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Mixing e-liquid yourself in Germany: calculating longfill, base and nicotine shots correctly
When you mix your own, you top up a longfill or a flavour with base and add nicotine shots if needed. You work out the strength like this: shot strength times number of shots, divided by the total volume. One 20 mg/ml shot in 60 ml gives about 3.3 mg/ml.
In this article13 chapters
- What are the ways to mix e-liquid yourself?
- What do you need to mix e-liquid?
- The ingredients in pictures
- How do you calculate the nicotine strength?
- How do you top up a longfill?
- Topping up a longfill in six steps
- What is different about shortfills?
- How much flavour goes into the e-liquid?
- How long does homemade e-liquid need to steep?
- How do you change the strength of a finished e-liquid?
- Mixing and storing safely
- What does the law say about mixing your own in Germany?
- Frequently asked questions
What are the ways to mix e-liquid yourself?
In the scene, mixing your own mostly means topping up a longfill. If you work completely freely, you mix your own recipe from base and flavour, which is DIY in the strict sense. Shortfills exist too, but they are already finished liquid without nicotine.
| Method | What you buy | What you add | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top up a longfill | Flavour, usually 8 to 20 ml in a 60 or 120 ml bottle | Base and, if needed, nicotine shots up to the fill line | low |
| Shortfill plus shot | Ready-made nicotine-free liquid, e.g. 50 ml in a 60 ml bottle | One or two nicotine shots | very low |
| Free mixing (DIY) | Flavour in the 10 ml bottle and base | Flavour in percent, base and, if needed, shots | medium |
When mixing your own beats a ready-made liquid is covered in Ready-made liquid or longfill.
What do you need to mix e-liquid?
Base
PG and VG without nicotine, the foundation of every e-liquid.
Longfill
Flavour in the big bottle, you top it up.
Flavour
Concentrate for free mixing, dosed in percent.
Nicotine shot
10 ml with up to 20 mg/ml nicotine.
Tobacco flavour
Usually needs longer to steep than fruit.
- Base: the carrier liquid made of propylene glycol (PG) and glycerine (VG), without nicotine. Common ratios are 50/50 for pods and MTL and 30/70 with more VG for dense vapour in sub-ohm. You'll find bases under Bases.
- Longfill or flavour: the taste as a concentrate. You never vape either one neat. Longfills already come in the big bottle, flavours in the small 10 ml bottle.
- Nicotine shot: 10 ml of base with no more than 20 mg/ml nicotine, as freebase or as nicotine salt. You'll find the shots under Nicotine shots.
- Tools for free mixing: an empty bottle with a scale, for example a Chubby Gorilla, disposable syringes with an ml scale or a small measuring cup, plus disposable gloves and a label.
How do you calculate the nicotine strength?
The formula is always the same: shot strength times number of shots, divided by the total volume. One shot is 10 ml at 20 mg/ml, so 200 mg of nicotine. Spread those 200 mg over 60 ml and you get 3.3 mg/ml. Since shots only come in 10 ml bottles, you calculate in whole shots.
| Total volume | 1 shot | 2 shots | 3 shots |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 ml | 6.7 mg/ml | 13.3 mg/ml | 20 mg/ml |
| 60 ml | 3.3 mg/ml | 6.7 mg/ml | 10 mg/ml |
| 120 ml | 1.7 mg/ml | 3.3 mg/ml | 5 mg/ml |
If your shot has a different strength, plug it into the formula. For example, a 10 mg/ml shot in 60 ml gives 1.7 mg/ml. For the difference between freebase and salt, see Nicotine salt or freebase.
The liquid calculator does the rest: it shows how many shots and how much base your bottle needs.
How do you top up a longfill?
A longfill is a large bottle that contains only the flavour, for example 10 ml in a 60 ml bottle. You top up the rest with base and shots. The fill volume is printed on the label, so stick to it, otherwise the taste will be off.
With 10 ml of flavour in 60 ml, 50 ml stay free. For about 3 mg/ml you add one shot and 40 ml of base, for about 6 mg/ml two shots and 30 ml of base.
Topping up a longfill in six steps
- Read the label: flavour amount, bottle size and fill volume.
- Decide on your target strength and work out the number of shots.
- Add the shots to the longfill bottle, then top up with base to the fill volume.
- Screw the cap on and shake hard for a minute.
- Label the bottle with flavour, strength and date.
- Let it steep, shaking it now and then.
The PG/VG ratio of the finished liquid comes from the base, shots and flavour together. If you want a specific ratio, pick a base that fits.
What is different about shortfills?
A shortfill is ready-made nicotine-free liquid that isn't filled to the top. Typical is 50 ml in a 60 ml bottle. A shot fits into the empty space, giving about 3.3 mg/ml. A 70 ml bottle has room for two shots, which gives about 5.7 mg/ml.
Without a shot you can vape a shortfill straight away. Since the German liquid tax came in, shortfills have become rare in Germany, and longfills have taken their place.
How much flavour goes into the e-liquid?
When mixing freely, you decide the flavour amount yourself. The manufacturer gives it as a percentage of the total volume, usually between 5 and 15 percent. You calculate total volume times percentage: at 60 ml and 10 percent that is 6 ml of flavour.
Start at the lower end of the range. Adding more is easy, but an over-flavoured liquid tastes harsh and is hard to rescue. Write down every recipe so you can mix it again.
How long does homemade e-liquid need to steep?
Maturing is called steeping in the scene. Fruity liquids are usually round after one to three days, and some you vape right after shaking, which is called shake and vape. Cream and dessert flavours need more like one to three weeks, tobacco often two to four.
Store the bottle closed, in the dark and at room temperature, and shake it every few days. Heat and an open cap change the flavour. If the label gives a steeping time, go by that.
How do you change the strength of a finished e-liquid?
To dilute, add nicotine-free base. The calculation: starting strength times starting volume equals target strength times final volume. 30 ml at 6 mg/ml contain 180 mg of nicotine. For 3 mg/ml you need 60 ml, so add 30 ml of base.
You get more nicotine in with a shot. But the base also dilutes the flavour, so the liquid tastes weaker. The liquid calculator works out both for you.
Mixing and storing safely
- Nicotine shots are concentrated. Wear disposable gloves while mixing and wash splashes off your skin straight away with water.
- Never mix in glasses or cups from the kitchen, and don't leave an open bottle standing around.
- Shots, flavours and finished liquids go into a cupboard closed, dark and cool, out of reach of children and pets.
- Once opened, liquid keeps for about one to two years. Getting darker is normal. If it smells different or turns cloudy, don't use it any more. How to get rid of leftovers is covered in Disposing of vapes properly.
When it comes to draw style, take a look at MTL or DTL: a base with more PG suits pods and MTL, one with more VG suits dense vapour.
What does the law say about mixing your own in Germany?
- In Germany, liquids and shots containing nicotine may have no more than 20 mg of nicotine per millilitre.
- In Germany, nicotine-containing refill bottles may only be sold in sizes up to 10 ml. That is why shots only come as 10 ml bottles and large longfill bottles only without nicotine. The limit applies to sale, not to what you mix at home in your own bottle.
- Since July 2022, Germany has charged a liquid tax, which also applies to nicotine-free liquids, bases and flavours.
- In Germany, liquids, bases, flavours and shots are sold only to people aged 18 and over, even without nicotine.
You'll find everything for mixing your own under Mixing, and ready-made liquids under Liquids.
Frequently asked questions
How many nicotine shots do I need for 60 ml?
One 20 mg/ml shot in 60 ml gives about 3.3 mg/ml, two shots about 6.7 mg/ml. You top up the base to 60 ml.
How much flavour goes into the e-liquid?
Usually 5 to 15 percent, and the exact figure is on the flavour bottle. At 60 ml and 10 percent that is 6 ml of flavour.
How long does homemade e-liquid need to steep?
Fruity liquids usually one to three days, cream and dessert one to three weeks, tobacco often two to four. Keep the bottle closed and in the dark while it steeps.
Can I mix a longfill without nicotine?
Yes. You just top up with nicotine-free base to the fill volume and leave out the shot.
What is the difference between a longfill and a shortfill?
A longfill is flavour that you top up with base. A shortfill is already finished nicotine-free liquid that you add shots to.
Can I use nicotine salt shots for mixing?
Yes. The calculation is the same as for freebase. At the same strength, salt shots feel smoother in the throat.
About the author
Philip
Vape veteran
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