DIY e-liquid: Is there a secret to it I don't know yet?

[pho]

Hey all

Okay a while back I got an eGo-T starter kit and some Dekang juice (menthol 18mg, usa mix 24mg and 555 18mg)
I was REALLY impressed. All these Dekang juices hit the right spot for me, especially in the "throat hit" section. I take short puffs (not the 6+ second drags I see others doing on youtube videos) and I get that short rush in the back of your throat, JUST like a real cigarette. Any smoker knows what I am talking about

Liking this so much, I decided to go all out and get:
- Platinum Ice 54mg (TW)
- PG
- AG
- a WHOLE bunch of flavors (some 55 flavors from TPA + 10 decadent vapours concentrates + 5 TW red label concentrates)

Okay so... I spent quite a big bunch of cash to the supplies only to find out that I can mix NOTHING that even compares to the Dekang. Flavor wise it's all good; I get good flavor. Vapor: okay. But throat hit... I get NO feeling in my throat, even when taking a huuuuuuuge hit from the PV... It just feels like I'm inhaling flavored air and I feel nothing in my throat.

So I am really baffled. I'm mixing the PI down to 24mg and 10 to 20% flavoring. Tried all PG, part PG-part AG... Makes no difference whatsoever.
Important to note is also that it is NOT a fault of a bad type of carto/tank/atty... Compared all my own mixes to the Dekang on the same equipment, and I get consistent good throat hit from the Dekang, and airy feeling from my own mixes.

I'd forget about mixing altogether and stock up in Dekang but I figure I already spent upwards of $250 to mixing supplies, I'd really like to make this work.

Can anyone tell me what I am missing and why this throat hit difference is so vast?

 

[dormouse]

Dekang is 100% PG Chinese juice. PG lets through the most TH, irritation and flavor, and makes weak vapor

VG (I have no idea what AG is) - VG dulls TH, irritation, flavor and adds more visible vapor

Is your Platinum Ice also VG?

That is a recipe for a LOT of vapor and little TH

 

[Icoth]

There are lots of threads on how to increase throat hit in the DIY sub-forums. I think the most common answer is to add some pure grain alcohol or vodka. Commercial mixtures are also available to bump up the throat hit (I've never tried them so I can't attest to their effectiveness.) I'm not sure you'll be able to fully duplicate the Dekang experience, but those would probably help. You can also increase throat hit by changing the hardware side, higher voltage/lower resistance, etc.

 

[symphynity]

You can add Vodka to the juice? Does the alcohol burn off? ( A bit of a concern as I drive all day whilst vaping , dont want to end up with a DUI !)

 

[Archer]

You may want to take a look at a calculator - eJuice Calculator v13

 

[Archer]

https://www.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=89716a8960646eb99c6c

Hope this works, anyway it's in the DIY section.

 

[pho]

Yup i'm already using a calculator... I think i got my ratios as they should be

 

[WomanOfHeart]

You can add Vodka to the juice? Does the alcohol burn off? ( A bit of a concern as I drive all day whilst vaping , dont want to end up with a DUI !)

You won't get drunk from it because it does burn off and the amount used is too small to even get a contact buzz.

 

[pho]

Just wondering what it is with dekang juice that makes the TH so harsh compared to all PG... Tried with some vodka by the way but I didn't really notice anything diffent

 

[zoiDman]

All I know about Dekang juice is it tastes like old gym socks feremnted in a rusty 55 gallon drum. But it did have a LOT of TH.

If your going for max TH than I would use 90% PG : 10% PGA as your dilution and use a Pure PG nicotine base.

If you can't buy PGA in your state, High Proof Vodka will work just fine.

 

[dormouse]

Tobacco flavors? Or other?

Nicotine is TH
PG lets through the most of it
Tobacco Absolute in tiny amounts (1/2 drop) might be added and that may add some TH
I do not know if they add pepper juice (Flavourart sells a black pepper flavouring) or anything else to increase TH

How are you making 100% PG juice if your platinum ice nicotine is in VG?

You need to also buy nicotine that is in PG

 

[garyinco]

Other than the excellent recommendations already posted, research and experimentation!

Trying to DIY is hard for tobacco flavours. I've never succeeded in my own concoctions or recipes posted. The only thing I've found acceptable is to using flavour concentrated from Totally Wicked. While I'm not a big fan (prices are high), their "Patriot Range" has some concentrates that are pretty decent tobaccos. Better than the dekang stuff in my opinion. Possibly not quite as cheap as completely DIYing, and not as fun as completely making your own, you can get some good results.

The grain alcohol comments earlier were spot-on for TH. I don't like the pepper TH, at all. From my experimentation, the TH tends to increase as the juice ages a bit. Good luck in your quest, and post your recipe it you hit something awesome

 

[pho]

Update: I just received some Dekang No Flavor juice and mixed with that. I am now getting that TH I have been hunting for the last few weeks!
Guess I will be selling my 2x30ml Platinum Ice

 

[zoiDman]

Update: I just received some Dekang No Flavor juice and mixed with that. I am now getting that TH I have been hunting for the last few weeks!
Guess I will be selling my 2x30ml Platinum Ice

Whereas I Hate Dekang juices with a Purple Passion. That is Not what's important.

What is important is the You found a mix that gives you what you are looking for. That's what DIY is all about.

Right on.

 

[NicLiq]

Update: I just received some Dekang No Flavor juice and mixed with that. I am now getting that TH I have been hunting for the last few weeks!
Guess I will be selling my 2x30ml Platinum Ice

Perfect solution!

Does the no flavor Dekang have any smell to it at all?

 

[pho]

Nope none at all, and it looks crystal clear

 

[pho]

Whereas I Hate Dekang juices with a Purple Passion. That is Not what's important.

What is important is the You found a mix that gives you what you are looking for. That's what DIY is all about.

Right on.

Indeed!
I've placed an order for some different dekang flavored juices, wonder if I'll like them as well...
But their unflavored hits all the right spots for my diy. (pity that 24mg is the max nic you can get though)

 

[NicLiq]

Nope none at all, and it looks crystal clear

Thank you pho, I have been trying to track down what causes the nutty sweetness in Dekang juices. It must be in the flavorings and not the base.

 

[rbuck9]

for me atleast any diy juice i make lacking any th, seems a drop of menthol kicks it up a bit

 

[lukeyvapo]

I hope to be able to mix my own at some point. Eventually we may all have to!