Can E-Liquid Go Bad?

One of the most frequently asked questions in the vaping industry is “Does e-liquid have an expiry date or best-before date?” The answer is in short is YES, but there is some facts you need to know, the most important being the ingredient in e-liquid being Vegetable Glycerine (VG), Propylene Glycol (PG), and Nitotine all have a shelf life of about two years.

Follow the Guidelines.

Most e-liquids either have a double layer label or are packaged in a box with a leaflet. These are very important to learn how to extend the life of your favourite juice. Keeping your E-Liquid out of direct sunlight at room temperature will significantly help keep your E-Liquid as fresh as it was when you purchased it. Exposing your E-Liquid to direct sunlight and extreme heat can cause the ingredients to break down.

Where Should I Store My E-Liquid?

The best place to keep your bottles fresh is in a cupboard. This way your eliquid is not exposed to direct sunlight and heat. If you have ever left a bottle of E-Liquid on a window or in a car during the summer you will notice that your e-liquid will become very dark in colour and possibly get a peppery taste. This is because VG and PG can break down when left in the heat for long periods of time, and it loses its ability to recombine, even when the temperature drops back to normal.

Seeing if it’s separated

A few ways to tell if your ejuice is expired is first of all, seeing if it’s separated. Usually, vape liquid will separate when left alone for a long period of time, but usually a quick shake would fix that, but expired, the juice won’t mix in the same way as non expired thee juice will. If you’re trying to shake your bottles and still notice some separation, it might be time to put that bottle in the bin.

Check the Smell

Another way to check for expired e-liquid is to just smell it as with most products. If it goes bad, you can usually smell it. Not all flavours will change smells drastically, but if you notice an odd scent or notice a strange appearance to your bottle of vape juice that might mean it is expired.

Peppery taste

Lastly, is the peppery taste. This is a clear sign that the nicotine in your juice has gone bad. Nicotine in an e-liquid usually has little to no taste when it is fresh. The only thing nicotine does in an e-liquid is the throat hit.

If you are experiencing an extremely harsh and peppery taste in your liquid, that’s a clear sign your nicotine is expired. Vaping expired e-juice poses no apparent risk, but it’s definitely not the best vaping experience.

If you find that you have multiple bottles of juice, we recommend leaving them in a drawer away from direct sunlight until you’re ready to vape them.

So, what’s your views on expire e-liquids, have you ever vaped liquid that has passed the expiration date?