DIYing VS Buying

[Pamdane]

If your gonna try it, go small and cheap at first. VG can be bought at the Cake and Candy supply stores. I pay $1.99 @ 4 oz's. Loranns Flavors are at the same stores. They run $1.25-$1.50 here. Pick up just a few flavors you know you will like. If its grape or Blueberry, dont expect to vape it for a week. They still need to steep. And sweetener is a must. I can only find it on line. I like to bake, so had most of the stuff needed before I ever started vaping. I find Marshmallow to be overpowering all my flavors, so I stick to sweetener.

 

[base234]

I'd also like to add...if you're DIYing menthol, forget about the crystals. Just get the drops from alien Visions. A few drops go a long way.

 

[Divine Revhenge]

Ok, I knew vaping high nic juice could be dangerous, fatal actually, but had no idea about the skin absorption. See newb, learn something new every day. I will keep that in mind when I begin to pursue DIYing.
For those who still recommend commercial juices, I have no doubt that I will keep buying those also, but so far have not found one that suits my palate. They are usually too sweet, too bland with no flavor at all, no TH even with a PG mix, very harsh TH that leaves my throat sore with a scratchy feel after just a few draws from my 510. Some leave a film in my mouth or just dont taste very good at all. maybe Im still adjusting to vaping in general vs smoking, and as I said my tastebuds are still healing themselves. Truthfully, as of right now Im having a hard time with the transition from analogs to this mostly because the flavors I have just arent palatable. Thanks for all the advice guys, Im also looking on Youtube, and in the sub forums. I really dont want to give up on this, so Im going to try my damndest not to. Too bad its not as easy to stop smoking as it is to start huh?

 

[markfm]

What are you looking for? A tobacco? A menthol? Coming from Marlboro reds (and before that Camel straights), I needed a strong tobacco flavor up front. Vapor4life's Kamel and Dunhall were decent for that, and in DIY I came up with a tob4 mix that is strong. As time passed I wanted a smoother tobacco, did tob5 (similar to BWB's Marlboro variant).
As to menthol, crystals do work, but I agree they can be a PITA to work with. The perfumers apprentice (TPA) also sells the menthol liquid variant, easier to work with, consistent.
Yes, skin absorption occurs, but if you're moderately careful this isn't like dealing with plutonium. Use pipettes and/or syringes if dealing with small quantities of nic base, graduated beakers for larger quantities, clean any spills promptly, use a paper towel to wipe off any nic base that gets on your skin (if you don't choose to go the glove route). I use a small tray with raised edges for mixing, keep all the working liquids on it, makes it simpler to contain things and clean.
Your sense of taste will absolutely change over time. What you like at first may seem like dreck later. You may also hit days where nothing seems to have much flavor (a strong menthol backup can be handy for those times); entirely normal. Concerning harshness, perhaps a slight sensitivity to PG, VG, or a particular flavoring, though it could just be normal new-to-vaping -- the draw on a pv isn't like a cig, and the need to drink lots of water can take a bit before it becomes a habit.
Good luck!

 

[Divine Revhenge]

Ive had no problems with draw on a pv versus an analog....its just that one or two of the flavors that I have leave a scratchy feel after just a minute or 2. Ive always had a hard time drinking lots of water...been trying to change that since starting to vape...seems to be helping. I usually smoke strong but smooth menthols, mostly newport. Ive ordered a couple of the juice imitations and theyre a joke...dont even taste like good juice much less what they are trying to replicate. Got one from gourmet vapor (Nuport) uggh taste like crap. Really, really heavy on the menthol. I dont like full flavor analogs, but ive one or two tobacco flavors and to mix a menthol in, that didnt work too bad till i found out about the pg sensitivity.

Ive also read in the forums, some people speculate that heavy menthol smokers have the hardest time transitioning from smoking to vaping....do you think they have anything there or is it just a guess.... I have a friend who is also new to vaping and is having no problems with the transition...she also smokes full flavor. Im not sure of whether or not to give that anything yet. it could just be mental on my part...still trying though so thats what matters. My dad just got put in the hospital in ICU today....this is gonna be a rough week.

 

[Divine Revhenge]

Oh and I tend to lean towards heavy fruit flavors or smooth tobacco..I tried Johnson creek, didnt like the pg or the red oak lines ended up sending them both back. tried a local vendor until the allergy but she told me she could special order anything i want in vg base I just placed an order through gourmet vapor recieved those today...gonna let the menthols set a bit before trying them again.. hopefully they will steep and get a little better. The watermelon mix that I ordered isnt too bad actually and the pom-blu is also pretty good. gonna let the mimosa sit a bit...seems to be bitter almost on the exhale, leaves a bitter taste on the back of my tongue. Ordered a peach, vanilla and watermelon from my local lady...those should be in next week. so yeah a smooth tobacco menthol, without the overpowering menthol or a fruit, and so far i tend to mix the fruits to mix it up or add in a vanilla or a touch of menthol...i seem to like menthol in almost everything...still looking for a favorite to buy in big quantity though

 

[Stosh]

If you like a fruit and menthol, one of my go to's is a lemon menthol DIY. I use enough lemon flavoring to give it a nice flavor and a few drops of menthol to give it just a hint of menthol. It's dry, little sweetness, (my preference) with a cool finish.

Madvapes has a Key-Lime freeze that is pretty good and approximates my blend, (mine's better ) and also carry lemon or lime flavoring, and 36mg unflavored.