Common vaping terms include MTL (mouth-to-lung, a tight cigarette-like draw), DTL (direct-to-lung, an airy draw for clouds), nic salt (smooth high-strength nicotine for pods), freebase (traditional nicotine for lower strengths), sub-ohm (low-resistance coils for big clouds), and VG/PG (the two base liquids). Knowing these makes choosing a device and e-liquid far easier.
Devices and hardware
- Disposable: a ready-to-use vape that is discarded once its liquid or battery runs out. No filling or charging on most models.
- Pod system: a compact device using pods, either pre-filled or refillable, usually low-power and beginner-friendly.
- Mod: a larger, more powerful device, often with adjustable settings and sometimes removable batteries.
- Pod: the small reservoir that holds e-liquid and clicks or magnets into a pod device.
- Tank: the refillable container on larger devices that holds liquid and houses a coil.
- Coil: the heating element with a wick that vaporises e-liquid. A consumable part that wears out and needs replacing.
- Wick: the absorbent material, usually cotton, inside the coil that soaks up liquid to be vaporised.
How you inhale
- MTL (mouth-to-lung): drawing vapour into your mouth first, then inhaling, like a cigarette. Tight draw, low power, higher-strength liquid.
- DTL (direct-to-lung): inhaling vapour straight into the lungs through a loose, airy draw. High power, low-strength liquid, big clouds.
- Throat hit: the catch or sensation at the back of the throat when you inhale, influenced by nicotine strength, PG, and draw style.
- Airflow: how much air the device lets in. Tighter airflow suits MTL, more open airflow suits DTL. Some devices are adjustable.
E-liquid terms
- E-liquid (e-juice): the liquid that is vaporised, made of VG, PG, flavouring, and usually nicotine.
- Nic salt: nicotine in salt form, smoother at high strengths, made for low-power pods and disposables.
- Freebase: traditional nicotine, harsher at high strengths, used at lower levels in higher-power devices.
- VG (vegetable glycerine): thick base liquid that produces bigger, smoother clouds.
- PG (propylene glycol): thin base liquid that carries flavour and gives a stronger throat hit.
- mg/mL: the nicotine strength, in milligrams per millilitre. Canada caps retail e-liquid at 20 mg/mL.
Performance and settings
- Sub-ohm: a coil with resistance below 1.0 ohm, run at higher power for big clouds and DTL vaping.
- Ohm (resistance): the electrical resistance of a coil. Lower ohms mean more power and vapour; higher ohms suit pods and MTL.
- Wattage: the power a device delivers. Coils have a recommended wattage range for best results.
- Priming: wetting a new coil with liquid and letting it soak before first use, so it does not burn.
- Chain vaping: taking rapid puffs without pause, which can dry the wick and cause a burnt taste.
Care and consumables
- Burnt hit: the harsh, acrid taste of a scorched wick, usually from a dry, over-powered, or unprimed coil.
- Spitback: small drops of hot liquid flicking up, often from flooding or a mismatched coil.
- Flooding: too much liquid reaching the coil, causing gurgling and weak vapour.
Using this glossary
These are the terms you will meet most often when choosing a device or e-liquid. You do not need to memorise them, just recognise them enough to ask the right questions. If any of it is unclear when you are picking a setup, our Edmonton staff can translate the jargon into plain advice in store or for same-day pickup. And a standing reminder: vaping products are for adults 18+ and contain nicotine, which is addictive.
Frequently asked questions
What does sub-ohm mean?
Sub-ohm refers to a coil with electrical resistance below 1.0 ohm. Run at higher power, these coils produce large clouds and suit direct-to-lung vaping with lower-strength freebase liquid. Higher-resistance coils, above 1.0 ohm, suit pods and mouth-to-lung draws.
What's the difference between a pod and a coil?
A pod is the small reservoir that holds e-liquid and attaches to your device. A coil is the heating element with a wick that turns liquid into vapour. Some pods have a built-in coil; others take a separate replaceable one.
What does mg/mL mean on e-liquid?
It is the nicotine strength, measured in milligrams of nicotine per millilitre of liquid. A higher number means more nicotine per puff. In Canada, retail e-liquid is capped at 20 mg/mL, which is common for nic salts.
What is priming a coil?
Priming means wetting a new coil's wick with e-liquid and letting it soak for several minutes before your first puff. It prevents the dry wick from scorching the instant you fire the device, which causes a permanent burnt taste.
What causes a burnt hit?
A burnt hit is the taste of a scorched wick, usually caused by a dry coil, chain vaping, too-high wattage, or an unprimed new coil. Once the wick is scorched the taste is permanent, so the coil must be replaced.