A Classic Vaping Battle: PG vs. VG
Posted by vapecraft on Jul 28th 2026
In short: Propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) are the two base liquids in every e-juice. This guide explains what each one is, how they differ in throat hit and vapor, and how to choose the right PG/VG blend for you.
Propylene glycol. Vegetable glycerin. As a vaper, you’ve probably heard these words tossed around a million times.
But do you really understand what they are and what they mean for you? We’re here to shed some light on the specifics of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, the differences between them, and how they work in e-liquids around the globe.
What is propylene glycol (PG)?
Propylene glycol – or its more technical name, propane-1,2-diol – is a liquid alcohol that’s used as a solvent for too many products to count. Propylene glycol, or PG for short, is created through a process of fermentation of yeast and other carbohydrates. You may have heard frightening statements such as, “propylene glycol is used in antifreeze, and therefore isn’t safe for consumption”, but that’s not true whatsoever.
While propylene glycol is used as a solvent in antifreeze, it’s also used as a storage agent for foods, plastics, and other industries that deal with consumption or health. In vaping, PG is used as a solvent to store e-liquids while retaining flavor for long periods of time.
What is vegetable glycerin (VG)?
Vegetable glycerin, also known as VG, is a more natural liquid solvent. Produced from extracts of plant oils such as palm, soy, or coconut, vegetable glycerin is used heavily in the food industry as a solvent to deliver sweetness and moisture to various products. Other products like lotions and shampoos use the naturally occurring compound as a humectant – something that attracts moisture to whatever it is applied to.
In vaping, vegetable glycerin is also used to store e-liquids. However, it’s usually used in flavors that require more sweetness or flavors that should produce more vapor.
PG vs. VG: what’s the difference?
So what’s the difference between VG and PG, and why do you hear so many arguments about the two chemicals? Well, it comes down to a few key factors. The major factors that vapers argue about in relation to the ingredients used are all related to each other in multiple ways.
Propylene glycol is used extensively in flavors that are substitutes for nicotine, as it provides a more “realistic” throat hit, according to traditional smokers who have transitioned to vaping. Propylene glycol also carries synthetic flavorings in a more true manner than vegetable glycerin, not changing the tastes over time as vegetable glycerin might. Vegetable glycerin tends to give a smoother and less realistic throat hit.
As previously mentioned, it is significantly sweeter, meaning that flavors suspended in VG are more likely to be on the sweeter side. However, it produces significantly thicker and robust vapor, so it’s perfect for the cloud chasers out there. Now, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin were previously used as single suspension liquids for e-juices.
In more recent years, however, VG and PG have been used in conjunction in various e-liquids. Ratios of VG to PG are something you will probably hear vapers talking about pretty regularly, as e-liquids will offer huge ranges of ratios to satisfy the urges of many vapers. Bringing it back to the differences in VG and PG will help clear up why some vapers want certain ratios of the two in their e-liquids.
Having VG and PG in e-liquids will compliment and bring out certain tastes in the flavors. Simultaneously, the hit will be both smooth and robust, and each pull will produce more vapor that is easily obtained than from a liquid that only contains one of the two compounds. Usually, an 80-20 ratio of one to the other will be used.
This ratio signifies that either the vaper is looking for a strong throat hit with original flavors and a tiny bit of added sweetness (i. e. an 80-20 PG to VG ratio), or a huge cloud with a much sweeter flavor and a smoother throat hit (an 80-20 VG to PG ratio).
Some vapers will even look for a 50-50 ratio, to get the best of both worlds.
Choosing the right PG/VG blend
Now that you know what VG and PG are, you can be a more educated vaper. Vapers will always discuss their preferences for vegetable glycerin or propylene glycol in their e-liquids. While you should take their advice, experiment for yourself.
Neither chemical is harmful to you, and only you can figure out what ratio is perfect for your vaping sensibilities.
How the base affects flavor, throat hit, and nicotine
PG and VG do more than carry your juice — they shape how it tastes and feels. PG is thin and comparatively neutral, so it carries flavour compounds efficiently and delivers a sharper, more defined taste along with a firmer throat hit. That combination is why higher-PG liquids often feel closer to the sensation of smoking, and why they suit people who miss that catch in the throat.
VG is thicker and naturally slightly sweet, which softens the overall profile. It produces noticeably more visible vapour and a smoother, warmer draw, but its own faint sweetness can round off the edges of a complex flavour and mute crisp notes such as citrus or menthol.
Because throat hit comes from both nicotine and PG, the two interact. Moving to a high-VG liquid at the same nicotine strength usually feels smoother, which some vapers compensate for by vaping more. If you change your base ratio significantly, it is worth reassessing your nicotine strength at the same time. For a ratio-by-ratio guide, see our full breakdown of common PG/VG ratios.
PG sensitivity and staying comfortable
A minority of vapers find they react to propylene glycol. Reported effects are usually mild and include a scratchy or irritated throat, a dry mouth, mild headaches, or occasionally a skin rash or itching. True allergy is uncommon, but sensitivity is real enough that many people notice a clear difference when they reduce PG.
If you suspect PG is the culprit, the straightforward test is to switch to a high-VG or max-VG liquid for a week or two and see whether the symptoms settle. If they do, staying with higher-VG blends solves the problem without giving anything else up. If they persist, PG is probably not the cause and it is worth speaking to a doctor rather than continuing to experiment.
Both PG and VG are hygroscopic, meaning they draw in moisture, which is why dry mouth is one of the most common complaints among vapers regardless of ratio. Drinking water consistently through the day addresses most of it, and also keeps your sense of taste sharper.
Matching your base to your hardware
Viscosity is the practical constraint. VG is thick and syrupy, so it needs wide wicking channels and larger juice ports to reach the coil quickly enough. Sub-ohm tanks and rebuildable atomisers are designed for exactly that, which is why high-VG liquids belong in them.
Thin, high-PG liquid in a wide-ported sub-ohm tank tends to leak and flood, because the liquid moves faster than the coil can vaporise it. Conversely, a thick max-VG liquid in a small pod or a high-resistance mouth-to-lung coil will struggle to wick, and the result is dry hits and prematurely burnt coils. Pod systems and starter devices generally want a more balanced ratio, often around 50/50 or 60/40.
If you are getting dry hits, moving to a slightly higher-PG blend or a thinner liquid often fixes it faster than changing anything else. If you are getting leaks, the opposite applies. Matching liquid to hardware solves a surprising share of everyday vaping frustrations.
Frequently asked questions
What is propylene glycol (PG)?
PG is one of the two base liquids used in e-juice. It is thin, carries flavor well and delivers a stronger throat hit, which many former smokers appreciate.
What is vegetable glycerin (VG)?
VG is the other base liquid in e-juice. It is thicker and sweeter than PG and produces much larger, denser clouds of vapor.
What is the difference between PG and VG?
PG is thinner and gives more flavor and throat hit, while VG is thicker and produces more vapor. Most e-liquids blend the two, and the ratio changes the overall vaping experience.
Which PG/VG ratio should I choose?
Choose a higher-PG blend for stronger flavor and throat hit, or a higher-VG blend for bigger clouds and a smoother draw. Your device and personal preference determine the ideal ratio.
