All Flavoring Manufacturers: An Open Discussion

[JD1]

So, I don't need any more flavors, but I've been starting to think of trying a couple of Capella, just because I've never tried anything from them. And I got a little more immediately interested when I got an email from High Desert vapes with a 20% off code (NEWYEARS) but found their hardware prices too high to make it worthwhile.

They don't make much in the flavor profile I like, which is generally not very sweet. I like some bakery types, though again, tend towards rich more than sweet. For fruits I mostly like citrus, cranberry, and pineapple, again preferring not sweet.

So I'm thinking of maybe three or four from these: Sweet Tangerine, Boston Cream Pie, Sugar Cookie, Lemon Meringue Pie, Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Hazelnut, and Sweet Mango (just because of the comments in this thread.) It's looking like Bull City Vapor has better prices than High Desert, even allowing for the sale.

None of these have any chance of being an all day vape, so by my standards I'm not much worried about whether they have diketones. Any call outs of really bad or really good from that list?

I can't help with those specific flavors but of the few Cap flavors I tried, I liked most of them but they did require a high percentage of flavor, and seemed to prefer higher pg as well. You might be doing this already, but if not, and you're planning on trying Capella, I'd suggest mixing your nic down only to twice what you vape at and let the calculator tell you what to add after adding the flavors. I'd also test at 20% vg to start if you're able to do so. You should be able to go higher on the vg but at least you'll know what the difference is and whether you want to go higher or not.

I'm old and slow and lazy, so I mix my base down to 6mg, add flavors and vape away. Makes it easy but if I add a lot of flavor then I'm sucking the bottom out of my Veritas trying to get enough nic.

 

[MonicaRae]

I don't actually know; I've finally arrived at what I think is the perfect recipe for my Strawberries and Cream, but since I was still kinda working it out, and also because I was kinda low on my unflavored WTA, I haven't made really large (30ml or more) batches of the strawberry. But, I just got a new bottle of the unflavored WTA, so I'm about to mix up a 30ml batch of the strawberry to get me thru the rest of January at my 9% WTA level -- in February I'll be starting to use the WTA at 8%, but with such a minor change, I probably won't change the recipe; in a few months, when my WTA usage is down to 5% or less, I may need to adjust some parts of the recipe.

But, I think Bill did address this issue; by using citric acid in the mix, it apparently stabilizes the flavor so it doesn't keep changing. The instructions I gleaned for using that are, dissolve a *scant* 1/4-tsp in 10ml of PG; then, use that at 1% in a mix.

Also -- BBmom -- I think I've finally figured out that, at least for me, the most realistic blueberry flavor is probably the Blueberry Extra, followed by Wild Blueberry, followed by CAP blueberry. The bilberry tastes like the fruit 'n grain bars, which isn't my favorite way to eat blueberry-flavored stuff. It's better than the FW blueberry, but not by a great deal.

Andria

I saw that about the citric acid. I recently came across a recipe that asked for .25%. It made me remember that whole conversation. I think it was you who had asked about where to get it? You buy it in a big bag and dilute it. I just read something somewhere that said the main juice makers use malic or citric acid. Idk if they are one and the same.

I normally don't make big bottles. Like yesterday I mixed up 2 5mls and 2 10mls. I think I've only made a 30ml once lol. I did realize the magic of steeping though (again) I had a mix of cap vanilla custard with some other flavors and I of course vaped it right away but I ended up putting it away and came back to it like 2 weeks later. It's SO much better and it tastes nothing like it did when I first mixed it.

I think some flavors are just like that. I wish they sold citric acid already diluted.

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[AndriaD]

I saw that about the citric acid. I recently came across a recipe that asked for .25%. It made me remember that whole conversation. I think it was you who had asked about where to get it? You buy it in a big bag and dilute it. I just read something somewhere that said the main juice makers use malic or citric acid. Idk if they are one and the same.

I normally don't make big bottles. Like yesterday I mixed up 2 5mls and 2 10mls. I think I've only made a 30ml once lol. I did realize the magic of steeping though (again) I had a mix of cap vanilla custard with some other flavors and I of course vaped it right away but I ended up putting it away and came back to it like 2 weeks later. It's SO much better and it tastes nothing like it did when I first mixed it.

I think some flavors are just like that. I wish they sold citric acid already diluted.

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I wish they did too, hence my snarky remark in that thread about science projects. The best price for it is probably Amazon, and actually I think that may be the only place I've ever seen it, but I don't do that "canning" thing, so I really know nothing about it.

I asked, in some thread, maybe this one, can't remember, about how long it took for ethyl maltol to dissolve; turns out, not too long, but you have to shake it vigorously at least daily, and it dissolves in a few days to a week. So far I haven't tried it, but it's definitely one that should be prepped before it's needed, because of the time it takes to dissolve.

Yesterday I FINALLY mixed up something blueberry that actually tastes good, but it's still lacking something. I'm thinking now would be a good time to try out the 'Biscuit' flavoring. But, we're going to my folks' today, to do their monthly housekeeping, so it'll be this evening before I can play with ejuice.

Here's the recipe I used; it's pretty good, though it still needs... *something*. I think the blueberry just isn't a very strong flavor; I may need to add more. Or maybe a .5% of the strawberry, to give it more of a fruit "bite" -- it seems really bland.

TFA Blueberry Extra 15%
TFA Wild Blueberry 4%
TFA DX Bavarian Cream 1%
TFA Vanilla Swirl 3%
TFA Whipped Cream 3%
CAP Sweet Cream 2%
TFA Sweetener 3%

Andria

 

[amoret]

Thanks. So, I now have: Sweet Tangerine, Boston Cream Pie, Sugar Cookie, Lemon Meringue Pie, Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Hazelnut, and Sweet Mango. For the others, I'm leaning towards Hazelnut, Mango, and ?? Has anyone here tried the Lemon Meringue Pie? Otherwise I'm thinking of going with the Cinnamon Coffee Cake.

I can't help with those specific flavors but of the few Cap flavors I tried, I liked most of them but they did require a high percentage of flavor, and seemed to prefer higher pg as well. You might be doing this already, but if not, and you're planning on trying Capella, I'd suggest mixing your nic down only to twice what you vape at and let the calculator tell you what to add after adding the flavors. I'd also test at 20% vg to start if you're able to do so. You should be able to go higher on the vg but at least you'll know what the difference is and whether you want to go higher or not.

I'm old and slow and lazy, so I mix my base down to 6mg, add flavors and vape away. Makes it easy but if I add a lot of flavor then I'm sucking the bottom out of my Veritas trying to get enough nic.

I'm old, slow, and lazy, so I'll keep that in mind. I also make a base just a little higher in nicotine than I want to end up at, though in my case that's 22%. Since my two main flavors don't use a high flavoring percentage I'm usually okay. Most of the others I make are mostly just for some added variety, so lower final nicotine isn't a problem, and can actually be kind of handy to have toward bedtime.

 

[MonicaRae]

So I really didn't need anymore flavors but I am really low on FW yellow cake and a few others. Then I see ecigexpress is having a 25% off sale for FlavorWest flavorings. I know alot of people don't care for them but I figured hey for like $1/10 ml why not?
I also grabbed a few FA flavors - Vanilla Tahiti, Catalan Cream and Oba Oba. Then for the heck of it Hangsen RY3. All their other good tobaccos were out of stock.

Hopefully the FW flavors I got are good - out of curiosity I got vanilla custard and cheescake. I'm getting both of those from every company I can! Then I've heard good things on the Caramel Candy & Butterscotch. I needed more Graham Cracker and Vanilla Cupcake so we'll see how they compare to TFA. Oh and I'm excited for the Salt Water Taffy (no idea what to do with it) & the Salted Caramel (lots of ideas for that one!)

So funny how some new flavors can make me so happy lol! Now just gotta figure out whether I want a new mod (sx mini) or just get a new rta. Or both....

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[Mr.Mann]

Dang! I just ordered last night and had no idea about the FW sale. Granted, I didn't order any FW, but I would've had I known! Oh well.

 

[JD1]

So I really didn't need anymore flavors but I am really low on FW yellow cake and a few others. Then I see ecigexpress is having a 25% off sale for FlavorWest flavorings. I know alot of people don't care for them but I figured hey for like $1/10 ml why not?
I also grabbed a few FA flavors - Vanilla Tahiti, Catalan Cream and Oba Oba. Then for the heck of it Hangsen RY3. All their other good tobaccos were out of stock.

Hopefully the FW flavors I got are good - out of curiosity I got vanilla custard and cheescake. I'm getting both of those from every company I can! Then I've heard good things on the Caramel Candy & Butterscotch. I needed more Graham Cracker and Vanilla Cupcake so we'll see how they compare to TFA. Oh and I'm excited for the Salt Water Taffy (no idea what to do with it) & the Salted Caramel (lots of ideas for that one!)

So funny how some new flavors can make me so happy lol! Now just gotta figure out whether I want a new mod (sx mini) or just get a new rta. Or both....

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Sounds like you've got a bunch of great flavors headed your way. I'd be interested in how the FA flavors turn out for you, especially the Vanilla Tahiti. I've read some good reviews on it. I've read some good and bad on the Oba Oba lol. I remember running across a fairly complicated recipe which had it as one of the flavors, but I didn't bookmark it.

 

[Mr.Mann]

Monica,

If anyone is interested in a wonderful FW flavor to buy, do yourself a f(l)avor and get their Banana Split! I tell ya', out of all the banana flavorings I've tried, this one is the one I use the most. It is the only one I've had that tastes like a really ripe banana -- almost like a mashed banana! It has no off tastes or green tastes at all. I don't even acknowledge the "split" aspect (though it would work wonders for that type of recipe), it's just a great banana flavoring that works really well in bakery-type flavors. Sweet. Creamy. Luscious. Banana!!!! The flavor comes alive anywhere from 4% and up.

p.s. NO, NO, NO banana runts here! LOL

 

[quickbot]

First of all you all in US are lucky mofos! Ok, got that out of my system lol

I have question about LorAnn's flavorings. Ive ordered like 15flavors from that brand in 3.5ml bottles and read in description that they are very strong flavors and need only 2x-4x less than others to have same effect. BUT.... reading all kinds of recipes with lorann flavors, all require atleast 10%-25% depending on flavor and thats very high for a 4x stronger flavoring?!

So my question is, all this 4x is a total bull or those recipes are old/way too flavored e-juices? Vorried cos i tought that one 3.5ml bottle will last me a 100ml e-juice, but now it seems ive bought pretty expensive flavors that will do like 30ml of juice per.

Thanks!


And back to first sentence, you guys can buy a 4oz flavorings for 10-13usd is just nuts, but prolly will order later on even tho shipping is close to 50usd to Latvia!

 

[GT86]

So I really didn't need anymore flavors but I am really low on FW yellow cake and a few others. Then I see ecigexpress is having a 25% off sale for FlavorWest flavorings. I know alot of people don't care for them but I figured hey for like $1/10 ml why not?
I also grabbed a few FA flavors - Vanilla Tahiti, Catalan Cream and Oba Oba. Then for the heck of it Hangsen RY3. All their other good tobaccos were out of stock.

Hopefully the FW flavors I got are good - out of curiosity I got vanilla custard and cheescake. I'm getting both of those from every company I can! Then I've heard good things on the Caramel Candy & Butterscotch. I needed more Graham Cracker and Vanilla Cupcake so we'll see how they compare to TFA. Oh and I'm excited for the Salt Water Taffy (no idea what to do with it) & the Salted Caramel (lots of ideas for that one!)

So funny how some new flavors can make me so happy lol! Now just gotta figure out whether I want a new mod (sx mini) or just get a new rta. Or both....

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You got me all excited with this sale and saying you've heard good things about the caramel and butterscotch (I've been looking for those 2 that are good), then I checked them at BCV and they both have Acetoin and so does the salted caramel so my search is still on.
I just got Inw karamel and HS butterscotch. The karamel doesn't taste like caramel at all, I don't know what it tastes like but it's not caramel. The butterscotch is very light and not much flavor. I mixed 5ml of each at 10% just to try them alone and am not liking it. I'm going to let the butterscotch sit for a few days and see if it gets better and retry the karamel at a lower percentage. Hopefully it will get better.
I did the same test with Cap New York Cheesecake and it is very good, tastes just like cheesecake. I also did the Cap sweet strawberry but haven't tried it yet, I want to do a side by side with the FA strawberry. I'll report back later.

I mixed up some New York cheesecake and FA maple syrup and at first couldn't taste the maple so I added more and now after sitting for a day the maple is pretty strong so I'm going to try again and drop the percentages back down and then let it sit and try again, other than being strong it is really good.

 

[Mr.Mann]

First of all you all in US are lucky mofos! Ok, got that out of my system lol

I have question about LorAnn's flavorings. Ive ordered like 15flavors from that brand in 3.5ml bottles and read in description that they are very strong flavors and need only 2x-4x less than others to have same effect. BUT.... reading all kinds of recipes with lorann flavors, all require atleast 10%-25% depending on flavor and thats very high for a 4x stronger flavoring?!

So my question is, all this 4x is a total bull or those recipes are old/way too flavored e-juices? Vorried cos i tought that one 3.5ml bottle will last me a 100ml e-juice, but now it seems ive bought pretty expensive flavors that will do like 30ml of juice per.

Thanks!


And back to first sentence, you guys can buy a 4oz flavorings for 10-13usd is just nuts, but prolly will order later on even tho shipping is close to 50usd to Latvia!

It really depends. I don't have a ton of experience with LA, but what I hve tried I used under 5%. I can tell you that the majority of recipes I've tried (for any mfr) are all over the place and RARELY suit my needs. I think a lot has to do with people's hardware, our wonky taste buds, incorrect measurements or whatever. I don't know, but I can tell you that the best recipes for you should be the ones you come up with.

But about LA's percentages, I say start low and go from there. When I taste nasty mixes becasue the flavoring is too high, it turns me off to a flavor and I have to wait until I forget about that experience. Nasty never will come from too little flavoring. So if LA says they're strong, trust them -- but if they aren't strong enough, just add a touch more.

 

[AndriaD]

I added some INW Biscuit to my blueberry mix, and it's pretty good, but maybe I added too much? It kinda pushes the blueberry flavor into the background. I have no idea what percentage it was that I added, since I just added some drops to the mix, but -- Mr Mann -- for a recipe, what would be a good percentage to use for the Biscuit, so it doesn't push the main flavor into the background?

Also -- does anyone know if the TFA Blueberry Extra is one of those flavors that just gets muted when you add more? I'm using a lot, 15%, and 5% Wild Blueberry, but really I can barely taste the blueberry at all.

Andria

 

[Mr.Mann]

I added some INW Biscuit to my blueberry mix, and it's pretty good, but maybe I added too much? It kinda pushes the blueberry flavor into the background. I have no idea what percentage it was that I added, since I just added some drops to the mix, but -- Mr Mann -- for a recipe, what would be a good percentage to use for the Biscuit, so it doesn't push the main flavor into the background?

Also -- does anyone know if the TFA Blueberry Extra is one of those flavors that just gets muted when you add more? I'm using a lot, 15%, and 5% Wild Blueberry, but really I can barely taste the blueberry at all.

Andria

Yes, I have had the best results with the blueberry brothers with more of an inverted ratio to what you used. But if you don't want to flip them, I feel a good middle ground is about 7% each. The Extra vanishes the higher it gets, and although Wild will max out as a high percentage, it won't necessarily regress into obscurity.

I use Wild as the main blueberry note and Extra as the blueberry sweetness I want.

For the Biscuit, you really don't need a lot for it to do it's thing, but if you add too much, as you saw, it will overpower the mix. Try it at 2% and under (with an emphasis on "under" ).

 

[AndriaD]

Yes, I have had the best results with the blueberry brothers with more of an inverted ratio to what you used. But if you don't want to flip them, I feel a good middle ground is about 7% each. The Extra vanishes the higher it gets, and although Wild will max out as a high percentage, it won't necessarily regress into obscurity.

I use Wild as the main blueberry note and Extra as the blueberry sweetness I want.

For the Biscuit, you really don't need a lot for it to do it's thing, but if you add too much, as you saw, it will overpower the mix. Try it at 2% and under (with an emphasis on "under" ).

Ok, I had been thinking I might try 1%, but wondered if I should go even lower.

It's odd what you said about the blueberries, because to me the 'extra' has a MUCH better and more realistic taste than the Wild; the Wild tastes/smells really weak to me, almost not there at all.

Maybe I should try something like 8% extra, 6% wild, and throw in maybe .5% of the INW bilberry, and maybe even .5% of the blueberry candy.

Andria

 

[Mr.Mann]

Ok, I had been thinking I might try 1%, but wondered if I should go even lower.

It's odd what you said about the blueberries, because to me the 'extra' has a MUCH better and more realistic taste than the Wild; the Wild tastes/smells really weak to me, almost not there at all.

Maybe I should try something like 8% extra, 6% wild, and throw in maybe .5% of the INW bilberry, and maybe even .5% of the blueberry candy.

Andria

Pitting the Wild up next to real blueberries, to me, reveals the same aroma. Blueberries are not exactly highly aromatic or sweet (IMO), unlike the Extra which to me is more like blueberry jam (mixed with sugars)

Try the Biscuit at 1% and Sweet Cream (CAP) at the same percentage -- then add in whatever percentage of Blueberry you want.

The Sweet Cream softens the Biscuit and makes it more muffin-like than cookie/biscuit (especially at that percentage).

EDIT: I will play around with these ingredients and tell you if and when I get something I think you should try. As of now, I've just been guessing based on previous non-blueberry mixes and I figure I should at least attempt to get something I would want to vape and hopefully you will be able to get something from it too.

Just mixed up a .5% Biscuit, and 1% Sweet Cream and 10% Extra: Yeah, the Biscuit can be a bit unruly with blueberry (I had forgotten). Maybe next I will try a 50% dilution and use that at .5%. The Biscuit may be a bit too muscular to use straight-up with the Blueberry.

 

[AndriaD]

Pitting the Wild up next to real blueberries, to me, reveals the same aroma. Blueberries are not exactly highly aromatic or sweet (IMO), unlike the Extra which to me is more like blueberry jam (mixed with sugars)

Try the Biscuit at 1% and Sweet Cream (CAP) at the same percentage -- then add in whatever percentage of Blueberry you want.

The Sweet Cream softens the Biscuit and makes it more muffin-like than cookie/biscuit (especially at that percentage).

Ok, that sounds good; the original recipe also has TFA Bavarian DX, and TFA Vanilla Swirl; I'll keep the Bav DX, it's only 1%, but maybe take the Vanilla Swirl down to 1% also. Actually I might even boost the Bav DX to 2%, I like the richness it gives my strawberry mix.

Andria

 

[Mr.Mann]

Ok, that sounds good; the original recipe also has TFA Bavarian DX, and TFA Vanilla Swirl; I'll keep the Bav DX, it's only 1%, but maybe take the Vanilla Swirl down to 1% also. Actually I might even boost the Bav DX to 2%, I like the richness it gives my strawberry mix.

Andria

Check my edits. They may be a difficult paring as those blueberries, as wonderful as they are, can get chumped by stronger flavors.

 

[AndriaD]

Check my edits. They may be a difficult paring as those blueberries, as wonderful as they are, can get chumped by stronger flavors.

Ok, that does sound reasonable, because although what I have right now isn't bad, it's sort of like a nice cookie, that might or might not have a trace of blueberry flavor -- mostly in the aftertaste; in the "up front" taste, almost no blueberry at all.

Andria

 

[Mr.Mann]

Ok, that does sound reasonable, because although what I have right now isn't bad, it's sort of like a nice cookie, that might or might not have a trace of blueberry flavor -- mostly in the aftertaste; in the "up front" taste, almost no blueberry at all.

Andria

Have you ever done pre-dilution of a strong flavoring? It's way easier to do that than making a large batch to use a small percentage or trying to measure out below a drop for a 5 or 10 mL (something that is near impossible with ammateur equipment). I first start out at 50% pre-dilutions unless the flavor is super duper strong, then I will go as low as 20% and start to add it in a .5% (something I often do with Cardamom).

 

[GaryInTexas]

I use the biscuit at 1-2 drops per ml with my peach and that seems perfect for me. I would suggest just working with the biscuit and blueberries first then when it taste right start adding in the cream to taste.