What are menthol vape flavours?
Menthol vape flavours are e-liquids built around menthol, a cooling compound that produces a crisp, minty exhale. Menthol triggers the cold receptors on the tongue and throat, which creates the chilled feeling without any change in temperature. That cooling action softens perceived harshness, so a menthol e-liquid draws smoother than a warm tobacco blend at the same strength.
Menthol e-liquid stretches from pure menthol, spearmint and peppermint through to fruit, tobacco and dessert blends finished with a cold edge. This guide covers the flavour categories, the menthol and mint distinction, the "ice" naming convention, nicotine strengths, and the choice between nic salt and shortfill formats.
Three mint styles define the category, menthol for sharp cold, spearmint for sweeter herbal notes, and peppermint for a stronger, earthier mint. Each style pairs cleanly with fruit, tobacco or dessert bases to widen the flavour range.
Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but not risk-free, according to NHS guidance. Royal Vapery stocks menthol e-liquids across 10mg and 20mg nic salt and nicotine-free shortfill formats, part of the wider e-liquids range and all within UK Tobacco and Related Products Regulations limits.
Why did menthol vaping become popular in the UK?
Menthol vaping grew in the UK after menthol cigarettes were banned on 20 May 2020 under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. The change removed characterising flavours from cigarettes and rolling tobacco, and many menthol smokers moved to menthol e-liquid to keep the cooling sensation they preferred. Coverage from Action on Smoking and Health documented the ban and its transition period.
Demand shifted again after single-use vapes were banned from 1 June 2025. Menthol disposable users now route to refillable and prefilled kits, with menthol nic salts serving as the closest match for a familiar cold, mouth-to-lung draw. This double regulatory shift makes menthol one of the most searched flavour categories in UK vaping.
What are the main types of menthol vape flavours?
Menthol vape flavours split into 4 main types, each defined by the base paired with the cooling menthol note:
- Pure menthol and mint: clean cooling with no added flavour, covering menthol, spearmint and peppermint.
- Menthol ice and fruit: a fruit base finished with a cold menthol exhale, such as watermelon ice.
- Tobacco menthol: a tobacco base carrying a menthol edge, matching the classic menthol cigarette style.
- Complex menthol blends: layered mixes of fruit, aniseed or mint, such as Heisenberg-style flavours.
Pure menthol and mint e-liquids
Pure menthol and mint e-liquids deliver cold with no fruit or sweetness on top. Menthol gives the sharpest cooling hit and reads closest to a menthol cigarette. Spearmint softens the cold with a sweeter, herbal note, while peppermint pushes an intense, slightly earthy mint. These clean profiles suit vapers who want refreshment without added flavour layers.
Menthol ice and fruit blends
Menthol ice and fruit blends pair a fruit base with cooling, so the cold finish sharpens the fruit rather than masking it. Watermelon ice, blueberry ice and mango ice sit in this group, where menthol cuts the sweetness and adds a crisp exhale. Fruit menthol suits vapers moving across from sweeter profiles who want a cooler edge.
Tobacco menthol e-liquids
Tobacco menthol e-liquids combine a tobacco base with menthol, recreating the classic menthol cigarette taste. The tobacco note carries body and warmth, while the menthol adds the cooling exhale that menthol smokers recognise. This pairing helps former menthol smokers bridge to vaping with a familiar profile.
Complex menthol blends
Complex menthol blends layer menthol over mixed notes, so no single flavour dominates. Heisenberg-style e-liquids blend sweet fruit undertones with a punchy menthol and aniseed kick, and triple-mint blends stack spearmint, peppermint and pure menthol for a freezing hit. These blends suit experienced vapers who want depth alongside the cold.
What is the difference between menthol and mint vape juice?
The main difference between menthol and mint vape juice is the sensation, menthol delivers a sharp cooling hit, while mint adds a sweeter, herbal flavour. Menthol focuses on the cold feeling, whereas mint contributes taste from spearmint or peppermint leaves. Many e-liquids combine both, using menthol for the chill and mint for the flavour.
| Aspect | Menthol | Mint |
|---|---|---|
| Sensation | Sharp cooling hit | Milder cool |
| Flavour note | Minimal, clean | Sweeter, herbal |
| Cooling intensity | High | Low to medium |
| Best for | Ex-menthol smokers | Vapers wanting mild refreshment |
The table shows why the two terms sit close but read differently on the palate. A vaper chasing the coldest possible draw leans menthol, while one wanting gentle refreshment leans mint. Blends of both give a balanced middle ground, which explains why so many menthol e-liquids carry a mint note.
Why do brands label menthol e-liquids as "ice"?
Brands label menthol e-liquids as "ice" because the word signals the cooling menthol added to a flavour. A flavour named watermelon ice or blueberry ice combines the fruit base with a cold menthol exhale. The ice label helps shoppers spot menthol blends among non-menthol fruit e-liquids at a glance.
How to choose your menthol nicotine strength?
To choose your menthol nicotine strength, match the strength to your previous smoking level.
- Select 20mg nic salt: if you smoked 15 or more cigarettes a day.
- Choose 10mg nic salt: if you smoked lightly or moderately.
- Pick 5mg nic salt: for a milder cooling draw with lower nicotine.
- Use a 0mg shortfill: for nicotine-free menthol vaping.
UK law caps nicotine e-liquid at 20mg/ml under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, so 20mg is the strongest menthol nic salt available. Beginners switching from cigarettes get the steadiest result from a 10mg or 20mg menthol nic salt paired with one of the starter vape kits built for mouth-to-lung draws.
Menthol nic salts or menthol shortfills: which should you choose?
The main difference between menthol nic salts and menthol shortfills is the format, nic salts suit low-power pod kits, while shortfill e-liquid suits higher-power sub-ohm kits. Nic salts deliver nicotine smoothly in a 50/50 blend, whereas shortfills come nicotine-free in a high-VG blend for larger clouds.
| Aspect | Menthol nic salts | Menthol shortfills |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotine | 5mg, 10mg, 20mg | 0mg (nicotine-free) |
| VG/PG ratio | 50/50 | 70/30 (high VG) |
| Best device | Pod kits, starter kits | Sub-ohm kits |
| Draw style | Mouth-to-lung (MTL) | Direct-to-lung (DTL) |
| Bottle size | 10ml | 50ml and 100ml |
Menthol nic salts pair with pod kits for a tight mouth-to-lung draw that mirrors a menthol cigarette. Menthol shortfill e-liquid suits sub-ohm kits, where higher power and wider airflow turn the cooling exhale into bigger clouds. Former smokers usually start with a 10mg or 20mg menthol nic salt in a pod kit, then explore shortfills once they want more vapour.
What are the best menthol vape flavours to try?
The best menthol vape flavours depend on the base you enjoy, from clean menthol to fruit ice and tobacco menthol. Pure menthol delivers the sharpest cold, watermelon ice balances sweet fruit with a crisp finish, and mint tobacco recreates the classic menthol cigarette. Berry menthol and Heisenberg-style blends add depth for experienced vapers who want layered notes.
Royal Vapery stocks menthol e-liquid across nic salt and shortfill ranges, so the same cooling profile is available in a 10mg pod format or a 0mg shortfill for sub-ohm use. Start with a clean menthol or a fruit ice to gauge your preferred cooling level, then move toward complex blends.
Frequently asked questions
Menthol e-liquid is a vape juice that delivers a cool, minty exhale using menthol or mint compounds. Menthol e-liquid comes in pure menthol, fruit ice, tobacco menthol and dessert blends, across 10mg and 20mg nic salt and 0mg shortfill formats. Each format suits a different device and draw style.
Menthol vape juice tastes crisp and cooling, with a clean minty note on the exhale. Pure menthol vape juice delivers a sharp cold hit, while mint blends add a sweeter, herbal edge. Fruit menthol layers berry or citrus notes over the cooling finish, which softens the intensity.
No, menthol vape juice is not the same as mint. Menthol delivers a sharp cooling sensation with little added flavour, while mint adds a sweeter, herbal taste from spearmint or peppermint. Many menthol blends combine both, pairing the cooling menthol hit with a softer mint note.
Menthol e-liquid is labelled "ice" because the word signals the cooling menthol added to a flavour. A flavour named watermelon ice or blueberry ice combines the fruit base with a cold menthol exhale. The ice label helps shoppers identify menthol blends among non-menthol fruit e-liquids.
Yes, menthol e-liquids come in nic salt formats at 5mg, 10mg and 20mg strengths. Menthol nic salts use a 50/50 VG/PG blend for a smooth mouth-to-lung draw in pod kits. Nic salts deliver nicotine gently, which pairs well with the naturally sharp menthol sensation.
Yes, you can buy nicotine-free menthol vape juice as a 0mg shortfill. Nicotine-free menthol shortfills come in 50ml and 100ml bottles with a 70/30 VG/PG blend for sub-ohm kits. A 0mg option gives the cooling menthol flavour without any nicotine.
The strongest menthol vape juice in the UK is a 20mg nic salt. UK law caps nicotine e-liquid at 20mg/ml under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, so 20mg menthol nic salt is the maximum legal strength. A 20mg menthol delivers the firmest throat sensation.
Yes, menthol vapes are legal in the UK. The 2020 ban applied to menthol cigarettes, not menthol e-liquid, so menthol vape flavours remain fully legal. Single-use disposable vapes were banned from 1 June 2025, so menthol vapers now use refillable and prefilled pod kits instead.
Menthol cigarettes were banned in the UK on 20 May 2020 under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. The ban removed characterising flavours from cigarettes and rolling tobacco. Many menthol smokers switched to menthol e-liquid, which keeps the cooling sensation in a format that is less harmful than smoking.
The nicotine strength that suits menthol nic salts depends on your previous smoking level. A 20mg menthol nic salt suits heavier former smokers of 15 or more a day, while 10mg suits lighter and moderate smokers. A 5mg menthol nic salt gives a milder nicotine draw.
A pod kit works best with menthol nic salts. Menthol nic salts use a 50/50 blend designed for low-power pod kits and starter kits with a mouth-to-lung draw. Higher-resistance coils in pod kits deliver the smooth nicotine and crisp menthol that former smokers expect.
Yes, menthol shortfills work in a sub-ohm kit. Menthol shortfills use a 70/30 high-VG blend built for the higher power and larger airflow of sub-ohm kits. A sub-ohm kit produces bigger clouds and amplifies the cooling menthol exhale on a direct-to-lung draw.
Yes, menthol vape flavours suit all-day vaping for many vapers. The clean cooling finish resists flavour fatigue better than sweeter profiles, which makes menthol a common all-day choice. Pure menthol and light mint blends stay crisp across repeated use without becoming heavy on the palate.
You can buy menthol vape flavours in the UK from Royal Vapery, an online vape shop based in Preston, Lancashire. Royal Vapery stocks menthol e-liquid in nic salt and shortfill formats with free UK delivery over £49.99 and dispatch on orders placed before 12pm.
Menthol e-liquids containing nicotine are sold to adults aged 18 and over only. All nicotine e-liquids stocked by Royal Vapery meet UK Tobacco and Related Products Regulations limits of 20mg/ml maximum nicotine strength and 10ml maximum bottle size, with age verification applied at checkout.
