How many cigarettes can be packed into one electronic cigarette?
The nicotine content in e-cigarettes depends on the concentration of the e-liquid selected. The maximum legal concentration available for purchase in the UK is a 2.0% solution, which means 20 mg per milliliter of e-liquid, equivalent to about 20 cigarettes of nicotine per milliliter. There are also lower nicotine levels available, all the way down to zero nicotine. Short-fill e-liquids are e-liquids that intentionally have no nicotine added, allowing e-cigarette users to add nicotine shots to create e-cigarettes with custom nicotine levels. The use of short fillers and nicotine shots also allows e-cigarette users to create e-liquids with concentrations higher than the UK legal maximum of 2.0%.
How many cigarettes is one puff of e-cigarette equivalent to?
When it comes to the question of "how many cigarettes is one e-cigarette equivalent to", the simplest comparison may be the simplest. Heavy smokers who smoke regularly need to start with 2% or 20 mg/ml e-liquid to effectively curb their cravings. Although the exact nicotine content in the vapor will vary depending on the size of the inhaled volume, it can be imagined that a low-power e-cigarette with a nicotine concentration of 2% will take about 7 puffs, which is equivalent to the nicotine content of about 1 cigarette.
What is e-liquid made of?
E-cigarette liquid , also known as e-liquid or e-juice, is made of four main ingredients: propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), nicotine ( the addictive substance in cigarettes ), and flavorings. Propylene glycol is a synthetic liquid used to create a smoother throat hit and carry flavor more effectively, while vegetable glycerin is a thicker natural substance derived from plant oils that produces vapor when heated, resulting in a larger cloud of smoke.
If nicotine is present, its concentration varies, from nicotine-free options to high-strength formulas, depending on user preference. The addition of flavorings (usually food-grade) creates a variety of flavors, from fruity and dessert to tobacco and mint. Some e-liquids may also contain additives such as sweeteners or cooling agents to "enhance" the vaping experience. All of these ingredients are combined in varying proportions to produce the desired throat hit, flavor intensity, and vapor volume, while avoiding the harmful substances found in regular cigarettes .
Solving nicotine cravings
In the past, curbing nicotine cravings was accomplished through a method called “nicotine replacement therapy” – these are the typical nicotine replacement products that smokers have long used to help them quit! With the advent of e-cigarettes, studies have shown that e-cigarettes are more effective at quitting smoking than these products (nicotine gum, nicotine lozenges, and nicotine patches, etc.). While these products deliver nicotine, vaping not only delivers nicotine to the body, it also allows smokers to develop a “hand-to-mouth” habit.
For many of us, one of the biggest questions when we start vaping is what nicotine concentration you’re going to get. If you’re researching e-cigarettes, figuring out the nicotine content of e-liquids can be confusing, as all those numbers are expressed as a percentage, mg, or mg/ml. Once you know what these terms mean, you can choose the concentration that’s best for you and make the switch from traditional cigarettes with confidence.
What does ml/mg mean on my e-cigarette?
E-cigarettes and e-liquids almost always display nicotine content in milligrams (weight) per milliliter (volume) ; expressed as mg/ml. This is basically the amount of pure nicotine liquid mixed into the total e-liquid. For example, if you are using 2mg/ml, it means that there are 2 mg of nicotine in 1 ml of e-liquid .
On many labels, and even on blogs about vaping, the “per milliliter” (/mL) number is omitted to make it easier on the writer – nicotine content is crucial information, but you’ll often see “2 mg strength” instead of “2 mg/mL.”
Nicotine levels in e-cigarettes can vary widely, but the upper limit in the UK and EU is 20mg (2% nicotine e-liquid), which is enough to satisfy almost all smokers. At SMOKO, our vape pod refills and e-cigarette refills come in strengths ranging from 20mg, 18mg, 15mg, 11mg, and even zero mg options. This provides a wide range of choices, so you can find the strength and flavor that's right for you!
Understanding what nicotine strength means to you can help you get the positive experiences that ease withdrawal symptoms and the negative experiences that give you cravings.
What is the difference between % and mg/ml nicotine concentration ?
There is no real difference between these two ways of expressing nicotine concentration; the percentage refers to the total amount of nicotine in the e-liquid, while mg/mL refers to the amount of nicotine per milliliter of e-liquid. They both try to tell you how concentrated the e-liquid or e-cigarette refill is.
Different e-cigarette brands will have different ways of telling you, but since it’s fairly easy to switch between the two styles, this shouldn’t be a problem.
How to convert e-cigarette nicotine content percentage to mg/ml
SMOKO and other e-cigarette companies use both % and mg/ml, depending on the context and the look the designer wants. The good news is that it’s easy to tell the difference between the two.
Mg/ml indicates the amount of nicotine contained in milligrams (mg) of liquid per milliliter (ml), and the percentage number indicates the percentage of nicotine in the total amount.
The metric system is a wonderful thing, so converting one method of measuring nicotine levels to another is as simple as moving a decimal place to the left.
For example:
- An e-liquid with a nicotine concentration of 20 mg/mL is equivalent to 2% - the e-cigarette contains 20 mg of nicotine per mL of liquid. This means that 2% of the liquid is nicotine.
- 15 mg of e-cigarette or e-liquid is equivalent to 1.5%
- 3 mg of e-liquid or e-cigarette is equivalent to 0.3%
This applies to any e-cigarettes or e-liquids you purchase.
Nicotine content in e-cigarettes and cigarettes
If you're comparing e-cigarette refills to find the best one for you, numbers like 20 mg or 2% are great, but if you're new to vaping, you may want to compare these nicotine levels based on the type and amount of tobacco you smoke . It sounds simple, but unfortunately it's not.
Finding out how much nicotine is in a cigarette is harder than you might think because every brand is different. The average cigarette contains about 1 gram of tobacco, and according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), the average nicotine content of all cigarette brands they have tested is 19.2 mg per gram of tobacco . (1) This means that a pack of 20 cigarettes contains 384 mg of nicotine.
Therefore, on average, 1 cigarette contains almost the same amount of nicotine as 1 ml of 20 mg e-liquid. However, regular cigarettes do not provide the smoker with all of the nicotine when smoked; in fact, each cigarette only provides about 1.1 to 1.8 mg of nicotine! (2)
To make matters more confusing, e-cigarettes deliver even lower amounts of nicotine, and because they produce vapor rather than smoke, nicotine takes longer to enter your system (3). While newer e-cigarette devices deliver similar nicotine concentrations, first-generation e-cigarettes deliver much less nicotine. This means that most people typically need a higher nicotine content in their e-cigarettes to offset the slower absorption, even if they’re using a newer e-cigarette.
Long story short: you can compare nicotine from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, but it's limited in what it can do. We at SMOKO recommend that if you're just starting to make the switch, start with a higher strength and gradually lower the nicotine level once you're used to vaping . That's why all of our e-cigarette starter kits come with a 20 mg refill, because it's better to start vaping with a slightly higher nicotine strength than to start with a weaker nicotine strength and end up giving up halfway because the e-cigarette doesn't provide the nicotine you need!
How high is the nicotine content in e-cigarette liquid?
Generally speaking, there are a variety of nicotine levels in e-liquids , and which level is right for you depends on what you're using and how much you smoke.
If you are using a SMOKO , you will find that the nicotine content will be higher, ranging from 1.1% to 2%. This is because SMOKOs are designed to look and feel like cigarettes, so the amount of vapor produced is only enough to replicate the amount of cigarette-like smoke when exhaled . This is to make it easier for you to switch from smoking, and the nicotine content is balanced to give you the same experience as cigarettes.
You can also get products with lower nicotine levels, such as 0.3% to 0.6%, which are designed for more powerful atomizers that produce more vapor. These machines won't feel like cigarettes, but will give you a lot of vapor to balance out the low nicotine content. With traditional freebase nicotine, a lot of vapor can produce too much throat irritation , which is why they prefer low-nicotine liquids.
How do nicotine salt e- liquids compare to freebase nicotine e-liquids?
Nicotine salt e-liquids and freebase nicotine e-liquids differ significantly in terms of composition, absorption rate, and overall smoking experience. Nicotine salt liquids contain nicotine in its natural salt form and are combined with benzoic acid to provide a smoother throat hit even at higher nicotine concentrations. This makes it ideal for those seeking a quick and satisfying nicotine hit, similar to the feeling of smoking a traditional cigarette. Freebase nicotine e-liquids, on the other hand, are harsher on the throat and typically have lower nicotine concentrations, making them better suited for sub-ohm smoking and aerosol production . Freebase nicotine is also thought to enter the bloodstream more slowly, however, freebase nicotine particles are smaller than nicotine salt particles, which should allow it to enter the bloodstream more easily. All in all, nicotine salts are ideal for those who prefer a stronger, smoother e-cigarette, while freebase nicotine e-liquids are favored by e-cigarette users who prefer a stronger throat hit.