what is in a vape
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What Is in a Vape?
A device with a battery and coil, plus an e liquid of PG, VG, flavourings and usually nicotine. No burning, no tobacco, so no tar or carbon monoxide.
If you vape or are thinking about it, it is fair to ask what is actually in a vape. In short, a vape has two parts: a device with a battery and a coil, and an e liquid made of a few simple ingredients, usually propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, flavourings and, in most cases, nicotine. UK regulated e liquids contain far fewer harmful chemicals than cigarette smoke. This guide explains, alongside our guide on whether vaping is bad for you.
Quick answer
A vape has a device, with a battery and a heating coil, and an e liquid. The e liquid is usually propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerine (VG), which carry the flavour and produce the vapour, plus flavourings and, in most cases, nicotine. UK regulated e liquids are made to safety standards and contain far fewer harmful chemicals than cigarette smoke.
The e liquid
The e liquid is the part that turns into vapour. It is usually made of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerine (VG), two common, food grade ingredients that carry the flavour and create the vapour, along with flavourings and, in most cases, nicotine. UK regulations set safety standards and ban certain harmful ingredients, such as the chemical linked to popcorn lung, from e liquids.
What is in a vape
| Part | Detail |
|---|---|
| Device | Battery and heating coil |
| PG and VG | Carry flavour, produce vapour |
| Flavourings | Give the taste |
| Nicotine | In most e liquids; some are nicotine free |
| UK regulated | Safety standards; harmful ingredients banned |
The device, and what is not in it
The device heats the e liquid into a vapour using a coil powered by a battery, so there is no burning and no tobacco. That is the crucial difference from a cigarette: because nothing is burned, a vape does not produce tar or carbon monoxide, and UK regulated e liquids contain far fewer harmful chemicals than tobacco smoke. This is why vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, though not risk free.
A vape has a device with a battery and coil, and an e liquid of PG, VG, flavourings and usually nicotine. There is no burning and no tobacco, so no tar or carbon monoxide.
Myths and facts
| Myth | The reality |
|---|---|
| A vape contains tobacco | No, vapes contain e liquid, not tobacco; there is no burning. |
| E liquid is full of harmful chemicals | UK regulated e liquids are made to safety standards with far fewer harmful chemicals than smoke. |
| All vapes contain nicotine | Most do, but nicotine free e liquids are available. |
| Vapour and smoke are the same | Smoke comes from burning; vapour is e liquid heated into an aerosol, with no tar. |
Frequently asked questions
What is in a vape?
A device with a battery and coil, and an e liquid of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, flavourings and, in most cases, nicotine.
Does a vape contain tobacco?
No, vapes contain e liquid rather than tobacco, and nothing is burned.
What are PG and VG?
Propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, common food grade ingredients that carry the flavour and produce the vapour.
Is there nicotine in every vape?
Most e liquids contain nicotine, but nicotine free options are available.
Are the ingredients regulated?
Yes, UK e liquids are made to safety standards, and certain harmful ingredients are banned.
The bottom line
A vape is made up of two parts: a device, with a battery and a heating coil, and an e liquid, which is usually propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, plus flavourings and, in most cases, nicotine. The device heats the e liquid into a vapour, with no burning and no tobacco, so unlike a cigarette there is no tar or carbon monoxide, and UK regulated e liquids contain far fewer harmful chemicals than tobacco smoke. This is why vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, though not risk free.
More help and related reading
If this guide raised other questions, the Help and Guidance library has plain English answers to many more. The closely related pages below are worth a look, and you can always return to the main hub to browse every topic we cover. If you are unsure about a product or rule, our team and the official guidance are the best places to check.
- Is vaping bad for you?
- What does vaping do to your lungs?
- What is a prefilled pod vape?
- Browse the full Help and Guidance library
Key things to remember
- A device with a battery and coil
- An e liquid of PG, VG, flavourings and usually nicotine
- No tobacco and no burning
- No tar or carbon monoxide
- UK regulated to safety standards
Why what is not in it matters
When comparing a vape with a cigarette, what is absent matters as much as what is present. Because a vape heats rather than burns, and contains no tobacco, it does not produce tar or carbon monoxide, the substances responsible for most of smokings serious harm. That single difference is the heart of why vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking.
It is not, however, the same as harmless. Vaping is relatively new, so long term effects are still being studied, and most e liquids contain addictive nicotine. UK regulation helps by setting safety standards and banning certain harmful ingredients, but vaping remains for adult smokers, not non smokers.
Present versus absent
| In a vape | In cigarette smoke |
|---|---|
| E liquid (PG, VG) | Burning tobacco |
| Flavourings | Tar |
| Usually nicotine | Carbon monoxide |
| No tar | Many toxic chemicals |
| No carbon monoxide | Nicotine plus the above |
A few more questions
Is there antifreeze in vapes?
No, that is a myth; propylene glycol is a common, food grade ingredient, not antifreeze, and UK e liquids are regulated.
Do and don’t
Do
- Choose UK regulated products from reputable sellers
- Understand there is no tobacco or burning
- See vaping as far less harmful than smoking
- Switch completely if you are a smoker
Try not to
- Assume e liquid is full of harmful chemicals
- Use illegal or unregulated products
- Treat vaping as completely safe
- Start vaping if you are a non smoker
Why regulation matters
A big reason UK regulated vapes are far less harmful than smoking is the regulation itself. UK rules set safety and quality standards for e liquids and devices, cap nicotine strength and tank or pod sizes, and ban certain harmful ingredients, such as the chemical linked to popcorn lung. Buying from a reputable seller means getting products that meet these standards.
This is also why the serious problems reported elsewhere were linked to illegal, unregulated vapes, not to UK regulated products. Sticking to regulated e liquids and devices from a trusted source is the sensible way to keep the risks as low as possible.
What UK regulation does
| Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| Safety standards | Quality e liquids and devices |
| Nicotine cap | Maximum 20mg per millilitre |
| Pod or tank size | Limited capacity |
| Banned ingredients | Such as the popcorn lung chemical |
| Reputable sellers | Compliant products |
More questions answered
Is water vapour all that comes out of a vape?
It is an aerosol of the e liquid, not pure water vapour, but it contains far fewer harmful chemicals than cigarette smoke.
Can I get nicotine free e liquid?
Yes, nicotine free e liquids are available, though most vapers switching from smoking use a nicotine strength that manages cravings.
A couple more questions
Does vape e liquid contain water?
It is mostly propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, with flavourings and usually nicotine; some include a little water, but it is not pure water vapour.
What gives a vape its flavour?
Food grade flavourings added to the e liquid; UK regulation sets standards for what can be used.
A quick word on safety and the law
Vaping and nicotine products are intended for adult smokers and existing vapers as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. They contain nicotine unless stated otherwise, which is addictive, and they are not suitable for non smokers, pregnant women or anyone under 18. By law you must be 18 or over to buy vaping products in the UK, and we age verify every order. If you want to stop using nicotine altogether, your local stop smoking service offers free, tailored support.
UK public health bodies advise that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk free, and if you do not smoke the advice is not to start.
This guide is general information, not personal medical advice. If you have specific health concerns, please speak to a GP or pharmacist.
Need a hand?
Browse our full library of plain English vaping guides, or get in touch with the team if you have a question we have not answered yet.