Shortfill FAQs
Shortfills - A ‘Short’ History
In 2017, Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) Regulations had a major impact on the vaping community, creating a different need in the industry. In the past, customers could buy larger volume mixtures of nicotine and e-liquid together in one bottle. Now, this is restricted by law to a maximum of 10ml pre-mixed e-liquid that contains nicotine.
Change is always expected in such an innovative market. But here at Pure E-Liquids, we have the ideal alternative - ‘shake n’ vape’, or as they’re more commonly known, shortfills.
What is a Shortfill?
Shortfill e-liquid answers the dilemma created by these TPD regulations and works out as a smarter long-term alternative. What’s the solution? Bottles of pure nicotine-free e-liquids from brands like VSAVI and Dinner Lady, meaning refreshing flavours that go up to 50ml. You can even purchase empty bottles and top them up with larger quantities on the go. Simply pick your preferred flavour such as Green Mango or Strawberry and add your desired strength of nicotine.
However, be careful about how many nicotine shots you add. This can dilute the liquid, removing some of the flavours, typically from a combination of VG/PG. Thanks to the ‘shortfill’ gap brands purposefully left in each bottle, roughly 10ml, you can find what suits best. Plus, shortfills offer a great alternative for those looking to quit smoking or slowly reduce the amount of strength.
How Much Nicotine Do You Need?
What we like about the rule changes is you can get a nice blend of vape juice and nicotine. You typically add Freebase Nicotine, which is often used by sub-ohm fanatics seeking bigger clouds. Here’s a calculation of what you can expect when mixing nicotine in a shortfill:
1. Grab a 10ml/18mg nic shot.
2. Add to a 50ml shortfill bottle of your choosing.
3. Give it a shake and you’ll get a 3mg shortfill, which is diluted by 6x10ml per bottle.
How to Mix a Shortfill Bottle Correctly
Mixing your shortfill bottle with a nicotine solution couldn’t be easier. First, collect your chosen shortfill flavour and remove the pipette. Then take your nicotine shot (recommended either one or two max) and slowly drip the contents into the shortfill bottle - careful not to spill of course!
Once that’s done, give it a good shake and leave open for ten minutes. A top tip for maximum flavour is to put the lid back on and store away in a cool dark place for a couple of hours. Like marinating a piece of chicken for a BBQ, it just intensifies the flavours - give it a try!
Advantages of Shortfills
Save money in the long run as 10ml e-liquids are typically more expensive
Bigger bottles mean easy top-ups
Perfect for cloud chasing
Collect less plastic to help the environment
Disadvantages of Shortfills
More suited to powerful devices
Requires buying nic shots separately
Some flavours not available in certain sizes
Lower nicotine levels (3mg or 6mg/ml), with higher quantities in pre-mixed e-liquids