Uh oh... Please, tell me it will get better

[bea58]

My first 901 e cig came today, and it's sitting here by the mouse while I smoke my Capri Menthol.

Gosh guys, please tell me there's a break in period and it will be all right.

I never knew what you all meant by throat hit, but in comparing the two I do now. With my regular cig I get a strong menthol kick in the upper back part of my mouth, and the menthol/tobacco taste remains after I exhale. I only have to take one short drag for the reward of lots of flavor and smoke.

The e cig cart is minty (almost spearmint) rather than menthol (from esmokey) and after the initial few seconds of contact it has no flavor, no lingering taste at all. And not much vapor either, unless I suck on it a few times while letting air in at the same time, which is not how I smoke an analog. Also, when I take multiple pulls it's seems more difficult to draw it down into my lungs.

Really, it doesn't taste like much of anything.

So, let me ask you seasoned people... is it normal procedure with these things to allow air into your mouth with each puff? (Which btw makes a slight whoosh noise that detracts from the experience)

And, is it even possible to get a throat hit from 11mg level carts even if I add some 11mg nic juice? I hope so because that's the only level I ordered, but am already thinking I probably need to up it.

I know, I hope, this will get better. I see potential, but it ain't love at first sight as I had anticipated.

Last question- Can anybody recommend a nic juice that more closely resembles a menthol ciggie? And don't say Puresmoker, I know about True Menthol and I'll get it but they're out of stock and I'd like to order something tonight that will make this better for me.

Thanks for any advice anybody can offer, this forum has been wonderful in terms of education, and I really want to get the most out of my e cigs and leave the analogs behind for good.

[xMarlboroMan]

E-smoking is a lot different that conventional cigarettes. There is a learning curve, if you will. I was very frustrated when I first got mine. However, I liked it, but didn't think I was getting enjoyment out of it. You do have to take a longer drag.

I smoked Marlboro Menthol Ultra Lights, before that Marlboro Menthol Lights. And to tell you the truth, I hadn't tasted any menthol in my cigarettes for years. Maybe it was the brand; I dunno. I remember first smoking a Marlboro Menthol Light... it was awesome. The menthol flavor was so good. That is why I kept smoking, because I liked the menthol. Regular flavor cigarettes were gross to me.

Anyway, so when I got my 901 and I popped in a "mint" cart (they didn't have menthol), I realized the flavor I had been missing. But at the same time, it didn't do it for me. So I kept on smoking regular analog cigs. It wasn't until I tried Pure Smokers 36mg True Menthol that I was hooked (sorry, I know they are out... but I'm getting to that ). From that day on, I gave up regular cigarettes altogether.

Since then I have been all over the place looking for new and better flavors. But to be honest, I can't tell mint from menthol. I don't think it matters to me... I just like flavor. I just got a bottle of Truevapor.com's 36mg True Menthol and it is very good. Nice throat hit, very strong flavor. There is no sweetness, so I would have to say it is more menthol then others I have tried. You get that nice sensation in your nose (if you exhale thru your nose anyway ). It is a very good juice all around.

I would sugguest trying them.

L8r, x

[Bulldog44]

My first 901 e cig came today, and it's sitting here by the mouse while I smoke my Capri Menthol.

Gosh guys, please tell me there's a break in period and it will be all right.

I never knew what you all meant by throat hit, but in comparing the two I do now. With my regular cig I get a strong menthol kick in the upper back part of my mouth, and the menthol/tobacco taste remains after I exhale. I only have to take one short drag for the reward of lots of flavor and smoke.

The e cig cart is minty (almost spearmint) rather than menthol (from esmokey) and after the initial few seconds of contact it has no flavor, no lingering taste at all. And not much vapor either, unless I suck on it a few times while letting air in at the same time, which is not how I smoke an analog. Also, when I take multiple pulls it's seems more difficult to draw it down into my lungs.

Really, it doesn't taste like much of anything.

So, let me ask you seasoned people... is it normal procedure with these things to allow air into your mouth with each puff? (Which btw makes a slight whoosh noise that detracts from the experience)

And, is it even possible to get a throat hit from 11mg level carts even if I add some 11mg nic juice? I hope so because that's the only level I ordered, but am already thinking I probably need to up it.

I know, I hope, this will get better. I see potential, but it ain't love at first sight as I had anticipated.

Last question- Can anybody recommend a nic juice that more closely resembles a menthol ciggie? And don't say Puresmoker, I know about True Menthol and I'll get it but they're out of stock and I'd like to order something tonight that will make this better for me.

Thanks for any advice anybody can offer, this forum has been wonderful in terms of education, and I really want to get the most out of my e cigs and leave the analogs behind for good.

Hey Bea, sorry you are having a bad experience so far. I can only tell you this, like with any product some people will love it others ehhhh and others hate it. Yours may need some warming up so to speak. When I got mine I loved it right away. It did improve more and more over time. And honestly, sometimes I hit it with juice XYZ and get a great hit, other times I hit it with juice XYZ and it is so so. The best thing I can tell you is make sure you have a full charge on your battery, put on a fresh cart, and top off with some of your juice and put a drop on your atomizer. Fire it up and let us know. Also I draw straight, no extra air. I drag it into my mouth then inhale.

Regarding the hit, I honestly think the nic level has very little to do with it.

And your menthol, well ya already told me not to suggest Puresmoker so I have no other suggestions for you.

[MonkeyMonk]

Menthol crystals, I think I saw them at LorAnn Oils
https://www.lorannoils.com/p-8728-menthol-crystals.aspx

Lorann ships fast. As far as how to use them, I beleive there are posts in the DIY section. If not, post a thread there and someone will know the answer.

You might find the menthol crystals at a health or body builder type store too. Just make sure the label indicates that it is ok to ingest/swallow/not harmful if used internally. LorAnn's says USP grade. I think that is what you need/want.

[Elle]

hi bea,

IMO when you're first starting out, comparing an ecig to your favorite analog side by side is setting yourself up for a let down, period. its not going to feel exactly the same because it isn't the same and never will be

however i will tell you that trying an analog vs ecig head to head after a couple weeks may be a good thing- you may find as many of us have that you prefer the ecig by a longshot.

as stated earlier, there is a learning curve. you can't "smoke it" like you do an analog. my suggestion is to do your primer puff (a brief, firm, pull to warm up the atomizer), and then take a long, slow draw, filling your mouth up with a generous amount of vapor, taking it then to the throat, inhale, then exhale.

quite pleasurable

best of luck!!

[Bellinghamster]

PureSmoker is as close as you get to menthol with juice only, but it's still not perfect [no offense Steve!].

You want menthol, Monk is right you need crystals. I just embed a *little* chip in the cart fiber and it's REALLY good. It's a pain too, so I don't really do it that often. Search this forum for "menthol crystals" and you'll find where to buy them on ebay.

My other solution is to stick a Halls menthol cough drop in my mouth while vaping - that does it too

As far as the other - you're getting good advice from the previous posters. Strong batteries go a long way. I KNOW I get a better "hit" from higher nic, but some would disagree with me. It's not ever going to be smoking, so ease into it. Do both for as long as you need/want to. I think most find that while you get the hang of it, the analogs are a nice comfort to have around.

...and then one day, almost without thinking, you realize you just like vaping better...

It's a good day

[bea58]

Hey all, I'm not having a bad experience per se, it's just not a huge success right out of the gate.

xMarlboroman, you smoked ultralights and find 36 mg works best for you? Boy, did I undershoot with 11mg. The Truevapor menthol sounds just right, maybe in the 18mg. l do like a lot of flavor with no sweetness.

Okay, so I topped of my cart and got more vapor. I wasn't going to do that until the cart seemed dry, but it's much better, at least there's more vapor now.

And it's encouraging to hear that once I get the hang of it there will be no need to take in air while pulling.

Monkeymonk, I think I'll save the crystals for later, when I'm a bit more experienced, but will keep it in mind.

Anyhow, I'm already incorporating all of the tips and can see how it could be very good with a much stronger flavor, higher nic level, topping off cart, and working on my dragging technique.

Whew~

Time to go order from Purevapor now! Hopefully with some minor adjustments this will be all I hoped it would.

[Walrus]

I really *really* like the Menthol from Totally Wicked. I have a bottle of 24mg, and may end up cutting it with a little glycerine.

[Walrus]

Oh... and I find that with my 901, my smoking technique is a lot like smoking an analog well-packed pipe. A little primer puff followed by a nice deep pull.

[JustJulie]

Darn, that learning curve.

Yes, there is a breaking in period for many atomizers, and, yes, it does get better, more satisfying in time as you get used to vaping.

Personally, I think you're at about the right level for your nicotine (11 mg). I was a 2+ pack a day smoker, so I ordered high levels. I was vaping a lot, especially at first, and I was getting some wicked headaches. Dropped down to medium, and my headaches went away immediately. When I'd get a strong urge for an analog, I'd switch carts and vape at a higher concentration of nicotine, or I'd simply drip a few drops of the heavy duty stuff onto a medium cartridge to kind of spike it.

As for the throat hit, I do personally tend to notice a better throat hit with higher nicotine concentrations. I do not, however, believe that nicotine is the sole determinator of throat hit. For example, I tried PureSmoker's new flavor, Energee, and at a medium level, it provides a POWERFUL throat hit. However, other flavors at a medium level produce no throat hit for me. Obviously, there's something at play other than simply nicotine.

Also, as others have noted, you really do get your best and most satisfying vapor with a fresh cartridge and a fresh battery. I tend to top off my cart before I vape to get that feeling of a fresh cart.

And, yes, the inhalation is different with e-smoking as opposed to analogs. When I used to smoke analogs, I had a tendency to have shorter, more vigorous inhales, and that's how I started with my first e-cig. I typically wound up with not a whole lot of vapor and sometimes even a nice bit of e-liquid in my mouth. As others have described, the short primer puff, and then a long, slow, positively leisurely inhale produces the best vapor with an e-cig.

I personally place my lips around the mouthpiece in such a way so that I do not inhale air while pulling on the e-cig. When I take the e-cig away from my mouth, I inhale a bit of air as I inhale the vapor that has been held in my mouth down to my lungs. (I vape by holding it in my mouth, then inhaling into my lungs--trying to directly inhale into my lungs was incredibly difficult for me, and I wound up inhaling a lot of air at the same time I was pulling on the e-cig.)

I haven't found any really good menthol. Every time I try to order the Pure Smoker true menthol, they're out. Even though I was a menthol analog smoker, I'm finding that I don't really need the menthold now. I'm getting a lot of satisfaction by vaping primarily coffee flavors. Go figure.

Anyway, good luck. As others have suggested, I expect that as you continue to vape, analogs will become less attractive to you. How long it takes to get there, though, varies from individual to individual. For me, it was pretty quick. For my sister, she's been vaping for a week now, and while she's reduced her analog intake fairly susbstantially, she's nowhere near ready to quit analogs for good. But I think she'll eventually get there.