How to properly mix a favorite standard RY4
This blog is based on my own experiences and is written as my own personal opinion and should be taken as that only. Please remember to follow and observe all safety precautions.
This walk through is for a specific mix but can be applied to any mix as far as technique is concerned.
Flavors:
Assuming a 50PG/50VG/18mg Nic base
The Flavors Apprentice ry4 double (RY4D or any favorite tobacco flavor for that matter)
The Flavors Apprentice Bavarian Cream (or may substitute TFA Deluce De Leche or any favorite cream for that matter)
The Flavors Apprentice Caramel
Understanding flavors and how they work together
Important note:
Not all flavors are going to be created equal. So you’re going to want to sample flavors from many manufactures this is why if you’re just starting out it is not advisable to buy lots and lots of different flavors right off the bat especially from only one manufacture. Concentrate on one flavor family and choose the same flavor from different manufactures and sample individually side by side.
Before you even add flavoring you must get your PG/VG/NIC base tasting right. If the base is to harsh or does not have the proper amount of throat hit you require the finished (flavored mix) will not be right. Read my blog on adjusting your base mixture.
How to adjust your base to reduce that peppery harsh Nicotine taste | E-Cigarette Forum
It’s important to know what each individual flavor taste like. I would mix each of the above flavors on its own in 5 ml test batches using the minimum recommended amount and taste them individually to gauge how much RY4, Cream or Caramel you will need to add to get the final mix to where you want it to be.
When mixing the RY4 flavor it is important to steep this particular tobacco in order to realize its true taste (read my blog on steeping). The flavor develops over time so what you taste right after you mix will not taste the same after it steeps a week or more. The same is true for creams.
Again I can't emphasize the importance of knowing what each individual flavor taste like on its own before using it. So you should be sampling every new flavor that you buy.
When you've sampled all the flavors individually and know what your working with then the real mixing begins.
Now the real mixing begins
First and foremost take careful detailed notes of what you’re doing. It's the worst feeling in the world to create that perfect mix and not be able to reproduce it.
What follows is a scenario of how to go about creating your final mix and the amount's I'm using are a guideline only but is a good place to start..
Note:
It's important to get your RY4 flavoring tasting correct because it is the primary flavor foundation of the mix (the main flavor) that you will eventually be adding your additional note flavors to.
You may want to mix the RY4 main flavor separately the first time you try this mix as described in the "Understanding flavors" section and adjust as needed until the taste is to your liking.
Always remember if the main flavor of your mix is off the finished mix will be off.
Once you have your ry4 base flavor tasting just right it's time to start adding the flavor notes. Start the additional flavors at 1%, Taste, steep, then taste again then adjust. If adjusting is necessary add more flavoring in 1% or less increments.
Note: It is important to taste your mix right after mixing to establish a baseline so when you sample during steeping process you can gauge the mixes maturing progress over time.
It's always best practice once you have your ry4 base tasting correct and are ready to add your note flavorings to make several test batches with different added flavor levels.
I would start right off the bat with 3, 5ml batches making all of them at the same time with different flavoring percentages for my note flavors (See example below).
batch 1 = 7% ry4, 1% cream, 1% caramel
batch 2 = 7% ry4, 2% cream, 1% caramel
batch 3 = 7% ry4, 1% cream, 2% caramel
Steep them for a week or 3 hours in an Ultrasonic cleaner (See my blog on steeping) then taste. Make no mistake ry4 does need to be steeped.
That will tell you the direction you need to go. Then once you determine that the mix needs more of one flavor and less of another flavor, then the final 2 batches can be used to zero in on the amounts.
Example:
Lets say you determine that the cream flavor is good at 2% but there is to much caramel taste at 2% but there is not enough caramel taste at 1%. You can then do the 2 final batches as shown below.
batch 4 = 7% ry4, 2% cream 1.25% caramel
batch 5 = 7% ry4, 2% cream 1.50% caramel
Over Flavoring:
Over flavoring has done in many a DYI'er. When dealing with flavors start at the lowest recommended percentage and work up. Over flavoring can ruin a batch and often lead to an over powering chemical taste as well as a reduction in flavor (Yes I said reduction) and an increase in frustration level. Over flavoring is also much harder to recover from then under flavoring.
Getting it right is a matter of baby steps when it comes to adding flavor. You will save time, money and frustration by using small, even, incremented amounts.
This kinda reminds me of a post I answered in the DIY forum where a member was trying to clone a favorite earl gray tea e-juice they purchased and could not get it to taste right. I answered as follows:
"So I gather that it has an earl grey base note and a lime and spearmint top note. So the question is what is off the tea, lime or spearmint and what is off about it.
The best way to approach this is to ask "is it off":
1. because of flavor strength?
2. because of the taste of the actual manufacturers flavoring used?
3. because one flavor dominates the others?
3. because it's to harsh (Caused by to much NIC, improperly mixed or bad base ingredients)?
4. because it's not wet tasting enough?
5. because it's not thick tasting enough?
6. because it's not sweet enough?
7. Because I did not steep it or let it steep long enough?
Once you isolate the problem you can hone in on the solution.
Reading my blogs for more tips and tricks will answer all of these questions."
Good luck and happy vaping.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/dannyv45/
This blog is based on my own experiences and is written as my own personal opinion and should be taken as that only. Please remember to follow and observe all safety precautions.
This walk through is for a specific mix but can be applied to any mix as far as technique is concerned.
Flavors:
Assuming a 50PG/50VG/18mg Nic base
The Flavors Apprentice ry4 double (RY4D or any favorite tobacco flavor for that matter)
The Flavors Apprentice Bavarian Cream (or may substitute TFA Deluce De Leche or any favorite cream for that matter)
The Flavors Apprentice Caramel
Understanding flavors and how they work together
Important note:
Not all flavors are going to be created equal. So you’re going to want to sample flavors from many manufactures this is why if you’re just starting out it is not advisable to buy lots and lots of different flavors right off the bat especially from only one manufacture. Concentrate on one flavor family and choose the same flavor from different manufactures and sample individually side by side.
Before you even add flavoring you must get your PG/VG/NIC base tasting right. If the base is to harsh or does not have the proper amount of throat hit you require the finished (flavored mix) will not be right. Read my blog on adjusting your base mixture.
How to adjust your base to reduce that peppery harsh Nicotine taste | E-Cigarette Forum
It’s important to know what each individual flavor taste like. I would mix each of the above flavors on its own in 5 ml test batches using the minimum recommended amount and taste them individually to gauge how much RY4, Cream or Caramel you will need to add to get the final mix to where you want it to be.
When mixing the RY4 flavor it is important to steep this particular tobacco in order to realize its true taste (read my blog on steeping). The flavor develops over time so what you taste right after you mix will not taste the same after it steeps a week or more. The same is true for creams.
Again I can't emphasize the importance of knowing what each individual flavor taste like on its own before using it. So you should be sampling every new flavor that you buy.
When you've sampled all the flavors individually and know what your working with then the real mixing begins.
Now the real mixing begins
First and foremost take careful detailed notes of what you’re doing. It's the worst feeling in the world to create that perfect mix and not be able to reproduce it.
What follows is a scenario of how to go about creating your final mix and the amount's I'm using are a guideline only but is a good place to start..
Note:
It's important to get your RY4 flavoring tasting correct because it is the primary flavor foundation of the mix (the main flavor) that you will eventually be adding your additional note flavors to.
You may want to mix the RY4 main flavor separately the first time you try this mix as described in the "Understanding flavors" section and adjust as needed until the taste is to your liking.
Always remember if the main flavor of your mix is off the finished mix will be off.
Once you have your ry4 base flavor tasting just right it's time to start adding the flavor notes. Start the additional flavors at 1%, Taste, steep, then taste again then adjust. If adjusting is necessary add more flavoring in 1% or less increments.
Note: It is important to taste your mix right after mixing to establish a baseline so when you sample during steeping process you can gauge the mixes maturing progress over time.
It's always best practice once you have your ry4 base tasting correct and are ready to add your note flavorings to make several test batches with different added flavor levels.
I would start right off the bat with 3, 5ml batches making all of them at the same time with different flavoring percentages for my note flavors (See example below).
batch 1 = 7% ry4, 1% cream, 1% caramel
batch 2 = 7% ry4, 2% cream, 1% caramel
batch 3 = 7% ry4, 1% cream, 2% caramel
Steep them for a week or 3 hours in an Ultrasonic cleaner (See my blog on steeping) then taste. Make no mistake ry4 does need to be steeped.
That will tell you the direction you need to go. Then once you determine that the mix needs more of one flavor and less of another flavor, then the final 2 batches can be used to zero in on the amounts.
Example:
Lets say you determine that the cream flavor is good at 2% but there is to much caramel taste at 2% but there is not enough caramel taste at 1%. You can then do the 2 final batches as shown below.
batch 4 = 7% ry4, 2% cream 1.25% caramel
batch 5 = 7% ry4, 2% cream 1.50% caramel
Over Flavoring:
Over flavoring has done in many a DYI'er. When dealing with flavors start at the lowest recommended percentage and work up. Over flavoring can ruin a batch and often lead to an over powering chemical taste as well as a reduction in flavor (Yes I said reduction) and an increase in frustration level. Over flavoring is also much harder to recover from then under flavoring.
Getting it right is a matter of baby steps when it comes to adding flavor. You will save time, money and frustration by using small, even, incremented amounts.
This kinda reminds me of a post I answered in the DIY forum where a member was trying to clone a favorite earl gray tea e-juice they purchased and could not get it to taste right. I answered as follows:
"So I gather that it has an earl grey base note and a lime and spearmint top note. So the question is what is off the tea, lime or spearmint and what is off about it.
The best way to approach this is to ask "is it off":
1. because of flavor strength?
2. because of the taste of the actual manufacturers flavoring used?
3. because one flavor dominates the others?
3. because it's to harsh (Caused by to much NIC, improperly mixed or bad base ingredients)?
4. because it's not wet tasting enough?
5. because it's not thick tasting enough?
6. because it's not sweet enough?
7. Because I did not steep it or let it steep long enough?
Once you isolate the problem you can hone in on the solution.
Reading my blogs for more tips and tricks will answer all of these questions."
Good luck and happy vaping.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/dannyv45/
