Can't stand TFA, anyone else?

[Kabooma]

I order a lot from WL, generally stick to LA now when buying flavors. I was wondering if anyone else experiences what I do with TFA? Every single TFA flavor I've ever ordered (including from different online stores) tasted "wrong", and overly chemical-ish.

Just recently I ordered more coconut for my fav vape (pina coloda), and the "free sample" was TFA coconut, so I wasn't paying attention that it was TFA and not LA, and the size was exact for the batch I was making and I used it- and it ruined the batch.. tastes like chemical soup. Even trying to use TFA for single-flavor batches has in the past been 100% fail for me.

I was just wondering if anyone else feels that way about TFA, yet (like me) found another maker (LA for me) whose flavors are fantastic? Am I just screwed up, or is this common?

 

[Jimi D.]

Not the best out there, that's for sure. I've always noticed how the aroma just sticks to the bottles no matter what percentages I mix them.

 

[dannyv45]

Some are good some so so and some are very bad. I got the TFA black honey tobacco and have spent a lot of time trying to make something of it and still it's chemical tasting. It seems the biggest complaints of a chemical taste are from TFA flavors.

 

[kabonk]

some of their flavors are hard to work with and are better as accent flavors in small percents but there are a couple that I order and make sure I always have on hand because they are part of a everyday used recipes, RY4 Asian and vanilla swirl is part of my caramel tobacco recipe and honeysuckle for in my honeysuckle tobacco, my K55 has m-type, vanilla swirl, AP, dk-tab, RY4 Asian in it along with a few other things from other vendors. but I don't use any of their flavors as stand alones

 

[madstabber]

I use TFA juicy fruit and can't live without it. I've ordered other TFA flavors and haven't cared for them but no more than any other brand of flavoring. The juicy fruit is amazing though and makes some of the most delicious juice I've ever tasted.

 

[quatro]

I am leaning the same way and prefer FA.

 

[Faylool]

I've been satisfied with TFA and I do use a higher percentage but only several flavors so far.

 

[Dvx67]

Some are pretty good but the problem I have with TFA is that the percentages are all over the place. One will be strong at 2% and the next needs to be 15%.... I never know where to start and it takes a lot of trial and error.

 

[bazmonkey]

+1 to the percentages being all over the place.

They also have somewhat concentrated flavors, compared to Hangsen's essences, or Mt. Baker's concentrates. I have not tried TA or LA. It is easy to overdo a lot of their flavors by adding even a drop to 10mL.

Their "tobacco blend" is good, a favorite of my friends. Black cherry has been described as one of the best cherries. It's very strong and a drop of it in 20mL is great to give the candy-ish taste that's the difference between "fruit punch" and "lots of fruits mixed together".

I like to add a few drops of their caramel to any tobacco for a nice smooth flavor and the color.

TFA spearmint is above any other I've tried, IMO.

 

[SuperLuckyLady]

I like some. Right now enjoying 15% peppermint with 1 drop sweetener per 6 ml.

This thread may help - see especially post #819:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/336110-flavor-apprentice-flavoring-thread-21.html

 

[Chiku]

I found TFA to have a chemical taste, I tried about 10 different flavours and all of them had that taste to them so I gave them away. I tried different percentages and it didn't seem to matter, it was always there.

 

[crxess]

May well be a subjective thing or a learning curve.
I have some TFA Flavors that I haven't got to work....yet.
Others are actually very good.
Raspberry sweet
Marshmallow
Blueberry Extra
Cupcake
Jamaican rum

 

[Wow1420]

Most seem to be OK. A couple are great. The few I didn't like, Capellas seems to do better.

 

[holly9000]

Ok, I'll bite...who is FA and TA? (yes new and ignorant here)

 

[Proverb31]

Ok, I'll bite...who is FA and TA? (yes new and ignorant here)

FA = Flavorart I'm not sure about the TA I thought maybe it was a typo.. could be FA or could mean TFA which is the the flavor apprentice which is also called the perfumer apprentice so:

FA = Flavorart
TFA = TPA = the flavor apprentice and I suspect this is what was meant by TA

 

[holly9000]

Thanks! I appreciate the info

 

[Proverb31]

I order a lot from WL, generally stick to LA now when buying flavors. I was wondering if anyone else experiences what I do with TFA? Every single TFA flavor I've ever ordered (including from different online stores) tasted "wrong", and overly chemical-ish.

Just recently I ordered more coconut for my fav vape (pina coloda), and the "free sample" was TFA coconut, so I wasn't paying attention that it was TFA and not LA, and the size was exact for the batch I was making and I used it- and it ruined the batch.. tastes like chemical soup. Even trying to use TFA for single-flavor batches has in the past been 100% fail for me.

I was just wondering if anyone else feels that way about TFA, yet (like me) found another maker (LA for me) whose flavors are fantastic? Am I just screwed up, or is this common?

I am glad you posted this. I am new to DIY and have had great success with making my own extractions. But my luck with commercial extractions... so far just TFA ones has been not near as good. I agree they taste funny. I can't see how people use them at 10 + percent.. they just taste like chemicals. Some of them are OK at 1 or 2%, but don't have much flavor. They also seem to have a rapid flavor fade. I can mix a batch today at a low percentage and it is good, but by the next day it is weak. I suspect that is why people mix high and steep long, but I am so far disappointed in their flavorings and I purchased about 20 to start. I will say their banana cream is good at 2%, but I am not a big banana fan.

Ironically they were voted the best of 2012 on this forum, so I hope that is based on the fact that they are cheap and readily available at wizard labs. If they are as good as it gets, then I suspect all vendor juice would taste like their stuff and I don't think any of the good juice I've had used their flavors. I would say I think lots of the bad juice I've had did use their flavors.

I've ordered some more flavors from flavorart and have hopes they are better. Next I will try the vapingzone super concentrates if I don't like what flavorart sends.

Have you tried others? Do you have a preference toward another company?

 

[Lyndagayle]

Ok, I'll bite...who is FA and TA? (yes new and ignorant here)

You got the answer to FA so I'll catch the TA. TA is short for tobacco absolute.

 

[Steven Pye]

I like TFA, the conundrum is the %, like some one else pointed out it is all over the place.

Try your coconut at 5% and it should be more enjoyable

 

[michaelsil1]

May well be a subjective thing or a learning curve.
I have some TFA Flavors that I haven't got to work....yet.
Others are actually very good.
Raspberry sweet
Marshmallow
Blueberry Extra
Cupcake
Jamaican rum

How is the TFA Jamaican Rum?
Does it taste like Rum?