DIY VG e-liquid recipe (help!)

[Miss_Lo]

I recently experimented making my own VG-based (non-pg and nic-free) e liquid. I tried using two different ingredients for thinning to see which I liked better (distilled water or vodka) and my problem is that they taste like crap. The consistency looks great and the cloud production is nice. BUT when I drip onto my patriot atomizer, I barely taste hints of my flavoring. Do VG e liquids have to be steeped before use? Will steeping allow the flavor to be as strong or close to traditional pg/vg blends?

75% USP Vegetable Glycerin
5% distilled water/vodka
20% certified organic flavoring

 

[happydave]

%20 favoring is the upper limit for most flavors.. try %10
PG really helps carry the flavor if you don't use any PG then you should really let it steep

 

[happydave]

can you try to describe the bad flavor? is it bitter? soapy?
is the throat hit harsh?

 

[Miss_Lo]

Maybe I used a poor description. It doesn't taste "bad" because it doesn't taste like much at all. It has a hint of sweetness which I suspect is from all the vg. The weird part is that you can smell the flavoring but the taste is simple barely there. I'm use to full, rich flavors with my 70/30 blends. But I'm attempting non PG for my boyfriend who is allergic.

 

[Razorback]

I suspect it will gt better with a little steeping. I've never tried thinning my VG juice out however, so I can't comment on that part. I do drink vodka though...

 

[Miss_Lo]

No harshness. No soapy taste. Maybe a little bitter

 

[happydave]

what flavor from what vendor are you using?
PG makes my mouth and throat feel likes its covered in a layer of slime so i don't use it much if at all.
i also dont add Vodka or Pure Grain Alcohol AKA PGA. some non PG flavors come already dissolved in PGA.
PGA for me has a harsh throat hit.
here is what i do
dripping atomizer i use 1 or 2 drops of distilled water per 15 ML batch the rest is VG and flavor
for something like a clearomizer i use 1.25 mL of distilled water per 15 mL batch.

after i make the batch in a Pyrex up i heat it up using a small pan of hot water on the stove top. i just set the Pyrex up in a pan with water on low. then i have a digital thermometer i used to check the temp of the water. i never let the water get hotter than about 140 degrees F. around 130 Degrees F is optimal
the whole time this thing is on the heat i constantly stir it. i have a glass pipette that i use to take samples out of the batch every 10 to 20 minutes and let them cool down... i then load it in a dripping atomizer and check the flavor. when the flavor seems like it has stopped becoming stronger or changing (in the cause of multiple flavors) i pull out the pyrex cup and set it down on a pot holder and cover it with tin foil. i wait for it to cool all the way back down to room temp before i bottle it. this process will do 2 things. it will "steep" the e-liquid, the flavors will breakdown and evenly dissolved in the e-liquid. it will also remove most of the PGA left over from the flavoring.
i find it takes another 2 or 3 days of it sitting in a cool dark place before its totally ready. but its a lot better than waiting 2-4 weeks.

also its not necessary, but i highly recommend waiting until the e-liquid has cooled back down to room temp before adding the nicotine because heat will oxidize nicotine and give it a sort of musty, woody / earthy smell and flavor with a peppery zing. the smell is not that bad but the flavor of oxidized nicotine is not good.

Gloves, Oven mitts and eye protection are a must. that e-liquid is hot and sticky and it will burn you if you splash any on your self.
i got fluid protection goggles at home-depot for under $10.

 

[Miss_Lo]

what flavor from what vendor are you using?
PG makes my mouth and throat feel likes its covered in a layer of slime so i don't use it much if at all.
i also dont add Vodka or Pure Grain Alcohol AKA PGA. some non PG flavors come already dissolved in PGA.
PGA for me has a harsh throat hit.
here is what i do
dripping atomizer i use 1 or 2 drops of distilled water per 15 ML batch the rest is VG and flavor
for something like a clearomizer i use 1.25 mL of distilled water per 15 mL batch.

after i make the batch in a Pyrex up i heat it up using a small pan of hot water on the stove top. i just set the Pyrex up in a pan with water on low. then i have a digital thermometer i used to check the temp of the water. i never let the water get hotter than about 140 degrees F. around 130 Degrees F is optimal
the whole time this thing is on the heat i constantly stir it. i have a glass pipette that i use to take samples out of the batch every 10 to 20 minutes and let them cool down... i then load it in a dripping atomizer and check the flavor. when the flavor seems like it has stopped becoming stronger or changing (in the cause of multiple flavors) i pull out the pyrex cup and set it down on a pot holder and cover it with tin foil. i wait for it to cool all the way back down to room temp before i bottle it. this process will do 2 things. it will "steep" the e-liquid, the flavors will breakdown and evenly dissolved in the e-liquid. it will also remove most of the PGA left over from the flavoring.
i find it takes another 2 or 3 days of it sitting in a cool dark place before its totally ready. but its a lot better than waiting 2-4 weeks.
View attachment 326495
also its not necessary, but i highly recommend waiting until the e-liquid has cooled back down to room temp before adding the nicotine because heat will oxidize nicotine and give it a sort of musty, woody / earthy smell and flavor with a peppery zing. the smell is not that bad but the flavor of oxidized nicotine is not good.

Gloves, Oven mitts and eye protection are a must. that e-liquid is hot and sticky and it will burn you if you splash any on your self.
i got fluid protection goggles at home-depot for under $10.

I barely notice a difference from the distilled water vs vodka and no weird feeling in my throat with either. But then again this was immediately after mixing. I really like this quicker steeping method compared to simply leaving it to do it's thing for weeks.. I'm a little impatient obviously lol so I'll try that trick. Thank you

 

[ledux]

Yes, I realize that heat is more faster then air or light accelerating steeping.

 

[Razorback]

Awesome post Dave. I can't use much PG either. Not sure if allergic, just don't care for the throat burn. Made me think of this thread (there are several) to look at once the newer folks have the ample amount of posts to view it...

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ing-times-ultrasonic-cleaner-part-iii-29.html