What is e-liquid?
E-liquid is the fluid a coil turns into vapour, and it carries the flavour and the nicotine a vaper inhales. Vape juice and vape liquid describe exactly the same product.
Four ingredients build every UK e-liquid. Nothing burns, because a coil heats the liquid rather than combusting it, and that difference is the reason vaping sits below smoking on harm.
What is in e-liquid?
Four ingredients make up e-liquid, and the ratio between the first two decides which device the bottle suits.
PG is thin, so it wicks easily through a high-resistance coil. VG is thick, so it needs the heat a sub-ohm coil produces. That single fact drives every pairing decision on this page.
What types of e-liquid are there?
Three e-liquid formats sell in the UK. Nicotine salt leads for pod kits, which is why it leads here.
For pod kits Nicotine salt
Nicotine salt bonds nicotine with benzoic acid, lowering the pH so 20mg feels smooth rather than scratchy. Sold in 10ml bottles at a 50/50 ratio.
- 10mg and 20mg strengths
- 50/50 PG/VG, thin enough for pod coils
- Built for MTL and switching smokers
Hayati: Pro Max Nic Salts, plus the Shisha nic salt range
The original Freebase 50/50
Freebase is nicotine in its untreated form. It gives a firmer throat hit and steps down in smaller increments, which suits vapers tapering off nicotine.
- 3mg, 6mg, 12mg and 18mg strengths
- Harsh above 12mg for most vapers
- Works in the same MTL pod kits
Hayati: no freebase 10ml in the current UK range
Best value Shortfill
Shortfill arrives nicotine-free in a larger bottle with headroom left for a nicotine shot. Adding one shot brings a 50ml bottle to roughly 3mg.
- 50ml or 100ml, sold at 0mg
- Usually a higher VG ratio for sub-ohm hardware
- Cheapest cost per millilitre
Hayati: Pro Max Shortfill range
Bar salts are nicotine salts carrying double-concentrated flavourings, mixed to taste like the sweet, intense profiles disposables made popular. The nicotine is identical, and the flavour is what changes.
What is the difference between nic salt and freebase?
The main difference between nic salt and freebase is the pH of the nicotine. Nic salt is bonded with benzoic acid to lower its pH, so a high strength stays smooth. Freebase is untreated, so the same strength scratches the throat.
Nicotine salt is widely reported to reach the bloodstream faster than freebase. That claim is disputed by nicotine researchers, who argue the smoother inhale simply encourages a deeper draw. What is not disputed is the throat sensation: at 20mg, salt is comfortable and freebase is not.
Which PG/VG ratio should you use?
Coil resistance decides the ratio. A high-resistance coil wicks thin liquid, and a low-resistance coil needs thick liquid to survive the heat.
High-VG liquid in a pod kit gunks the coil and starves the wick, which produces a burnt taste within days. Every Hayati refillable pod runs a 0.8Ω coil, so 50/50 is the ratio it is built for.
Which nicotine strength should you choose?
Choose nicotine strength by your smoking habit, not by preference. Undershooting keeps cravings alive and sends most switchers back to cigarettes.
UK law caps nicotine at 20mg/ml, which is why no legal bottle goes higher. Every prefilled Hayati pod carries 20mg, and stepping down needs a refillable pod and a bottle of your choosing.
What is a shortfill and how do you add a nic shot?
A shortfill is a larger bottle of nicotine-free e-liquid, deliberately underfilled to leave room for a nicotine shot. TPD caps any nicotine-containing bottle at 10ml, and the shortfill format is the legal route around buying 10 small bottles.
To add a nic shot, follow these 4 steps.
- Open the shortfill and set the cap aside on a clean surface.
- Pour one 10ml nicotine shot into a 50ml shortfill, which brings the finished 60ml to roughly 3mg.
- Shake the sealed bottle hard for 60 seconds, until the liquid runs a single consistent colour.
- Rest the bottle for 24 to 72 hours on dessert and bakery flavours, which lets the blend settle before the flavour reads properly.
Two shots in a 50ml shortfill give roughly 6mg. Nicotine shots come as freebase or as nicotine salt, and a salt shot keeps the throat feel smooth. Browse the range in shortfill e-liquids.
Which e-liquid works with your Hayati device?
Pod type decides the e-liquid, not the device body. Prefilled pods take nothing at all, and refillable pods take a bottle.
Nicotine salt is the format for every Hayati refillable pod, and the full range sits in nicotine salt e-liquid. Pods themselves sit in vape pods.
How long does e-liquid last?
E-liquid lasts approximately 2 years from the date of manufacture, stored correctly. Every bottle carries a batch code and an expiry date, and neither is decorative.
Heat, light and air are what age a bottle. Freebase nicotine oxidises faster than salt, turning yellow or brown and picking up a peppery, harsh edge. Nicotine salt is chemically more stable, so it holds its flavour longer.
- Store bottles upright in a cool, dark cupboard, away from windows and radiators.
- Seal the cap tightly after every fill, because air in the bottle speeds oxidation.
- Keep every bottle out of reach of children and pets, since nicotine is toxic if swallowed.
A 10ml bottle lasts most pod vapers 2 to 4 days, which is the point at which storage stops mattering and running cost starts.
Are e-liquids legal in the UK?
Yes, e-liquids are legal in the UK, and every bottle sold here complies with TRPR. Three limits define that compliance: a 10ml maximum bottle for any nicotine-containing e-liquid, a 20mg/ml nicotine ceiling, and MHRA notification before any bottle reaches the shelf.
Shortfills sit outside the 10ml cap because they contain no nicotine when sold, which is why a 50ml or 100ml bottle is legal on the shelf and becomes a nicotine product only once you add the shot. Child-resistant and tamper-evident caps are mandatory on every format. Sale to anyone under 18 remains illegal, and every order passes age verification at checkout.
Vaping Products Duty arrives on 1 October 2026 at £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid, applying to every nicotine-containing bottle and every prefilled pod.
Vaping is less harmful than smoking, and it is not risk-free. Read the nicotine safety guide before switching.
Why buy e-liquid from Hayati Pro?
Hayati Pro sells Hayati e-liquid only, matched to Hayati hardware. Every bottle is TPD compliant, MHRA notified and mixed to the ratio the refillable pods in this store are built to wick.
Counterfeit e-liquid circulates in the UK grey market, and an unnotified bottle is an unknown mixture. Every genuine pack carries a scratch code, and you verify your Hayati product yourself before use. Read why UK vapers trust Hayati Pro, and check delivery and shipping for cut-off times.
E-liquid glossary
- PG (propylene glycol)
- The thin base that carries flavour and nicotine, and produces the throat hit. High PG suits pod kits.
- VG (vegetable glycerin)
- The thick base that produces vapour and softens the inhale. High VG suits sub-ohm hardware.
- Freebase nicotine
- Nicotine in its untreated form. Firm throat hit, and harsh above 12mg.
- Nicotine salt
- Nicotine bonded with benzoic acid to lower its pH. Smooth at 20mg, and the standard for pod kits.
- Bar salt
- A nicotine salt carrying double-concentrated flavouring, mixed to taste like a disposable.
- Shortfill
- A larger nicotine-free bottle with headroom for a nicotine shot. Legal above 10ml because it holds no nicotine when sold.
- Nic shot
- A 10ml bottle of concentrated nicotine, added to a shortfill. One shot in a 50ml shortfill gives roughly 3mg.
- Steeping
- Resting a freshly mixed bottle for 24 to 72 hours so the flavour settles. Dessert blends need it most.
E-liquid FAQs
What is e-liquid made of?
E-liquid is made of four ingredients: propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, food-grade flavourings and nicotine. Nicotine is optional, and shortfills arrive without it. PG carries the flavour and the throat hit, while VG produces the vapour.
What is the difference between nic salt and freebase e-liquid?
The main difference is the pH of the nicotine. Nic salt is bonded with benzoic acid, which lowers the pH so 20mg stays smooth. Freebase is untreated and turns harsh above 12mg. Salt comes in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg, while freebase runs 3mg, 6mg, 12mg and 18mg.
Which nicotine strength should you start with?
Start at 20mg nicotine salt if you smoked 20 or more a day, 10mg if you smoked 10 to 20, and 5mg if you smoked fewer than 10. Undershooting the strength keeps cravings alive, which is what sends most switchers back to cigarettes in the first month.
What PG/VG ratio should you use in a pod kit?
Use 50/50 PG/VG in a pod kit. Pod coils sit at 0.8Ω and above, and thin liquid is what they are built to wick. High-VG liquid is too thick, so it starves the wick, gunks the coil and produces a burnt taste within days.
Why is nicotine capped at 20mg in the UK?
Nicotine is capped at 20mg/ml under TRPR, the UK regulations covering vaping products. The same rules cap any nicotine-containing bottle at 10ml and require MHRA notification before sale. No legal UK e-liquid exceeds either limit.
What is a shortfill e-liquid?
A shortfill is a larger bottle of nicotine-free e-liquid, underfilled to leave headroom for a nicotine shot. Sold at 50ml or 100ml, it sits outside the 10ml nicotine cap because it holds no nicotine on the shelf. Adding one 10ml shot to a 50ml shortfill gives roughly 3mg.
How do you add a nic shot to a shortfill?
Pour one 10ml nicotine shot into a 50ml shortfill, seal the cap, then shake hard for 60 seconds until the colour runs consistent. One shot gives roughly 3mg and two give roughly 6mg. Rest dessert and bakery blends for 24 to 72 hours before vaping.
Can you use shortfill e-liquid in a pod kit?
Only a 50/50 shortfill works in a pod kit, once a nicotine shot is added. High-VG shortfill does not, because thick liquid cannot wick through a 0.8Ω coil and burns the wick instead. Sealed prefilled pods take no bottled e-liquid of any kind.
Does nic salt hit faster than freebase?
Nic salt is widely reported to reach the bloodstream faster, and nicotine researchers dispute that claim, arguing the smoother inhale simply encourages a deeper draw. What is settled is the throat sensation: at 20mg, salt stays comfortable where freebase scratches.
How long does e-liquid last once opened?
E-liquid lasts approximately 2 years from manufacture, stored cool, dark and sealed. Freebase nicotine oxidises faster than salt, turning yellow or brown and gaining a peppery edge. Check the batch code and expiry date printed on every bottle.
How should you store e-liquid?
Store e-liquid upright in a cool, dark cupboard, away from sunlight and radiators. Seal the cap after every fill, because air in the bottle speeds oxidation. Keep every bottle out of reach of children and pets, since nicotine is toxic if swallowed.
How long does a 10ml bottle of e-liquid last?
A 10ml bottle lasts most pod vapers 2 to 4 days, and it refills a 2ml pod roughly 5 times. Heavy vaping shortens that, and light, spaced draws stretch it. Sub-ohm hardware burns through e-liquid far faster, which is why shortfills exist.
What are bar salts?
Bar salts are nicotine salt e-liquids carrying double-concentrated flavouring, mixed to taste like the sweet, intense profiles disposables made popular. The nicotine is identical to any other nic salt, and the flavour intensity is what changes.
Do sweet e-liquids damage coils?
Yes, heavily sweetened e-liquids shorten coil life. Sweeteners in dessert and bakery blends caramelise on the coil and leave a residue that dulls flavour and makes the coil work harder. Fruit, ice and menthol blends run cleaner and stretch a pod further.
Why does e-liquid turn brown?
E-liquid turns brown because nicotine oxidises on contact with air, light and heat. Freebase oxidises faster than nicotine salt. A darker bottle is not necessarily unsafe, though the flavour dulls and a peppery edge creeps in, so replace it once the taste turns.
Is vaping e-liquid safer than smoking?
Vaping is less harmful than smoking, and it is not risk-free. Nothing burns in a vape, so the tar and carbon monoxide produced by combustion are absent. Nicotine remains addictive, and vaping is intended for adult smokers rather than for anyone who has never smoked.
Is e-liquid getting more expensive in 2026?
Yes, Vaping Products Duty arrives on 1 October 2026 at £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid. The duty applies to every nicotine-containing bottle and every prefilled pod sold in the UK, so both formats rise in price from that date.
Where can you buy Hayati e-liquid in the UK?
Buy Hayati e-liquid at Hayati Pro, a UK store stocking the Hayati nic salt and shortfill ranges. Every bottle is TPD compliant, MHRA notified and matched to Hayati hardware, and orders ship on UK couriers with a weekday cut-off.
18+ only. This range is intended for adult smokers and vapers. Nicotine is an addictive substance and is not suitable for non-smokers, under-18s, anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding, or anyone advised to avoid nicotine.
