The four things worth understanding before you buy a bottle: how strong to go, what PG/VG changes, why nic salts feel different, and how long a bottle actually keeps.
What nicotine strength should I buy?
Start lower than you think. It is easy to move up; recovering from a strength that made you feel sick is harder.
- Light smoker, or already vaping happily — 313 AirsPops 1.9%.
- Coming straight off cigarettes — 313 AirsPops 4.0%.
Too much nicotine feels like nausea, dizziness, hiccups or a racing heart. If that happens, put it down — it passes — and drop a strength.
Nic salts vs freebase — what's the difference?
Nic salts are smoother at high strengths and absorb faster, which is why they suit small pod devices and people switching off cigarettes. Freebase nicotine is harsher in the throat at the same strength and is generally used at lower strengths in bigger devices.
The 313 AirsPops range is nic salt, which is why 4.0% is tolerable in a small pod — the same strength in freebase would be unpleasant.
What does PG/VG actually change?
Two ingredients carry the flavour and vapour.
- PG carries flavour and gives the throat hit. More PG = sharper taste, more of a "kick".
- VG is thicker and makes vapour. More VG = smoother, more cloud, slightly muted flavour.
For pod devices the ratio matters less than people think — small coils need a liquid thin enough to wick, which is why pod liquids sit in a fairly narrow band. Do not buy a very high-VG liquid for a small pod: it will not wick fast enough and you will burn coils.
How long does e-liquid keep?
Unopened and stored properly, roughly one to two years. Once opened, use it within about a year. It does not become dangerous — it degrades: the nicotine oxidises, the colour darkens, and the flavour flattens.
Darkening on its own is not a problem. A flat or "off" taste means it is past its best.
Storing it
- Cool, dark and sealed. A drawer beats a windowsill.
- Heat and sunlight are what actually age it.
- Keep it away from children and pets — nicotine is toxic if swallowed.
Related guides
Nicotine is addictive and for adults only. These products are intended for adults of legal purchase age who already use nicotine. Not for sale to persons under 18.
