DIY Juices don't taste right...what could be my issue?

[thetechshack]

DIY Juices don't taste right...what could be my issue?
I'm confused. Here is my story. I bought flavors from where everyone says. TPA. Capella. And a few other great places. I mix my juices using iVape - and iOS app and let steep a week shaking it. I have TPA sweetener. Never bought EM.
I follow peoples recipes exactly. Never tastes right - example - I love ..........s Creme Brûlée. Can't even come close. But I should be able to. At least close.
My PG/VG is the only last thing I can think of. It's food grade. Is there a huge difference if I bought medical grade?
The Creme is not real sweet. Not a ton of flavor. I added more. No real change. Help me Obi Wan, you're my only hope. ;-)

Thank you,

Kevin - The Portland IT guy. Smoke free for 3 months now.

 

[wonner]

It will be hard to help without knowing exactly what you are trying to accomplish.

Why not post one of your recipes here, exactly as you made it, and we can see if everything looks correct.

 

[thetechshack]

Sure. As I mentioned none seem to come out right but here is the one I want the most as it is my almost everyday, all day vape.

Any feedback on the PG/VG - medical grade or food grade?

Kevin

 

[thetechshack]

They really shrink down their images. I'll type it out. 1 min.

 

[thetechshack]

Creme Brulee
14 Nic Strength
Catalan Cream - FA - 0.9 ML / 9%
Vanilla Custard - Cap - 0.2 ML / 2%
Creme Brulee - VZ Gourmet - 0.4 ML / 4%
Caramel Candy - 0.2 ML / 2%

5 then 10 drops sweetener - TPA

I then after getting poor results added a .5ML more of the catalan cream and creme brulee.

 

[MorpheusPA]

When you say "not right," what do you mean? The flavor isn't the same? It's too weak?

The one thing I notice is that the flavors you listed are all on the subtle side so percentages might have to rise if too weak is your issue. I'm not a fan of subtle flavors, so might be reading that wrong--my favorites are menthol and cinnamon, neither known for subtlety.

 

[Jonathan Tittle]

Cremes & Custards can take a bit more time to mature and really reach their full potential. The Catalan Creme is an odd flavor; it's not bad but I personally don't find it too appealing and removed it from my mixes until I can really get a good feel for it.

Have you tried mixing a small 5ml batch without the Catalan Creme? Also, one thing to keep in mind, taste is subjective (yes, you're going to hear that quite a bit), so what tastes exactly like one thing to one person may not taste the same to another. Sweetener can also do some damage to a mix. One person may need or love extra-sweet juice where your palate may be a bit more sensitive to it.

I generally start off with a mix in 5-10ml batches, no sweetener and let it steep/age for 2-3 days. I'll pull a bit, vape it and see where it's at then, write it down and then it goes back up for a few more days. After a week or two of small taste tests, I get an idea of what all needs to be modified. Ultimately, I try not to add sweetener at all until I know for sure 100% that the flavor is where it should be in it's basic form.

 

[wonner]

I am not familiar with those specific flavors, but would expect that recipe to yield something decent, especially after adding the additional flavors you indicated.

Maybe someone more familiar with dessert flavors can offer some help.

 

[thetechshack]

Too weak and not very sweet. I compare it to my fav, Creme Brulee from ..........s. I thought it was the flavors. I bought the best. Now I'm thinking I'm doing something wrong or my PG/VG is wrong as mine is food grade not medical grade. Maybe I'm not steeping long enough/shaking enough.
I added double the main flavors trying to get it closer in case that was my issue. Did not change much.

 

[thetechshack]

Cremes & Custards can take a bit more time to mature and really reach their full potential. The Catalan Creme is an odd flavor; it's not bad but I personally don't find it too appealing and removed it from my mixes until I can really get a good feel for it.

Have you tried mixing a small 5ml batch without the Catalan Creme? Also, one thing to keep in mind, taste is subjective (yes, you're going to hear that quite a bit), so what tastes exactly like one thing to one person may not taste the same to another. Sweetener can also do some damage to a mix. One person may need or love extra-sweet juice where your palate may be a bit more sensitive to it.

I generally start off with a mix in 5-10ml batches, no sweetener and let it steep/age for 2-3 days. I'll pull a bit, vape it and see where it's at then, write it down and then it goes back up for a few more days. After a week or two of small taste tests, I get an idea of what all needs to be modified. Ultimately, I try not to add sweetener at all until I know for sure 100% that the flavor is where it should be in it's basic form.

Good idea.

 

[MorpheusPA]

Taste is actually a non-linear sense (not surprising, all of our senses are non-linear). Doubling the amount doesn't double the flavor, and it's actually possible to go high on the flavoring and reduce the taste. Don't ask me how that one works, I have no clue.

It's possible that your flavorings are simply too subtle.

Food grade PG/VG is fine, actually. Personally, I always buy pharmaceutical grade, but I'm a stickler. PG will tend to let flavor through better, VG tends to mute them a little bit, but I've never noticed any extreme effect and I've changed ratios considerably over the last dozen mixes.

 

[CreepyLady]

I cannot comment on food vs pharmaceutical - I only use pharmaceutical.

I have never liked the cream flavor you are using. It has a weird weak taste that I just dont care for. I have made a pretty rich spot on custard or 10 maybe this recipe will help? I do find that low of a percent on custard/vanilla doesnt quite cut it.

Brown Sugar (TPA) (also can use Creme brulee at 4% here with the brown sugar to add a smidge more "toasty creme brulee" flavor)
1 drop per 5 ml

Graham Cracker (TPA)
2 %

Vanilla Custard (TPA or CAP)
8%

Thats mine - it will give a nice strong flavor. Sometimes I vary it a little with cinnamon sugar cookie, cinnamon or eggnog. Just a little (2-4%).

Also you can decrease the custard if its to rich/eggy at 8% - use 4% TFA Vanilla Swirl and 4% custard.

 

[thatguy2]

this is a short read that will help you to understand -->
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...s-aka-general-diy-guide-flavoring-ratios.html

 

[skoony]

you definitly want medical grade pg or vg.
food grade could have recycled product,especially vg.
and only use distilled water.

regards
mike

 

[grandmato5]

As you have already found, finding DIY juice that you are happy with isn't as easy as simply following a recipe. Each of our taste buds are different and a recipe that works great for one person won't fit another person's taste buds. Also, different vendor's version of the same name flavoring can taste very different. There is no "best" flavoring to purchase, only the best flavorings for YOUR taste.

Try different versions of a recipe to see if you can find one that works for you. If you are going to change flavoring percentages do so in SMALL increments and only change ONE flavoring at a time. I've often found the flavoring I needed to change the percentage of wasn't the one I first thought I needed to change And yes, as others have said here, more isn't always the answer. As far as sweetner goes, only you can decide which sweetner YOU prefer and only by trying different ones.

Most people find it takes time to find one's preferred DIY recipes. Sometimes we never find a DIY recipe that we prefer over a certain vendors version of a juice. That doesnt mean we can't find plenty of other recipes that suit our taste buds just fine Good luck

 

[Dakota Jim]

99.9 pure usp pg and vg is fine (for goodness sake! most of us used to smoke!)
tfa sweetener is much, much stonger than EM and adding too much will make an eliquid taste less sweet/burnt
and as mentioned earlier - taste is subjective

 

[thetechshack]

you definitly want medical grade pg or vg.
food grade could have recycled product,especially vg.
and only use distilled water.

regards
mike

What do you use the water for? I have never used it in my juices.

Kevin

 

[MorpheusPA]

What do you use the water for? I have never used it in my juices.

Kevin

Water can be used to loosen up a VG liquid so it flows a little more easily. Use gently, a drop or five at a time (depending on the size of your bottle), as you can always add more but taking it out is impossible...

 

[thetechshack]

99.9 pure usp pg and vg is fine (for goodness sake! most of us used to smoke!)
tfa sweetener is much, much stonger than EM and adding too much will make an eliquid taste less sweet/burnt
and as mentioned earlier - taste is subjective

OK, I'll try it againmaybe with only the Creme Brulee and maybe 1 drop of sweetener as a test. Then modify another bottle to maybe double. Steep it and test. Then add a little more flavors as needed. Maybe I'm adding too much.

 

[thetechshack]

I did make a good coffee/espresso - and I have some caffeine to add to it for kicks - the coffee was just way too strong. I'll dilute. Get it perfect and add the caffeine once I'm sure. Brown Sugar is on my shopping list. I have about 80 flavors now. And it's true - it's hard to make a good DIY - My goal is to not buy from others - but so far it's hard. I know taste it different for all - but as I found one I love, I am going for that paticular taste. I never thought I'd like a desert one. I tried some french Toast that was amazing - from Flavorz by Joe.
Thinking of a Graham Cracker / Marshmellow / cotton candy / Bavarian cream.

Where is the best place to get VG/PG medical grade? Cannot find it on Amazon. Their food grade is very cheap and good, but my next purchase I think needs to be medical grade.