candies, vaping might actually be helping you avoid engorging yourself.  

The Skinny on Vaping

Simply put, it’s clear that vaping will not sabotage your weight loss efforts in any way.