Browsing the e-juice selection at your favourite vape store has become a whole lot like shopping for groceries. You can pick from citrus, berry, vanilla, dairy and organic liquid. In most cases, selecting an e-liquid comes down to flavour preferences: Are you in the mood for something fresh, uplifting and sweet or something sophisticated and savoury?
Other times, though, picking your juice is a tiny bit more complex. That’s the case when you’re measuring organic versus non-organic e-juice. Is organic e-liquid actually better and does it make any difference in terms of flavour? Let’s explore.
What is Organic E-Juice?
When an e-liquid is labelled organic, that indicates that the products used to produce the juice—such as fruits, vegetables, sugar, tobacco leaves (for nicotine) and other flavours—were made without the use of non-organic chemicals, such as chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
Often, e-juice manufacturers will use USDA Organic certified crops to produce their products. This is appealing to many vape enthusiasts, especially those who have quit smoking cigarettes and don’t want to reintroduce potentially toxic chemicals into the body. Organic agriculture is also more sustainable and eco-friendly, with less likelihood of pollution, so it’s a good option for eco-conscious vapers.
Another thing to consider when thinking about organic in this context is that it’s often closely linked to the PG vs. VG debate. If you’re not familiar, let us give you a quick rundown: PG (propylene glycol) and VG (vegetable glycerine) are two e-liquid bases that give the liquid its viscosity, flavour intensity, throat intensity and other qualities.
The problem is that PG is derived from chemical petroleum products, which means it can’t be organic. It’s also a bit more prone to trigger allergies. If your goal is to go all organic, be sure that you only buy e-juice with VG bases.
Is There a Difference? Comparing the Two
So, should you spend the time and money to vape only organic juice? Let’s take a closer look to see if there are any serious differences regarding organic and non-organic e-liquids. Note that when we say organic, we’re speaking only about e-juice that’s certified as USDA organic. If you’re committed to vaping only purely organic juices, be sure to look for the USDA label.
Flavour
The flavour quality of your e-juice has less to do with the actual flavourings and more to do with the base. Some people believe that truly organic e-liquids are less flavourful because they must have a VG base. Unfortunately, VG already has a sweet taste which could make the flavour of the e-liquid less pure.
Clouds
Like flavour intensity, it’s the base that determines the quality of the cloud production and ease rather than the flavourings. One benefit of VG is that it’s thicker and more viscous, which means that it can produce thicker clouds. If you’re a cloud-chaser, that means that you won’t have to give up your big, easy clouds when you switch to organic liquid.
Safety
There’s no real scientific evidence proving that organic products are healthier for you when inhaled in the same way that they’re healthier for you when ingested. However, we do know that many of the pesticides, herbicides and fungicides used in non-organic products generally aren’t good for us, so it can’t hurt to cut them out of our vape rotation as we cut them out of our diets.
Environment
Organic e-liquids are certainly better for the environment than non-organic ones, all in all. That’s because they are highly regulated by the USDA’s organic program, which holds growers to stringent standards in terms of production. If the producer isn’t using chemicals that pose a threat to the Earth, and substances that won’t wind up polluting our air and waterways, you know that you’re making a small step towards an eco-friendlier presence.
Price
While prices vary drastically based on ingredients and how and where a certain type of juice is produced, as a general rule, 100 percent organic e-liquid tends to be more expensive, millilitre to millilitre.
What About Organic Nicotine?
If you’re using vaping as a method to help you quit smoking, it’s important that you understand that it’s very hard for producers to find truly organic tobacco in order to extract organic nicotine. As a result, this makes it more difficult for consumers to find certified organic e-liquids with nicotine. However, some e-juice makers have begun investing in their own tobacco growing processes so that they can supply customers with chemical-free options. Be aware of this if you primarily vape nicotine e-liquid.
Another Thing to Consider
Juices aren’t the only thing to consider when you’re shopping for organic vape products. The other natural (and potentially organic) component of your vaping experience is the cotton. Most vape pros recommend spending the extra few pence to purchase unbleached, organic cotton for your juice. Just like the fruits, tobacco and sugar grown to make e-liquid, vape cotton may be treated with non-organic chemicals that could be toxic to your body and harmful to the Earth. It’s generally recommended that you use organic cotton when vaping for the best possible experience.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, whether or not you decide to vape exclusively organic is totally up to you. The primary takeaway is that there’s no real proof that using organic e-juice is safer or better for you than non-organic e-juice. What is most important is that you find the vaping style and products that are right for you and your lifestyle.
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