are all these reviews really worth anything?!

[skymyrka]

<rant>
While I definitely have my top 5 (or 10) liquids lined up, I'm always on a hunt for "the one!".
When first starting out (and I think many can relate) we all gladly open up our wallets in a hunt for that perfect flavor, and what better way than waste away endless hours watching/researching all the reviews on youTube for example.

Today, I've set out again trying to see what's out there, and realized there's NOT A SINGLE negative review out there. The closest that someone's commentary can come to is "well, vapor production is really up to the equipment", "if you're into such and such flavor, you'll like this, but it's really not for me", "taste is subjective", etc, etc, etc.

In short, there's not a single one that says "yikes, this sucks", "shoot that taste like perfume", "gosh try such and such, those guys got it right", or just plain simple "I don't like this".

So, that begs the question, are those reviews really worth anything and why there are not a whole lot more wider range of honesty/opinion reviews out there? Has anyone even seen a negative review to share? and... Are all those reviews really worth anything?
</rant>

 

[Carla Sebrina Spahos]

All The Juices

One of the forum members created this website to gather reviews of ejuices. It's brand new so there might not be too much up there, but it's easy enough to leave your own reviews also. Good luck!

 

[VapHer]

My blog is solely dedicated to reviews of juice and PV's as I get them

Just remember juice taste/Vape is subjective


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[bikerbeagle]

To be honest, I don't find reviews of juices all that helpful; however, I think that most reviewers are at least cognizant of the idea that taste really is subjective and they don't want to trash the reputation of a business simply because their palate doesn't agree with a certain flavor or flavors.

 

[theinlawjosie]

To be honest, I don't find reviews of juices all that helpful; however, I think that most reviewers are at least cognizant of the idea that taste really is subjective and they don't want to trash the reputation of a business simply because their palate doesn't agree with a certain flavor or flavors.

This is one of my favorite things about the vaping community! There are a lot of people that are more than willing to trash the reputation of a legitimate business because the products don't fit the 'taste' of that particular person. It's shameful, and the fact that those sort of people seem to be few and far between in the vaping community (at least when it comes to juices) is a refreshing and wonderful thing!

 

[Dunvegan]

The reviews have absolutely helped me to narrow the field down...and probably avoid some very icky flavours.

As I'm just beginning my vaping adventure, it has been crucial to starting out that I had advice to try sample packs, and tried out several packs that came highly touted by multiple veteran vapers.

Had I only ordered the one juice offered with my original hardware vaping kit, I wonder if I would have been so happy right out of the chute.

Having information on which types of juice benefits from steeping, knowing a few reliable tasty juices, and ordering about a half-dozen sample packs got my party started on the first day of real vaping.

That was one happy day of vapemail and taste testing.

Didn't even think about burning an analog during the first week of taste adventures...and when I decided to experiment with an analog to see if I missed them...yuck~ NOPE!

Now, I'm refining my ventures into flavours...but I still benefit from the reviews, and find certain reviewers that now have a palate after my own taste. Who have suggested juices I'll be looking into.

Doesn't mean I won't go off the map and try this-and-that I find via Google here-and-there...and I'll live and learn.

Someday, after I get the tasting and palate up to speed, I expect I'll start to whip up my own concoctions.



Meanwhile...thanks for those vapers that suggested Alice in Vaporland...their vapes are generally reliable for me as ADVs...no wasted money on that vendor so far, and many wonderous plumes of satisfaction from AiW!

Thanks for all your suggestions, vets~

 

[Train2]

Look at reviews here, or on youtube - not the one's on the vendor's own site...

 

[lasttango]

I read reviews all the time... I look for ones by reviewers who have steered me in favorable directions in he past and avoid those who have steered me wrong.

You can pick up some useful info from reviews... like the experience of the reviewer etc... reliability of the vendor etc... but overall, reviews are usually people who are motivated to share their love for a juice...

I know I'm not terribly motivated to share my disappointments.

Get an idea of what you wish to discover and start a thread or stat asking... put your eggs in the baskets of those who you trust more...


I know if I find someone who loves Halo and goodejuice Lab menthols that their recommendation will be golden to me...

I know if someone raves about 4 vendors I dislike... then reviews a 5th vendor I don't know... it doesn't increase my confidence.

 

[paperdesert]

I really appreciate when a reviewer is able to give a flavor profile. As I have a bit of a sophisticated palate (thanks to my classically trained chef son ), I'm able to make a fairly accurate assessment as to whether or not I'll like a juice if the review is detailed enough.

I've been quite lucky with my purchases so far (although I am pretty new to vaping). There was only one vendor I ordered from at the beginning that was a total bust, for me at least...many other people love them. Thanks to the reviews, I've been able to locate vendors who specialize in layered and complex flavors that fit the profiles I love. Keep it up guys! You rock.

I also love the "no trash" policy that seems to be an unspoken rule for the reviews. People have very different palates. My daughter in law (NOT the one married to the chef) loves fast food hamburgers. To her they are as tasty as my favorite cherry duck mole (which she hates). Everyone should be able to vape what they enjoy without trashing something they don't.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[GaryInTexas]

In the Mt Baker tread you will see a lot of discussion of both the good and bad on different flavors. Generally also discussion of what the flavor taste like to them. It's not bashing but just some honest discussion as no vendor is going to make perfect flavors for everyone.

 

[ThunderPumpkin]

Here you go: Of 16 HHV juices I tried, all but a small handful suck.

 

[skymyrka]

Thanks for the responses, guys!!
I'm not expecting to have something similar like restaurant rating Michelin Guide for the e-liquid industry, but as subjective as taste is, I feel that most of the reviews out there are well... either biased or as lasttango put it "not terribly motivated to share my disappointments".

When it comes down to e-liquids, you can make yourself one for pennies a ml with the supplies you can get from your general supermarket - just need to order up nicotine solution (for those feeling adventurous i hear walmart has a phenomenal flavoring selection). So, would it be that terrible to expect certain standards/feedback?

That's me I wanted to get around the bias of vendor sites and the hidden away nature of forum reviews and open things up to everyone. I still moderate things but only to make sure they're genuine reviews and not something else - no vendors getting one over on me

Early days, but I'm about to add vendor reviews as well for things like postage/prices/produce range. Feels like I'm doing quite well.

tppp, I saw the website, and it seems like an invaluable resource!! Thanks so much! I know how much time/dedication/effort/resources can go into a project like this.

If possible, can the ratings be expanded to include attributes, such as customer service, juice steeping time for the reviewed flavor (very important and almost never mentioned in reviews!!), packaging type (e.g. glass), and usual taste preference of the reviewer (for example, primary vapes: fruity/tobacco/etc)? Sorry, if that seems a tad too much, but just like food critics who have solid credentials, perhaps reviewers should give an idea of their taste preference background??

 

[lasttango]

One of the things that troubles me with this idea of "standards" or what constitutes good or bad juice is the reviewer themselves.

What exactly would be the "non-biased" criterion would could judge/rate a vendor on?

List of possible non-biased criterion:

1- Flavoring companies used: (this could help a possible user determine if they'll like the juice based on experience with that particular flavoring... it also gives an idea of the originality...

2- Nic and base supplier...

3- Performance with particular hardware = vapor production, throat hit, clogging or not etc...

4- Customer Service

5- Flavor intensity

6- Color of juice

7- ?

but the part everyone wants to know is: is this juice good or does it suck?

and that is inherently subjective... and personally, unless I know you... or have followed you... your opinion means little...

Aaron does a lot of reviews here... I know if he likes a flavor, I'll probably hate it... because he likes intense flavors... and he favors many vendors that I am not into... he has also documented dislike of juices that I love...

I have no idea if aaron is a good or bad reviewer... but his reviews are useful to me because of my own experience...

For years on this forum I have read the sentiment that if a reviewer posts a negative or brutal review that they are somehow being more honest... this is sometimes the case... but no more or less honest than someone writing a positive review...

As I mentioned before, most folks are more motivated to share a positive experience... so take it for what it is... it's a positive experience...

If that person has been vaping two weeks, I tend to ignore it.
If they have been vaping 3 years and tried many different vendors I read on.
If they can make comparisons I can relate to etc than I can read between the lines and make my own determination.

I think a lot of folks have unrealistic expectations from juices...
They want the juice to taste like the thumbnail photo from the site... this rarely happens...

You want a piece of chocolate cake, then have a piece of cake, don't try to smoke it.

Chocolate is nearly impossible anyway... cocoa and tootsie roll are as close as it comes really. You learn that after vaping a few years.

Same with tobaccos... so few can replicate the analogue experience. After reading reviews and vaping forever, you'll learn that only Lab juices can come close...

The NETS and absolutes offer a different experience...

Fruits are possibly the easiest to replicate... natural or candy...

Anyway, after reading a few years worth of reviews and trying 100+ vendors... one starts to grow their own BS filter.

So, the #1 thing I look for in a juice is performance... even the best flavors start to suck after a while... that's just the human tastebuds at work...

The #2 thing I look for is a juice is what flavoring companies they use... chances are they use flavourart, TFA, Capellas, Loraans or flavor west... and I already know what these flavors taste like and which I like and don't like.

#3 I look for / at the people who like it and the people who don't like it. I recognize A LOT of faces and user ID's... so I know who is like me and who isn't.

#4 I read the vendor's site... if they say something like "fine imported flavorings from Italy" I know they mean flavourart. I check their tobacco selection to make sure the tobaccos they sell match flavourarts offerings.

#5 I am turned off by vendors who offer TOO Many Flavors... to me, this means they don't do anything well. I have been wrong on this occasionally, but for the most part, it seems to work for me.

#6 I usually avoid vendors that give way too many options on pg/vg, flavor intensity, sweet, cold etc... If I could make juice, I would. Too many variables that could screw up a juice for me.

anyway, just some reflections

 

[skymyrka]

Well, standards are a rather broad term, and perhaps not the best. Here's the issue and a fact:
1. taste truly is subjective
2. you don't get refunds on not liking something.

But is it that much different from say, food industry. If I pay 50USD for a salad, I expect certain things: origin of produce, peeled tomatoes, truffle shavings, etc... But if I decide to get, oh I don't know... blubbery flavor and I'm brand new to the taste, what are my options?

How many reviews out there mention "you know those juices that smell too perfumery and taste like pine-sol" (I'm paraphrasing of course). Well, the problem is, everyone knows a juice/vendor like that, but no one is saying it out loud. On forums here sometimes you can get a feedback that's giving you a pretty good idea.

I do wholeheartedly agree tho with the point you're making, don't get me wrong. But so far, it's been a tad of a blind leads the blind journey.

I like halo, so that lead me to evo, evo lead me to retailer, altsmoke, altsmoke has top 10 (very useful by the way), and so on. That's primarily how I've been discovering flavors and it's been my most reliable way. Another good approach I think is just to go to B&M and taste them out, but selections are always limited.

 

[HeavyUser]

If it wasnt for reviews I never would have tried Bobas Bounty, Gorilla Juice, Khlorine, Pluid, AIV(hated), Monkey Cream, Dorky Stud, Unicorn Blood, EctoPlasm. Hell I never would've even heard of then. Reviewers keep on reviewing!

 

[Kent C]

I read reviews all the time... I look for ones by reviewers who have steered me in favorable directions in he past and avoid those who have steered me wrong.
You can pick up some useful info from reviews... like the experience of the reviewer etc... reliability of the vendor etc... but overall, reviews are usually people who are motivated to share their love for a juice...

I know I'm not terribly motivated to share my disappointments.

Get an idea of what you wish to discover and start a thread or stat asking... put your eggs in the baskets of those who you trust more...


I know if I find someone who loves Halo and goodejuice Lab menthols that their recommendation will be golden to me...

I know if someone raves about 4 vendors I dislike... then reviews a 5th vendor I don't know... it doesn't increase my confidence.

Right on. While taste is 'subjective' that doesn't mean that a banana to one person tastes like a tomato to another There's a range.

One of the most helpful things one can do in finding good ejuice, is to find someone else who likes and gets the same tasting notes as you do on at least two different flavors. Then find out what else that person likes and dislikes. Buy small samples at first and try them at various wattages. A fruit flavor will be burnt out above 8 Watts but a tobacco flavor might not even be tastetable below 8 Watts.

The wattage factor is why it would be really smart for newbies to buy an eGo Twist and a regular resistance 510 atty and drip tip. That will save you more money in sampling than anything else and will keep you from missing some good flavors by finding the wattage they taste best at. Very few flavors taste good at 6 watts AND 9 watts and a half a watt can make a difference.

I know you know this lt..... just hitching a ride on your good post!

 

[lasttango]

Geez... I still remember some of the folks that I found right away... the Canadian guy... remember bornagainst? man, I bought every juice he liked... and that's how I found so many good juices... and Kent C... very helpful during my coffee and tobacco, ry4 days.... It was a rather large lot of juice I bought from him years ago.... he tossed one menthol liquid in the group and I have been on menthols ever since.

It's weird how these successful discoveries evolve...

I remember the first juice I really really liked was LiquidXpress's TABOO... This lead me to VaporTalk's Duclis.... and then this ultimately lead to Boba's Bounty... because my Taboo and Dulcis friends recommended it - Boba's was a fairly new juice then ;-)

Now I was all about VG...
This lead me to Vaperite'ds Bananas Foster - and then I found NETS - Nets lead me to BWB... irinically, because Don didn't even have a net then... but my NET friends loved BWB... he was selling out of the classifieds/suppliers forum then...

Got wicked sucked into BWB.... still my favorite vendor... Don ended up teaching me 90% of what I know about juice -

Met Dr. Vapenstein through this... and he started sending me samples of his DIY with TW base/ Halo Base and decadent vapors... pretty much met Kent C through my Decadent Vapors fascination...

anyway, this is all in my first few months of vaping...


It's always evolving

 

[skymyrka]

Geez... I still remember some of the folks that I found right away... the Canadian guy... remember bornagainst? man, I bought every juice he liked... and that's how I found so many good juices... and Kent C... very helpful during my coffee and tobacco, ry4 days.... It was a rather large lot of juice I bought from him years ago.... he tossed one menthol liquid in the group and I have been on menthols ever since.

It's weird how these successful discoveries evolve...

I remember the first juice I really really liked was LiquidXpress's TABOO... This lead me to VaporTalk's Duclis.... and then this ultimately lead to Boba's Bounty... because my Taboo and Dulcis friends recommended it - Boba's was a fairly new juice then ;-)

Now I was all about VG...
This lead me to Vaperite'ds Bananas Foster - and then I found NETS - Nets lead me to BWB... irinically, because Don didn't even have a net then... but my NET friends loved BWB... he was selling out of the classifieds/suppliers forum then...

Got wicked sucked into BWB.... still my favorite vendor... Don ended up teaching me 90% of what I know about juice -

Met Dr. Vapenstein through this... and he started sending me samples of his DIY with TW base/ Halo Base and decadent vapors... pretty much met Kent C through my Decadent Vapors fascination...

anyway, this is all in my first few months of vaping...


It's always evolving

Whoa, that's pretty awesome!!

 

[Faylool]

I kinda pass on e juice reviews unless it specifically talks about throat hit. Flavor is too subjective. Maybe throat hit is too. I do know since I've ordered a few samples after starting DIY that I'm sooooo glad I DIY. I might be partial to my DIY because it saves so much money and is convenient for me but at this point, about 8 months of DIY, it's doing the trick for me. I never add sweetner for example and I always make it strong flavor. If its too week on throat hit I can fix that. I am trying different sources of nic only mixes slowley but surely. I've been pretty lucky that way. I even got a 100% VG one and I'm a throat hit strong flavor lover. I figured I could just change it but as a stand a lone 100% VG it proved great with the one flavor I tried with it. Anyway. I've always been a do it my way kind of person so it just makes sense but I also wouldn't have learned without ordering Pre made juices. They still come in weak, always weak but I recently found a couple throat hit kind at 12 mg nic 50/50 pg/VG. That's a big score! Anyway. I was going to say I have read a lot of negative reviews on premades but they generally show up inside the thread of something not on a "this is a review" type thread

 

[lasttango]

I think it's rare to find a juice that you could vape everyday for months. For me, most of them tend to be lighter on flavor...
I think that's why I ultimately ended up liking menthols... barely any flavor... plenty of effectiveness/presence... hard for vendors to screw up.

So... OP... if you're still around... name your top few juices and then perhaps the top few you didn't connect with and I bet I could point you in a direction that could lead to a new juice