A couple of very specific DIY questions

[Jorge22]

Hi. I'm fairly new to DIY, just did a few experiments and, in fact, they don't seem to be worse than pre-mixed liquids in general. I'm cautious too, naturally. I'm aware that if I mix a bit too much the result may be disastrous. Plus, I'm not that interested in sweet-ish flavours, which is what most e-liquids and flavours are about, anyway.
So, just a couple of questions...

a) I ordered tobacco Absolute and the m-series from TPA. They do have tobacco molecules, which is something most "tobacco" liquids can't boast. Regarding TA, am I right to say I can mix it 1% in PG and then mix it again 1% (this is all approximative, of course) when I'm using it in some liquid? Or ould it be correct to use it directly in a 1% percentage in the final mixing? It's not supposed to be used on its own, right? And regarding the m-series, I bought it because Linda, from TPA, assured me it currently was their best tobacco flavour. Has anybody used it and have an opinion?

b) A different question: if I have a mint flavour (I really mean mint, not peppermint or even spearmint, certainly not menthol), which a manufacturer of food flavours promised to send me or free as long as I told him how it had worked, I can understand how to use it to make a mint liquid. But what about just adding enough to make it have a fresh mint aftertaste, for example?

Thanks a lot!

 

[Jorge22]

My, is there anybody in there? (Echoes) * this must have been a tougher question than I thought...*

 

[oldjoe]

There is no absolute for mixing juice. R & D until you find what suits your particular taste.

 

[Jorge22]

Sorry? (My message has to be at least 10 characters long... Sorry! )

 

[Jorge22]

Ok, it's been very long since I posted this in the supposedly largest and greatest ecigs forums there are. My questions were pretty accurate and I'm sure somebody has to know something about them. Tobacco Absolute, sold by The Perfumer's Apprentice, is commonly and traditionally used by the tobacco industry to enhance flavours and the m-series, albeit less known, is also supposed to be a very good flavour, also extracted from the tobacco plant. Loads of people use these for liquids. It isn't a mystery. What's the precise meaning of "there is no absolute for mixing"? Does it mean anything or do I speak Mandarin? Sorry, but it just seems weird. If you'd rather have me in an European part of the forums or something, please, just let me know. Otherwise, it just feel weirder than just weird and that's that.

 

[Para]

Ok, it's been very long since I posted this in the supposedly largest and greatest ecigs forums there are. My questions were pretty accurate and I'm sure somebody has to know something about them. Tobacco Absolute, sold by The Perfumer's Apprentice, is commonly and traditionally used by the tobacco industry to enhance flavours and the m-series, albeit less known, is also supposed to be a very good flavour, also extracted from the tobacco plant. Loads of people use these for liquids. It isn't a mystery. What's the precise meaning of "there is no absolute for mixing"? Does it mean anything or do I speak Mandarin? Sorry, but it just seems weird. If you'd rather have me in an European part of the forums or something, please, just let me know. Otherwise, it just feel weirder than just weird and that's that.

Don't get all worked up over nothing. He said there are no absolute...hard and fast....specific...(pick your term) rules for mixing DIY; trial and error is the learning curve. If someone has experience with those two items, you'll get some help.....

 

[Jorge22]

Ok, that was an actual answer. Thanks! You don't know about it, that's alright. But I'm sure a lot of people do and I was just wondering how come nobody was able to give me such a simple explanation as to how to dilute Tobacco Absolute. I think I have to dilute it 1% in things that they sell but it actually works perfectly just with PG, that much I know. Then, I'm assuming one's supposed to mix just about 1% (although that may be the very personal part of it all and that's why I'm saying "about") to the liquid one's making. It's almost homeopathic! I'd just like to be absolutely certain...

 

[cyberwolf]

I typically don't answer if I don't know, and this is definitely a case where I don't know, as I've never used Tobacco Absolute (TA).

That said, I have seen posts regarding it and here's one where the 3rd post asserts that TA must be mixed with pure grain alcohol (PGA) to properly suspend it, 1 part TA to 5 parts PGA.

I have used the Flavor Apprentice premix of TA from One Stop DIY Shop which is made with TA, PGA and Ethyl Maltol.

 

[Jorge22]

I know, that's what they say. On the other hand, it was Linda, from TPA, who told me I could actually just mix it with PG. That's where I got that idea from. And thanks fro the link!

 

[sjohnson]

The tobacco absolute I have is the consistency of thick black grease, as delivered. Water doesn't touch it (much), but ethanol will eventually dissolve it. Mine is from PA from 1 1/2 years ago, maybe they have changed the formulation to allow it to dissolve in water? Not much else to say as I don't like it as a tobacco flavor, it's too much like raw, uncured tobacco for me.

 

[Jorge22]

I'll just give it a try. It's normally used together with other flavours, right? Anyway, I'm also going to get the m-type, also with tobacco molecules, but it's a regular flavour, not something more complicated like the TA - I'm curious about the m-type (or is it kind?)... Regarding TA and water, no. But PG is an alcohol really and it seems to work well. So, I'll be using PG and see what happens...

 

[gingersnaps]

for ta I mix 1 drop ta to 5 ml pg. then use @ 10% or so. the usage % can change depending on you own tastes and mood but that gives you a good start point. when I mix I do need to microwave at 5-10 sec intervals with all caps off the bottle to mix it.

as far as the mint, that is harder. the strength of the mint you have will play a big part in how much you need since it varies brand to brand. your own tastes determine the rest. I would prep a few attys for testing. add a drop or 2 at a time (only 1 drop on the first try )to say 5 ml liquid and test with clean atty after each time you add. once you get a feel for how strong it is and what you want you will be able to add it to mixes with less guess work. I find that lighter mints like wintergreen for example you need more of than harder ones like peppermint. just to give a basic idea I use wintergreen at 10% just to get a hint of flavor with other mixes.