Before vape juice became a global smoking option among smokers, the traditional cigarette was the standard. The clear distinction between conventional cigarettes and vape, also known as e-cigarettes, is that traditional cigarette burns tobacco. At the same time, a battery powers the e-cigarette to heat the liquid into an aerosol, which will then be inhaled into the lungs by users. With this, you have a good idea of how important the juice vape is to your device. So, does juice vape expire? Let’s start our discussion with what exactly constitutes a juice vape.

What are the components that makeup juice vape?

The juice used in e-cigarettes is an essential component, just like the vape device. A vape device in itself cannot serve any purpose because the juice is the oil that provides the vape device the fuel it needs to function optimally as an e-cigarette. Although different vape products have different types of juices, it is essential to note that every juice vape you see out there is made up of nicotine, flavoring, propylene glycol, and vegetable glycerin (VG). When all these ingredients are properly mixed, the end product becomes a juice vape.

The components of juice vape are:

• Nicotine

The presence of nicotine in juice vape is the reason why some vapers are into vaping in the first place. Studies have shown that a considerable percentage of vape users are former traditional cigarette smokers, transcending into vaping as a portal to stop using tobacco cigarettes. It’s the perfect alternative. Now, it is not all vape juice that contains nicotine. Some vape juices have 0mg of nicotine, and they are best suited for cloud-blowing purposes only.

• Flavor

Do you know why juice vape from different brands doesn’t taste the same? This is because the flavor level in each brand varies. For instance, the mango flavor in product A may not taste the same as flavor B because each brand must have dedicated a different percentage of mango flavor to their brands. In fact, the main reason why there are countless vape brands available in the market today is that each brand can play around the flavor level. Therefore, you can choose the one that matches your unique taste.

• Vegetable Glycerin (VG)

Whenever you see a thick juice vape, know that the Vegetable Glycerin content in the juice is high. Vegetable Glycerin, known for short as VG, is a vital ingredient used in juice vape production. The thicker the VG, the slower it takes for the juice to be absorbed into the wicks. For a juice vape to be considered as high in vegetable glycerin, then the percentage of VG concentration in the juice vape should be around 50% upward. When you compare VG-enriched vape to propylene glycol, the difference is that a juice vape with a high presence of VG is not harsh and does not leave a bad taste on the throat.

• Propylene glycol

When it comes to holding nicotine, propylene glycol is higher than vegetable glycerin. Propylene glycol, also known as PG, has a clear color and it has a thin viscosity compared to VG, making it flow easily for smooth absorption into the wicks. A high concentration of PG in juice vape will cause the juice vape to have a harsh taste on the throat. So, the percentage of PG in vape juice should not exceed the 50% mark because the lower the PG ratio, the less harsh the juice vape is.

How long can a juice vape last?

Vape juice is like every other product. It has a production date and an expiring date. The deciding factor that will determine how long a juice vape will last is the ingredients used in making the juice. The shelf life of a juice vape made from PG is different from juice vape made with VG ingredients. For PG juice vapes, the shelf life is two years, while juice vapes made from VG vary between 4 and 6 years.

Other factors that affect the shelf life of a juice vape

• Before opening:

If the juice vape is nicotine-free and stored in cool and dark storage without opening the seal, it will be in good shape for one to two years. However, if the vape juice has a high nicotine concentration, oxidation will begin to set in after a year.

• After opening:

Once the seal of the juice vape has been cracked, the flavor and quality of the nicotine-free juice vape will begin to decline 6 or 12 months after the crack has been opened. The difference in the timeline of the decline varies among different products because of their making process.

For juice vape with nicotine concentration, the quality and flavor will begin to deteriorate three to six months after the seal of the vape pen is unsealed. 

How to properly store juice vape

Every juice vape, without an exception, has a due date. However, vape users can elongate the lifespan of their favored juice vape through proper storage. How do you keep your juice vape in good shape for an extended period?

• Keep the lid tight.

The number one strategy to keep your juice vape in good condition is to ensure that limited oxygen enters into the device, especially the juice vape storage. Keeping your juice vape sealed will prevent oxygen penetration, and it will go a long way in keeping the juice flavor fresh for consumption.

• Keep in cold storage.

If you don’t intend to vape every day, then you need a cold storage facility to store your juice vape. After refilling and you are left with an extra dosage, don’t dump the excess liquid on the shelf. Please keep it in a refrigerator to keep the juice in good shape.

• Avoid fluctuating conditions

The general rule of preserving your juice vape is to store it in a dark and cold place. Avoid keeping your juice vape in an environment that is hot or an environment where the condition fluctuates between scalding and freezing. As much as it is crucial to keep your juice vape in cold storage, you must also ensure that the cold temperature is not on the extreme side.

• Always watch out for dirt.

Dirt is one of the leading causes of bacteria in juice vape. Before pouring the juice into the vape tank, it is best to check out for dirt. If the tank is dirty, there is a high chance that it will contaminate the whole vape juice, and that is not good for your consumption.

Signs that your juice vape has expired

There are thousands of juices vapes out there, and it takes a lot of observation and experience to decipher between the good and bad ones. These are some of the signs you must never ignore if you are into vaping or you plan on moving from traditional cigarettes to vaping.

• Change in color and dropping nicotine level

Never joke with the color changes in your juice vape. The color changes vary between juice with nicotine and juice without nicotine content. The main factor responsible for the change in the color of juice vape is oxidation. Whenever the juice vape is exposed to air and light, it causes the color to change, and over some time, the juice vape begins to grow darker, and the nicotine content will begin to reduce. If you are into vaping because of the nicotine intake, then you should discard the juice vape when the nicotine level has obviously dropped below your expectations.

• Lookout for the expiration date

As a general rule, it is advisable to always look for the expiration date on the juice vape brand before buying them. If the expiry date is close, you should drop the package. Although in some situations, vaping expired juice vape may not have a severe negative effect on its users, knowing that vaping an expired juice vape will badly affect the flavor and quality of the intake is enough reason not to pick an expired or soon-to-be expired juice vape from the shelf in the first place.

• Smell and taste

If the juice vape has a funky smell or the taste has changed compared to its initial taste, then it means that something isn’t right. Vape clouds, irrespective of their flavor, should have a fresh and soothing effect on the air. So, when the odor and taste become unpleasant, that is a sign that the juice vape has gone on a full life cycle and it is time to drop it.

Conclusion

Vaping is a good escape for smokers who are planning to quit tobacco-powered cigarettes. Vaping has many options. Users can choose between juice vape with nicotine or juice vape without nicotine. Juice vape is the fuel that powers vaping devices. It is the blood life of vaping. Juice vaping determines the flavor and experience you will get from vaping. Checking out the qualities of your vaping device is a fantastic idea, but you must not neglect your juice vape because inhaling a contaminated juice vape will have a severe consequence on your health.

Juice vapes do expire because they have an expiration date, but there is no evidence to support that inhaling an expired juice vape can be harmful to your health. However, you should know that an expired juice vape will only leave you with a bad vaping experience. Nobody wants that.