High VG mutes flavors

[Hawaiian Nate]

I just started DIY'ing recently and like to mix high VG. My Nic is 100% VG so when I'm done mixing it turns out to 83/17 VG/PG, the PG being the flavors. It's a vanilla custard mix so I end up steeping for about 2 weeks. I like the taste I've been getting but it's a muted taste compared to store bought juices. I'm thinking of upping the percentage to about 25% flavor to see if that helps with the taste. I've read that going higher in flavor percent can decrease the flavor in juices so am I doing the right thing? I don't want to start having to use PG to dilute it more but I will if I have to. Can any one direct me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance

 

[Boletus]

Are you using heat for steeping? Others have reported that vanillas can take a long time to fully develop, and max VG will slow things down. If you can, try heating it to 150 deg F for 2-4 hours and see if that helps. You might consider adding some water to loosen the VG. I mix my flavorings with a bit of water (5-10% of the final mix) before adding to the VG and base.

 

[nwppwn]

What flavor percentages are you using now? I rarely go over 15% flavor including sweetener. Are you using any sweetener? I find the vendor custardy juices are full of sweetener and that seems to be the only way to get a similar taste in DIY. I'm fairly new to this as well but I find adding sweetener, EM or cotton candy gives it that 'premium' ejuice taste and brings out the flavors. I also mix with 100% VG nicotine mix and my PG/VG ratio is typically 20/80 or higher VG.

Anyway, give sweetener a shot before going to 25% flavor. I have a sweet tooth and mix about 3-4% in.


ps. if not doing this already give it a hot water bath (or just run the bottle under hot water for a few minutes) to thin it out before vigorously agitating it when you first mix it.

 

[glasseye]

You may also want to try about 10% distilled water ($1 for a gallon at the grocery) instead of more flavoring.

 

[michaelsil1]

You may also want to try about 10% distilled water ($1 for a gallon at the grocery) instead of more flavoring.

And let it steep longer.

 

[Aheadatime]

Too many variables. % flavor used. Number of ingredients. Ingredient interaction. Flavor company. device/wicking. I use 80%+ VG mixes exclusively and have great, potent flavor.

 

[K31Scout]

I'm thinning my heavy VG with distilled water instead of PG. I'm getting as a good flavor as with a 25% PG. Remember, sometimes increasing the flavor % decreases flavor at a steep rate of decent. If you really want flavor use an rda either conventional or the ultimate bottom feeding Reo mod with a tiny chambered RDA.

 

[Jimi D.]

I like 20% distilled water with 100% VG mixes. I have no problem with flavor muting this way. Flavour Art makes their Velvet Cloud juice with these ratios.

 

[Exchaner]

I have the same problem as the OP, and steeping alone has not helped at all with muted flavors. I have waited as much as two months for a tobacco flavor to come through without success. Increasing the flavor from say 15% to 18% helps a bit, but not enough. As others have said, distilled water also helps, but again, not enough for me. I have reached the conclusion that juices with high % of vg simply do not have the same flavor. A good compromise for me has been 65% vg, 8% DW and 27% pg.

 

[Hawaiian Nate]

Are you using heat for steeping? Others have reported that vanillas can take a long time to fully develop, and max VG will slow things down. If you can, try heating it to 150 deg F for 2-4 hours and see if that helps. You might consider adding some water to loosen the VG. I mix my flavorings with a bit of water (5-10% of the final mix) before adding to the VG and base.

No heat just regular steep (24hr uncapped then 2 weeks dark cool dry area) just made a second batch last night (25% flavor) and tried heating it up. We'll see how that comes out. Hate the steeping process. Thinking of purchasing an ultrasound cleaner.

 

[Hawaiian Nate]

What flavor percentages are you using now? I rarely go over 15% flavor including sweetener. Are you using any sweetener? I find the vendor custardy juices are full of sweetener and that seems to be the only way to get a similar taste in DIY. I'm fairly new to this as well but I find adding sweetener, EM or cotton candy gives it that 'premium' ejuice taste and brings out the flavors. I also mix with 100% VG nicotine mix and my PG/VG ratio is typically 20/80 or higher VG.

17% flavor with no sweetener. I'll give it a try next batch. Thanks

 

[Hawaiian Nate]

Too many variables. % flavor used. Number of ingredients. Ingredient interaction. Flavor company. Device/wicking. I use 80%+ VG mixes exclusively and have great, potent flavor.

17% flavor.
CAP Vanilla custard 15%, TFA Dulce de Leche 2%
Tobh, plume veil, patriot, copper nemmy. Organic cotton

 

[Hawaiian Nate]

I'm thinning my heavy VG with distilled water instead of PG. I'm getting as a good flavor as with a 25% PG. Remember, sometimes increasing the flavor % decreases flavor at a steep rate of decent. If you really want flavor use an RDA either conventional or the ultimate bottom feeding Reo mod with a tiny chambered RDA.

Will try DW. I only use RDA's these days
Thanks

 

[Aheadatime]

17% flavor.
CAP Vanilla custard 15%, TFA Dulce de Leche 2%
Tobh, plume veil, patriot, copper nemmy. Organic cotton

15% can be quite high with that flavor for some people. I prefer it at 7-8%. Is it the V1 or V2? V2 tastes bad to me. Also, it requires a 2 week steep without heat/shaking for me.

 

[Soignee]

I was in the same boat as OP. I decided to reduce my percentage to 40/60 pg/vg. I did "step down" in percentage to get my body used to a higher pg ratio, 13/87, 25/75...). Took about 3 weeks. I have used the same Custard recipe 15/2 % recently and did a hot water bath steep to speed the process up and had better results with the 40/60 pg/vg ratio than with higher vg ratios.

Bottom line for me, I haven't had to add EM or sweetener, distilled h2o etc... But adding heat to the steeping process AND lowering my VG to 60% has gotten me a more flavorful juice faster.

 

[Hawaiian Nate]

15% can be quite high with that flavor for some people. I prefer it at 7-8%. Is it the V1 or V2? V2 tastes bad to me. Also, it requires a 2 week steep without heat/shaking for me.

I'm using the V2. No heat but I do leave the bottle uncapped for the first day and shake it occasionally throughout the steep time which is 2 weeks. I will try and make a batch at 7-8% and see how that comes out.

 

[DeloresRose]

I've found I like higher VG in general, but that's likely because I like sweeter juices. When I make anything else - tobaccos, almond, coffee - they taste better at around 50/50. I don't think VG mutes flavors, but it does change them. Vanilla seems like it takes a long time to come around no matter what your base percentages are, but when it does ripen, it tastes sweeter and richer with a higher VG, I think.

One trick I've learned reading here is to add something else to pop the flavor. Add a little of some other vanilla, some cream, some sweetener, instead of just adding more of the same flavor.

 

[Exchaner]

tobaccos, almond, coffee - they taste better at around 50/50.

You can say that again....

 

[dannyv45]

VG does not mute flavor it just takes longer to steep.

 

[Exchaner]

VG does not mute flavor it just takes longer to steep.

Hi Danny, that is what I thought at first. But I can not explain why my VG tobacco flavor has a weak taste even after 8 weeks of steeping. The same juice with 50% pg only takes 6 weeks or less.