Advice for a menthol smoker..

[namuch]

I used to smoke regular marlboro lights, but after discovering e-cigs a month ago, I was able to effortlessly drop all analogs cold turkey. I don't even crave them anymore, with all the flavors available for vaping, I find there is a flavor for every occasion.

My wife, on the other hand, is a long time menthol lights smoker, and is having way more difficulty. She totally enjoys the menthol flavors in e-cigs, and has been able to drastically cut back on her analogs, but she still can't get over the hump at certain times (after eating, etc..), and usually has a couple of analogs per day still. She even says the analogs taste like garbage to her now, and she doesn't like them anymore, but there is still something missing that is making her hit analogs still. I've hit her with menthol from different vendors, and all across the board in nicotine ranges, but nothing seems to "do it" for her. I have yet to find another flavor she likes, and I've prolly got at least 40 or so, just from samples and whatnot. She doesn't care for any of them, it's menthol or nothing it seems.

So, do any of you long-time menthol smokers out there have any advice on maybe a juice mix, a brand, or even a different flavor that I haven't thought of that got you "over the hump"?

 

[Deschain]

Considered "Double Mint"? Might be worth a punt.


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[Michael47]

I'm a newbie at e-cigs and a menthol analog smoker. I really like Vermont Vapors Menthol. It's kind of thick so you need to shake your mix well each time before reloading your cart.

 

[Scottbee]

I was a huge fan of ECOpure Menthol (coming off of 37 years of analog menthol smoking). But now I find myself going more towards the ECOpure Rich-Menthol.. or sometimes just the plain Rich. The "Rich" will warm the menthol flavor... giving it a smoother hit of tobacco or perhaps even caramel. Dunno... hard to describe. But I find it to be more authentic than just plain menthol liquid.

 

[Michael47]

You can also drip or dip menthol directly on the atty to boost the menthol hit. I do this with my flavored carts as the menthol in the mix seems to weaken.

 

[Stormee]

I was strictly a menthol smoker and thought I would want something closest to a menthol analog as possible. I started out vaping menthol, and now I never do. It's all banana, cherry, cappuccino and other flavors for me (but mostly banana). I actually don't like any of the menthols I have tried at all. As long as I'm getting my nic, and the flavor is good, I'm happy!

 

[Raenon]

I smoked just under a pack a day of marlboro menthol lights, and after the first day of vaping, I didn't want regular cigs anymore.

I think my biggest trick was to use the stock "marlboro" flavor carts, and add menthol to them. Keep topping those off for as long as the filler lasts, and do the priming with all menthol juice. I use "high" 16mg juice from litecig, a PG juice with a strong menthol flavor and slight minty sweetness.

I might also suggest she try several methods of vaping. Many don't realize that even while smoking, each have their own technique. Mouth puffing (like one would with a cigar or pipe) produces a wonderful plume of flavorful vapor, but much of the content seems to be lost before you ever inhale that puff. Drawing directly with your lungs (my sister describes it as a "pot smokers" puff, I withold judgement ) produces far larger amounts of wispier vapor as a result of the increased air volume moving through, but I think it also gives you a better "throat hit" and definitely speeds the nicotine rush.

I personally find a combination of a short mouth puff before I draw with my lungs seems to give me the best combination. It took a bit of practice before it felt natural, but I enjoy it.

 

[tromboneking]

I've got to have something like 5-6 different menthol brands and none of them seem to be even close. The closest that I feel was Totally Wicked's Chip Mint but even that doesn't seem to feel like much sometimes.

 

[me who]

Have you tried pure menthol crystals dissolved in Everclear? It makes a strong, cost effective concentrate perfect for boosting menthol or creating a menthol flavor from a tobacco base flavor.

 

[Giantfan]

TW's menthol flavor in a 510 is pretty great.

In the end though, she just needs to give up the cigarettes and dedicate herself to vaping, otherwise she'll never quit, period. Cigarettes are always going to be better in comparison, so in order to break free, she can't have a daily comparison right in front of her.

 

[miketr]

Have you tried pure menthol crystals dissolved in Everclear? It makes a strong, cost effective concentrate perfect for boosting menthol or creating a menthol flavor from a tobacco base flavor.

I agree, I'm a former Menthol smoker and this is the most accurately Menthol taste rather than mint taste. Not having tried TW's, I can't comment on it, but the stock (Dekang liquid?) Menthol cartridges I got with my 510 tasted like Mint. "Mentha" flavor tastes like Mint. It's hard to find a true menthol flavor.

You buy a 4-ounce bag of Menthol crystals (eBay is a good place to look) for a few dollars, get some pure grain alcohol (Everclear), and follow the instructions and read one of the numerous threads on using it. One very exact thread that I used is here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/20590-menthol-drops-recipe-menthol-lovers.html

And then try it at varying strengths with different tobacco flavors (Flue Cured and Marl-bro being popular ones, for example) at a high enough mg for your wife to get the throat hit she is used to, whatever that may be. Get 0 nic and 36 nic tobacco eLiquids and mix them at varying strengths to find what works for her.

From my experience, nothing is going to taste exactly like a cigarette, but it can get pretty close.

 

[Giantfan]

TW's is heavy menthol. Your whole lungs open up with ice cool vapor. To me, it's actually better than a menthol cigarette. When I was smoking menthols, I was always wishing for something this strong.

 

[HockerMagnum]

My favorite is 10:1 VG:LorAnn's Wintergreen.
2nd is same ratio VG and menthol chrystals.

 

[miketr]

TW's is heavy menthol. Your whole lungs open up with ice cool vapor. To me, it's actually better than a menthol cigarette. When I was smoking menthols, I was always wishing for something this strong.

Yeah, there were these analogs called Malibu's that I used to smoke that had this super strong menthol flavor. They quit making those and I couldn't find anything as menthol flavored, and that bumbed me out at the time.
What you describe sounds like the straight menthol-only (no tobacco) 14mg eliquid I make for myself. I really enjoy it, it's like having those Malibus back, but better!

 

[prpljett]

I never liked smoking menthol analogs. Or minty anything. I thought they are horrid. But funny thing is, my everyday vape is menthol. I guess it just has a nice taste that I seem to enjoy.

 

[Babsb]

I had/have the same problem as your wife. Ive been vaping the 510 for about 2 weeks now. I was a heavy menthol smoker. I cant say what brand, because we rolled our own. I ordered close to a dozen flavors from Nhaler. What I found did it for me, was the Nuport (From Nhaler dot com) and I purchased some menthol liquid from JuicyLiquid dot com. I have a 6ml sample bottle of the Nuport. It was down to between half and three quarters full. I topped it off with the liquid menthol and THAT did it for me. A massive menthol flavor I was searching for. I had some friends try it and one just about passed out...WOW, now that IS menthol...WHEWWWWW Babs!! I just love it! Problem is, I ran out, so its back to the puke smokes I have to place a order (which Im doing as soon as Im done here) for some more as well as trying Drews Super MENTHOL flavor.

So what did it for me, and Im a hard core menthol smoker
Nhaler's Nuport mixed with some
JuicyLiquid's Liquid Menthol (this stuff is cheap)



Now if I could just taste the rest of the flavors I have..but thats another help post I need to make. WAKE UP TASTEBUDS!

 

[Sheryl]

She may like a menthol/tobacco mix. I smoked Kools for 40 years, I like the menthol but it takes getting use to. Cig's are menthol and tobacco. Vaping will never taste like an analog, IMO. You just have to find a flavor that you like. I've had to spend a few bucks, (don't want to think about it) but most menthol's are similar as far as I can tell.