Nicotine juices, also known as e-liquids or vape juices, are used in electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. They typically contain nicotine, flavorings, and a propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin base. Since they contain nicotine, which degrades over time, nicotine juices can expire and lose potency. However, with proper storage, they can remain fresh for upwards of a year or two.
How long do unopened nicotine juices last?
Unopened nicotine juice can last for quite a long time, thanks to the airtight seals on the bottles. If stored properly away from heat, light, and oxygen, the shelf life of an unopened bottle is around:
- 12-18 months for nicotine salts juices
- 18-24 months for freebase nicotine juices
Nicotine salts are said to have a shorter shelf life compared to freebase nicotine blends. This is because the benzoic acid used to make nicotine salts more readily absorbable can oxidize and degrade over time.
How to store nicotine juice properly
To get the longest shelf life out of your nicotine juices, proper storage is crucial. Here are some tips for maximizing the freshness:
- Store bottles in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight, which can degrade nicotine
- Keep them in an area with stable temperatures if possible – fluctuations can speed up oxidation
- Store bottles upright and tightly sealed to minimize air exposure
- Avoid freezing e-liquid bottles as this can negatively impact flavor and consistency
- Steer clear of the refrigerator as this can lead to condensation inside the bottle
- Buy only as much juice as you’ll use within 6-12 months
How to tell if opened nicotine juice has expired
Once you crack open that bottle, the nicotine will start to degrade more rapidly. Signs that an opened nicotine juice has expired and gone bad include:
- Darkening color – Nicotine oxidizes and becomes darker with age
- Cloudiness – The juice looks visibly unclear and murky
- Thickened consistency – The juice becomes abnormally thick and gooey
- Peppery taste – Nicotine takes on a unpleasantly sharp flavor when oxidized
- Muted flavor – The flavoring and aroma is dulled and weak
- Harsh throat hit – Expired juice delivers a rough, scratchy throat hit when vaped
How long does opened nicotine juice last?
Once exposed to oxygen, nicotine juices have a much shorter shelf life. General guidelines for opened bottle freshness:
- Nicotine salts: 3-6 months
- Freebase nicotine: 6-12 months
Higher nicotine concentration juices don’t last as long. So that opened 50mg nic salt bottle will oxidize faster than a 3mg freebase juice. Proper storage helps extend, but once a bottle is opened, it’s best to vape it within 6 months.
Does nicotine juice expire if unopened?
As long as the bottle remains factory sealed, nicotine juice can last 1-2 years past any printed expiry date. The sealed bottle prevents oxygen and light from degrading the components. However, unopened bottles stored for longer than 2 years will begin to slowly lose potency and flavor.
Can expired nicotine juice make you sick?
Nicotine does not actually go bad or spoil in a way that can make you ill. However, vaping expired e-liquid will deliver an awful taste and harsh throat hit. Some signs you shouldn’t vape an expired juice include:
- Dark brown color
- Extremely harsh throat hit
- Severe lack of flavor
- Really thick, gunky consistency
- Nauseating chemical taste
At that point, the juice has oxidized so much that it is no longer vaporizing properly. It’s best to just throw it away rather than vape potentially toxic degradation byproducts.
How to revive oxidized nicotine juice
If a juice has only slight darkening or loss of flavor, you may be able to revive it. Try these tips:
- Add fresh juice – Mix some new, unoxidized e-liquid into the older stuff
- Steep it – Letting it sit with the cap off for a day can help evaporate off some oxidation
- Agitate it – Gently shaking or stirring can distribute the nicotine evenly again
- Dilute it – Adding some distilled water or plain VG/PG base can dilute the oxidized compounds
If the juice still doesn’t taste right after that, it’s best to just start fresh with a new bottle.
Does freezing extend nicotine juice shelf life?
Freezing is not recommended for storing nicotine juice. The cold temperatures can have the following negative effects:
- Causes the juice ingredients to separate
- E-liquid can absorb freezer odors
- Condensation occurs when thawing, diluting the juice
- Nicotine crystallizes and gives a harsh throat hit when vaped
- Makes VG juices extremely thick and hard to vape
If you do freeze juice, thaw completely to room temp before vaping and shake very well to blend any separated ingredients.
What degrades nicotine in juice?
Exposure to the following compounds nicotine’s oxidation and reduces shelf life:
- Oxygen – The biggest factor. Keeping bottles sealed is key.
- Light – UV rays rapidly break down nicotine molecules.
- Heat – High temperatures accelerate chemical reactions.
- Moisture – Water promotes hydrolysis of nicotine.
- Acids – Nicotine salts contain acids that oxidize over time.
Minimizing exposure to these elements keeps nicotine stable for as long as possible.
What reduces nicotine oxidation?
You can slow down nicotine oxidation by:
- Using opaque bottles that block light
- Adding antioxidants like vitamin E
- Using higher grade nicotine
- Adding a nicotine preserver product
- Using PG rather than VG base
- Vaping quickly after opening the bottle
Signs your nicotine juice has oxidized
Watch out for these common markers that nicotine has degraded:
- Dark yellow to brown color
- Not mixing well when shaken – separation
- Need to shake vigorously before each use
- Harsh throat hit
- Decrease in nicotine effects
- Flat, peppery taste
- Leaking, stalled coils, and wicking issues
How long can you vape expired juice?
Technically vaping expired juice won’t make you sick. But for the sake of flavor and vaping experience, juice more than 6 months old should be discarded, especially if oxidized. Using juice up to a year past it’s expiry date is doable, but the quality and taste will gradually suffer over time.
Does nicotine juice really expire?
While the compounds in nicotine juice don’t spoil in a way that makes them dangerous, they do degrade slowly over time. So in that sense, nicotine juice doesn’t have an exact expiry date. But once enough oxidation occurs, the nicotine level drops low enough that the juice becomes useless. This happens faster once a bottle is opened.
So it’s less about nic juice expiring and more about it very gradually becoming discolored, lower in nicotine, and taking on a peppery taste. At that point, it expires in terms of providing a pleasant, effective vaping experience.
How long does a 30ml bottle of nicotine juice last?
How fast you go through a 30ml bottle depends on your vaping habits:
- Light use = 2-4 weeks
- Moderate use = 1-2 weeks
- Heavy use = less than 1 week
On average, most users will vape 30ml within 2 weeks. Juices with lower nicotine levels tend to get used up quicker as well. If trying to make a bottle last, be conservative with puffing, use lower wattage, and limit chain vaping.
Does nicotine juice need to be refrigerated after opening?
Refrigeration is not necessary. In fact, it can do more harm than good by causing moisture buildup and freezing. The ideal storage for an opened bottle is in a cool, dry, dark cupboard or drawer away from heat and sunlight.
How long does a 60ml bottle of juice last?
A 60ml bottle will provide around double the vaping time of a 30ml. Here’s a rough estimate of how long 60ml will last:
- Light use = 4-8 weeks
- Moderate use = 2-4 weeks
- Heavy use = 1-2 weeks
The average vaper will go through 60ml e-liquid in around a month. Higher nicotine juices and lower wattage devices allow the juice to last longer between refills.
Does nicotine juice expire if sealed?
Nicotine juice can effectively last up to 2 years past the printed expiration date if the seal remains intact. Avoiding oxygen exposure is key to preventing nicotine oxidation. However, there will still be subtle flavor and nicotine loss over time. For peak freshness and nic content, try to use sealed juice within 18 months.
Can I vape expired vape juice?
You can technically still vape e-juice up to a year past its expiry date, but it won’t be a great experience. The flavor will be dull and the nic hit weak. Once the juice is 18-24 months old, the harshness and tasting pepper flavor makes vaping unpleasant.
While not inherently unsafe, vaping juice more than 2 years old provides very little enjoyment. And trying to vape nicotine that has thoroughly oxidized can produce some nasty throat and lung irritation, signaling it’s time to toss the bottle.
In summary
Nicotine juice does not spoil, but it does slowly degrade in quality and nicotine content over time – especially after the bottle has been opened. With proper storage, you can maximize shelf life. But juices over 2 years old are past their prime. Heavily oxidized juice should be discarded, as vaping degenerated nicotine can be quite unpleasant.
