Have you ever put any thought into how you store your e-liquid? If you’ve been thinking about buying some vape juice in bulk – maybe because your favorite vape shop is having a great sale, for instance – it’s time to think about it. Vape juice isn’t perishable in the same way that food is, but that doesn’t mean it lasts forever. The ingredients in e-liquid are volatile, and they will slowly change over time with exposure to the environment.
So, does vape juice expire? Although there isn’t necessarily a specific date on which a bottle of e-liquid is no longer safe to use, you will definitely find that the experience of using an old bottle of vape juice differs significantly from the experience of using a new one. Reading this article, you’re going to learn how e-liquid changes over time and how you should store it in order to make it last as long as it possibly can. First, though, let’s answer the question that brought you here: How long does vape juice last?
How Long Does Vape Juice Last?
In general, you can expect a bottle of e-liquid to provide an excellent vaping experience for up to about one year from the date of manufacture. The fact that vape juice degrades over time, though, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’ll taste bad or that it won’t be safe to use after you’ve stored it for a year. It simply means that the e-liquid will have a noticeably different taste from when it was new. We’ll discuss the
Shortly, we will delve into the distinctions in greater detail.
It’s a common practice for e-liquid manufacturers to indicate “best by” dates on their products. It’s advisable to make a note of the date if it’s on the label of your vape juice bottle and endeavor to consume the e-liquid by that specified date. In cases where you purchase e-liquid without a date specified, it’s recommended to mark the purchase date on the bottle upon receipt. This helps remind you to use the e-liquid within a year.
Our assertion that an e-liquid bottle retains optimal vaping quality for up to a year assumes production under genuinely hygienic factory-grade conditions and using pharmaceutical-grade ingredients. The majority of e-liquids fall under this category, being manufactured in impeccably clean environments and containing only the purest components.
However, there are two types of e-liquids that may not boast the same shelf life as those produced under factory conditions:
- Custom-made small-batch e-liquids from local vape shops might not adhere to the same sanitation levels as factory-produced items with fully automated processes.
- E-liquids containing botanical extracts for flavor, such as tobacco extracts, could contain particles that accelerate oxidation.
The majority of e-liquids are crafted in factory settings and utilize concentrated natural or artificial flavors instead of botanical extracts. Consequently, most vape juices do not fall into the aforementioned categories and tend to have a prolonged shelf life.
Importance of Understanding Vape Juice Expiry
Knowing about vape juice expiration is crucial as there might be scenarios where bulk e-liquid purchases make sense. For example, if a favored vape shop offers a significant discount on a certain e-liquid brand due to the brand discontinuing, or when a manufacturer alters packaging or ingredients necessitating the clearance of existing stock.
Understanding the longevity of vape juice is essential, especially if you are considering creating DIY e-liquid. Procuring e-liquid components in bulk is the most economical approach. Having a consumption plan for both commercial e-liquids in large quantities and self-made DIY vape juice ingredients ensures that you utilize the products before taste degradation.
Even if bulk purchases are not your preference and you usually buy a bottle or two of e-liquid at a time, comprehending vape juice shelf life is beneficial to ensure freshness and avoid purchasing products close to expiration at full price.
Within the vaping community, it’s common to come across e-liquid that has been aging for close to a year.
Does Vape Juice Go Bad?
The degradation process of vape juice occurs gradually, contrary to a sudden expiration after a year from production, highlighted earlier. Individuals attuned to a specific e-liquid flavor may detect changes in its taste after just a few months of storage.
Manufacturers, therefore, assign a one-year shelf life to vape juice because beyond that, the product deviates from their quality benchmarks. By this juncture, the e-liquid will have deteriorated, diminishing its appeal from its original state.
New Formulations May Improve E-Liquid Shelf Life
Recent collaborations at Innokin with UK-based Aquios Labs focus on an innovative beginner-oriented vaping product range utilizing water-based e-liquid. Typically, vape juices have minimal water content due to water’s lower viscosity compared to vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol; posing challenges like coil issues and dry hits.
Aquios Labs’ team devised a novel e-liquid type with up to 30% water content alongside fresh coil and wick technologies for vaporization, while we are designing hardware to complement this updated vape juice. Apart from multiple advantages, water-based e-liquid could offer heightened stability and an extended shelf life compared to conventional e-juices.
The Aging Process of Vape Juice
As e-liquid sits in storage, its chemical compounds interact with light and air, leading to degradation. Nicotine oxidizes, turning yellow, while flavor compounds blend and may interact with a plastic bottle if used for storage. Over time, aging e-liquid exhibits three significant changes.
- The e-liquid’s color shifts, varying from yellow to brown based on its ingredients and nicotine levels.
- Nicotine potency decreases due to volatility, even under optimal storage conditions. A year-old bottle will typically have reduced nicotine content, necessitating slightly more consumption.
- Flavors evolve through the process of steeping, where stored e-liquid develops a mellower taste. Extended storage, however, may result in a loss of distinct flavor notes and a generalized sweetness or fruitiness.
Proper Storage of Vape Juice
E-liquid deteriorates primarily from exposure to heat, light, and air, causing oxidation and degradation. To maintain e-liquid quality, it’s crucial to minimize contact with these elements by adhering to two simple steps.
- Keep the bottle tightly sealed until use to limit oxygen exposure and subsequent oxidation.
- Store the bottle in a closed, climate-controlled cabinet at an elevated height to prevent access by children or pets and minimize exposure to light and heat sources.
To further extend longevity, some individuals opt to refrigerate or freeze commercial vape juice or DIY ingredients, slowing the degradation process and prolonging storage capabilities.
Consider storing your vape juice in the refrigerator or freezer only if your house has no children, to maintain its quality over a long period.
Summary: Does Vape Juice Expire?
Recap the key points from this article. Vape juice deteriorates over time but does not expire in a way that makes it unsafe after the “best by” date. Rather, it degrades gradually until it’s no longer as enjoyable. When stored properly, vape juice can provide a good experience for about a year. To extend its shelf life, store it away from light, heat, and air.