I’ve been vaping on and off for a few years now, and one thing I’ve always wondered is whether you can actually enjoy vaping without nicotine. When I first started, it was all about the buzz and the ritual, but recently I’ve been curious about cutting nicotine out completely. I decided to experiment with nicotine-free e-liquids and see if it could satisfy that habit without the addictive side effects. Honestly, the first few hits felt strange—there’s definitely a mental part of vaping that’s hard to shake, even if your body isn’t craving nicotine.
From what I’ve read and experienced, vaping without nicotine is totally possible, but it depends a lot on the liquid and the device. Flavored e-liquids can make a huge difference because the taste and aroma provide a satisfying sensory experience, which seems to trick your brain into feeling “something” even when nicotine isn’t present. I tried a mix of fruity and dessert flavors, and I noticed that the throat hit—the little scratchy feeling you usually get from nicotine—was much softer. At first, it felt like something was missing, but after a week, I realized I was actually enjoying the act of vaping itself rather than the chemical buzz.
Research also seems to back this up. Studies show that vaping nicotine-free liquids is far less addictive than traditional nicotine vaping, but the behavioral habits—like holding the device, inhaling, and exhaling the vapor—can still reinforce the ritual. For people looking to quit nicotine but keep the “vape experience,” nicotine-free e-liquids are a practical option. That said, you still need to be mindful of other chemicals in e-liquids, even without nicotine, because long-term health effects are still being studied.
Of course its possible, and very common. If you DIY and use the community Calculator, then it is the most simple way to work up a new recipe or test a flavor profile. It does not depend on the device, it depends on the liquid. Use an easy device, or one you are familiar with and like. You should be using the proper PG/VG solvent flavored juice and coil combination. Do not vape anything that is oil solvent or from china. All historic health problems (like EVALI in the USA) have come from oil solvent & nicotine free vapes made in china.
You’re spot on, @Nova — a lot of the “pull” in vaping is ritual and sensory, not just the nicotine. That’s where DIY mixing really shines for harm reduction. When you start building your own e-liquids, you can:
Control the nicotine — taper down gradually or cut it out completely without sacrificing flavor.
Dial in the experience — want a strong throat hit without nicotine? Additives like WS-23 (cooling) or a touch of citrus can mimic that bite. Prefer smooth dessert clouds? You can layer creams, custards, and fruits until you’ve got something that keeps you reaching for the mod.
Save a herd’s worth of money — once you’re mixing, the cost of experimenting drops dramatically compared to chasing commercial bottles.
I’ve seen a lot of vapers transition off nicotine entirely while still enjoying the act because DIY lets them keep the “fun” part — flavor exploration, the ritual, the clouds — without being chained to the buzz.
That’s why I’ve been writing up guides and flavor reviews on my blogs. If you’re curious about the nuts and bolts of mixing (and why I think it’s the ultimate harm reduction tool), check out thevapeworkshop.com. You’ll find DIY resources, flavor breakdowns, and a few goat-flavored rants that might help you carve your own path.
In short: nicotine-free vaping works best when you’ve got flavors worth sticking around for — and nothing gives you more control over that than DIY.
