Does E-liquid Expire?

Does e-liquid expire?

E-liquid is made using food grade flavourings and ingredients, so surely it must logically follow that it has a use by date. Here you can read all about e-liquids and whether they have an expiration date.

Whether you have bulk bought lots of e-liquids or lost an opened bottle and found it again, a question many vapers ask is if old e-liquid is still safe to vape. In short, E-liquids do have an expiration date of around a year after manufacture. You can typically locate the expiry date on the side of the bottle. 

How long does e-liquid usually last?

E-liquid typically lasts for around a year after it is manufactured, you can check the expiry date on the side of the bottle for this information. If you cannot find an expiry date, and do not plan to use the whole bottle before vaping a different flavour, make a note of when you bought it and keep the note alongside the e-liquid. 
However, it is important to note that how you store your e-liquid may speed up or slow down its expiry. E-liquid can degrade faster if it is kept in unsuitable conditions. Additionally nicotine oxidation is one of the main reasons e-liquid goes bad so low and zero nicotine liquids may have much longer lives.

What is the best way to store e-liquid?

To maximise your e-liquids life you should store it away from heat, light and air, for example you can put your e-liquid in a cupboard or drawer, in its original airtight bottle. Make sure you close the bottle's lid very tightly to avoid leakage and air reaching your liquid.
Additionally, storing your eliquid in the fridge or freezer may extend its life, as colder temperatures stop the oxidation process from happening as quickly. It is also helpful to ensure you do not open a bottle of e-liquid until you are ready to vape it, as this speeds up the oxidation process significantly. 

What happens when e-liquid goes bad?

Of course e-liquid is not going to instantly go off when it turns a year old but over time the ingredients oxidise and degrade, causing nicotine containing e-liquids to lose their strength. The flavour of the e-liquid will also lessen as it ages. Some vapers enjoy the aging process of e-liquid, referring to it as steeping. Although some e-liquid may improve its quality at a few months old, the aging process will eventually render the liquid unusable.

 
How to tell if old e-liquid can be used

You can use your discretion to tell if an old bottle of e-liquid is still consumable. In some situations it will of course be best to just get rid of the vape juice, for example if you have an opened bottle that has been sitting at room temperature for multiple years, or if you have a 5 month old bottle that has cracks and leaks. In situations where it is less obvious, consult our handy guide:

• Colour
  E-liquid changes colour as it ages, if it is yellow or very light brown it may still be okay but if it is dark brown or black it is no longer usable as the nicotine has become too oxidised.
• Transparency
  E-liquid should be transparent, examine it carefully to check for cloudiness, blobs and flecks, if any of these things are present do not use the e-liquid. E-liquid that is not fully transparent may have bacterial/ fungal growth within it.
• Smell
  If your e-liquid smells foul/unpleasant you should not use it, even after long term storage it should smell the same as when you bought it, if a vape juice smells off it could again have some kind of bacterial/ fungal growth in it.
• Taste
  If an e-liquid tastes bad/off you should not use it, although if the flavours are just slightly muted this is normal for older e-liquid.
• Feel
  If you vape an old e-liquid and feel off, discontinue use immediately. Although reduced nicotine content caused by aging will cause e-liquid to have less of a throat hit, it shouldn't make you feel weird or unwell. Make sure you closely monitor how you feel when vaping, and stop if you think something may be off.
•  Shake 
  If your e-liquid has passed all these checks, make sure you shake the bottle thoroughly to mix all the components together, as over time they may have separated.

Disposing of old e-liquid

As e-liquid contains nicotine, it is classed as hazardous waste by the UK`s environmental protection agency. You should therefore not pour it down your sink, instead you can arrange for a collection service to pick it up, you can also find your local drop off site, who will safely destroy any hazardous waste for you. 

What to do if you vape a bad e-liquid

Typically vaping an old/bad e-liquid will not cause negative effects apart from the decreased nicotine content not satisfying your craving adequately. However, sometimes vaping an expired e-liquid may cause you to feel unwell, we have outlined the steps you should take in this event below:

• Discontinue use immediately
• Open a window for some fresh air
• Drink water
• If any liquid leaked into your mouth, rinse it with water

When to seek medical attention

In most cases, any side effects from vaping old e-liquid will be temporary and fairly mild. Such symptoms may include: mild nausea, dizziness or a mild headache that subside after a short time. 
You must seek medical attention, either contacting 999 or a poison control centre if you experience any of the following symptoms after vaping old e-liquid:

• Severe and recurrent nausea and vomiting
• Severe abdominal pain
• Difficulty breathing/ chest pain
• Dizziness that doesn't stop after a minute or two
• Rapid/ irregular heart rate
• Agitation, confusion, or restlessness
• Seizures or convulsions
• Loss of consciousness
  If possible it is helpful to bring the e-liquid with you when being assessed by a medical professional, they may then test it to better understand your symptoms.