Nicotine Safety, Handling and Storage

Check to make sure that the bottles aren’t leaking; check caps and the outside of the container for small punctures or signs of damage. If it is leaking, wear gloves, transfer nicotine to a safe, closed container and wipe up residual nicotine with a wet warm cloth, and dilute/wash in a sink with warm water.

Gloves should always be worn when handling diluted nicotine. Diluted nicotine can be absorbed through the skin. If there is a spill and nicotine makes contact with your skin, wash yourself immediately. If you start feeling sick or notice symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, fast and/or irregular heartbeat, upset stomach or pain, go to your nearest emergency room. This is especially important with higher nicotine strengths, which can be fatal.

Don’t use everyday household equipment, especially equipment or containers used for food preparation. If you need to use a different container than what the diluted nicotine came in, make sure it is appropriate for storing nicotine. Bottles made of colored glass or opaque HDPE (#2) plastic should be used. Also, it is a good idea to assemble a DIY mixing kit specifying which syringes, containers, and bottles come in contact with your nicotine. This will help prevent cross contamination.

It helps to make sure you are working in a distraction-free environment where others will not disturb you. Be sure your nicotine and equipment are placed on flat, stable surfaces. This will improve the accuracy of your mixing, and protect you and others from potential spills.

Children are resourceful, observant and curious about anything adults do. Treat nicotine as you would any other toxic chemical, and store your nicotine in a secure location, preferably with a lock. Nicotine will stay colorless and tasteless longer when refrigerated. If you plan to refrigerate your nicotine, please take precautions such as a separate, lockable refrigerator or lock box inside the refrigerator to prevent contaminating food and access by children.

eep it away from children and pets. As parents or caregivers of children, it is your responsibility to keep them safe. Nicotine is a dangerous, toxic substance that must be handled with care. Even if children aren’t normally in your house, precautions will help keep you and any visitors safe.

Nicotine is a natural item and needs to be stored in certain conditions to extend its life and avoid degradation. Over time nicotine can turn a variety of colors (yellow, pink, brown and even a bluish green color) and develop a distinctive smell and peppery taste. There are several factors involved. The main ones being oxidation, UV light and heat. Because PG and VG act as preservatives, the higher the milligram strength of your nicotine, the faster it will degrade. PG is the better of the two as a diluent when it comes to preservation.

To protect the quality of your nicotine, follow these quick and easy suggestions.

1. Keep away from direct sunlight or other bright light sources.

2. If you plan to no use your nicotine within the first week, we recommend storing it in a refrigerator or freezer*.

*Diluted nicotine freezes at a lower temperatures than normal freezers reach, so it will remain in a liquid form, though it will be much thicker than at room temperature. Nicotine suspended in vegetable glycerin will turn gelatinous and should be allowed to warm up before use. Nicotine suspended in propylene glycol will stay thinner than that suspended in glycerin and is easier to work with right out of the freezer.

For more information, please visit our Nicotine Strengths page.