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DIY Mixing Guide: how to make vape e-liquids with flavour concentrates
Learn how to mix concentrated flavours, PG/VG base and nicotine in an organised, simple and safe way. DIY mixing lets you adjust flavour, intensity, freshness, PG/VG ratio and cost per ml.
Flavour concentrates are not meant to be vaped on their own. They must always be diluted in neutral base and, when needed, mixed with nicotine using clear proportions.
Back to Index1. What DIY mixing means in vaping
DIY mixing means preparing your own e-liquid by combining flavour concentrate, neutral PG/VG base and, if you want nicotine, nicotine shots. It is a cost-effective and flexible way to adapt your e-liquid to your taste.
- Lower cost per ml: it is usually cheaper than buying ready-to-vape liquids.
- Real customisation: you can adjust flavour, sweetness, freshness, throat hit and vapour density.
- Preparation control: you choose flavour percentage, final nicotine and steeping time.
- More planning: it requires careful measuring, shaking, waiting and basic hygiene.
2. What you need to start
To prepare DIY e-liquids easily, you need three main components and a clean mixing bottle.
Flavour concentrate
Provides the main flavour: fruit, tobacco, dessert, fresh or drink. Do not vape it undiluted; it must be diluted.
NicoKits or Nic Salt Shots
10 ml bottles with nicotine used to reach the desired final strength. Use only the amount required.
Neutral PG/VG base
The base defines thickness, vapour, throat hit and device compatibility. 50/50 works well in pods; higher VG is better for larger-vapour devices.
Basic safety measures
- Wash hands, surface and tools before mixing.
- Wear gloves when handling nicotine.
- Keep nicotine, flavour concentrates and mixes away from children and pets.
- Label each bottle with flavour, date, final nicotine and flavour percentage.
- Do not mix if you cannot measure quantities clearly.
3. Step-by-step preparation
Step 1: choose final volume and flavour percentage
Before pouring anything, decide whether you will prepare 30 ml, 60 ml, 100 ml or 120 ml. Then check the flavour percentage recommended by the manufacturer. Most flavours are used between 10% and 20%, but each concentrate may require a different ratio.
Step 2: add the flavour concentrate
Pour the required amount of flavour into the bottle. If you prepare 100 ml at 20%, you use 20 ml of flavour. If you prepare 60 ml at 15%, you use 9 ml of flavour.
Step 3: add nicotine if needed
Add the nicotine shots required to reach the desired final strength. You can use freebase nicotine or nicotine salts depending on device type, draw style and preference, but avoid salts in sub-ohm or high-power devices.
Step 4: top up with PG/VG base
Fill the remaining volume with neutral base. For pods and small coils, 50/50 usually works better. For larger-vapour devices, higher-VG base may work better.
Step 5: shake and label
Close the bottle tightly and shake hard for at least 1 minute. Then label the mix with date, flavour, percentage, final nicotine and base used.
Step 6: let it steep
Respect the recommended steeping time. Some fruits can be tested almost immediately, but tobaccos, desserts and creams usually need more rest to round out the flavour.
4. Quick formulas to avoid mistakes
These formulas are for 10 ml nicotine shots at 20 mg/ml. If you use a different strength, adjust the calculation.
Flavour needed
Flavour ml = Final volume × flavour %
Example: 100 ml at 20% = 20 ml of flavour.
Nicotine shots needed
Shots = (target mg/ml × final ml) / 200
Example: 100 ml at 6 mg/ml = 3 nicotine shots at 20 mg/ml.
Free base
Base ml = Final volume - flavour - nicotine shot ml
Example: 100 ml, 20 ml flavour, 30 ml shots = 50 ml base.
5. Mixing table for 100 ml at 20% flavour
Example for preparing 100 ml final volume with 20 ml of flavour and 10 ml nicotine shots at 20 mg/ml.
| Final nicotine | Flavour | 20 mg/ml nicotine shots | Free base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 mg/ml | 20 ml | 0 ml | 80 ml |
| 3 mg/ml | 20 ml | 15 ml | 65 ml |
| 6 mg/ml | 20 ml | 30 ml | 50 ml |
| 10 mg/ml | 20 ml | 50 ml | 30 ml |
| 12 mg/ml | 20 ml | 60 ml | 20 ml |
| 14 mg/ml | 20 ml | 70 ml | 10 ml |
| 16 mg/ml | 20 ml | 80 ml | 0 ml |
Note: for 3 mg/ml, you use 15 ml of nicotine shot. If the shot comes in a 10 ml bottle, you need to measure half a bottle accurately.
6. Steeping: the resting time that develops flavour
Steeping is the time a mix needs for the flavour to integrate and round out. Not all flavour profiles need the same rest.
- Fruits and menthols: 1 to 3 days; many can be tried as “shake and vape”.
- Desserts, creams and bakery: 2 to 3 weeks for body and nuances to appear.
- Tobaccos: 3 to 4 weeks; they usually gain depth over time.
Store bottles in a cool, dry and dark place. Avoid direct light, intense heat and sudden temperature changes, especially if the mix contains nicotine.
Breathing and “streathing”
Some flavours can taste alcoholic or aggressive when freshly mixed. In those cases, you can open the bottle for a short period, shake it and store it again in the dark. It is not advisable to leave nicotine e-liquids open for many hours as a habit, because nicotine and some flavours degrade with oxygen, light and heat.
A warm water bath may help homogenise very thick mixes, but keep it gentle. Avoid excessive heat.
7. Flavour enhancers: how to adjust a DIY e-liquid
Flavour enhancers do not replace the main flavour. They adjust the final profile: sweeter, fresher, rounder, drier or fuller.
They are used in very low percentages, usually between 0.25% and 2%. Always start low and increase gradually, because small variations can change the recipe significantly.
Sweeteners
Ethyl Maltol, Sweetener Max, Kama Sucra and similar enhancers. They round out, soften sharp edges and add sweetness, but can foul coils faster.
Freshness
Koolada, WS-23, Frozen Head and similar enhancers. They add cooling without necessarily adding a dominant menthol flavour.
Body and nuances
Acetyl Pyrazine, MCP Ciclo, Massoia Lactone and other enhancers help add body, texture or deeper notes, especially in tobacco and creamy recipes.
Frequently asked questions about DIY mixing
Can I vape a flavour concentrate directly?
No. A flavour concentrate must always be diluted in PG/VG base following the recommended percentage. Vaping an undiluted concentrate is not the correct use of the product.
Is it safe to make my own e-liquids?
It can be done safely if you use suitable ingredients, respect proportions, keep hygiene, label bottles and handle nicotine carefully. Do not improvise quantities.
How much flavour should I use?
It depends on the manufacturer and flavour profile. Many concentrates are used between 10% and 20%, but the right approach is to check the specific recommendation and adjust after testing.
Can I speed up steeping?
You can shake daily and store the mix in a dark, mild place. A gentle warm water bath can help homogenise it, but avoid excessive heat and long breathing periods, especially if the mix contains nicotine.
What should I do if my liquid tastes weak?
First, let it steep for the recommended time. If it still tastes weak, you can slightly increase the flavour percentage in a small test batch or use flavour enhancers very moderately.
Ready to start your first DIY recipe?
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