Rainbow Nexus 100ml Shortfill

Overview

The Rainbow Nexus 100ml Shortfill by Nexus in Rainbow at 0mg. Free UK delivery over £20, same-day dispatch on weekday orders before 4pm.

Nexus 100ml Shortfill Rainbow: overview and what you are buying

Nexus 100ml Shortfill Rainbow is a fruit-candy e-liquid supplied in a 120ml bottle that holds 100ml of nicotine-free liquid, with deliberate empty space left at the top so you can add nicotine shots if you want to. It is aimed at adult vapers who run refillable tanks or refillable pod systems and who would rather buy one large bottle than keep reordering 10ml refills every few days. In the UK, shortfills are the standard way to buy e-liquid in bulk, because bottles of nicotine-containing e-liquid cannot legally be sold in sizes above 10ml. By selling the liquid at 0mg and letting you add nicotine yourself, the 100ml format sidesteps that limit in a perfectly lawful way.

The idea behind the Rainbow flavour is easy to grasp: a mixed-fruit sweet profile in the spirit of a bag of brightly coloured chewy sweets, with several fruit notes layered together rather than one fruit dominating. If you have tried candy-style liquids before, you will have a rough idea of the territory. We go through the flavour in detail in its own section further down this page, so you can decide whether it suits your taste before you buy.

Here are the key facts at a glance.

• Product: Nexus 100ml Shortfill, Rainbow flavour
• Type: shortfill e-liquid, supplied at 0mg nicotine
• Liquid volume: 100ml of liquid in a 120ml bottle, with room for up to two 10ml nicotine shots
• Typical blend: a high-VG mix of the kind used across the shortfill category, so always check the VG/PG split printed on the label of your bottle
• Best suited to: sub-ohm tanks and higher-wattage refillable pod devices
• Age restriction: 18 or over only, in line with UK law

It is worth saying plainly what this product is not. It is not a disposable, it contains no battery and it does not work on its own. You need a refillable device to use it, and if you want nicotine you need to buy separate nicotine shots and mix them in. For people who already own a suitable kit, that is a small amount of extra effort in exchange for a much lower cost per millilitre than small bottles. The rest of this page covers how the liquid behaves, which devices suit it, how to choose a strength, and where it sits against other 100ml options.

How a 100ml shortfill works and why the bottle has empty space

A shortfill is simply a larger bottle that is deliberately not filled to the top. Here, the 120ml bottle contains 100ml of e-liquid, which leaves exactly enough room for two standard 10ml nicotine shots. The liquid inside contains no nicotine, which is why it can be sold in a large format. Once you add shots, you are mixing your own nicotine e-liquid at home, and the strength you end up with depends on the shots you choose and how many you add.

Nicotine shots are sold separately in 10ml bottles. They are usually a thin, high-PG liquid with a set nicotine strength, most often 18mg/ml or 20mg/ml in the UK. Because a shot is a nicotine base rather than a flavoured liquid, adding it slightly dilutes the flavour, which is a normal and expected effect of shortfills. The maths is straightforward.

• No shots: 100ml at 0mg, for vapers who do not want nicotine
• One 18mg shot: 110ml at roughly 1.6mg/ml
• One 20mg shot: 110ml at roughly 1.8mg/ml
• Two 18mg shots: 120ml at 3mg/ml
• Two 20mg shots: 120ml at roughly 3.3mg/ml

Those figures are why 3mg/ml is such a common strength in the shortfill world: two 18mg shots in a 120ml bottle land on exactly that number, and the bottle is designed around that arithmetic. If you want a lower strength, use a single shot and leave the bottle at 110ml, or add shots in a separate, larger container.

There is also a legal dimension. Under UK rules, e-liquid containing nicotine is capped at 20mg/ml, and refillable tanks are limited to 2ml in size. The same 20mg/ml ceiling applies to disposable vapes and pod products, which is why you will see 20mg as the headline strength on so many UK products. Your finished shortfill mix will always be far below that ceiling, typically between 0mg and 3.3mg/ml, because the shots are being spread through 100ml of nicotine-free liquid. You do not need any special licence or equipment to mix a shortfill, only a clean workspace, the bottle, and the shots.

Rainbow flavour profile: what to expect on the inhale and exhale

Rainbow sits in the fruit-candy family. The core idea is a blend of sweet, slightly tart fruit flavours that echo coloured chewy sweets, rather than a realistic single fruit like strawberry or mango. That distinction matters, because candy profiles are built to taste fun and layered instead of accurate. Expect something closer to a fruit chew than a fruit salad.

Broadly, you can expect the following from a liquid in this style.

• Inhale: a bright, sweet, mixed-fruit hit with a mild sharpness behind it, similar to the sour edge on a fruit chew. Citrus-leaning notes often provide that lift.
• Middle: the sweetness spreads out across the palate. In candy profiles this is where berry and tropical-style notes tend to sit, with a rounded sugary body from the sweetener in the flavouring.
• Exhale: a lingering fruity sweetness with a clean finish. There is no menthol or cooling agent that we would describe as a defining feature, so the vapour should feel warm to neutral rather than icy.

Because the flavour is built around sweetness, it benefits from a bit of airflow. A tightly restricted draw can make candy flavours feel sticky or syrupy, while a more open draw lets the sharper fruit notes come through alongside the sugar. If you find a bottle too sweet after a few days, opening the airflow slightly or dropping the wattage a notch is usually enough to rebalance it.

It is worth being honest about subjectivity. Everyone perceives candy flavours differently, and there is no single correct answer to what a rainbow sweet tastes like. If you generally enjoy fruit-chew or mixed-fruit profiles, this is likely to land well. If you prefer clean, single-fruit flavours, or drinks and desserts, there are other ranges that will suit you better, and you should not feel obliged to start here. A good approach is to look at the other Nexus flavours in the same range and compare descriptions before you commit to 100ml of anything.

One practical note on sweetness: heavily sweetened liquids can leave residue on coils sooner than lightly sweetened ones. We cover how to manage that in the troubleshooting section below.

Performance: vapour production, throat hit and flavour delivery

Performance with a shortfill is largely determined by two things: the VG/PG balance of the liquid and the device you put it in. Nexus shortfills follow the common pattern of a high-VG blend, and that has predictable consequences. VG is thicker and produces denser vapour with a smoother, softer throat feel, while PG carries flavour well and contributes a lighter throat hit. A high-VG liquid will therefore give you generous cloud production, a gentle inhale and a rounded flavour, rather than a sharp, punchy hit.

What that means in practice.

• Vapour: dense and visible, especially at 40W or above on a sub-ohm mesh coil. If you vape discreetly or in tight spaces, you may find lower wattages more comfortable.
• Throat hit: light at 0mg and very mild at 3mg. This is a mouth-to-lung style liquid, not one that tries to imitate a cigarette, so ex-smokers who want a strong throat sensation should look at nicotine salts instead.
• Flavour delivery: good on mesh coils, which are generally better at making use of thick liquids and at keeping flavour consistent through the life of the coil.
• Coil life: sweet, high-VG liquids tend to put more residue on a coil than thinner, less sweet ones. Expect roughly one to two weeks from a coil with regular use, though this varies widely.

Puff delivery is difficult to quantify because it depends so heavily on power and puff length, but a rough guide helps with expectations. On a sub-ohm tank at around 50 to 70W, many vapers get somewhere between 30 and 60 puffs per millilitre. On a lower-powered 0.6 to 0.8 ohm device, that can stretch to 80 to 150 puffs per millilitre. Taken across a full 100ml bottle, that translates to several thousand puffs at the very least, and potentially many more at lower power. Those numbers are indicative, not guaranteed, and your own usage will differ.

Compared with typical disposables, which are usually quoted at a few hundred puffs per unit, the volume of liquid in a single 100ml bottle represents a very large number of puffs. That is the main reason shortfills tend to be so much cheaper per puff than single-use products, as long as you already own a suitable device.

Bottle design, labelling and build quality

The packaging of a shortfill matters more than it sounds, because you will be handling the bottle repeatedly, shaking it, uncapping it to add nicotine and refilling a tank from it. The Nexus 100ml format uses a 120ml plastic bottle with a narrow nozzle, which is the standard design across the category. The shape is chosen for a reason: a long, thin tip lets you place the nozzle inside a tank's fill port without splashing, which keeps your fingers, your tank and your desk cleaner than a wide opening would.

Look for the following when your bottle arrives.

• Tamper-evident seal: there should be a seal or ring on the cap which breaks when you first open the bottle. If it is missing or damaged on arrival, contact us before using the liquid.
• Child-resistant cap: UK rules require child-resistant closures on e-liquid bottles. The cap usually needs to be pressed down and turned, which can feel stiff the first time. Keep it closed and store the bottle well out of reach of children and pets.
• Label information: the bottle should show the product name, flavour, volume, the nicotine content (0mg here), the VG/PG ratio and the required warnings and batch details. Always read the label before mixing.
• Soft, squeezable body: the bottle is designed to be pressed gently to release the liquid. You should never need to squeeze hard, and if liquid comes out in a rush you should ease off and tilt the bottle instead.

On build quality, a bottle of this kind is a consumable item and it is not meant to last forever, but it should hold up to a month or two of regular use. The nozzle should stay firmly seated in the neck, the cap should seal without leaking if the bottle is stored upright, and the plastic should not crack when squeezed. A bottle that leaks in transit or has a loose nozzle is a fault, and we will deal with it under our returns policy.

When the bottle is empty, rinse it if you can, separate the nozzle and cap, and place the plastic in your household recycling where your local council accepts small rigid plastics. Nicotine shot bottles can generally be treated the same way once empty and rinsed. Check your council's guidance, as accepted items vary from area to area.

Coil and mesh technology: which devices suit Nexus Rainbow

Because this liquid is high in VG, the device matters just as much as the bottle. Thick liquid wicks more slowly than thin liquid, and a coil that cannot keep up will give you dry hits and a burnt taste. The good news is that most modern sub-ohm tanks are designed with exactly this kind of liquid in mind.

These are the setups that suit a Nexus shortfill best.

• Sub-ohm tanks with mesh coils: mesh coils are made from a flat sheet of fine metal mesh, which gives a large surface area for heating and wicking. Coils in the 0.15 to 0.4 ohm range commonly run at roughly 40 to 80W and handle thick, sweet liquids well. This is the ideal pairing for a 100ml shortfill.
• Sub-ohm tanks with round-wire coils: these work too, usually at somewhat lower wattage. They can give excellent flavour, but they tend to be a little less forgiving with very thick liquids and sweeteners.
• Refillable pod systems with 0.6 to 0.8 ohm coils: these suit a gentler, tighter draw and generally run at 15 to 30W. They work with high-VG liquids provided the wicking holes are large enough, so check the manufacturer's recommendation for your pod before filling it.
• Mouth-to-lung devices with 1.0 ohm or higher coils: these are less suited to a high-VG shortfill, because the thicker liquid can struggle to saturate small wicking ports. If your device is designed for nicotine salts at 50/50, you will be happier using a nic salt liquid instead.

Before you use a new coil, always prime it. Drip a few drops of liquid directly onto the exposed cotton, fill the tank and let it sit for five to ten minutes so the cotton can soak right through. Then start at the low end of the coil's printed wattage range and work up gradually. Skipping this step is the single most common reason for a burnt first few puffs.

If you are not sure about a particular kit, check the coil markings, which usually give a resistance and a recommended wattage range, and match your settings to those. A liquid is only as good as the coil it is heated by, and even a very good flavour will taste flat or harsh in a mismatched setup.

Battery, wattage and charging when vaping a 100ml shortfill

A bottle of e-liquid has no battery of its own, so charging relates to the device you use it in. That said, the way you charge and the power you vape at both affect how the liquid performs, so it is worth covering here. Understanding your battery also helps you estimate how long a day's vaping will actually last.

Here is what to keep in mind.

• Sub-ohm kits commonly use an internal battery of around 1500 to 3000mAh, or one or two removable 18650 cells of roughly 2500 to 3500mAh each. Higher wattage drains these faster, so a device running at 60W will need more frequent charging than a pod kit running at 20W.
• Pod systems usually have smaller batteries, often in the 400 to 1500mAh range, but they run at much lower power, so the runtime is more modest than you might guess from the number alone.
• Charging: use the cable that came with your device, plug it into a standard 5V USB charger or port, and do not leave it charging unattended overnight. Remove the device from the charger once it is full.
• Removable cells: use only the correct, undamaged cells from a reputable supplier, store them in cases, and never carry loose batteries in a pocket with keys or coins.

On wattage, the printed range on the coil is your guide. Running a coil at the very bottom of the range gives a cooler, gentler vape that is easier on the liquid and conserves battery, while running toward the top gives more vapour and a warmer flavour but burns through liquid and battery faster. Sweet candy liquids like Rainbow often taste best in the middle of the range, where the sugars do not caramelise too quickly on the coil.

Finally, when a device or battery reaches the end of its life, it should never go in your household bin. Lithium batteries are a fire risk in bin lorries and recycling plants. Take old devices and cells to a battery or WEEE recycling drop-off point, which you will find at most large supermarkets, council recycling centres, and many vape retailers. Under UK rules, sellers of electrical products are expected to offer take-back arrangements, so it is worth asking in store.

Choosing a nicotine strength: from 0mg to 3mg and beyond

Because this is a shortfill, you decide the nicotine strength yourself. That flexibility is useful, but it also means you should think it through before you start adding shots. The right strength depends on how much you vape, what device you use, and whether you are coming from smoking, from another vape, or from no nicotine at all.

This is a sensible starting framework for UK adults.

• 0mg: for vapers who do not want any nicotine, including those who have already stepped down completely. No shots needed. This is also the right choice if you are simply trying the flavour first.
• Around 1.5 to 1.8mg/ml (one shot): a light level suitable for people who have been vaping for a while and use a sub-ohm device. A good option if you find 3mg too strong.
• 3mg/ml (two 18mg shots): the standard shortfill strength and a common starting point for former smokers moving to a sub-ohm tank, particularly those who smoked around ten to twenty cigarettes a day.
• Above 3.3mg/ml: not possible with a single 100ml shortfill and two shots, and it would require a different product. Heavy former smokers who want a stronger hit are usually better served by a nicotine salt liquid in a pod device.

Remember that sub-ohm devices produce large amounts of vapour, and nicotine intake scales with the amount of liquid you vape. A strength that feels mild in a tight pod device can feel much stronger in an airy, high-power tank. If you notice headaches, nausea, dizziness or a racing pulse, the strength is too high for you, and you should step down.

The 20mg/ml cap that UK law places on nicotine e-liquid is the upper limit for shots, nic salts and disposables. A shortfill mix sits well below it, because you are spreading a limited quantity of nicotine through a large volume of liquid.

Nicotine is addictive. Vaping is widely regarded as considerably less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk-free, and it is intended for adults who already smoke or vape. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition or take medication, speak to a doctor or pharmacist before using nicotine products. If you do not currently use nicotine, you have no reason to start, and the 0mg version of this liquid is the better option.

Who Nexus Rainbow is for, and who should look elsewhere

No flavour or format suits everyone, and it is better to be clear about that up front than to leave you with a large bottle you do not enjoy. Here is our honest take on who is likely to get on with this liquid.

It is likely to suit you if you are:

• An adult who already vapes with a refillable sub-ohm tank or a suitable pod kit and wants a bigger, cheaper bottle.
• Someone who enjoys sweet, fruity, candy-style flavours and does not mind a layered profile that is more playful than realistic.
• A vaper who uses a reasonable amount of liquid each week and will get through 100ml before it goes stale.
• Comfortable mixing nicotine shots, or happy to vape at 0mg.
• Looking to move away from single-use products, which are now banned from sale in Great Britain, towards something refillable and more cost-effective.

You might want to look elsewhere if you are:

• A first-time vaper with no equipment. You will need a compatible device before this bottle is of any use to you, and a beginner kit is a sensible first purchase.
• A smoker who wants a strong throat hit and a high nicotine strength in a small device. Nicotine salt liquids in a pod kit are usually a better match for that.
• Someone who dislikes sweet flavours. Candy profiles are, by design, very sweet, and a menthol, tobacco or fresh-fruit option may be a better fit.
• A very occasional vaper. A 100ml bottle can sit for months, and flavour slowly changes over time even when stored well, so a smaller bottle might be wiser.
• Under 18. It is illegal to sell or supply vaping products to anyone under 18 in the UK, and we will not sell to anyone under that age.

If you are undecided, it can be sensible to try a different flavour in a 10ml bottle first, or to choose a flavour you already know you enjoy in this range. Spending a few extra pounds on a smaller bottle is cheaper than regretting a large one.

How to mix, steep and use your shortfill

Mixing a shortfill takes a couple of minutes and requires no special tools. Follow the steps below for a consistent result, and always read the instructions on your nicotine shots, as the exact guidance can vary slightly between brands.

Here is the process in order.

• Step 1, prepare: wash and dry your hands, and work on a clean, flat surface away from children and pets. Have your nicotine shots ready if you are using them.
• Step 2, open: remove the cap and the nozzle from the Nexus bottle. Keep both on a clean surface, with the open ends facing up.
• Step 3, add the shots: pour the contents of your 10ml nicotine shot or shots into the bottle. Squeeze the shot bottle gently until it is empty. Do not add more than the space allows, and do not overfill the 120ml bottle.
• Step 4, close and shake: replace the nozzle and cap firmly, then shake the bottle well for about a minute so the nicotine and flavoured liquid are evenly combined.
• Step 5, rest: let the mixed bottle sit upright for a few hours, ideally overnight, to let any bubbles settle and the nicotine blend in fully.

On steeping, some vapers feel that fruit and candy flavours benefit from a day or two of rest, while many are perfectly happy to vape straight away. Shortfills are generally ready to use quickly, so steeping is optional. If you do steep, store the bottle in a cool, dark place with the cap on, and shake it gently before each fill.

When filling your tank, tilt the tank slightly, place the nozzle against the inner edge of the fill port and squeeze gently. Avoid covering or flooding the central airflow tube. Leave a little space at the top of the tank to prevent leaks, and give the coil several minutes to soak before taking your first puffs.

For storage, keep the bottle upright, out of direct sunlight, away from heat and out of reach of children. A mixed shortfill is best used within a few months for the freshest flavour, and a pencil or marker note of the mix date on the bottle is a simple way to keep track.

Troubleshooting: leaks, dry hits, gurgling and fading flavour

Most problems with shortfills come down to the device or the way it is set up rather than the liquid itself. Here are the issues we hear about most often, and what usually fixes them.

• Burnt or dry taste: usually the coil is not fully saturated, the wattage is too high for the coil, or the tank is almost empty. Refill, let the coil soak for five to ten minutes, and drop the wattage a little. If the taste persists, the coil is probably at the end of its life.
• Gurgling or spitting: this is caused by excess liquid around the coil or condensation in the airflow. Blow gently back through the mouthpiece to clear it, and avoid overfilling. A small amount of airflow adjustment can also help.
• Leaking from the tank: check that the tank is assembled correctly, the seals are in place, and the coil is screwed in firmly. Leaks are more likely when the tank is filled right to the top or stored lying down.
• Flavour seems weak: adding nicotine shots slightly dilutes the flavour, so 3mg mixes taste a little softer than 0mg. Vaper's tongue, where you temporarily lose the ability to taste a flavour you have used for several days, can also play a part. Switching to a different flavour for a day or two usually brings it back.
• Coil dies quickly: sweet liquids leave residue. Try a slightly lower wattage, keep the tank topped up, and rinse the tank when you change coil. Replace the coil when the flavour turns flat or harsh.
• Bottle leaks or cap sticks: wipe the neck clean, press the cap down and turn it firmly. If the bottle is cracked or the seal is faulty on arrival, contact us.
• Cloudy or bubbly liquid after mixing: this is normal and clears within a few hours. Let the bottle rest upright with the cap on.

A final point on safety. If liquid gets on your skin, wash it off with soap and water. If any liquid is swallowed or gets in the eyes, seek medical advice straight away and show the label to the clinician. Keep nicotine shots and mixed bottles locked away from children and pets at all times.

Once the bottle is finished, rinse it, separate the parts and recycle the plastic as described earlier. Do not pour leftover liquid down the sink or into watercourses, and do not put batteries in the bin.

Value for money and how it compares with other 100ml ranges

The main argument for any shortfill is cost per millilitre. A 100ml bottle usually costs only a few pounds more than a couple of 10ml bottles, which is why the format is so popular with experienced vapers. For the exact current price of Nexus 100ml Shortfill Rainbow, check the product page, as prices change and we do not want to quote a figure here that goes out of date. What we can do is explain the maths so you can judge for yourself.

Consider what a typical regular vaper uses. On a sub-ohm tank, three to five millilitres per day is common, which would mean a 100ml bottle lasting around three to five weeks. On a lower-powered pod device, consumption is often lower, and the same bottle could last two months or more. In either case, you are paying a small fraction of what the equivalent number of puffs would cost in disposables, even before the ban on single-use vapes removed those from the market in Great Britain.

How does it stack up against alternatives? Here is a fair comparison.

• Against other 100ml candy ranges: established names such as IVG and Doozy Vape Co offer large catalogues of fruit and candy shortfills, and have a long record with UK vapers. Flavour is subjective, so we will not claim any one range tastes better than another. Where Nexus may appeal is on price, so compare per-millilitre cost at the time you buy.
• Against 10ml nicotine salt bottles: nic salts give a stronger, smoother nicotine hit in small pod devices, but cost more per millilitre and are not made for sub-ohm tanks. They suit different use cases.
• Against 10ml freebase bottles: convenient for trying flavours, but significantly more expensive across a month of regular use.
• Against disposables: now off the market in Great Britain, and much more costly per puff than refillable setups where they were previously available.

The honest summary is this. If you already own a suitable device, enjoy sweet fruit flavours and vape regularly, a 100ml shortfill is one of the most economical ways to do it. If you are unsure about the flavour, a smaller bottle first limits your risk. You can browse the rest of the Nexus range and other 100ml shortfills on our site to compare descriptions and prices side by side before choosing.