Diy juice nothing like local store - First timer

[Arriss]

Just an update. I cannot vape flavor total over 10%, specially Lorann strawberry = mild throat swelling. Having reflux issues at the moment. Lorann apple, Bavarian creme, Vanilla swirl, Sweetner, combined is yummy. So far no issues with Lorann apple, just strawberry which has Red 40, maybe causing throat swelling or aggravating reflux, causing acid to rise burn throat/swelling. either way strawberry is very good, just can't vape.

 

[KattMamma]

Just an update. I cannot vape flavor total over 10%, specially Lorann strawberry = mild throat swelling. Having reflux issues at the moment. Lorann apple, Bavarian creme, Vanilla swirl, Sweetner, combined is yummy. So far no issues with Lorann apple, just strawberry which has Red 40, maybe causing throat swelling or aggravating reflux, causing acid to rise burn throat/swelling. either way strawberry is very good, just can't vape.

Have you tried TFA's Strawberry Ripe? It's clear, so I know it doesn't have food coloring.

 

[Alter]

Just an update. I cannot vape flavor total over 10%, specially Lorann strawberry = mild throat swelling. Having reflux issues at the moment. Lorann apple, Bavarian creme, Vanilla swirl, Sweetner, combined is yummy. So far no issues with Lorann apple, just strawberry which has Red 40, maybe causing throat swelling or aggravating reflux, causing acid to rise burn throat/swelling. either way strawberry is very good, just can't vape.

Too bad Loranns adds so much color to their flavorings. I do like the banana cream if you can get past the yellow coloring. Their cola, grape, watermelon, root beer and probably many others have nasty amounts of color. Enough to stain anything they touch so I can imagine vaping Red40 or any other color would cause a sore throat.

 

[Arriss]

No, I haven't tried any TFA strawberry. Thus far, I haven't had any issues with TFA flavorings. May order all TFA in the future.

Have you tried TFA's Strawberry Ripe? It's clear, so I know it doesn't have food coloring.

 

[Arriss]

Thus far, haven't had any problems with Lorann non coloring flavors, such as apple, pina colada, bavarian, etc.... I have Banana cream, but has coloring, so I'll pass. Using TFA brand instead. Desired to try some soda flavors, thanks for tips on Lorann flavors, staying away from soda flavor.

Too bad Loranns adds so much color to their flavorings. I do like the banana cream if you can get past the yellow coloring. Their cola, grape, watermelon, root beer and probably many others have nasty amounts of color. Enough to stain anything they touch so I can imagine vaping Red40 or any other color would cause a sore throat.

 

[d4gger]

I only read the first post, maybe skimmed some of the following, so please forgive me for likely repeating advice that's likely been given.
First, the local shop is using pre-mix. Usually 30% flavor pre-mix, 70% appropriate unflavored nic base to reach desired PG/VG and Nic. They're usually not using 30% flavor concentrate, their pre-mix is standardized and pre-steeped. Most shops would fail miserably at mixing actual concentrates the first several (or hundred) dozen times - that's just not in most shop owners' skill set.

Second, if you get perfumey/chemically, try LESS flavoring. In fact, try less flavor even when it tastes perfect. Then go up a little if going down didn't make it better.

Third, and really most important, mix with no flavoring FIRST. That's the only way I found that I hated PG over 35%, and my vapes taste mildly like a hospital after 30% PG. Try different PG/VG levels with no nicotine, and different nicotine levels. They'll taste and feel different, I guarantee.

Fourth, most of TFA/TPA's and (from what I hear) LorAnn's flavors are a complete profile by themselves. Start with single flavor mixes (I never bothered moving past single-flavor, they're so good by themselves) and add flavors as you become familiar with the territory, if you like.

Fifth, Enjoy Your first few successes will likely only be decent. Soon you'll wonder why you thought the shop had decent juice

 

[KattMamma]

I understand the "start with single flavor mixes" way of thinking, but I just couldn't do it.

My first 3 mixes were of my own creation - and didn't turn out well LOL

Then I just pulled some recipes I liked from this site and made those with minor modifications, and they turned out great. Haven't looked back since.

I can't imagine the time/trouble involved in vaping each of my 120 flavors by themselves. But I did find a suggestion I liked somewhere in these threads - one drop of flavor in a shot glass of water then drink it. Gives you a very good idea of the taste of that flavor.

Another suggestion I found on TFA's website that I plan to try - a drop of flavor in a spoonful of Cool Whip. This sounds perfect for flavors you plan to use in desserts, creams, and custards. You already know what the Cool Whip tastes like and it's a mild creamy flavor, so this method will give you an idea how the flavor will taste in a creamy mix.

 

[AndriaD]

Fourth, most of TFA/TPA's and (from what I hear) LorAnn's flavors are a complete profile by themselves. Start with single flavor mixes

No idea about Loranns, but you couldn't be more wrong about TFA. A TFA flavor is just a building block, not a whole recipe -- you might need 3-5 or more mixed together, to make something really good, and you'll ALWAYS need sweetener -- because fruit is sweet and tastes awful if there is no sweet, but TFA's flavors aren't MEANT to be "complete profiles" (which I guess I means whole recipes); they're meant to be used together in various ways to create a multiplicity of recipes.

Capella's and Flavor West's, on the other hand, are whole recipes in a single bottle. Easier, but far less flexible.

Andria

 

[Arriss]

Thanks for all the info/feedback. I noticed DIY flavoring is very strong, I began at 20% flavor mix, now I'm down to 8% total flavor mix. Believe my tastebuds have returned. Still at 0 nic, thus far no problem.

 

[vjdossey]

You need sweetener, you need a good cream flavor (Capella's Sweet Cream is excellent), and you probably also need a bit of vanilla in there; TFA's Vanilla Swirl is very good. And 5% probably won't be enough flavoring to even taste, unless you want to steep it for a month; shoot for a combined flavoring percentage around 20% -- banana whatever, cream, vanilla, sweetener. My best original recipe actually is about 30% flavoring -- and I can vape it the minute I mix and shake it, though it's better the next day, and better still in a week. The thing is, to get good flavor right away, you're going to need a fair amount of flavoring, or it's going to take a while for the flavor to emerge.

And definitely don't get discouraged just because you found one brand's flavor wasn't to your liking -- every brand is different, and you might have to kiss a few frogs to find your prince. Every brand has its strengths and weaknesses, and the only way to find them is to try them.


Andria

Do you guys recommend having cream flavor around even for those who do not like cream vapes? I vape a flavor from my fave vendor 50-70% of the time that originally had one name. No mention of cream in name or description. He recently changed the name and it has the word cream in it?! I never would've thought it had cream in it, it must though... sooooo, next question, how do we know when to add cream? Ugh...

 

[vjdossey]

Thanks Andria. I just ordered sweet cream/sucralose sweetener, ordering TFA sweetener and picking up some liquid stevia sweetener locally.

Where are you ordering flavors from?

 

[vjdossey]

Arriss, THANK YOU for this thread. You asked so many questions I had... I have read the whole thread once, I will go through it again so I can hopefully retain some of the info!
I want to diy.. I neeeed to diy... My vape style has changed so much this year and my juice consumption is way up and I can't afford to keep buying vendor juice
Thank you to everyone who chimed in, your shared experience is appreciated!

 

[Arriss]

I order flavors from Wizard labs & EcigExpress.

Thanks for sharing, happy thread was helpful to you. Lot's of wonderful threads on diy for newbies. Exactly, reason I began diy I luv to vape. Juice was getting expensive

Where are you ordering flavors from?

 

[Arriss]

I wouldn't recommend ordering flavors, that do not intrest an individual, but an assortment of sample flavors is a wonderful way to experiment with flavors.

Don't really understand question, are you referring to diy juice or vendor juice ?

Do you guys recommend having cream flavor around even for those who do not like cream vapes? I vape a flavor from my fave vendor 50-70% of the time that originally had one name. No mention of cream in name or description. He recently changed the name and it has the word cream in it?! I never would've thought it had cream in it, it must though... sooooo, next question, how do we know when to add cream? Ugh...

 

[vjdossey]

I wouldn't recommend ordering flavors, that do not intrest an individual, but an assortment of sample flavors is a wonderful way to experiment with flavors.

Don't really understand question, are you referring to diy juice or vendor juice ?

I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I do not lile juices that are creamy. My question was asking should cream be a 'staple' or a must have in anyones DIY kit? Aside from using cream for the actual cream flavor, what do people use it for? Are there other reasons cream would be added to a recipe? Does it help other flavors pop? Is there a situation it could be used as a sweetner? I hope this makes more sense? In my head, it makes sense, lol

 

[AndriaD]

Do you guys recommend having cream flavor around even for those who do not like cream vapes? I vape a flavor from my fave vendor 50-70% of the time that originally had one name. No mention of cream in name or description. He recently changed the name and it has the word cream in it?! I never would've thought it had cream in it, it must though... sooooo, next question, how do we know when to add cream? Ugh...

Yes; many flavors, just on their own, are fairly underwhelming, if not downright horrible -- especially TFA flavors, which are merely bldg blocks, not whole recipes. To get a good flavor, the rule of thumb is, whatever percentage of the main flavor you're using... use the same percentage of the *combined* background/base flavors -- creams, vanilla, and sweetener.

When you eat fruit, you taste the whole flavor -- the fruit and the sweetness of the fruit; TFA flavors aren't terribly sweet in themselves, you need to add sweetener -- because fruit without sweet isn't very good.

If you try a "single-flavor mix"... and it's not good... then you know you need creams/vanilla/sweetener to make it better. Or you could just assume that some background/base flavors are necessary and add them from the start -- because they almost certainly will be necessary.

Andria

 

[vjdossey]

Yes; many flavors, just on their own, are fairly underwhelming, if not downright horrible -- especially TFA flavors, which are merely bldg blocks, not whole recipes. To get a good flavor, the rule of thumb is, whatever percentage of the main flavor you're using... use the same percentage of the *combined* background/base flavors -- creams, vanilla, and sweetener.

When you eat fruit, you taste the whole flavor -- the fruit and the sweetness of the fruit; TFA flavors aren't terribly sweet in themselves, you need to add sweetener -- because fruit without sweet isn't very good.

If you try a "single-flavor mix"... and it's not good... then you know you need creams/vanilla/sweetener to make it better. Or you could just assume that some background/base flavors are necessary and add them from the start -- because they almost certainly will be necessary.

Andria

Thank you!!!

 

[Arriss]

Another example is drinking coffee. Sugar is added to sweeten, creams are added for flavor variety. Some creams have artificial sweeteners, so sugar is not needed. When I drink decaf coffee, I use french vanilla cream, no sugar. French vanilla is sweet by itself.

 

[AndriaD]

Another example is drinking coffee. Sugar is added to sweeten, creams are added for flavor variety. Some creams have artificial sweeteners, so sugar is not needed. When I drink decaf coffee, I use french vanilla cream, no sugar. French vanilla is sweet by itself.

So very true, and my own preference in coffee has evolved a couple times in my life -- I used to only drink it if there was so much sugar, the spoon would nearly stand on its own in the cup. When I was pregnant, I *craved* coffee... so I started drinking decaf, with lots of milk, but not much sugar at all; that's still pretty much how I like it now, though I do sometimes like those flavored creamer things too.

Also, when I drink my warm-milk cocoa at night before bed, sometimes I add about a half-tsp of instant decaf, just to change it up a little; that was part of my interest in that "Smocha" recipe I created, the mocha sort of flavor of coffee and chocolate, plus just a hint of smokiness... like a comfy diner back in the good ol days when you could sit at a table and enjoy your coffee with a smoke.

Andria

 

[Arriss]

Been away and busy. Discovered another fabulous flavor, Lorann Pina colada 10%, french vanilla 4%, sweetner 2%. Wow !! I can't stop vaping, Lol !!!! I could not vape Lorann's strawberry, chunked in trash. Thus far, I like Lorann's Pina colada, Apple & Banana cream.