Why Does My Vape Taste Burnt?

Why Does My Vape Taste Burnt?

A burnt-tasting vape is one of the most common and frustrating problems users face. That harsh, dry, charred flavour hits the back of your throat and ruins what should be a smooth, satisfying experience. If your vape tastes burnt, it usually means something inside the device isn’t working properly—often the coil or the wick. Understanding what causes that burnt taste can help you fix it quickly or avoid it altogether.

What Causes a Burnt Taste?

The most common cause of a burnt vape is a dry wick. Inside your coil is a piece of cotton or similar material designed to soak up e-liquid. When the coil heats up, it vaporises the liquid from the wick. If there’s not enough liquid in the wick—because the tank is empty, the coil is worn out, or the vape was fired too soon—the cotton burns instead of vaporising e-liquid, and that’s what creates the burnt flavour.

Another cause is chain vaping—taking puff after puff without giving the wick time to re-soak. This dries it out faster than it can replenish, especially on devices that produce large clouds or use high-powered coils. Once the wick burns, the taste usually doesn’t go away, even if you refill the tank. At that point, the coil typically needs to be replaced.

Poor Priming and New Coils

When installing a new coil, you need to prime it—this means letting e-liquid fully saturate the wick before using the device. If you skip this step or only give it a few minutes, the first draw may burn the cotton. This mistake is common with new users or when switching flavours quickly. It’s easy to assume the wick is wet when it’s not.

The proper approach is to drip a few drops of e-liquid directly onto the exposed cotton and then fill the tank, allowing it to sit for five to ten minutes before vaping. Starting with a few short, low-power puffs can also help ease the coil in without shocking it with too much heat.

Using the Wrong Wattage

Every coil has a recommended wattage range. Running your vape at a wattage too high for the coil can cause overheating, burning the wick even if it’s fully soaked. This is particularly common in adjustable devices where the power level isn’t automatically set. Always check the coil or product packaging for the ideal wattage and adjust your device accordingly.

On the flip side, using wattage too low may not burn the coil but can cause weak, unsatisfying vapour—and in some cases, it can still result in uneven heating that damages the wick over time.

Thick E-Liquids and Wick Saturation

Some e-liquids are thicker than others, especially those with a high VG (vegetable glycerine) content. These liquids can struggle to soak into smaller wicks, especially in basic pod systems or older coils. If your e-liquid is too thick, the wick may not saturate quickly enough, leading to dry hits and that burnt taste.

If you're using a high-VG e-liquid, make sure your coil is rated for it. Sub-ohm tanks and advanced vape kits handle thick liquids better than standard mouth-to-lung devices. Switching to a thinner, 50/50 e-liquid might solve the problem without needing to replace your hardware.

Coil Lifespan and Maintenance

Even when used correctly, coils don’t last forever. Depending on how often you vape, your coil may only last a few days to a couple of weeks. If you notice the flavour starting to fade, or if it becomes muted and then suddenly tastes burnt, that’s a sign your coil has reached the end of its lifespan. At that point, no amount of cleaning or refilling will save it—it needs replacing.

Using sweet or dark-coloured e-liquids can also shorten coil life, as these tend to caramelise faster and leave residue on the coil. Keeping your tank clean and using lighter e-liquids can help extend the life of each coil.

Temperature Control and Smart Devices

Some advanced vape kits come with temperature control (TC) features that help prevent burnt hits. These devices allow you to set a maximum temperature for your coil. If the device senses the coil is getting too hot—typically because the wick is drying out—it will reduce or stop power to avoid burning. If you’re using a vape with adjustable settings, enabling temperature control (with a compatible coil) can be an effective safeguard.

That said, not all coils work with TC mode, so you’ll need to check compatibility before relying on this feature.

Burnt Taste from Residue Buildup

Even if your coil isn’t completely burnt, a gradual build-up of residue can create a similar effect. Over time, e-liquid sweeteners and flavourings leave behind gunk on the coil surface. This buildup caramelises when heated repeatedly, creating a bitter, burnt-like flavour that worsens with use. This can especially affect users of dessert or candy-style e-liquids, which are typically high in sweeteners.

Regular cleaning can help delay this, but eventually the coil will need replacing. If you notice your vape tastes harsh even though the wick is wet and new, it might be the start of coil gunk.

How to Fix a Mild Burnt Hit

If your vape just started tasting slightly burnt and the coil is fairly new, it might not be completely ruined. Try stopping use immediately and letting the coil soak for a while. Take a few dry pulls (inhaling without firing the device) to draw more e-liquid into the wick. Reduce your wattage and start again slowly with short puffs. In some cases, this can restore flavour and extend the life of the coil for a few more days.

However, if the burnt taste is strong or appears instantly, the wick has likely scorched and the coil will need replacing.

Signs It’s Time to Change Your Coil

A burnt taste is usually the most obvious indicator, but there are subtler warning signs too. If vapour production suddenly drops, the flavour becomes muted, or you feel a tightness in your throat that wasn’t there before, your coil might be close to burning out. These symptoms are often overlooked until the burnt hit hits—literally. Replacing the coil at the first sign of trouble is better than risking damage to your device or enduring that harsh taste.

What About Burnt Pods?

If you're using a pod system instead of a tank-and-coil setup, the principles are similar. Many pod systems are sealed and use built-in coils, so once they taste burnt, there’s nothing to repair. You’ll need to replace the entire pod. However, the same causes apply: chain vaping, thick e-liquid, overuse, or failing to prime a new pod can all lead to a burnt taste in pod devices too.

Final Word

A burnt vape taste is a sign that your coil or wick is struggling—either from dryness, overuse, or incorrect settings. Understanding how to prime coils, choose the right e-liquid, and avoid chain vaping can help you prevent that unpleasant hit. When in doubt, replacing your coil is the quickest fix. With a little care and maintenance, you can keep your vape smooth, flavourful, and free of burnt hits.