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Vaping Terminology

Confused with the terminology used on this website?

We have made a list of all the commonly found terms used within the vaping industry with simple explanations to help you improve your knowledge.

Click a term to view the description

A-Z of Vaping Terms

18350

A size of an external battery cell. 18mm diameter, 35mm height.

18500

A size of an external battery cell. 18mm diameter, 50mm height.

18650

A size of an external battery cell. 18mm diameter, 65mm height. This is the most common battery size for E-Cigarettes.

20700

A size of an external battery cell. 20mm diameter, 70mm height.

21700

A size of an external battery cell. 21mm diameter, 70mm height.

26650

A size of an external battery cell. 26mm diameter, 65mm height.

ADV / All Day Vape

An E-Liquid that you find ideal for vaping all day

AFC

Refers to a device that has Adjustable Airflow Control.

AIO (All-in-one)

A type of E-Cigarette when the battery & tank are one piece & can not be disconnected from each other. Generally this provides you with a more simple device.

Airflow / Adjustable airflow

Airflow is what allows you to inhale on your E-Cigarette. Some are tighter while others can be looser & some devices even have adjustable airflow so you can dial it in to your perfect setting.

Amps

Short for ampere, a measurement for electrical currant.

Atomiser

The component in the E-Cigarette that turns the nicotine solution into a vapour. This term is quickly getting replaced with the word Coil.

Atty

Abbreviation for atomiser.

Automatic shut/cut off

A safety feature found in most E-Cigarettes that prevents the overheating of the battery. If the device gets too hot it will shut-off.

Base Mix

A mixture of VG, PG & often but not always a form of Nicotine.

Battery

Refers to either an external battery designed to power mods/ other devices but can also refer to simple pen style devices & their batteries.

BCC (Bottom Coil Clearomiser)

A clearomiser (Tank) where the atomiser (Coil) is fitted at the bottom of the tank.

BDC (Bottom Dual Coil Clearomiser)

A BCC (Bottom Coil Clearomiser) with two coils. Provides more vapour & a stronger hit.

Box Mod

The battery part for your E-Cigarette kit. Usually a device that requires external batteries.

BVC (Bottom Vertical Coil Clearomiser)

A BCC (Bottom Coil Clearomiser) with a single coil in a vertical configuration, allowing for improved airflow.

Ceramic Coils

A type of coil that using ceramic. Advertised as having a longer life span with more flavour & vapour.

Cig-A-Like

A style of E-Cigarette designed to looks like a conventional cigarette.

Clapton

A type of coil that requires one very thin wire to be wrapped around a thicker wire. This creates gaps between the wraps to collect up more E-Liquid therefore creating more flavour & vapour. Once finished its appearance is similar to a guitar string.

Clearomiser

A chamber that holds your E-Liquid & Coil that you vape from.

Closed Pod

A type of Pod that comes with prefilled E-Liquid & once emptied can not be refilled.

Cloud Chasing

The pursuit of blowing the biggest cloud possible. (Person: Cloud Chaser)

Clouds

The effect of exhaling vapour into the air.

Coil

The part in your E-Cigarette that rapidly heats up your E-Liquid to create the vapour. This is the most commonly used term for Atomiser.

Cuttoff

A safety feature found in most E-Cigarettes that limits the amount of time a user can inhale on their E-Cigarette. Once the cuttoff timer is reached the device will cut out.

Diacetyl

A harmful compound that has been found in some E-Liquids, although generally far below the levels found in cigarette smoke. To avoid this compound ensure you buy your E-Liquids from a reputable retailer & that the E-Liquid has been tested. Rare to be found in E-Liquids now due to the TPD regulations

Disposable E-Cigarette

Designed to be used & then once finished it is disposed of.

DIY (Do-It-Yourself)

Usually refers to the process of making your own E-Liquid from scratch.

Draw

The action of inhaling.

Draw Activated

An E-Cigarette that is activated by the action of inhaling. Does not require a button to fire up.

Drip Tips

Refers to the mouth piece on your E-Cigarettes. Sometimes removable.

Dripper

A type of atomiser that requires a custom hand built coil that you drip E-Liquid directly onto. For advanced users only.

Dripping

Where E-Liquid is dripped directly on the coil, usually on a custom built rebuildable mod.

Dry Hit

When there is not enough E-Liquid on your coil & singes/ burns the wicking material causing a burnt taste. Also happens when your coil has reached the end of its life & needs replacing.

DTL (Direct-To-Lung)

This means when you inhale on your E-Cigarette, the vapour is inhaled directly to your lungs without being held in the mouth first. The opposite of MTL (Mouth-to-Lung)

E-Liquid

A liquid solution containing nicotine, Propylene Glycol & Vegetable Glycerine. However, sometimes liquids will contain zero nicotine or have a substitute version.

eGo

Originally refers to a E-Cigarette model made by Joyetech. eGo is now used to refer to a certain type of fitting on the tank or battery.

Electronic Cigarette

An electronic cigarette is an electronic device that simulates tobacco smoking.

External Battery

Refers to a type of device where the batteries are separate & can be removed. Can also refer to the actual external battery cells themselves.

Flavour Chaser

A person who prioritises flavour in their E-Cigarette as apposed to big clouds of vapour.

Flooding

When too much E-Liquid has soaked into your coils causing leakage, spitting of juice directly into mouth or a bad vape.

Freebase Nicotine

The ‘standard’ type of Nicotine. Has been used by tobacco companies since the 60s.

High PG

An E-Liquid solution that has more than 50% PG (Propylene Glycol). Generally used for starter kits.

High VG

An E-Liquid solution that has more than 50% VG (Vegetable Glycerine). Generally used for advanced sub-ohm kits.

Hot Spots

Happens when a certain part of your coil gets too hot causing a burning or bad taste.

Hybrid Nicotine

A mixture of Salt Nicotine & Freebase Nicotine.

Inhale

The action of breathing vapour into your lungs &/or mouth.

Internal Battery

A device where the battery is built in & can not be removed.

Juice

Another term for E-Liquid.

Kick

A term used to describe the throat hit sensation.

Koolada

An E-Liquid flavour enhancer that adds a cold effect. This is found in most E-Liquids that are cold.

Leaks, Leaking

When E-Liquid has over saturated the coil causing the E-Liquid to either leak out of the tank or spit into your mouth.

mAh (Milli amp hour)

This is used to measure the battery life or your device or battery cell.

Mech Mod (Mechanical mod)

A type of device that has no safety features or adjustability. Works purely off the power of the external battery. For advanced users only.

Mesh Coil

A piece of mesh that is wrapped into a cilinder & used for the heating part of your coil. Creating a wide surface area of heating producing more flavour & vapour.

MG (Milligrams)

The measurement for the strength of your E-Liquid.

ML (Milliliters)

The measurement for the volume of E-Liquid.

Mod

Used to describe the battery part of your E-Cigarette. Usually aimed at devices with a box shape that take external batteries.

Mouthpiece

Simply the part of your tank/ E-Cigarette that you put into your mouth to inhale. Also called a Drip Tip.

MTL (Mouth-To-Lung)

This means when you inhale on your E-Cigarette the vapour is inhaled into your mouth & held there before being drawn into the lung. The opposite of DTL (Direct-to-Lung)

Nic

Shorthand for Nicotine.

Nicotine

The addictive chemical found in cigarettes that is also in your E-Liquid to satisfy your cravings.

Nicotine Booster/ Shot

A small 10ml bottle with a specific base mix ratio & a specific volume of nicotine that is designed to be added into a Shortfill to give it its nicotine level.

NRT

Stands for Nicotine Replacement Therapy.

Ohm (Ω)

The measurement for the electrical resistance of your coil.

Open Pod

A type of Pod that allows you to refill with your preferred E-Liquid

Organic Cotton

A specific type of wicking material used in coils to absorb the E-Liquid before vaporising.

Passthrough

A device that can be charged via USB through a computer or USB wall plug. These devices allow you to still vape while charging so you will not be without your E-Cigarette.

Pen-Style

A particular style of E-Cigarette that is slim & looks similar to a pen.

Plus-Ohm

When the resistance of your coil is above than 1.0 ohm.

Pod

A chamber that holds your E-Liquid & Coil that you vape from.

Priming

An extremely important stage when getting a new coil ready for vaping. You must install your new coil, fill your tank with E-Liquid & leave upright for 5-10mins to allow the wicking material to absorb the E-Liquid. Failure to do this may cause your coil to burn out instantly.

Propylene Glycol (PG)

One of the two commonly found base ingredients in an E-Liquid. A colourless liquid that helps provide some of the throat hit. This liquid has been extensively tested for safety.

Puff

Similar to a ‘draw’ or to inhale but generally a shorter inhale.

RBA

Rebuildable Atomiser. A type of tank that requires a custom hand built coil. For advanced users only.

RDA

Rebuildable Dripping Atomiser. A vaping product that requires a custom hand built coil & gets its E-Liquid via drops directly onto the coil. For advanced users only.

RDTL (Restricted-Direct-to-Lung)

A middle-ground between MTL & DTL. Often refereed to as a loose lung hit.

Resistance

Refers to the resistance of your coil & is measured in Ohms. A low resistance coils produces more heat & vapour while a high resistance coil produces less heat & vapour but better for throat hit.

RTA

Rebuilable Tank Atomiser. A type of tank that requires a custom hand built coil. For advanced users only.

Salt Nicotine

A type of Nicotine that has minimal throat hit & acts faster than Freebase Nicotine.

Shortfill

A bottle of E-Liquid that is zero nicotine but has space for a nicotine booster. Allowing the consumer to buy a larger bottle without breaking TPD.

Silica

A type of wicking material that has now been widely replaced with cotton or ceramic.

Squonking (Squonk, Squonker)

A device that has a built in bottle of E-Liquid that when squeezed forces the E-Liquid into your tank or more likely RDA.

Steel Mesh

Used for either wicking material or is used to create the heating part of the coil.

Steep/ Steeping

The action of allowing your fresh E-Liquid to sit for the ingredients to settle & combine, generally improves flavour & removes any harshness. Can be sped up via agitating & refreshing the air within the bottle.

Sub-Ohm

When the resistance of your coil is lower than 1.0 ohm.

Tank

The component on your E-Cigarette that holds your E-Liquid & coil that you inhale from (Sits on top of your battery/ mod).

TC (Temperature control)

A type of power output that is limited to a set temperature. Requires certain types of coils to use this feature.

Throat hit

Refers to the sensation of inhaling the nicotine when it hits your throat.

Unregulated Mod

A type of device that has no safety features or adjustability. Works purely off the power of the external battery. For advanced users only.

Vape

To inhale vapour from an E-Cigarette. Also used to describe an E-Cigarette device.

Vaper

A person who vapes.

Vaper's Tongue

Refers to a loss of taste. Generally happens when you vape the same E-Liquid flavour for too long & your taste buds get accustomed to the flavour.

Vaping

The action of using an E-Cigarette.

Vegetable Glycerine (VG)

One of the two commonly found base ingredients in an E-Liquid. A colourless, odourless but slightly sweet liquid. It helps provide the dense clouds of vapour. This liquid has been extensively tested for safety.

Voltage

Refers to the electrical potential of the power source. On some device this is also an adjustable setting to increase or decrease the power.

VV (Variable Voltage)

Variable Voltage is a feature on certain E-Cigarette devices that allows you to increase & decrease the power output.

VW (Variable Wattage)

Variable Wattage is a feature on certain E-Cigarette devices that allows you to increase & decrease the power output.

Watt (Wattage)

The measurement for the power output of your device.

Wick

A small piece of material used to absorb your E-Liquid found within the coil.

Wrap

A single revolution of your coil wire.

Zero Nic (Nicotine)

An E-Liquid solution that contains no nicotine.