Alcohol-based flavourings: do you let the alchohol evaporate?

[Maggiemw]

Hello, I am completely new at DIY and am just exploring the process and gathering information first.

I have a lovely cherry food flavouring and wonder if it might ever be suitable for an e-liquid. It has an alcohol base. DO you use this kind of flavouring? If so, do you make your mix and then leave it open to allow the alcohol to evaporate? Does the alcohol content matter in an e-liquid?

Thank you all for your patience with a complete beginner!

 

[echofinder]

I have experimented with food flavorings (most of the flavorings we use were originally intended for culinary use actually) - the most important thing is to look at the ingredients. If it has gum or preservatives I would stay away (gum acacia, sulfates...etc). I do not like dye/colorings either. Most of the 'regular' food flavorings I have tried, I.E. those from the grocery store, are weaker than the concentrates typically used here, so the flavor might be lighter than you expect.

Alcohol is fine. It will thin the juice significantly, and will affect the taste initially. When working with alcohol-based flavorings, I like to mix the flavoring & PG/VG, shake thoroughly, then let it sit for a couple days to evaporate off some of the alcohol. After that I mix in the nic.

 

[Leslv]

When I use alcohol based e-liquid flavorings I mix, shake, then let set for the first 24 hours with the cap off to let the alcohol evaporate. Put the cap back on and steep for whatever time (depends on the flavor). I don't care for the taste of the alcohol. I have never used the flavorings from the grocery store, only those made for DIY.

 

[psycheval]

I can't tell the alcohol is there and I cut with PGA. I air for oxidation purposes not to vent the alcohol. Can any of you taste it in the vape? Some people have sensitivities is my meaning. If your that sensitive to it someone else will be too.

 

[Faylool]

The alcohol helps the throat hit. If you don't like the alcohol in a certain flavor, you can cook it out easily. I've nuked my e juice in glass to pre simmer and poured it in a bowl to cool it fast and smell it and it smells better so the alcohol has been deactivated. Vape it and it's better. With caramel I like to leave it in. Almond Amarreto. Uhmmmm but I don't focus on it I just notice it if the juice needs something or isn't working and it happens to have an alcohol base flavoring in it so I've actually only intentionally gotten rid of the alcohol vapors once. But seems like it could need doing from time to time

 

[TamJeff]

Has anyone ever tried touching a flame to the juice to see if the alcohol flashes off? Seems as if that would do it if there was any real amount. I know some food flavorings have upwards of 30% alcohol. If that were true, and that alcohol was that dominant in a juice in which to be noticeable, that you should be able to flash it off and call it flambe, without heating the juice anymore than you would with hot water bath or a microwave, if that.

 

[echofinder]

E-juice is flammable, so no I would NOT try that. A buddy of mine almost burnt down his kitchen whilst building coils or something - flaming juice everywhere...

 

[TamJeff]

E-juice is flammable, so no I would NOT try that. A buddy of mine almost burnt down his kitchen whilst building coils or something - flaming juice everywhere...

I am sure, as with anything, one would have to use a bit of caution and common sense. For instance, I wouldn't put it in a bottle but perhaps a ramekin. I wouldn't do a gallon but 20-30 ml isn't going to have a high percentage of alcohol. Chef's do it all of the time, even on common household gas cook tops. In restaurants, they'll often flambe right at your table.

 

[colossalK]

I am sure, as with anything, one would have to use a bit of caution and common sense. For instance, I wouldn't put it in a bottle but perhaps a ramekin. I wouldn't do a gallon but 20-30 ml isn't going to have a high percentage of alcohol. Chef's do it all of the time, even on common household gas cook tops. In restaurants, they'll often flambe right at your table.

instead of flashing the alcohol out wouldn't it just light the e juice on fire simultaneously

 

[TamJeff]

instead of flashing the alcohol out wouldn't it just light the e juice on fire simultaneously

Perhaps, I don't know. I was initially wondering if anyone had tried it before. Typically, alcohol burns off relatively quickly, and atthe point where the fumes layer mixes with oxygen. I just thought it amusing that being I see so many questions about alcohol, that it be something as simple as this. The reason I even asked was because with cooking, where wine or liqueurs are used, the alcohol is also the unfavorable component in the flavor so they burn it away, leaving the flavor behind.

The idea may be absurd with regards to e-juice so it was just a thought. As much as people get into the technicalities/details surrounding DIY, I figured maybe someone had tried it.

 

[Mowgli]

One of my many questions is: how bonded is the flavoring to the alcohol?

I aerate and steep in a UC when I mix my juices and have wondered how much of the flavor disappears with the evaporated alc.

 

[dannyv45]

I'll generally leave the cap off for 24 hours.