Can someone please help? UK laws have forced my e-juice supplier to have it made in the UK and the replacement which are supposed to taste the same. B

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Moonlight Shadow

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Mar 19, 2015
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Can someone please help? I’m in a real fix. UK laws have forced my e-juicesupplier to have it made in the UK and the replacementwhich are supposed to taste the same don’t, “they taste terrible!.

I was a sixty a day cigarette smoker for almost fifty years, because of health problems I decided to give-up-smoking so threw my remaining couple of cartons in a cupboard and started vaping. In that year I have not looked back, (until now), I tried electronic cigs when they first came out but couldn’t get on with them so gave up. Just over a year ago I tried many different flavours to find I didn’t like any of the fancy flavours, being an heavy smoker I wanted the juice to taste as close to real cigarettes as possible. I eventually found Socialites V-Blend which is a hand-rolling tobacco flavour and I love it. “I was surprised I liked it because I smoked tailor made and never rolled my own. I have tried other flavours when vaping with friends but found I only like the V-Blend. If you asked me to describe what V-Blend tastes like “I couldn’t!.. Unfortunately because of the new UK laws socialites have started having juice made in the UK and it tastes terrible!.. So I’m now in a real fix.:confused:


I’m confined to a wheelchair with multiple sclerosis and have other health issues including chronic lung disease so can’t get out to taste different juices. My personal care assistant visited Socialites Norwich, to purchase my usual six bottles of V-Blend e-juice when she was advised they are no longer available in 15ml bottles but are available in the new 10ml bottles, which are now produced in the UK but in a cleaner environment. My care assistant was assured the juice was exactly the same formula and would taste no different. “It does not, it tastes very different and gives a nasty after taste, it also tastes very oily/greasy!.. :( The colour is also much lighter in the new product. The remaining five 10ml new bottles will be returned to Socialites, (“but I only have three bottles of the old stock left”)


I phoned Socialites who promised to phone me back but they didn’t so I emailed them a few days ago but still no reply.. I was advised because of the new rules all future juice will be made in the UK, they added it should have tasted exactly the same but admitted they have had many other complaints in regard to both the taste and the unfriendly bottles they are now using. I could not get the juice out of the bottle; I resorted to cutting the top off and decanting it into one of the old bottles. But my biggest problem by far is the taste of the new product which I can only describe as Very, Very NASTY!.. I asked them if they had any old stock or if they could supply the old juice but was told no, but she would pass on my feedback and get someone to call me. I’m surprised Socialites haven’t been more helpful I have been a good customer and must have recommended thirty or more customers.

Can anyone recommend any tobacco flavoured juices? Has anyone used socialites V Blend? Which is a hand-rolling tobacco flavour and found anything comparable?

I have used an itaste MVP for a year and I’m very happy with it all I need now is an e-juice I can get on with!.. After a year of vaping, I do not want to start smoking again, neither my health nor pocket can afford it.

Sorry for the long post but wanted to give as much info as possible.
 
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Jdurand

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You may find that the juice steeps, or ages, to taste the way you remember. It's possible that if your favorite juice used to come from overseas it had time to steep before it got to you. Let it age a couple of weeks and see what happens. Some juices I buy that are made to order are absolutely horrible until they have sat two weeks or even more.
 

nyiddle

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Howdy, welcome to the ECF!

Steeping is a pretty good suggestion. Many juices take some time for their flavorings to "settle" with the nicotine/vegetable glycerin/propylene glycol. I would suggest holding onto at least one bottle of the new blend and letting it sit in a dark place. Occasionally (daily, or once every other day or so) take it out of the spot and give 'er a good shake. It can also help to let the bottle "breathe" by removing the top and letting it sit, topless (heh), for about an hour or so, then shaking it and putting the top back on to refresh the air in the bottle. The oxidation will help the juice develop.

In terms of finding an alternative flavor for you, I'm not really sure what to tell you. I've never tried the juice in particular, but I imagine (since it's "V Blend") it's a "Virginia Blend" of tobacco. Mountain Oak Vapors is pretty well-renowned for their NET (naturally extracted tobacco) flavors. You might want to try their "Full Virginia Flake RY4". I've never tried it, so I can't exactly tell you what it's like, but it may have some of that "virginia" blend flavor you're looking for, and in general, they seem like a high-quality e-liquid site.

Sorry I can't help you more, but I'll bet someone will come along with some more info.
 
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Moonlight Shadow

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Mar 19, 2015
17
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UK
You may find that the juice steeps, or ages, to taste the way you remember. It's possible that if your favorite juice used to come from overseas it had time to steep before it got to you. Let it age a couple of weeks and see what happens. Some juices I buy that are made to order are absolutely horrible until they have sat two weeks or even more.

Thanks, perhaps that is part of it?.. I suppose I’m panicking because I have used the same juice for a little over a year and worried I won’t find something I like and the thought of going back to smoking now revolts me!.

I understand taste is very subjective and we all have differing tastes I often tell people new to vaping don’t take any notice of what they call the juice because it usually has little or no bearing or relation to the actual taste!.. I have tried so many and found they taste nothing like what you imagine, for example, many people don’t like smoking menthol cigarettes, but when they try menthol flavoured e-juice in a e-cig many like or even love it. You may not like apples or oranges but you may love it as a flavour in e-juice!..
 
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Retro138

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Welcome to ECF.

Besides steeping like others have already said I have nothing to offer. I was a heavy marlboro smoker for years and really got hooked on NicVapes RY4 medium. They have mild medium and strong. It's the closest I got to an actual cigarette after taste but with the slightest bit of caramel aftertaste. I emphasize that because it's really slight. Maybe a maybe til you get sorted out?
 

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nyiddle

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nyiddle I tried posting but a message says "You are not allowed to to post links! "

Thanks for taking the time to answer my post I really appreciate your interesting and positive advice and I will keep one bottle and experiment a little. I suppose its a little bit like wine maturing!..

Oops! I guess until you have a certain # of posts you can't post links (and I guess that includes links in quotes..)

It is actually a lot like wine maturing. I have several bottles of juice that I don't intend to even try for another 3-4 months.
 

Moonlight Shadow

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nyiddle I tried posting a reply with quote but keep getting "An error has occurred Moonlight Shadow! You are not allowed to post links. "

Thanks for taking the time to answer my post I really appreciate your interesting and positive advice and I will keep one bottle and experiment a little. I suppose its a little bit like wine maturing!..
 

Moonlight Shadow

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Mar 19, 2015
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Oops! I guess until you have a certain # of posts you can't post links (and I guess that includes links in quotes..)

It is actually a lot like wine maturing. I have several bottles of juice that I don't intend to even try for another 3-4 months.

It allows me to post with quote, perhaps its the box bellow your message?. Which Says nyidle then text Using a 4Nine/SMPL?hybrid etc..
 

twgbonehead

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Hi, Moonlight, and Welcome to ECF!

Steeping certainly might help. If the juice used to come from overseas, it probably took a while to get there; now that it's made locally it might be much fresher.

Also as for airing out the juice, I would recommend just take the cap off, squeeze the air out a couple of times, then put the cap back on and give it a good shake. Do this once or twice a day until there is no "chemical" or "perfume" smell. And actually, the purpose of airing is not really to provide oxidation, it's to get the volatile compounds (which come from the flavorings) to evaporate, without losing much of the flavor.

Good luck, hope things work out for you!
 

nyiddle

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And actually, the purpose of airing is not really to provide oxidation, it's to get the volatile compounds (which come from the flavorings) to evaporate, without losing much of the flavor.

Oh? I don't mean to sound combative, but I've never heard this.

"Volatile compounds (which come from the flavorings)"? What do you mean?

Additionally, I thought the purpose of shaking the bottle was to provide oxidation, and wouldn't leaving the top off attain the same getting rid of "volatile compounds"?
 

Moonlight Shadow

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Mar 19, 2015
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UK
To my knowledge, there is no current law that says juices have to be made in the UK over here.

Are you sure your supplier didn't use that as an excuse for switching to cheaper ingredients or something?


Thanks for your reply. I can not be 100% sure but the lady I spoke to mentioned some initials which I don't remember but said the law changes in the next six months or so, she added they have started supplying UK juice early before the new laws commence. She also said the new law only allows 10 ml bottles and must have more information on the label. I can't see why she would lie?..
 

djsvapour

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There are no such laws in the UK regarding e-liquid. (There will be some next year, but those aren't these).

Socialites are not a trustworthy company.

I am sorry to get angry but it upsets me these bogus companies are coming out with such nonsense to deliberately abuse UK customers.

I'll visit this thread later to see if we can help find you something similar. :)
 

djsvapour

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Thanks for your reply. I can not be 100% sure but the lady I spoke to mentioned some initials which I don't remember but said the law changes in the next six months or so, she added they have started supplying UK juice early before the new laws commence. She also said the new law only allows 10 ml bottles and must have more information on the label. I can't see why she would lie?..

Well, she is partly right. In 2016, bottles over 10ml will not be allowed.

However, ALL liquids will be illegal then anyway, unless they have been approved.
 

DampMop

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Sorry Moonlight, I didn't mean to sound so accusatory in my last post. Bad wording reading it back :)

The only tobacco flavour I've tried is Liqua and Liqualites (came with my starter kit). Traditional Tobacco flavour tasted pretty much like a pack of cigarettes smells when you open them. The flavour was consistent down to the last drop too. Quite mellow and not all that strong though.

Best of luck with your search, I hope you find a suitable replacement.
 

rolygate

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One suggestion: find out if you can buy direct from the original overseas supplier. If they are in the US, then figure out a way to buy there without going through the UK company.

If the same ingredients are used but from different (local) sources, the taste will be slightly different - but not completely different, to the degree you have described. It sounds as if they have sourced the e-liquid from another supplier, who cannot replicate the original flavour. Or they just picked something that looked similar.

Importing e-liquid from the USA is very expensive and is only practical for premium brands at £7.50 or more per 10ml, UK retail price - so UK vendors eventually get around to making them here.

The US brands can be 'rebuilt' here but the more common option is to get a Chinese supplier to build it, as this gives even more profit margin. They typically add a nasty top-end note using rhodinol (rose oil), which gives a vile perfumey aroma. Leaving the bottle open permanently gets rid of some of it, but you can never get rid of all of it. In fact it infects atomisers with that nasty taste, and it takes strong solvents to clean them.
 

Matt Marshall

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Feb 21, 2015
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Socialites are not a company I would use my friend. I was vaping there cappuccino flavour juice and started to get chronic headaches. I decided to look up some of the ingredients online and found that there was some shady chemicals in there that have been advised to avoid on some of the other forums. I'll try and find you the link. For just now though I advise you look for a new supplier. I use ibreathe and G2 I'm also UK
 
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