I think that time seems like a long time ago now but it was the year that released the first commercially available e-cigarette into the world. Naturally, with the invention of the e-cigarette, came e-liquid. Originally a disposable design, e-cigarettes had a limited flavor range and were kind of the first draft of the Vaping technology we have available today. It’s been over a decade now and vaping has come a long way - both in terms of the kits you can get and also the e-liquids. Everyone has their favorite flavor but e-liquids are often overlooked in comparison to the big shiny box mods, tanks, and nifty little pod kits you can get these days. E-liquids have leveled up their game because of the unique flavors and variety of flavor combinations.
A bit like Darwin’s finches evolving differently depending on their diet, vape kits have evolved to work better and better with every passing day with differently amazing and unique types of e-liquids. Want a strong throat and nicotine hit with minimal vapor? Then You need a high PG E Liquid and a mouth-to-lung device with a plus Ohm coil. Want mammoth clouds, next to no nicotine, and minimal throat hit? Then you got to pick up a bottle of high VG liquid and pair it with a more powerful Sub Ohm kit. Different types of e-liquids serve different types of cravings and vapers’ requirements.
Vaping had to start somewhere and it was from the humble beginnings of the cig-a-like. That was very slim and similar in shape and size to a conventional cigarette, these models were quite limited compared to modern standards. They were single-use with a small battery capacity and a finite amount of shortfall e-liquid (which you also couldn’t refill). Once your vape juice ran out or your battery died, you needed to throw them away and get a new one. This was the first of its name in vaping technology and was completely dependent upon the availability of e-liquid.
The e-liquid itself provided very little in the way of flavor and vapor. The actual variety of flavors was very limited too there were not many of the flavors available. Consumer preferences began to change and their demand for better technology meant both devices and their liquids had to evolve. When we compare today’s vaping technology to old times, now e-liquids have evolved way too much. Now we use different kinds of shortfill e-liquids which involve tobacco eliquids, fruity e-liquids, menthol E-liquids, and the list goes on. Now you can find some of the high PG E-liquids in the UK.
Because there was a demand for more flavors in shortfill eliquids and vape juices, varying nicotine levels, and even nicotine-free vapes in the UK, the smart move was to develop a vape kit that could be refilled with whatever liquid you wanted so now enters: vapes with tanks.
This meant manufacturers could now start making e-liquids with a lot more variants. Different flavors, more or less nicotine, and different PG: VG ratios most commonly 70/30 Vg/Pg
In less than a decade and a half, e-liquids and vaping have evolved rapidly. They’ve changed everything from their nicotine content and what kind of nicotine they contain to updating how they’re made and sold to maintain compliance by law. Whether you want a 50:50 liquid for a mouth to lung kit, a high VG and nicotine-free mix for your Sub Ohm tank, or a nic salt pod kit, e-liquids are as diverse and unique as the vapers using them.
Now Vaping had become more customizable. Now, you could decide how much nicotine you wanted, in which flavor, and also select a PG level according to how strong a throat hit you wanted too. We can also decide if we want to go for nicotine-free vapes or how much tobacco level you want in your e-liquids or what kind of tobacco e-liquids you’d like to have.
Plenty of people think you pick your kit first and then buy an e-liquid. But this is not quite the case. You should pick your e-liquid first with its nicotine level and throat hit the power (or lack thereof) and then you choose from a range of devices that’ll work well with your selected e-liquid and shortfill E-juices.
While the second generation of devices and liquids was a significant step up, the higher the nicotine level is, the harsher would be the taste and harsher it would be on your throat. For smokers who were on a pack or more a day, sometimes even a 24mg nicotine strength wasn’t quite enough to give a satisfying hit.
You’ve almost certainly heard of Juul. This one little device that looks like a USB drive has revolutionized the way vaping works - and not just with the design of the pod kit itself, but with nicotine salts.
NIC salts are a new form of nicotine that hits harder and faster, designed with transitioning smokers in mind.
Vaping and e-liquids have evolved tremendously over the years — from simple cig-a-likes with limited flavors to customizable vape kits and short fill e-liquids that cater to every preference. Whether you're chasing bold clouds with high VG liquids, craving a strong throat hit with high PG blends, or exploring the smooth satisfaction of nic salts, the variety is endless.
At WizVape, we know that choosing the right e-liquid is just as important as picking the perfect vape kit. That’s why we’re committed to guiding you through this ever-evolving world of vaping. Want to dive even deeper into vape tips, tricks, and insights? Check out our blog section for to understand more about e liquid and vaping such as Is It True That E-Liquid Contains Anti-Freeze?
E-liquids were invented alongside the first modern e-cigarette by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik in 2003. His invention used propylene glycol-based liquid with nicotine to create vapor, inspired by his father's death from smoking. Commercial e-liquids emerged 2004-2006 as vaping spread globally.
Early e-liquids (2004-2010) were primitive: limited flavors (tobacco, menthol only), harsh throat hit from freebase nicotine, inconsistent quality, no regulations, varying nicotine accuracy, basic PG/VG ratios, and homemade DIY mixing common. Flavors were underwhelming compared to modern standards.
Flavored e-liquids exploded 2010-2012 as manufacturers realized flavor variety helped smoking cessation. Fruit, dessert, and beverage flavors emerged, making vaping enjoyable rather than just functional. Flavor diversity became key differentiator driving vaping's mainstream adoption and success.
Nicotine salts revolutionized vaping in 2015 when PAX Labs (Juul creators) developed benzoic acid formulation allowing higher nicotine without harshness. This enabled pod systems to deliver cigarette-like satisfaction smoothly, transforming vaping accessibility and triggering pod system boom 2016-2018.
Major regulations started 2014-2016: EU's Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) implemented May 2016 limiting nicotine to 20mg/ml, bottles to 10ml, requiring child-proof caps, safety testing, and ingredient disclosure. US, UK, and other countries followed with varying regulations ensuring consumer safety.
Ingredient evolution: early liquids used questionable additives, 2010s saw standardization around pharmaceutical-grade PG/VG, diacetyl banned in UK 2016 after popcorn lung concerns, sweeteners improved (sucralose became standard), and quality control dramatically increased with TPD compliance ensuring safer, consistent products.
The first commercial e-liquids were tobacco-flavored, attempting to replicate cigarette taste for smoking cessation. Early tobacco flavors were crude approximations—modern tobacco e-liquids vastly superior. Menthol followed quickly as second flavor, then fruit flavors emerged changing vaping forever.
Shortfills emerged 2016-2017 as workaround for TPD's 10ml nicotine-containing bottle limit. Manufacturers created larger bottles (50ml, 100ml) with space for nicotine shots, allowing sub-ohm vapers to buy larger quantities cost-effectively while remaining TPD-compliant—clever regulatory navigation.
Early e-liquids predominantly used PG (better flavor carrier). As sub-ohm vaping emerged 2012-2014, high VG liquids (70/30, Max VG) developed for cloud production. 50/50 became standard for MTL/pods, while 70/30+ for sub-ohm—ratios now optimized for specific device types.
EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping product use-Associated Lung Injury) outbreak 2019 in US caused 2,800+ hospitalizations and 68 deaths from illegal THC vapes containing vitamin E acetate. Incorrectly blamed on nicotine vaping initially, crisis highlighted dangers of unregulated products versus legitimate TPD-compliant e-liquids.
Disposable vapes with prefilled e-liquid emerged 2018-2019, exploding in popularity 2020-2022 with Elf Bar, Lost Mary, and similar brands. Pre-filled 20mg nic salt liquids in 2ml capacity offered ultimate convenience, driving massive market growth before upcoming disposable bans.
Safety improvements: TPD regulations mandating testing and disclosure (2016), elimination of harmful additives (diacetyl, vitamin E acetate), pharmaceutical-grade ingredients becoming standard, batch testing for consistency, child-resistant packaging, tamper-evident seals, and quality control protocols ensuring consumer protection.
Some jurisdictions banned flavors: several US states restricted flavored e-liquids (not UK), some countries limited to tobacco/menthol only, and discussions continue about restricting youth-appealing flavors. UK maintains flavor freedom recognizing adults need variety for successful smoking cessation.
Prices evolved: early e-liquids expensive (£8-15 per 10ml) due to limited production, increased competition drove prices down 2012-2016, TPD compliance costs increased prices temporarily 2016-2017, but bulk production and multi-buy deals now offer excellent value (£1.60-5 per 10ml).
Future trends: continued flavor innovation, synthetic nicotine alternatives avoiding tobacco regulations, improved sweetener formulations preserving coils longer, personalized nicotine strengths, eco-friendly packaging, enhanced testing protocols, and adaptation to evolving regulations ensuring vaping remains effective, safe, and enjoyable cessation tool.
Buy premium TPD-compliant e-liquids at WizVape, offering latest innovations from Bar Juice 5000, ElfLiq, MaryLiq, and Crystal Clear with multi-buy deals (10 for £16), guaranteed authentic products, comprehensive flavor selection, expert guidance, and fast UK delivery—modern e-liquids at their finest.
