Which base for vaping? A guide for DIY mixing beginners

Anyone who wants to mix liquids themselves quickly comes across terms like base, PG and VG. We explain this almost daily in our shop in Freiburg. The good news: the principle is simple. In this guide we show you what a base consists of, how PG and VG differ and how to find the base that suits your device.

What is a base?

The base is the basic fluid of a liquid. It consists of propylene glycol (PG) and/or vegetable glycerin (VG), sometimes with added water.

According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), propylene glycol and glycerin are the main ingredients of liquids. They serve as vaporising agents and carry flavourings and, if applicable, nicotine. When mixing yourself, you add a flavour concentrate to the base and, if desired, a nicotine shot.

What is the difference between PG and VG?

PG is thin and carries flavour well. VG is thick and produces more visible vapour.

• Propylene glycol (PG): thin, almost tasteless, carries flavours clearly. Many people perceive a stronger scratch in the throat (“throat hit”).
• Glycerin (VG): thick, slightly sweet, produces denser vapour clouds and feels smoother in the throat.

The composition is given as a ratio, for example 50/50 or 70/30. The first number usually stands for VG, the second for PG. Check this on the label, as some manufacturers write it the other way round.

Which base suits my device?

That depends on your atomizer and your inhale style. What counts is the manufacturer’s recommendation for your coil.

For mouth-to-lung vaping (MTL)

Small pod systems and MTL atomizers have narrow liquid openings. Thinner bases with a higher PG content are better suited for these. Very thick bases soak into the cotton too slowly here, and the coil can run dry.

For direct lung inhales (DL)

Sub-ohm atomizers have large openings and work with more power. Thicker bases with a higher VG content are common here. Vaporesso points out that liquids with less VG than 60/40 are more likely to leakwith some coils. More on this in the guide What are sub-ohm e-cigarettes?.

What do I need to consider when mixing with nicotine?

Nicotine is poisonous and highly addictive. Work cleanly, wear gloves if necessary and keep everything child-safe.

In Germany, a nicotine-containing liquid may contain no more than 20 milligrams of nicotine per millilitre, and nicotine-containing refill containers hold no more than 10 millilitres (§ 14 TabakerzG). Follow the information on the base and shot. Nicotine should not get on the skin or in the eyes. We explain how to dose shots and bases correctly in a separate guide.

Only use ingredients intended for e-cigarettes

Use only bases, flavour concentrates and shots intended for e-cigarettes. Food flavourings, oils or other substances do not belong in a liquid. The BfR points out that harmful substances can be produced when liquids are heated and that some flavourings can trigger allergies.

Which questions do we hear most often in the shop?

Can I just vape a ready-made base on its own?

A base without flavour hardly tastes of anything. Technically it works, but it is intended as a foundation for mixing.

Why does my self-mixed liquid still taste of very little?

Many flavours only develop after some time. Manufacturers state on the bottle how long the flavour should rest.

How do I store my base?

Like ready-made liquids: cool, dark, tightly closed and out of reach of children. More on this in the guide How long do liquids last?.

Note: This guide is intended exclusively for adults. We sell all products only to persons aged 18 and over. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance. This article does not replace medical advice. If you want to quit smoking, you can find free help on the rauchfrei portal of the German Federal Institute for Public Health.

About the authors – Team Dampfstelle Freiburg: We are an owner-managed specialist shop in Freiburg-Zähringen and have been advising customers in our shop every day since August 2022. Our team has been vaping for over 10 years and knows the devices, liquids and typical problems from personal experience.

Last updated: 14.10.2026

Which sources is this article based on?

1. German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR): E-cigarettes: anything but harmless – questions and answers (in German). https://www.bfr.bund.de/fragen-und-antworten/thema/e-zigaretten-alles-andere-als-harmlos/
2. Vaporesso: Vapes FAQ (manufacturer FAQ, in English). https://www.vaporesso.com/vapes-faq
3. German Tobacco Products Act § 14: Composition of electronic cigarettes and refill containers (in German). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/tabakerzg/__14.html
4. German Federal Institute for Public Health: rauchfrei portal (in German). https://www.rauchfrei-info.de/