What Kind of E-Liquid Am I Allowed to Buy in the EU?
European countries in particular tend to be quite restrictive when it comes to artificial additives, preservatives, and chemicals and are, unsurprisingly, rather strict when it comes to e-liquid.
The Tobacco Products Directive restricts e-cigarette tanks and cartomizers to 2ml and prevents citizens from purchasing or importing any e-liquid bottles larger than 10ml. E-cigarette juice cannot contain more than 20mg/ml of nicotine, and all nicotine-products must be tamper-resistant and childproof. The newest regulations also prohibit the use of taurine, colorings, and caffeine and demand proper warning labels on all bottles.
As a vaper, this means you have to pay attention to the size bottles you use. Most vaping companies sell e-liquid in bottles of 30ml, 60ml, and sometimes even 120ml. If they are selling 10ml sized bottles, they’re usually included as part of a sample pack. While you can find 10ml sized bottles, like at Vaper Empire, for instance, this isn’t exactly the standard. By contrast, staying under 20mg/ml of nicotine shouldn’t be as difficult. Regular pack-a-day smokers can probably stay around 12-18mg/ml, and ideally you should be able to cut back gradually anyway.
Unfortunately, until long-term data on vaping is more widely available, the restrictions on vaping, particularly in the EU, will likely only become more severe. Though these laws still pale in comparison to the ones you’ll find in Australia, they make it fairly difficult to import the large majority of vaping merchandise.
What Are the Best Vape Juice Flavors in the EU?
The best e-liquid and vape juice flavors in the EU are undoubtedly going to be tobacco and menthol as they are pretty much anywhere. While these aren’t necessarily the best-tasting vape juice flavors, they are, nonetheless, the best-selling flavors simply because they help mimic the traditional smoking experience. Whether it’s Virginia tobacco, Sahara tobacco, tobacco mixed with caramel and vanilla, icy menthol, or a fruit-menthol blend, your all-time favorite flavors won’t change all that much.
That being said, you can find a wide range of artisanal and gourmet e-liquid flavors in the EU. Whether they’re meant to mimic exotic coffee blends from Latin America, decadent desserts from your favorite cafes, or even products found in your local supermarket, there are plenty of options. For instance, there’s an e-liquid that tastes just like Bonne Maman biscuits in France–imagine, not only can you eat your biscuits, but you can inhale them as well.
Nonetheless, Europeans tend to stay away from any e-liquids that look a bit too bizarre. While you can find blue raspberry candy, french toast, green apple fizz, and other strange concoctions across the states, these flavors don’t sell all that well on the other side of the Atlantic. Usually, simple fruit flavors or something like vanilla or java will sell, while the others remain on the shelves.
If you’re looking for the best e-liquid and vape juice flavors in the EU, go check out your local brick and mortar vape shop or lounge. Usually they have an area where they’ll let you sample their latest flavors. When you purchase online, you’ll have to rely on the reviews of others, but if you hang around other vapers, you’ll probably have the chance to try out the most popular flavors. Just remember to bring your own drip tip along so you won’t have to use someone else’s.
Where Can I Buy the Best E-Juice in the EU?
You can buy e-liquid and vape juices pretty much anywhere in the EU. Your easiest option would be at your local vape shop. If you do a simple Google search, you should have no problem locating specialty stores across your area. That being said, if you are looking for a wider selection or a more specific flavor, you can find plenty sold online.
When shopping online, you’re going to have to be more careful to only buy products that comply with the TPD. While the online vaping shop will sell you anything, they are not accountable for any products confiscated at customs. As I mentioned above, bottles are rarely sold in sizes of 10ml, so you might have to do a bit of searching.
You’ll have to look for the shipping policy for each vaping company, but most of them should have no issue shipping your items abroad. Of course you’ll have to pay higher shipping fees and you probably won’t have the option for free shipping for purchases higher than X amount. That being said, vaping companies are used to shipping their products abroad, and they’ll likely even send you a code so you can track your package along the way.
What Should I Pay for the Best Vape Liquid in the EU?
This really varies from company to company, but in general you should be expecting between $10 and $20 for a 30ml bottle. The price usually depends on how unique it is. You won’t have to pay as much for a standard tobacco e-liquid as you would for, say, an artisan blend or even a custom flavor. Then you might have to add a few extra dollars if you want, for instance, a second flavor shot.
Your best bet for a package of e-liquid bottles of 10ml is to purchase a sample pack. You can usually find a sample pack with anywhere from 3-15 flavors for less than $10 per bottle. If you’re looking for a place to start, you might want to try Vaper Empire. Since their factory is in the U.K., all of their e-liquids comply with the TPD.
Final Thoughts
The best e-liquid and vape juices in the EU really comes down to preference. You’ll have to decide whether you prefer a 50/50 blend or high VG and choose your nicotine content. In fact, discovering new flavors is half the fun. We can tell you about the flavors we prefer at E-Cig Brands, but that might not mean anything to you. You have to find out what your favorite flavors and brands are on your own. Happy vaping!