How to Find the Right E-Liquid for You
“What would you recommend?” It’s a question we hear every day at the Dampfi shop. The answer is always the same: “nothing” – at least until I know what flavours you like. Do you want something “fruity”, a “cake” or “dessert” flavour, sweet or not too sweet, or maybe an e-liquid that tastes like tobacco? Questions, questions. This article won’t magically hand you “your” perfect e-liquid either, but it can get you thinking, help you ask the “right” questions, give your trusted vape shop the key info they need, or help you set the filters in your favourite online shop so they point you in the right direction.
A typical customer–shop assistant conversation:
Here’s one way to narrow things down, answer a few basics for yourself and move one step closer to your ideal e-liquid without endless back-and-forth.
- Customer: “I’m after an e-liquid.”
- Shop assistant: “What are you looking for?”
- Customer: “Something fruity …” (Cue the guaranteed eye roll from the shop assistant!)
Come prepared:
Crystal balls are expensive, so most vape shops don’t keep one behind the counter. That’s why it helps to give the shop assistant as much information as possible. Even a rough idea of which fruit or fruit mix you tend to prefer can make a big difference.
Why your vape device matters:
Your device can also play an important role when choosing an e-liquid. One key question is whether the liquid is for a DL or MTL setup. Not every e-liquid that tastes great DL will work MTL, and the same goes the other way round. Different wattages and different atomiser designs can bring out or mute certain flavour notes depending on the e-liquid. If a liquid tastes super sweet DL, it may taste noticeably less sweet MTL. Some manufacturers design e-liquids specifically for one vaping style (DL/MTL).
My rough guide:
DL: sweet, fruity, creamy, cool/ice
MTL: tobacco, herbal, nutty
The right moment:
Just as important is the question: “When do I want to vape this e-liquid?” (personal opinion/experience). If you’re looking for an everyday vape, fruity can definitely work. Take a strawberry/melon flavour, for example: it’s an easy all-day vape. But with your morning coffee, with tea/beer/wine in the evening, or after a savoury meal, it might not be what you had in mind. An e-liquid can – and should – suit the moment.
Think outside the box:
There are e-liquids you’d never try because they contain a flavour you either don’t like or simply haven’t tried before. But it can be worth stepping outside your comfort zone and trying anything that sounds even remotely interesting. Sure, if I’ve already tested five different melon liquids, I probably won’t reach for another one. But in a blend with other flavours, it might suddenly turn out to be “not bad at all”.
It all depends on how dominant the less-preferred flavour is. In the shop, I often recommend cucumber e-liquids to customers and usually get the same puzzled look. But once they try them, the reaction is often pleasantly surprised. More often than not, it’s the flavours you didn’t have on your radar that lead to that little “aha” moment.
Final thoughts:
If you think ahead about which device you want to use and when you want to vape your new e-liquid, making a decision will probably be easier. If you’re looking for a new liquid, use the ones you’ve already enjoyed as your guide. If you’ve liked a few e-liquids from manufacturer “XY”, why not try other ranges from the same manufacturer too? Similar or even the same flavourings are often used, so there’s a good chance you might like one of those as well. You probably won’t avoid trying liquids altogether, but you can narrow it down if you have a clear idea of what kind of e-liquid you’re looking for and what you want.
