Vaping liquids are some of the highest selling novelty smoking items in the world. This has led to thousands upon thousands of varieties popping up on the market, all offering a novel sensation. All of them though, come adorned with an expiration date on the container, which begs the question of whether an e-liquid really does have an expiration date or whether it is a ploy by the companies to sell more liquid.

Expiration Dates on E-Liquid Containers: Separating Fact from Fiction

While a lot of food and drink items do have an expiration date, it is often not the one which is printed on the label. This has been the subject of a lot of debate over the years, sometimes even resulting in people blaming the companies for trying to sell more by scaring consumers into believing that if they don’t use the product quickly, they will suffer adverse effects. E-liquids have been the targets of such a debate as well. However, the story is somewhat different here.

A product’s best-by date is determined by the life of the constituent ingredients, or by the observed life in clinical research and observation. Since vaping liquids are combinations of several ingredients such as vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol, it does not have an expiration date of its own as a finished product. It depends on the life of the constituent ingredients instead.

The life of the aforementioned ingredients has been found to be up to 2 years, if the liquid is stored in a cool and dry place, with the cover tightly in place. Even if it is not stored in ideal conditions, it is not likely to become unsuitable before at least a year. However, some liquids have an expiration date that is far too short, which is where the debate starts anyway.

Who is to blame for a short shelf life?

This is the big question here. Since there is no set date of expiration for vape liquids, then who exactly determines how short a life to print on a label? Well, it could be the companies who want to make profits, or it could be the health and safety authorities who wish to prevent adverse effects. In any case, it pays to be aware of the facts regarding expiration dates and only purchase when necessary.

The Verdict

The fact is that until there is further research done on the subject, it would not be accurate to assign a particular date to all vaping liquids. Additionally, since different companies have different formulae, and sometimes even proprietary blends, the expiration date may vary by several months even. This is why it is important to always take the necessary precautions when storing the e-liquid.

Storage is the most important aspect of ensuring a long shelf life, and if the liquid is stored properly, you may have freedom of usage for 4-5 months after the expiration date as stated on the label.