What is the Difference Between Shortfill, Longfill and Flavor Concentrate?

With growing regulatory pressure on disposable vapes across Europe, the e-liquid market is gradually recovering. In 2024, the market sizes for bottled e-liquids in France, Germany, and Italy reached USD 757 million, USD 443 million, and USD 398 million, respectively, reflecting steady demand and growing consumer interest in refillable devices.

Meanwhile, driven by escalating tax policies across European countries, demand is rising for more flexible DIY-type products such as Shortfill, Longfill, and flavor concentrates. These DIY formats are becoming increasingly mainstream due to their cost advantages, regulatory adaptability, and large-volume characteristics. Unlike 10ml pre-mixed e-liquids, they typically require users to add base liquid or nicotine themselves, but in return offer greater flexibility and cost-efficiency.

What is Shortfill E-Liquid?

Shortfill e-liquids are nicotine-free flavored liquids that come in partially filled bottles, with enough space left for users to add a 10ml nicotine shot. Shortfills differ from longfills in that users only need to add nicotine, without the need for extra PG or VG.

• Typical Format: 60ml bottle filled with 50ml e-liquid

• User Adds: Nic Shot or Nic Salt Shot

• Advantages: Large capacity; Cost-effectiveness

What is Longfill E-Liquid?

Longfill e-liquids contain a small volume of concentrated flavoring in a large bottle, giving users complete freedom to mix in base ingredients.

• Typical Format: 120ml bottle with 5–20ml flavor concentrate

• User Adds: VG, PG, Nic Shot or Nic Salt Shot

• Advantages: Cost-effectiveness; Full mixing flexibility; No need for separate containers

What is Bar Salts Longfill?

Within the Longfill product system, Bar Salts Longfill has rapidly emerged as a popular subcategory in recent years. Unlike traditional Longfills, which are primarily designed for sub-ohm devices, Bar Salts Longfill is tailored specifically for open pod systems, offering a high-strength nicotine salt experience similar to that of disposable vapes.

These products typically contain 10ml of concentrated flavoring in a 60ml bottle, leaving enough space for users to directly add 5 Nicotine Salt Shots, with no need to mix in additional VG or PG. Once mixed, the result is a ready-to-use 50VG/50PG e-liquid with up to 16mg/ml of nicotine salt strength. No steeping is required, and the liquid can be immediately filled into a device, significantly simplifying the DIY process.

• Typical Format: 10-20ml flavoring in a 60ml bottle

• User Adds: 5 x Nic Salt Shots

• Advantages: Designed for open pod systems; Simulates the flavor of disposable vapes; Delivers high nicotine strength (up to 16mg)

What is Aroma Shot？

Aroma Shot is a localized term commonly used in Italy to refer to longfill-style e-liquids. These products typically contain 20ml of concentrated flavoring in a 60ml bottle, leaving space for users to add VG and nicotine shots. The concept is essentially the same as longfill, but tailored to regional preferences in terminology and flavor volume.

• Typical Format: 10-20ml flavoring in a 120ml bottle

• User Adds: VG and Nicotine Shot

• Advantages: Cost-effectiveness; Full mixing flexibility; No need for separate containers

What is Flavor Concentrate?

Flavor concentrates are highly concentrated PG-based flavorings. Users need to add PG, VG, nicotine, or other flavorings to complete the DIY e-liquid process. Although they are popular among advanced vapers, they are not difficult for beginners. Formulas range from simple to complex and offer the highest level of customization and creative enjoyment.

• Typical Format: 10ml / 20ml

• User Adds: VG, PG, Nic Shot, and a separate mixing bottle

• Advantages: Maximum flexibility; Lowest unit cost; Not taxed in many markets

Where is Shortfill Popular?

Shortfill products were originally introduced as a compromise between regulatory constraints and consumer demand. Under the EU TPD, nicotine-containing e-liquids are limited to 10ml bottles. However, many users, especially sub-ohm vapers, prefer larger volumes. To meet both requirements, manufacturers created a format with 50ml of nicotine-free liquid in a 60ml bottle, allowing users to add a 10ml Nic Shot. This approach offers compliance, flexibility, and value.

This format is especially popular in France and the UK, where vape shop staff often assist with mixing. Users appreciate the format’s affordability, convenience, and legal compliance, making it a mainstream solution for daily vaping.

Average cost after mixing 
€0.3–€0.4/ml (10ml freebase e-liquid is approximately €0.55/ml in France)

Popular shortfill Products in France

Clone – Swoke
Flavor composition: Cactus and wild berries

➤ A cosmic blend of juicy cactus and wild berries, inspired by distant galactic origins. Bursting with fruity freshness, Clone delivers a vibrant, out-of-this-world flavor that transports your taste buds at light speed. Crafted in France, this 50ml shortfill comes in a 75ml bottle with a balanced 50/50 PG/VG base, perfect for customization with nicotine boosters.

Bloody Summer – Fruizee (King Size)

Flavor composition: Red fruit candy, white grapes, and blackcurrant

➤ A bold and juicy blend of sweet red fruit candy mixed with crisp white grapes and a touch of tart blackcurrant. Intensely fruity and dangerously addictive, Bloody Summer delivers a refreshing vape that keeps you coming back for more.

Lemon Tart – Dinner Lady

Flavor composition: emon curd, meringue, and buttery pastry

➤ A legendary dessert blend combining tangy lemon curd with sweet, airy meringue atop a buttery tart crust. Lemon Tart helped establish Dinner Lady as a household name in the UK vaping scene, delivering a rich and zesty vape that has become a benchmark in the pastry category. Made in the UK, this 50ml shortfill features a 30/70 PG/VG base for dense vapor and full flavor.

Cassis Exquis – Pulp

Flavor composition: Blackcurrant with fresh notes
➤ Juicy blackcurrant with a refined, slightly tart profile. Popular for its authentic fruitiness and smooth finish.

La Chose – Le French Liquide

Flavor composition: Salted caramel butter, hazelnut, coffee, vanilla, and pecan

➤ A rich and comforting all-day blend that begins with smooth salted caramel butter and roasted hazelnuts, followed by a mellow coffee note, and finished with sweet vanilla and toasted pecans. Crafted in France, La Chose is a beloved gourmet e-liquid for those who enjoy layered, dessert-inspired profiles.

Where is Longfill Popular?

Longfill products are particularly dominant in Germany, Spain, and Italy, where the e-liquid tax applies to the full volume of liquid, including nicotine-free base. To reduce the taxable portion, manufacturers offer 120ml bottles containing only 5ml to 20ml of flavor concentrate. Users then add their own VG/PG and nicotine shot. VG and PG are widely available and can be purchased cheaply and easily on platforms like Amazon and eBay.

This setup significantly reduces cost while allowing full control over PG/VG ratios and nicotine strength. With well-established mixing ratios and support from vape retailers, Longfill has become the mainstream format in Germany, accounting for over 70% of total e-liquid sales.

Average cost after mixing
€0.3/ml - €0.4/ml (10ml freebase e-liquid is approximately €0.75/ml in Germany)

Popular Longfill Products in Germany

White King – Dampflion
Flavor composition: White peach and lychee (10ml Concentrate in a 120ml Bottle)

➤ A smooth and elegant blend featuring juicy white peach at the forefront, balanced by the floral sweetness of lychee. Popular among fans of light and exotic fruit flavors in Germany.

Berry Mix Ice – OWL Salt
Flavor composition: Mixed berries and cooling (10ml Concentrate in a 60ml Bottle)

➤ A vibrant fusion of ripe berries finished with a cool icy breeze. Delivers a balanced sweet-tart profile with a refreshing exhale. A staple in Germany’s iced fruit category.

Apple Mint – EVERGREEN
Flavor composition: Green apple and mint (10ml Concentrate in a 120ml Bottle)

➤ A crisp and invigorating blend of tart green apple and refreshing mint. The juicy fruit notes pair seamlessly with a cool finish, making it a popular all-day vape in the German market.

Neutrino – Antimatter
Flavor composition: Blackcurrant and honey (10ml Concentrate in a 120ml Bottle)

➤ A bold combination of tangy blackcurrant softened by smooth honey notes. This unique contrast of sweet and sharp makes Neutrino a standout among German longfill flavors.

Where is Flavor Concentrate Popular?

Flavor concentrates are not limited to vaping applications, which means they are unaffected by vaping-specific regulations in most markets. This regulatory flexibility makes them an ideal solution for users in strictly controlled environments.

These concentrates are typically sold in small bottles ranging from 5ml to 30ml and consist of one or more blended flavorings dissolved in a PG base. Users have full control over the final mix, including the PG/VG ratio, flavor complexity, and nicotine strength. This level of customization adds both enjoyment and a degree of challenge to the DIY process. Fortunately, recipe-sharing among vapers is common and widely accessible.

Flavor concentrates are especially popular in Italy and neighboring countries. Most consumers prefer pre-formulated flavors and do not mix additional concentrates, making the process relatively simple. Compared to Longfill, the only extra step is adding a larger bottle to complete the mix.. DIY mixing is far less complicated than it may seem, and the savings in cost often outweigh the minor effort required. Many vape shops also offer mixing services and easy-to-follow guides, further lowering the barrier to entry.

Average cost after mixing
€0.2/ml - €0.3/ml (10ml freebase e-liquid is approximately €0.65/ml in Italy)

Popular Flavor Concentrates in Italy

Mexico DIY liquid – Dea Flavor
Flavor composition: Latakia and Virginia tobacco with a drop of milk

➤ A rich and intense blend where the robust smokiness of Latakia meets the smooth, mellow Virginia tobacco, softened by a creamy milk note. This velvety, well-rounded concentrate is beloved by DIY mixers aiming for a classic tobacco profile

RY4 flavor Concentrate – Hangsen
Flavor composition: Tobacco, caramel, and vanilla

➤ A classic and rich tobacco blend where the smooth depth of tobacco meets luscious caramel and creamy vanilla. Celebrated in the DIY community, it delivers a balanced, all‑day flavor with both warmth and sweetness. Hangsen’s RY4 is a foundational concentrate praised for staying true to the original RY4 profile and widely used in hundreds of custom recipes

Virginia Aroma Concentrate – FlavourArt
Flavor composition: Delicate blond tobacco

➤ A delicate, all-day tobacco flavor that balances subtle sweetness with classic blond tobacco notes. This timeless blend is revered among tobacco enthusiasts for its smooth, refined profile.

Red Astaire flavor Concentrate – T-Juice

Flavor composition: Black grape, red berries, anise, eucalyptus, and menthol

➤ A bold and complex blend where juicy black grape meets a medley of red fruits, uplifted by herbal anise, cooling eucalyptus, and a menthol finish. Widely recognized as one of the most iconic all-day vapes in Europe.

Ficurinia N.47 Aroma Concentrate – Dreamods
Flavor composition: Cactus pear (Opuntia), papaya, and lime

➤ A vibrant and refreshing tropical blend featuring the exotic sweetness of cactus pear and papaya, brightened by a zesty lime finish. This fruity concentrate is renowned for its lively, fresh profile and is part of Dreamods’ “Originals” historic line.

Booms Classic Aroma Concentrate– TNT Vape

Flavor composition: Cactus pear (Opuntia), papaya, and lime

➤ A refined blend inspired by the bold character of Tuscan cigars, softened with a smooth vanilla undertone. A staple in the Italian tobacco flavor scene, Booms Classic delivers a rich, aromatic vape with a luxurious finish.

Hangsen’s Solution for the DIY E-liquids

Hangsen offers a complete OEM/ODM solution tailored to the growing Light DIY market in Europe. This includes multiple product formats and bottle sizes to match regional usage patterns.

➤ Regulatory Compliance and Testing Support

All products are TPD-compliant and adapted to country-specific regulations. Hangsen provides free in-house lab testing reports, including SDS/MSDS, GLP lab reports, GC-MS flavor safety testing, and more.

➤ Supply Chain Stability

Backed by a stable, large-scale manufacturing system, Hangsen guarantees consistent quality and fast lead times.

We provide full flexibility in both bottle sizes (10ml, 30ml, 60ml, 120ml) and product formats, including shortfill, longfill, and concentrates.

Our system supports a wide and adaptable range of SKU combinations, helping partners respond quickly to market needs.

➤ Flavor development services

Hangsen owns one of the industry’s largest flavor libraries, with over 260,000 proprietary recipes.
Our portfolio covers a full spectrum of global preferences and regional trends.
Whether you are an emerging brand or an established vape company, we provide the same high-quality custom flavor development service free of charge for all OEM partners.

➤ Localized Branding & Marketing Support

For new brands and startups, Hangsen offers free design support for packaging, logos, POS materials, and displays.

Our creative service team helps clients accelerate product launches with a professional, market-ready image.

➤ Device Compatibility Optimization

Formulations are optimized for both sub-ohm and open pod systems.

We ensure flavors meet the performance demands of today’s refillable hardware used by next-gen consumers.

Whether you're launching longfill products in Germany, offering flavor concentrates in Italy, or promoting shortfills in France, Hangsen transforms regulatory complexity into a competitive advantage, helping brands scale with compliant, customizable, and proven solutions.