Cotton Candy or EM?

[Ohio Points]

Just getting into DIY andplacing my first order with Wizard Labs.

Cotton Candy or EM, which should I order?

I'm kinda confused because they both appear to be the same thing although for the CC the specifics aren't given in the description:

Concentrated Cotton Candy flavoring by The Flavor Apprentice.
This Cotton Candy flavoring is the standard Ethyl Maltol in propylene glycol solution that everyone is familiar with.
Ingredients: Artificial flavors, Propylene glycol

and then here's the EM description:

Ingredients: Ethyl Maltol 10% PG Solution

So which one is more pure and therefore a better deal?

 

[cedric212]

TPA cotton candy = EM in PG

I would just get the EM powder and dilute with PG youself to save $$$.

 

[AzPlumber]

TPA CC is 10% EM in PG

 

[Ohio Points]

TPA CC is 10% EM in PG

OK thanks for the answer ( that's what I thought it would be...but needed to hear it from the pros), so that would make them both the exact same thing...

Is 8ml. of one enough to last a while?

 

[purelyscientific]

1 8mL bottle of ethyl maltol crystals will make over 40mL of ethyl maltol solution.

Yes, it will last you awhile.

 

[LoneDeRanger]

yea... their site is closed until january 2nd......

 

[Ohio Points]

1 8mL bottle of ethyl maltol crystals will make over 40mL of ethyl maltol solution.

Yes, it will last you awhile.

I didn't see the crystals on WL, maybe they don't sell them anymore?

yea... their site is closed until january 2nd......

Yeah, I saw that, had about 60 worth of goods ready just tweaking the order, oh well....it saved my order so just need to wait a few days....

 

[purelyscientific]

I didn't see the crystals on WL, maybe they don't sell them anymore?

They sell small 8mL bottle of crystals in the flavor section.

Yeah, I saw that, had about 60 worth of goods ready just tweaking the order, oh well....it saved my order so just need to wait a few days....

If you like, I will review your order and let you know if your missing anything important or are lacking something.

 

[AzPlumber]

OK thanks for the answer ( that's what I thought it would be...but needed to hear it from the pros), so that would make them both the exact same thing...

Is 8ml. of one enough to last a while?

8ml of EM solution is plenty and should last quite a while. Depends on what you're mixing on how long. If used as a mild sweetener for fruit mixes it will last a long time. If you tend to mix a lot of tobacco flavors you may want to get the EM crystals and mix your own solution.

 

[awsum140]

Not to ask a dumb question, although I'm famous for that, but how do you mix the EM crystals to arrive at the "right" concentration for mixing into a flavor?

 

[BentWookie]

Not to ask a dumb question, although I'm famous for that, but how do you mix the EM crystals to arrive at the "right" concentration for mixing into a flavor?

Bumping this one since I'm a newbie that needs the answer too

 

[GrannyM]

Not to ask a dumb question, although I'm famous for that, but how do you mix the EM crystals to arrive at the "right" concentration for mixing into a flavor?

Bumping this one since I'm a newbie that needs the answer too

First, mix 1/4 teaspoon of the EM crystals with 10 ml PG. This is now the solution that you will add to your liquids at varying percentages depending on what you want. Some use 1 to 2 drops per 6 ml and I've seen some use it all the way up to 8% of their final mixture.

Hoosier's blogs http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/hoosier/2380-what-else-do-i-need-diy-mixing-staples-misc-blending-flavors.html have a nice description of what EM does at various levels of usage.

 

[BentWookie]

First, mix 1/4 teaspoon of the EM crystals with 10 ml PG. This is now the solution that you will add to your liquids at varying percentages depending on what you want. Some use 1 to 2 drops per 6 ml and I've seen some use it all the way up to 8% of their final mixture.

Hoosier's blogs http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/hoosier/2380-what-else-do-i-need-diy-mixing-staples-misc-blending-flavors.html have a nice description of what EM does at various levels of usage.

Thank you very much GrannyM!

 

[Dunder Mifflin]

I have tried twice to mix my em crystals in pg. 1/4 teaspoon in 10ml pg. First try I used the warm bath and shake method. The em would not dissolve. I tried heating it in a microwave only to see it dissolve and plastic bottle melt into oblivion. Second try I used an ultrasonic cleaner for about 2 hours worth of cycles. Still not dissolved I transferred it to a glass shot glass and put it in the microwave. 6 to 10 seconds later it turned clear and was completely dissolved.
One day later, the solution was separated and em was back to a clumpy mess.
What am I doing wrong?

 

[DuaneNeveu]

I have tried twice to mix my em crystals in pg. 1/4 teaspoon in 10ml pg. First try I used the warm bath and shake method. The em would not dissolve. I tried heating it in a microwave only to see it dissolve and plastic bottle melt into oblivion. Second try I used an ultrasonic cleaner for about 2 hours worth of cycles. Still not dissolved I transferred it to a glass shot glass and put it in the microwave. 6 to 10 seconds later it turned clear and was completely dissolved.
One day later, the solution was separated and em was back to a clumpy mess.
What am I doing wrong?

After having similar problems, I decided to shirk the conventional wisdom of using a quarter teaspoon to 10 ml of PG, and did some research. This is what I found:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ng-ratio-pg-create-sweetener.html#post8424790

As it happens, scientifically speaking, a quarter teaspoon of EM is soluble in 21.25 ml of PG (not 10 ml). Using less PG than that will create a saturated solution, which is to say that residue is present (whether seen or not). It may be possible to circumvent this occurring but subjecting the solution to a chemical reaction (such as heating it), but as the temperature of the solution changes, residue may still return to causing problems.

In my experience with using EM in a stable solution so far, fully solute, at a ratio of 1 gram (0.20 teaspoons) of EM into 17ml of PG, or even simpler, a quarter teaspoon (0.25 teaspoons) into 21.25ml of PG, I've had great success and no problems whatsoever.

 

[BentWookie]

One more stupid newbie question here. Am I correct in assuming that I am unable to dissolve EM in VG?

 

[Rin13]

I believe so. VG is very thick. I don't think they would mix, heated or not. There may be another medium (besides PG) that you can use instead but I'm unaware.

 

[subver]

If we can't mix EM in VG, can I use Everclear instead of PG? Same ratios?

 

[SouthernBliss]

If we can't mix EM in VG, can I use Everclear instead of PG? Same ratios?

I have wondered the same thing. Or if the everclear could be used as a thinner for the vg at 20%.

 

[NamVet68]

I have wondered the same thing. Or if the everclear could be used as a thinner for the vg at 20%.

You can use DISTILLED water to thin VG. If you use about 10%, it takes it to the consistency of about 70PG/30VG, and won't affect the flavor.

Another thing you can try is Vodka, either plain, or flavored. I've had great luck with flavored Vodkas in particular..... try some Marshmallow, Caramel, Apple, or other flavors to thin your VG...about 10% works wonders, and ads some delightful notes to your juices. Van Gogh makes Double Espresso, Chocolate, & Carmel Vodkas that take a couple of my DIYs to a whole new level

BTW.. IMHO, a few drops of Jack Daniels will make most tobacco juices really shine...they really pair well together.

Works for me.