ONEWING GROUP LIMITED › RELX HERC 12000 › VG and PG in E-Liquids: What They Do and Why Ratios Matter
VG and PG in E-Liquids: What They Do and Why Ratios Matter
Every e-liquid is a blend of two carrier liquids — vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG) — and the ratio between them is the single biggest determinant of draw feel, vapour density and flavour clarity. A trade buyer who understands the ratio understands why two devices with identical nicotine strengths can feel completely different in the hand. This is the VG/PG story, stated for shelves.
What VG does: vapour and sweetness
Vegetable glycerin is a thick, viscous liquid derived from plant oils. In an e-liquid, VG produces the visible vapour cloud: it is the ingredient that makes a draw look dense. VG also carries a mild inherent sweetness — not a flavour, but a mouthfeel — and its viscosity means it wicks more slowly through a coil matrix, so a high-VG liquid needs a mesh surface to vaporise efficiently.
The HERC’s e-liquid is tuned for its mesh coil: the VG content is set so the vapour is dense without starving the wick, and the auto-tuned circuit holds the temperature so the VG vaporises consistently across the tank’s whole life. The ratio is engineering, not marketing.
What PG does: throat hit and flavour
Propylene glycol is a thinner, less viscous liquid. In an e-liquid, PG carries flavour — it is the solvent that dissolves the flavour compounds and delivers them to the coil — and it produces the throat hit: the slight catch at the back of the throat that signals a draw has happened. A higher-PG liquid is sharper, clearer and more flavour-forward; a higher-VG liquid is smoother, denser and sweeter.
The trade-off: PG delivers flavour and feel; VG delivers vapour and smoothness. A balanced ratio delivers both; an extreme ratio sacrifices one for the other — and the HERC’s blend is balanced for the mesh platform, so flavour and vapour hold together across the full 18ml.
Why the ratio changes the customer experience
Two devices with identical nicotine strength can feel completely different because of the ratio: a high-PG device hits sharper and carries flavour more clearly; a high-VG device hits smoother and produces a denser cloud. For a trade buyer, the ratio is a positioning tool: menthol-led customers often prefer a sharper PG-forward draw; dessert-led customers often prefer a smoother VG-forward draw. The HERC’s blend is balanced to serve both profiles on one platform.
The honest caveat: ratio is not quality. A well-engineered 50/50 blend on a mesh coil outperforms an extreme blend on a bad coil — and the ratio is downstream of the coil and the circuit, not upstream of them. Our flavour guide covers the customer-side of the ratio question in detail.
What a shelf should stock by ratio
Stock by platform, not by ratio. A device engineered around a balanced blend and a mesh coil — like the HERC — serves the majority of customers well; a device engineered around an extreme blend serves a niche. The shelf that stocks one balanced platform and a sharp-menthol alternative covers the market honestly; the shelf that stocks five extreme ratios covers the market chaotically.
The trade translation: the ratio is a spec to read, not a feature to sell. A buyer who understands what VG and PG each do can explain any device to any customer — and the explanation does the selling.
E-Liquid Component Decoder
| Component | What it does | High content means | Trade-buyer note |
|---|---|---|---|
| VG (vegetable glycerin) | Vapour production, smoothness, sweetness | Denser cloud, smoother draw | Needs mesh coil; wicks slowly |
| PG (propylene glycol) | Flavour carrier, throat hit | Sharper draw, clearer flavour | Flavour-forward; thinner liquid |
| Nicotine (salt or freebase) | Throat hit, satisfaction | Stronger catch, faster delivery | Salt = smoother; freebase = sharper |
| Flavour compounds | Taste profile | Menthol, fruit, dessert, tobacco | Dissolved in PG; the sensory layer |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between VG and PG in e-liquids?
VG (vegetable glycerin) produces vapour and smoothness; PG (propylene glycol) carries flavour and throat hit. The ratio between them determines draw feel, cloud density and flavour clarity. The HERC’s blend is balanced for its mesh coil so flavour and vapour hold together across the tank.
Does a higher VG ratio mean a better vape?
No. A higher VG ratio means a denser cloud and a smoother draw, but it wicks more slowly and can starve a non-mesh coil. A balanced blend on a mesh coil outperforms an extreme blend on a bad coil — the ratio is downstream of the platform, not upstream of it.
Why do two devices with the same nicotine strength feel different?
The VG/PG ratio. A higher-PG device hits sharper and carries flavour more clearly; a higher-VG device hits smoother and produces a denser cloud. Nicotine strength sets satisfaction; the ratio sets the feel — and both are spec-sheet lines worth reading.
What ratio should a trade buyer stock?
A balanced blend on a mesh platform serves the majority of customers well. Stock by platform, not by ratio: one balanced device plus a sharp-menthol alternative covers the market honestly; five extreme ratios cover it chaotically.
Want the Full HERC Spec Sheet & Pricing?
Retailers, distributors and wholesale buyers: get complete specifications, flavour range and volume pricing for the RELX HERC 12000 directly from ONEWING GROUP LIMITED.
View RELX HERC Product PageContact Our TeamImportant: Nicotine vaping products are regulated therapeutic goods in Australia and may only be supplied through lawful channels. Information on this page is published for adult trade buyers (18+) and is not advertising to consumers. Verify current TGA and state or territory requirements before importing, stocking or supplying any vaping product. ONEWING GROUP LIMITED is a manufacturer and wholesale supplier; nothing here is medical advice.
