When you use e-cigarettes without nicotine, you lose the throat hit and the peppery composition that nicotine provides with the flavor. With many e-liquids — especially the ordinary Chinese e-liquids most companies market — the occurring effect is slightly unpleasant.
What is even worse, the nicotine in many low-quality e-liquids covers disgusting chemical flavor notes. Those unpleasant flavors become obvious when the nicotine is removed. And it is for sure that none wants to taste chemicals.
Thus, in order to have a satisfying, flavorful experience using e-cigarettes without nicotine, you need to use e-liquids specially created to taste good without its composition. These e-liquids should possess rich, complex flavors. If possible, they should have an additive that replaces the missing throat hit. Three additives that generate a similar feeling in the throat and lungs are menthol, grain alcohol and capsaicin.
Grain alcohol adds little flavor to an e-liquid but creates a scratchy feeling in the throat. Capsaicin — the compound that makes chili peppers hot — causes a slight burn in the throat and lungs. Neither alcohol nor capsaicin leads to exactly the same feeling as nicotine when inhaled, but they’re both definitely good nicotine-free alternatives.