DIY Mixing

[mikecup]

I have been vapping for about 3 weeks now. I wanted to mix my own juices, so I bought my own supplies, flavorless e liquid 36mg(75% pg 25%vg from mfs), vg from walmart, and lorann flavoring. Now my question is, do the e liquid companies use anything else in there mixes besides these ingredients. yes I realize they may not use walmart vg and they may use another companies flavoring. But is this there base ingredients? I just can't seem to get my mixes to taste like theirs.

 

[Kurt]

They may not be using Lorann flavors. There are several flavor companies, like FlavorArt, Capella, and others. The same flavor from a different company can and often does taste different. Pralines and Cream from Capella is entirely different than from Lorann. Some juice companies add some ethanol to their mixes. Even VG from different sources can have a slightly different taste. %s of each component are also important. And some tobacco juices have very complex mixes of flavors that would be hard to duplicate from scratch.

In the beginning with DIY, I would simply be shooting for making juices you like, rather than matching a juice you have bought, which is advanced even for someone who has been doing DIY for a while.

Additionally, and perhaps most important, what is the company, what is the flavor, what is the PG/VG ratio of the juice you are trying to to duplicate, and what are the %s of the other components in the juice? Some companies print this on the bottles, some will tell you in an email. Many will not know themselves if they are getting the juices from China. A bit more specific info as to what exactly you want to duplicate would be helpful for us.

 

[mikecup]

I have started to make my own eliquid. I just can't seem to get mine to taste the same as the premixed juices from some of the companies I have purchased from. I have 36mg non flavored nic juice from healthcabin(75%vg,25%pg mix) and MFS(75%pg,25%pg),I have tried them both. I am using VG from walmart and Lorann flavoring. I have used the mixing calculator and also have just tried a half and half mix with numerous drops of flavor. I have even used absolute vodka as a thinner(dilutent). My mixes are ok, but nothing great. I seem to get a nasty taste especially on the exhale, and also a strange aftertaste. Is there anything else these ejuice makers add to there mix? any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[AtomPunk]

I haven't mixed any of my own stuff yet, but I hear that the Lorann flavorings can give a funny taste. Try getting some flavors from Flavour Art, FSUSA has them for sale here: FreedomSmokeUSA or from Create your own perfume with The Perfumer's Apprentice

Edit: I heard about the Lorann giving funny tastes from VaporCast in case anyone was wondering.

 

[Hoosier]

Well, I have only found a few Loranns flavors that do not have a chemically taste to them.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/74109-guide-diy-flavoring.html I am assuming you read the guide and note that the average rating for Loranns is fairly low while Flavour Art and Perfumer's Apprentice averages are higher.

Lorann's that I have gotten to work, with a little help from other stuff, Anise, Pina Colada, and a combination of Watermelon and Raspberry. Everything else I tried was like licking a paint brush. Cherry had to be the worst.

 

[breaktru]

Which flavors have you tried and what percentages?

 

[mikecup]

I have tried mango,strawberry,bubblegum,strawberry-kiwi. I have tried at 40% down to 20%. I just received today from perfumer's apprentice 30 bottles. I will try some tonight to see taste is better.
I also talked to a company where I bought some juice and he told me that they put in papaya extract and electrolytes in there juice,weird uhh!!

 

[breaktru]

40 and 20% maybe too much flavoring. Try cutting down to 10%

 

[sanfordf]

I have tried mango,strawberry,bubblegum,strawberry-kiwi. I have tried at 40% down to 20%. I just received today from perfumer's apprentice 30 bottles. I will try some tonight to see taste is better.
I also talked to a company where I bought some juice and he told me that they put in papaya extract and electrolytes in there juice,weird uhh!!

The 'extra' you're looking for, and finding out about, is the time, expense and experimentation it takes to get it right enough. You might try a higher nic concentration (100mg/ml) so that your mixes can contain less dilutant. Not all PA flavors work so well, but most do at 15%-25%.

 

[mikecup]

ok well I'll just keep experimenting until I find a good taste, its new hobby for sure!!

 

[Vidi]

Have you let your mixes steep?

From your description, it sounds like inhale is good but exhale and aftertaste are a problem and because you're experimenting I can only imagine you're trying your mix right away to see if it's any good.

Ive received some juices from suppliers that had a horrible chemical aftertaste or a chemical "burning" feel on the back of my throat on the exhale so bad that it made me gag, but after a week, that same juice was incredible and the bad stuff had gone away.

Based on that experience, if I were mixing, I would mix it up taste it, then let it sit a week and try it again.

 

[Godzilla]

I have never made my own juice but have been considering it. I read in a thread last night that some use 20% or more flavoring with Lorann's. I have also read that in most cases, the highter the vg, the more that the taste can come through. Chime in if I am incorrect.

 

[GoodDog]

I have never made my own juice but have been considering it. I read in a thread last night that some use 20% or more flavoring with Lorann's. I have also read that in most cases, the highter the vg, the more that the taste can come through. Chime in if I am incorrect.

No that's not true, Godzilla. You should come chat with us over at the DIY forum. Don't be afraid to post there, most members are very helpful to new DIYers. I'll help you there.

 

[mikecup]

I just tried a mix which gave me a very smooth but good throat hit,very nice vapor and very good flavor with no after taste.
started w/30mg non flavored nic juice.
target 14mg
amount to make 10ml
dilutent 5% absolute vodka
15% flavoring

93 drops nic juice, (4.67ml)or(46.7%)
67 drops vg(from walmart)(3.33ml) or(33.3%)
10 drops vodka(absolute)(0.5ml)or(5%)
30 drops flavor(1.5ml)or(15%)
I did add about 10 more drops of flavor to get a little stronger taste, nic level dropped some,how much I'm not sure. But it has been the best I have mixed so far. So I'm headed in the rite direction.

 

[breaktru]

Mike, Just a note: Some VG brands are nasty tasting.

 

[mikecup]

I ordered some NOW brand, says its 100% pure, so I wil see if there is a difference.

 

[emberl]

Mike, Just a note: Some VG brands are nasty tasting.

This is true.
Some VG are for make-up etc.
If you go to Michaels, you can buy Wilton glycerine.
This is made for the icing on cakes.
This is what I use and there's no after taste.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

It takes a while to understand that liquid DIY is much like cooking. LorAnn's, nicotine and PG is a "fast food" mix while learning about mixing flavors and adding a few extra flavorings for specific needs (sweetness, smoothing, etc.) can make all the difference. Also the flavorings you choose can make all the difference. Try some Perfumer's Apprentice flavoring, Flavour Arts flavorings, tobacco absolutes, ethyl maltol, some sweetener if it needs it (such as Sucralose - you can get a free sample here EZ-Sweetz® Free Sample ), a touch of Pure Grain Alcohol for throat hit and maybe a bit of VG for "wetness" and added volume of vapor, etc.

Fortunately, many have posted great recipes that work well so you'll have success right away. The basics are here in the DIY forum: DIY e-liquid and the recipes that work well for the DIY community are here: E-liquid Recipes

One of the best threads is this one (especially post #3) http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/74109-guide-diy-flavoring.html

Also helpful is ScubaDan's calculator with recipes built in and where to buy many of the ingredients. You can download it to your computer. Click the link in his signature in the first post in that thread. His thread is here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...e-calculator-added-quantity-calculations.html

 

[mikecup]

On the johnson creek juice bottles it does say they use citric acid in there juices, I'm not sure what it does to the juice flavor, but it is available to purchase at amazon.
Also I talked to a juice supplier and he told me they use papaya leaf extract and electrolytes in their mixes.

 

[GoodDog]

Citric Acid is sometimes used in fruit flavored juice to bring out the flavor. LorAnn sells it in powder form and it can be mixed with PG. I've never heard of papaya extract but would like to know what flavors that's used for.