In both the vaping and smoking communities, few flavors spark as much debate as menthol. Some people love its cool, crisp, refreshing flavor profile, while for others, it's simply not their cup of tea. If you aren’t a fan of menthol, then a nicotine-free menthol vape is likely not for you.
Since you're reading this, we assume you fall into the former category — which means you're looking for help choosing which of the many non-nicotine menthol vapes on the market most effectively delivers a menthol flavor without being completely overwhelming.
We've got you covered. Below is our list of the top five nicotine-free menthol vapes worth your time. Let's dive in.
At a glance:
Best Nicotine-Free Menthol Vape Alternative
MELO + HELO
Our MELO and HELO melatonin and caffeine diffusers don’t come in a strictly menthol flavor per se. However, they come in flavors — like Strawberry Ice, Banana Ice, and Blue Cloud — that closely mimic the icy menthol feeling you may be looking for.
A bonus of both MELO and HELO devices is that they contain other functional ingredients — caffeine in the case of HELO and melatonin in the case of MELO. So, when you use our vapes, you will derive added benefits that you don’t get with strictly menthol devices from other brands.
Both of our formulations come in diffusers of two capacities: Air, which is good for around 400 puffs, and Plus, which should last for around 800 puffs.
For the complete roundup of no-nicotine vape options available from MELO and HELO, check out our nicotine-free vape collection here.
Best Nicotine-Free Menthol Vapes
Cyclone
You might remember Cyclone from our articles on the best nicotine-free vape and the top no-nicotine vape to quit smoking, but to briefly recap here; Cyclone was once known mainly for its two pod systems — Thunder and Surge.
While the brand is still known for these two popular options, the company’s disposable vape, the Gust — which packs in enough vape juice to deliver 5,000 puffs — is quickly gaining popularity.
The company describes the flavor of its non-nicotine menthol vape as resembling peppermint, which is a pretty good description based on the reviews and feedback we’ve seen from users.
Ezee
Ezee is a favorite menthol vape with no nicotine among people looking for a solid alternative to traditional cigarettes. It offers vapes in a variety of nicotine strengths, including a zero-nicotine option.
The team at Ezee produces disposable vape pens and pod-based systems, both of which offer flavors that would likely appeal to those coming over to vapes from the tobacco world — primarily tobacco and menthol.
Your best bet to get a good idea of what Ezee offers is the company’s Puff menthol disposable, which is filled with a modest 1 mL of vape juice that should last for around 300 puffs.
ELFBAR
The ELFBAR no-nicotine menthol vape delivers one of our list's more robust menthol options. ELFBAR is known for producing some of the most potent throat hits available in the nicotine-free vape market.
We are fans of the ELFBAR 1500 Menthol, which, as you might expect, is a menthol vape pen with no nicotine that should deliver around 1,500 puffs (hence the number in its name).
The strong throat hit ELFBAR is known for comes from an advanced mesh coil famous for its more efficient flavor delivery.
Vapeurs Crystal Menthol
Vapeurs Crystal Menthol is a zero-nicotine menthol vape that does an excellent job straddling the overpowering menthol sensation of some vapes and the “barely-there” sensation of some others.
This middle-of-the-road formulation makes it a good option for anyone looking for a background menthol flavor rather than one completely dominating the party.
Each Vapeurs disposable holds 2 mL of vape juice, lasting around 550 to 600 puffs.
FAQ
What Are The Best Nicotine-Free Menthol Vapes?
Determining the best 0 nic menthol vape is a personal decision based on your taste preferences. There's no universal best menthol vape, though we are partial to our MELO and HELO options mentioned above.
However, while we can't crown a “best” nicotine-free menthol vape, we can give you a good list of criteria to use when evaluating vapes on your own so you can choose the best one for you.
Flavor: Flavor is a highly subjective category. What may be a refreshing, cool blast of menthol for one person might be an overpowering and unpleasant arctic blast for someone else.
So, you'll likely have to sample a few different vapes to find the menthol intensity you're after.
This variability is also one reason we recommend MELO and HELO devices; neither delivers a straight menthol flavor.
Instead, it’s tempered with other fruity flavors to produce a nice middle-ground menthol effect. That being said, sample a few varieties until you find the sweet spot for you.
Quality of ingredients: Quality is a huge consideration. Look for upfront brands that are transparent about what they put in their vape juices.
Almost every nicotine-free vape juice — including those with menthol flavor — uses propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin as its base, as both have been deemed safe for consumption.
Beyond that, you have food-grade flavorings and active ingredients to consider. Again, the manufacturer should be upfront about these flavorings and additives rather than hiding behind the mysterious “proprietary blend” cop-out.
Brand reputation. Reputation is an important consideration when you're choosing any nicotine-free vape, not just nicotine-free menthol vapes. Sticking with brands with long histories of satisfied customers is always a good idea.
And if they have many third-party reviews, that's even better. While we're not against introducing new brands, it's always safer to stick with brands that people already know and trust unless you want to be the guinea pig who tries a new formulation first.
PG/VG ratio. This ratio is always a reasonably important consideration when evaluating vape juices, but it is crucial when assessing menthol vapes.
When a vape juice’s ratio of propylene glycol (PG) to vegetable glycerin (VG) is weighted more toward PG, you can expect a stronger throat hit and a more intense flavor.
This ratio determines the intensity of your throat hit when using a vape and the billowiness of the vapor cloud you produce.
If the mixture tends to be higher in VG, you should expect a smoother and more mellow throat hit but a more intense vapor cloud. Since most people who like menthol enjoy a more icy kick, you will want to seek out vape juices with more propylene glycol in their formulations.
Where Can You Buy Nicotine-Free Menthol Vapes?
There are four main ways that you can purchase nicotine-free menthol vapes, and each comes with its own unique set of pros and cons:
Direct from the manufacturer: We always recommend buying directly from the manufacturer as your best choice for purchasing any kind of no-nicotine vape. There are a few reasons for this.
First, you can take advantage of bulk discounts and loyalty programs, which can save you a lot of money compared to regular retail outlets.
Buying directly from the manufacturer can also give you access to unique flavors only released directly to consumers, which can be a nice bonus. Overall, the recommendation is to go directly to the source to get the best deals — once you find a brand and flavor you like.
Via online superstores: Your next online option will be online superstores. Several online retailers are offering a number of different non-nicotine vapes.
Buying from these venues is an excellent way to try a few varieties without making a big financial commitment to one brand or flavor you may not like.
Many online superstores will offer loyalty programs or bulk discounts when you buy multiple units — just like manufacturers — So keep your eyes peeled.
From smoke shops: Next, let's turn our attention to options in your neighborhood. Your local smoke shop or vape store will be a great place to find options of all kinds, not just menthol vapes.
If you have a local store near you, it can be worth stopping in, even if you don't intend to buy anything, to talk to the staff and get some recommendations.
The employees of these stores will often have first-hand experience with several different varieties and flavors or will have spoken to customers and gotten feedback, which can help them recommend options based on your personal preferences.
In gas stations and convenience stores: Finally, there are your local convenience stores or gas stations. These should be treated as a last resort because you're rarely going to find a good selection, and you’ll almost always pay a higher price than elsewhere.
If they’re your only option, they’ll have to do in a pinch. But expect to sacrifice selection and also pay a premium for the convenience of getting your diffuser right away, at any hour of the day or night.
Can Nicotine-Free Menthol Vapes Help You Quit Smoking?
Depending on the types of vapes you’re talking about, the short answer to this question is maybe.
The longer answer is it's complicated.
First, nicotine-free vapes of any kind aren't recognized as smoking cessation devices. That distinction is mainly reserved for nicotine replacement therapies like patches, lozenges, or gum.
But that doesn't mean that these vapes aren't helpful for a lot of people. In fact, the truth is quite the opposite.
Let's look at the various ways nicotine-free vapes can help if you are considering using them as a way to help you quit smoking:
Hand-to-mouth habit / oral fixation replacement: As anyone who has ever been addicted to smoking will tell you, nicotine is only part of what makes quitting so hard. It's a big part, but it's not the only part.
Smoking involves a deeply ingrained habit — sometimes referred to as an oral fixation — which involves a repeated hand-to-mouth action coupled with deep inhaling and exhaling (also known as “changing your breathing patterns”).
Non-nicotine vapes can work to replicate the motions of that habit, which can make quitting more manageable, especially when you combine it with some of the nicotine replacement therapies mentioned above, like patches, gum, or lozenges.
Stress management: A lot of people will tell you that they smoke to help them deal with stress, which is ironic because nicotine is actually a stimulant. But that's a discussion for another day.
The stress relief that most people find in smoking centers around the hand-to-mouth habit described above, along with what essentially amounts to a breathing exercise.
If you look into any of the mindfulness practices that are becoming popular for stress relief, you'll often see a breathing pattern described that's very similar to what you do when you smoke. If you replace that breathing pattern with something that doesn't deliver nicotine, it should help you capture some of that stress-relief magic.
A gradual, step-down transition away from smoking: Some people who are trying to quit smoking will turn to nicotine vapes first as a way to start the process of quitting because even vapes with nicotine don't contain nearly the same level of dangerous chemicals that you find in cigarette smoke.
From there, you'll often find people gradually step down the level of nicotine in their vape juice until they finally reach nicotine-free vapes. In theory, this lets you slowly wean yourself off of nicotine.
Of course, it does nothing for the oral fixation component, but some people find it's easier to quit if they tackle one piece of the puzzle at a time. Nicotine-free vaping lets you take that approach.
What Are The Potential Side Effects Of Using Nicotine-Free Menthol Vapes?
Menthol doesn't introduce any side effects unique to this type of vape, so the side effects you may experience are generally the same side effects you’d experience with any non-nicotine vape, whether or not it contains menthol.
These include symptoms like mouth or throat irritation, irritation to your airways (which might cause excessive coughing), and headaches, nausea, or dizziness, which are generally going to be more of a problem for someone new to vaping or for people who overdo it.
For more on potential side effects, check out our article, Is 0 nicotine vape safe?
Does the Perfect Menthol Vape Exist?
The perfect menthol vape is a highly personal choice. We've given you various options above that run the gamut from subtle menthol undertones to in-your-face icy menthol blasts. So, you should be able to find an option that is right for you.
We suggest sampling our icy MELO and HELO formulations. You might love the subtle menthol-inspired kick they provide and benefit from the melatonin or caffeine they deliver. Give them a try, and let us know what you think!
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