If you’ve ever taken a puff from your vape and tasted something bitter, smoky, or like burnt cotton, you’re not alone. A burnt taste is one of the most common problems vapers face—and it can ruin the experience completely.
The good news? It’s usually easy to fix once you know what’s causing it. Here are the top 10 reasons why your vape tastes burnt, plus simple tips to stop it from happening again.
Your vape needs enough e-liquid (also called vape juice) to keep the coil wet. When the tank or pod is running low, the coil can dry out and burn the cotton wick. This gives off a nasty, burnt taste. The next time you wonder why does my vape taste burnt, this can be the most possible reason.
How to Fix It:
Keep an eye on your e-liquid levels. Refill your tank or pod before it runs completely dry. Most devices have a clear window or markings to show how much liquid is left. As a rule of thumb, don’t let the liquid drop below one-quarter full.
Vape kits often let you adjust the wattage or voltage. If the setting is too high for your coil, it heats up too fast and burns the liquid or wick before it has time to soak properly.
How to Fix It:
Check the recommended wattage range printed on your coil. Stay within that range. If you’re not sure, start at a lower power setting and slowly increase it until you find a sweet spot with smooth vapor and no burnt taste.
Taking puff after puff without giving your vape time to rest can dry out the wick. This is called chain vaping, and it’s a common cause of burnt hits—especially with smaller coils or pod kits.
How to Fix It:
Take breaks between puffs. Even a few seconds is enough time for the e-liquid to soak back into the wick. If you’re vaping often, consider switching to a device with a larger coil and advanced technology such as Xros 3 that can handle it better.
All coils wear out over time. When a coil has been used for too long, the wick becomes dark, the flavour drops off, and eventually, you’ll start tasting something burnt.
How to Fix It:
Replace your vape coil regularly—usually every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on how much you vape and what kind of juice you use. If you notice a drop in flavour, smaller clouds, or a slightly burnt taste, it’s probably time for a new one.
When you install a new coil, the wick is completely dry. If you start vaping right away, you’ll burn the cotton before the e-liquid can soak in. This is known as “dry burning” and ruins the coil instantly. This can be the answer to the question why does my new vape taste burnt.
How to Fix It:
Prime your new coil before use. Add a few drops of vape juice directly to the exposed cotton holes on the coil, then fill your tank and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. Some people also take a few puffs without firing the device to help draw in liquid.
Not all vape juices work well with every coil. High VG Vape Juice are thicker and may not soak properly into smaller coils, especially in pod systems. Very sweet or sugary juices can also gunk up coils faster, leading to burnt hits.
How to Fix It:
Use the right VG/PG ratio for your device. For pod systems or low-wattage vapes, stick with a 50/50 or 60/40 VG/PG blend. For sub-ohm tanks, higher VG like 70/30 is usually okay. Also, avoid overly sweet or dark-colored e-liquids that leave heavy residue.
If your wick gets clogged by thick juice, sweeteners, or debris, it won’t soak e-liquid fast enough. This can dry it out, especially during longer puffs or frequent vaping.
How to Fix It:
Use cleaner e-liquids and avoid ones with strong artificial sweeteners. If you notice your coil isn’t wicking well, clean it (if reusable) or swap it out. Keep your tank clean too—rinsing it every few refills can help prevent buildup.
Good airflow helps cool the coil and draw vapor properly. If airflow holes are blocked or the setting is too tight, the coil may get too hot and burn the wick or e-liquid.
How to Fix It:
Check the airflow vents and make sure they’re clean and open. If your device has adjustable airflow, try opening it slightly more for better cooling and smoother puffs. Shop top vape kits with innovative airflow adjustment such as SMOK Nord C.
Cheap or low-quality e-liquids often contain poor ingredients, heavy sweeteners, or colouring that can damage coils quickly. They can lead to faster residue build-up, clogging, and eventually a burnt flavour.
How to Fix It:
Buy your e-liquids from trusted brands and sellers such as WizVape. Look for lab-tested juice with clear ingredient lists. Quality vape juice may cost more, but it keeps your coil lasting longer and your vaping experience much better.
Each coil has a resistance level, measured in ohms. Using the wrong coil for your device or setting can lead to overheating. For example, sub-ohm coils (below 1.0 ohm) need more power and airflow, while higher-resistance coils work better at lower wattages.
How to Fix It:
Use coils that match your device and preferred power level. Read the coil packaging or manufacturer’s guide to find the right wattage and resistance. Never mix a high-power coil with a low-power setting or vice versa. The auto coil detection in some vape kits such as OXVA Xlim SQ Pro will also help you vape at the right coil resistance without worrying.
A burnt taste in a rechargeable vape is often linked to common issues like low e-liquid, high power settings, or an old coil. Since rechargeable vapes let you refill and adjust settings, they require a bit more care to avoid dry hits or burning.
What you can do: Check your e-liquid level, lower the power setting, and swap the coil if needed. Also, make sure you’re using the right kind of vape juice for your device. For example, high VG is only used in low coil resistance, such as in the Voopoo Drag S. On the other hand, high PG, 50/50 vape juice and nic salts are suitable for MTL pod kits such as Voopoo Argus A.
If your new disposable vape tastes burnt right out of the box, it’s probably due to a factory defect or poor-quality materials. Disposable vapes are pre-filled and pre-charged, so you can’t adjust settings or refill them. This means you rely entirely on how well it was made.
Wondering why does my disposable vape taste burnt? The burnt taste in disposable vape usually happens after you have used up the e liquid in the disposable device. Some disposable vapes such as Hayati Twist 5000 Heisenberg also have LED lights or transparent e liquid chambers to keep you informed about the e liquid level. However, you can not refill these devices. All you can do is to dispose of them responsibly and buy new ones.
What you can do: Try taking slower, lighter puffs at first. If it still tastes burnt, there’s not much you can do. Consider contacting the seller or trying a different brand.
Choose the authentic and high-quality disposable vape such as Al Fahker Vape for a satisfying experience.
It might seem strange, but even a brand-new coil can taste burnt if it’s not prepared or used correctly. This usually happens when the cotton inside the coil doesn’t have enough time to soak up e-liquid before being heated.
What you can do: Always prime your coil with a few drops of e-liquid. After filling your tank, wait at least 5–10 minutes before vaping. Start at a lower power setting and slowly increase as needed.
Choosing to buy high-quality vape coils from authentic and trusted online vape shops like WizVape is also important. We offer the best vape coils in the UK from top brands such as Aspire PockeX Coils and so much more.
Getting a burnt taste from your vape can be frustrating, but in most cases, it’s a quick fix. Whether it’s low e-liquid, an old coil, or just vaping too often without a break, knowing the cause makes it easier to avoid. By taking a little extra care—like priming your coils, using the right juice, and staying within the recommended power settings—you can keep your vape tasting smooth and enjoyable.
If you’ve tried everything and still your vape tastes burnt, it might be time to try a new coil, a different e-liquid, or even a fresh device. Either way, a better vaping experience is just a few small changes away. Shop at WizVape - your one-stop shop for vape products for all premium vape kits, hundreds of vape deals and replacement pods & coils.
Your vape tastes burnt due to coil damage from dry hits, chain vaping, insufficient e-liquid, old coils, wrong wattage settings, inadequate priming, high VG e-liquid in MTL devices, sweetener buildup, or manufacturing defects. The burnt taste means the cotton wick is scorched and needs replacement.
A dry hit occurs when the coil fires without sufficient e-liquid saturating the cotton wick, burning the cotton and creating harsh, acrid taste. This happens from vaping with low e-liquid levels, not priming new coils, or vaping too quickly before liquid can re-saturate the wick.
Chain vaping (taking multiple puffs rapidly without pause) doesn't give the coil time to re-saturate with e-liquid between puffs, causing the wick to dry out and burn. Wait 15-30 seconds between puffs to allow proper wicking and prevent burnt taste.
Yes, vaping at too high wattage for your coil resistance burns the cotton wick faster than it can absorb e-liquid, creating burnt taste. Always use wattage within the recommended range printed on your coil (e.g., 10-15W for 1.0Ω coils).
Proper priming prevents burnt taste: manually drip 3-4 drops of e-liquid directly onto exposed cotton in new coils, fill your tank/pod, wait 5-10 minutes for complete saturation, start at lower wattage for first 10 puffs, then gradually increase to preferred setting.
High VG e-liquids (70/30 or higher) are thicker and wick slower in MTL devices with small wicking ports, causing dry hits and burnt taste. MTL pods and tight-draw devices need 50/50 VG/PG e-liquids for proper wicking and flavour.
Sweeteners (particularly sucralose) caramelize on coils creating dark, sticky gunk that clogs wicking ports and burns the cotton, causing progressively worse burnt taste. Dessert and candy flavours with high sweetener content reduce coil life to days instead of weeks.
Coils typically last 1-3 weeks before developing burnt taste, depending on e-liquid sweetness, vaping frequency, wattage, and liquid type. Unsweetened liquids can last 3-4 weeks, while heavily sweetened flavours may burn out in 3-5 days.
Once a coil tastes burnt, the cotton is permanently damaged and cannot be fixed—replacement is necessary. Continuing to use burnt coils produces harsh, unpleasant vapour and can damage your device. Always keep spare coils or pods available.
Prevent burnt taste by: properly priming new coils, keeping e-liquid levels above minimum line, avoiding chain vaping, using appropriate VG/PG ratio, staying within recommended wattage range, replacing coils regularly, using less sweet e-liquids, and taking moderate puffs.
New coils taste burnt from insufficient priming time, vaping too soon after installation, manufacturing defects, wrong e-liquid viscosity, too high wattage, or damaged coil. Ensure proper 5-10 minute priming and start at lower wattage before increasing.
Yes, when e-liquid drops below wicking ports, the coil cannot draw liquid efficiently, causing dry hits and burnt cotton. Always refill when liquid reaches the minimum fill line or when you notice reduced vapour production.
Yes, extreme cold thickens e-liquid making it harder to wick, while extreme heat can thin liquid causing flooding or evaporation. Both can contribute to burnt taste. Store devices and e-liquid at room temperature for optimal performance.
Burnt taste is harsh, acrid, and unpleasant from scorched cotton, while bad flavour means muted, off, or weak taste from old coil, wrong settings, or flavour contamination. Burnt requires immediate coil replacement; bad flavour may just need adjustment.
You can buy replacement coils and pods for all major devices at WizVape, offering authentic products from Vaporesso, SMOK, Aspire, OXVA, and more with competitive prices and fast UK delivery to keep your vape tasting fresh.
