Helpful Advice About E-Cig Expiration Dates

It’s not required by the FDA (yet) but many e-cigarettes and e-liquids are stamped with an expiration date. Just like the expiration date on food, this date can be a source of stress for vapers who are worried about their juice “going bad.” This quick guide reveals a little information about e-cig expiration dates and what you should really look out for to determine whether or not your e-liquid is safe to vape.

Let’s face it; we’ve all eaten or drank something that was just a little bit past its best-by date, haven’t we? Well, most of the “expiration” dates on food are actually put on packages at the discretion of the manufacturer, so there isn’t necessarily a hard and fast science behind deciding when a food is expired. The same goes with vape products. The jury is still out on how long of a shelf life e-cigs and e-juice actually have. So, much like food makers, vape shops and e-juice manufacturers often add an expiration date that works more like a “best by” date. As Vaping 360 says, “Expiration dates are arbitrary, and are more accurately described as freshness gauges, rather than concrete indicators of spoilage.”

So, how can you tell if your e-liquid has gone sour? One telltale sign is that the e-juice will become noticeably discolored or the flavor may taste noticeably different and unpleasant. Generally, if you keep your e-liquid and e-cigs out of hot spaces and direct sunlight, you should run out of it before it goes bad.

Some e-liquids also last longer than others, depending on several different factors, including the e-cigarette or e-juice’s PG/VG ratio, its flavor, its nicotine level, and other external factors.

Remember that propylene glycol (PG) is often used to keep things fresh, so e-liquid and e-cigarettes that have a lower propylene glycol content may not preserve as well. E-liquids that are made with organic and natural products are also more prone to losing flavor and potency more quickly than juices that are synthetically made. So CBD oil, for example, might fizzle out before an e-liquid does.

On the other hand, there are some e-liquids that, like wine, can become more complex and flavorful with a little bit of age. When it comes down to it, it’s a matter of personal taste. If you’re like most vapers, you’ve probably had a favorite flavor that one of your friends just couldn’t get into. The same goes for e-juices and vapor cigs that are past their “best by” date. Odds are if you don’t see any discoloration, you’ll be a-ok. But if you taste it and it tastes really “off” to you, it may be time for a new bottle!

Check out our full e-juice selection to stock up on the flavors you love!