Learning how to make e-liquid at home is easier than most people expect, and it usually works out far cheaper than buying bottle after bottle. In fact, the whole process comes down to combining just three parts: a base, an optional nicotine shot and a flavour concentrate. Once you understand what each one does, you can mix the exact strength, flavour and PG/VG ratio you enjoy. This guide walks through every ingredient, the right ratios and a simple step-by-step method.
What you need to make e-liquid
Before you mix anything, it helps to know the role of each ingredient. Homemade e-liquid is built from three simple components, and only the first two are essential. The flavour is what makes it yours, while the nicotine is entirely optional depending on whether you want a 0mg mix.
| Ingredient | What it does | Contains nicotine? |
|---|---|---|
| VG/PG base | The carrier liquid that makes vapour and throat hit | Usually 0mg (nicotine-free) |
| Flavour aroma or longfill | The concentrated taste you add to the base | No |
| Nicotine shot | A small booster that raises the strength | Yes |
You will also want a clean empty mixing bottle and, ideally, a syringe or the graduated markings on a chubby bottle for accuracy. Beyond that, the method is mostly pouring and patience. For the exact numbers, our nicotine strength calculator guide does the maths for you.
Step one: understand the base
The base is the biggest part of any mix, so it deserves attention first. It is a blend of vegetable glycerine (VG) and propylene glycol (PG), and the ratio between them changes how your e-liquid behaves. A higher VG mix, for example, produces thicker clouds and a smoother inhale, whereas more PG gives a sharper throat hit and carries flavour more intensely.
Most people start with a balanced 50/50 base, because it suits pod kits and mid-power devices alike. However, cloud chasers on sub-ohm tanks often prefer 70/30 VG. If you are unsure which way to go, our guide to e-liquid PG/VG ratios explains exactly how each blend feels. Bases come in 0mg for full control, so you decide the nicotine level yourself. Browse the options in the bases category.
Step two: add nicotine with a nic shot
If you want nicotine in your mix, this is where a nicotine shot comes in. A nic shot is a small 10ml bottle of unflavoured nicotine base, most often 18mg or 20mg, that you add to raise the overall strength. Because it is unflavoured, it lifts the nicotine without changing the taste you have built.
The classic method is straightforward: adding one 10ml 18mg shot to 50ml of 0mg base gives you roughly 60ml at around 3mg, which is a common all-day strength. Meanwhile, adding two shots pushes it higher for a stronger hit. Since nicotine is potent, always wash your hands, keep shots away from skin and store them safely. To dial in a precise figure rather than estimate, run your recipe through the strength calculator first.
Step three: choose your flavour (aromas and longfills)
Now for the fun part. Flavour concentrates, often called aromas, are the intense liquid tastes you add to a base. On their own they are far too strong to vape, so you dilute them into the base at a small percentage. As a rule, most fruit aromas sit well around 10 to 15 percent of the final mix, while richer dessert or tobacco profiles sometimes need a little more.
A longfill is simply a tidy version of this idea. Instead of measuring drops, you get a larger bottle part-filled with concentrate, and you top it up with base to a set line. Therefore a longfill removes most of the guesswork, which makes it a great bridge between ready-made juice and full DIY. If the concept is new, read our dedicated longfill explained guide, then explore the full range in the aromas category.
How to make e-liquid, step by step
With the ingredients understood, the method itself is quick. Here is the reliable sequence that keeps every batch consistent.
- Decide your recipe: final volume, target strength and PG/VG ratio. Use the calculator so the numbers are exact rather than guessed.
- Pour your flavour concentrate into a clean empty bottle first, measuring by syringe or the bottle markings.
- Add your nicotine shots next if you want nicotine, then top up with base to your final volume.
- Seal the bottle and shake it hard for a minute so everything blends evenly.
- Let it steep. Some fruit mixes are ready straight away, while dessert and tobacco blends improve over a few days.
- Label the bottle with the flavour, strength and date, then fill your pod and enjoy.
That really is the whole process. Overall, the only skill involved is measuring carefully, and even that gets easier with a longfill.
The DIY mixing kit at VSHUB24
Here is a real starter kit pulled from the live catalogue: a base, a nic shot and a few flavour concentrates to build your first bottles. Tap any product for full details and to buy.
NS20 Base 50VG/50PG
Classic Nicotine Shot 20mg 50PG/50VG 10ml
Bluester 10ml DIY Monster
Fresh Squeeze 30ml Aroma Salz Bite
Exotic Melon Mix 30ml Aroma Salz Bite
Lemon Cloud 30ml Aroma Salz Bite
Longfill or full DIY: which is easier?
Both routes reach the same place, so the choice is really about effort. Full DIY from separate bottles gives you total control over flavour percentage and ratio, which suits people who like to experiment. A longfill, on the other hand, hands you a pre-measured concentrate and simply asks you to top up with base.
Pick a longfill if
You want minimal fuss. Just add base to the line, add a nic shot if needed, shake and steep. It is the fastest way in.
Pick full DIY if
You enjoy tweaking. Mixing separate aromas lets you blend flavours and fine-tune the strength of each batch.
Either way
You save money versus prefilled bottles and cut down on plastic waste, because one base bottle fills many pods.
Mixing ratios and steeping tips
A few small habits make homemade e-liquid taste noticeably better. First, measure your flavour by percentage rather than by eye, since a couple of extra millilitres can overpower a mix. Secondly, always shake thoroughly, because concentrates and nicotine need to disperse fully through the base.
Steeping is the last piece. Essentially, it means letting the mix rest so the flavours marry and any harsh edges soften. Light fruit blends are often good immediately, yet creamy and tobacco recipes reward a few days in a cool, dark cupboard. Ultimately, patience is the cheapest upgrade in DIY vaping, so mix a batch ahead of when you need it.
The verdict
Once you break it down, learning how to make e-liquid is genuinely simple: a base for body, a concentrate for flavour and a nic shot for strength. Start with a balanced 50/50 base and a longfill if you want the easiest route, then move to separate aromas as your confidence grows. Not only is it cheaper than buying prefilled bottles, but it also lets you build the exact taste you want. Grab the parts from the DIY accessories, bases and aromas categories, and mix your first bottle today.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make e-liquid at home?
You mix a VG/PG base with a flavour concentrate, then add a nicotine shot if you want nicotine. Pour the flavour first, add any nic shots, top up with base to your final volume, shake well and let it steep before vaping.
How much flavour do I add to a base?
Most aromas work at around 10 to 15 percent of the final mix, though richer dessert and tobacco flavours can need a little more. Always follow the percentage on the concentrate, and start lower because you can add more but cannot take it out.
How many nicotine shots do I need?
It depends on your target strength. As a guide, one 10ml 18mg shot in 50ml of 0mg base gives roughly 3mg in 60ml. For an exact figure, use our nicotine strength calculator, which works out the shots for your volume and strength.
What is the difference between an aroma and a longfill?
An aroma is a concentrated flavour you measure into a base yourself. A longfill is a larger bottle already part-filled with concentrate, so you simply top it up with base to a set line. A longfill is easier, while separate aromas give more control.
Do I have to add nicotine to homemade e-liquid?
No. Bases and aromas are nicotine-free, so you can make a 0mg e-liquid with no shots at all. Nicotine is optional and only added through a nic shot when you want a specific strength.
How long should DIY e-liquid steep?
Light fruit and menthol mixes are often ready straight away. Creamy, dessert and tobacco blends usually improve after a few days in a cool, dark place, as the flavours settle and any sharpness mellows.
Related guides
For adult vapers (18+) only. Nicotine shots and finished e-liquids that contain nicotine are addictive; bases and aromas on their own are nicotine-free. Handle nicotine with care, keep all mixing supplies away from children and pets, and store them safely.
