PURE VANILLIN CRYSTALS
Ethyl vanillin is actually what is used in the manufacture of our commercial e-liquids often in combination with some other form of a vanilla extractive.
If anyone considers trying the vanillin crystals let me know. If it's in the pure crystal form it seems to me that you can't get any stronger vanilla taste than that. The smell is intoxicating. It occurs to me that if you need to mix a vanilla absolute with alcohol as a carrier as has been suggested with the tobacco absolute that might be defeating the purpose, so maybe a vanilla absolute is not the way to go and perhaps better is a 2x or 4x extract of vanilla.
While vanillin as commercially produced is artificial, manufactured from guaiacol or lignin, it is considered nature identical. It exists in nature as the most concentrated form of the vanilla flavor in vanilla beans:
"One of the main flavor components in Bourbon vanilla is vanillin, which imparts the bean with its distinctive vanilla flavor. Our bulk gourmet Madagascar vanilla beans are so rich in vanillin that the vanillin often crystallizes out to the surface of the vanilla bean as shown in the picture of vanilla beans below."
Vanillin Crystals - Bourbon Vanilla Beans
According to one report, and I don't know what to make of it: Krinos Vanillin is a white or yellowish crystalline compound extracted from vanilla beans. It is mostly used as a fragrance in perfumes and for flavoring baked goods.
Here are some links where you can buy the Krinos brand Vanillin for as little as $1.49 --
http://persiangrocer.com/usersection...&img=1&catid=9
http://www.christosmarket.com/Produc...ductCode=BAK03
http://www.shamra.com/food/foodsearc...0and%20Essence
http://javafoods.com/store/product.p...15&page=1&js=n
http://www.greekinternetmarket.com/1101-09001.html
Parthenon Foods - Vanilla Flavoring (Krinos) 17g
There's about 3 Greek markets nearby where I might be able to purchase this locally.
This is, more specifically, what the commercial e-liquid manufacturers are using and if you can find a supplier for the small quantities we would use, please post on here:
"Ethyl Vanillin is an important Aroma chemical with a stronger more intense vanilla-like aroma than vanillin. Its major applications are in the manufacture of fragrances, toiletries, detergents and food/beverages. Aromatic ethyl vanillin is manufactured through a synthetic process with raw materials derived from fossil hydrocarbons. Aromatic is delivered in crystalline form. Due to its more intense flavour and fragrance profile, Aromatic ethyl vanillin is between 2 and 4 times stronger than normal vanillin grades."
Somebody posted somewhere on the forum (without knowing what they were even talking about):
"The artificial vanilla flavor (often referred to as vanillin) is a benzaldehyde which some feel presents a health hazard, although there is debate on the matter. Safety (MSDS) data for vanillin"
The reason for the confusion is that what they were actually referring to is
ETHYL VANILLIN (3-ETHOXY-4-HYDROXY-BENZALDEHYDE). Once again, this is actually the stuff that the commercial e-liquid manufacturers really are using, often in combination with some other vanilla extractive.
This is the smallest quantity of ethyl vanillin I can find at the moment to purchase:
Ethyl Vanillin, NF
3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde
N.F. Functional Use: Flavor; Perfume
125 GM $53.58
ArtChemicals.com - Chemistry for the Imagination