Extra flavor shots? and other questions

[SharonMM]

I'm attempting to make my first juice order on mtbakervapor and I'm wondering about adding extra flavor shots. I'm wondering how adding the extra flavor would be a benefit... I am really new and haven't had the chance to try many different brands, but is adding more flavor even necessary?

Also, should I just stick to a 50/50 pv/gv mix... I don't have a problem tolerating the pv, so maybe a higher pv would be better? I am not clear what the advantage is to either one.

Also, it seems like it may be more cost effective to buy the flavors and mix my own. Aside from the flavors I choose, what else do I need to get for a successful DIY?

Thanks in advance! The folks on this forum have been such a tremendous help to me already and I'm so appreciative of all of the advice I've gotten thus far! Here's to you, good people of ECF!! Cheers!

 

[Karmick]

Way I see it, from my experience, find out how a flavor tastes first, then see how it tastes with extra flavor shot.

Best way to see it, is to taste it for yourself!

If you're on the speedy side, order a 10ml bottle of both; with & w/o flavor shot...

Good luck!!! & Happy vaping!

 

[Leal]

I think for initial juice orders its a good idea to get samples of regular flavor strength. If you like a flavor but it seems a little weak you can add a flavor shot at your reorder.

DIY can be as simple or complicated as you want to make it. I think it's a good idea to find out what sort of flavors you like and do a lot of research in the DIY sub forum before you get started that route.

Before I started DIY I experimented by mixing premade juices with other juices I did like or flavorings I got from wal mart. Some advice when you start to DIY. Keep records of what you mix and start small.

 

[CannedWolf]

I don't have a lot of experience in extra flavor shots but, I could see 2 reasons for doing it - 1, ordering a higher nic than normal and double shots so the juice could be cut down without losing any flavor (example - if you typically go for 12, ordering 24 with double flavor would allow you to mix it with a non-flavored 0 nic base to get 2 bottles of 12 with the right level of flavor). 2, in some PV/VG mixes, the flavord are muted so, adding some extra may be helpful.

The mix of pv/vg will depend partially on what you are after and partially on what the juice maker recommends - especially if you aren't PV sensitive. PV is throat hit and flavor, VG is vapor. If you arent getting enough flavor and the hit is weaker than you'd like, go higher on PV (or add extra flavor). if you aren't getting enough vapor, go higher VG.

I haven't done much DIY - initially, I would expect to spend a bit more while you are learning recipes and to get the equipment/flavorings/PV/VG/nic. Once you get the hang of it, yes - it should be less expensive.

As for what you will need to get for successful DIY, I will need to defer to someone else with more experience there.

Hope that helps

 

[Myrany]

If you want an idea what is involved in DIY One Stop DIY Shop Videos

I realise this lady is demonstrating specfic to the kit they sell but sometimes seeing it done helps no matter who's supplies you end up with

 

[gjshaw29]

Also read the reviews of the flavors on mt baker and see if other have added extra flavor to theirs. Just a little tip I've found.

 

[Leal]

For me the easy way to get started with DIY was to buy unflavored nic liquid in the same mg and pg/vg ratio I normally get to vape and add one simple flavor in small 5 to 10 ml batches to test. Wizard Labs is a great place to start and since I wasn't messing around with high concentrate nic I didn't get any safety gear just blunt syringes to measure small amounts.

 

[Nite_PHX]

Hi Sharon

Here's a little of my experience now that I'm 82 days without a tobacco cigarette. The first 45 days or so most of the juices I got seemed a bit bland even the mtbakervapor juices with 1 extra flavor shot. There were a few juices however that I really enjoyed from a different vendor that had real good flavor come thru. Recently I went back and tried some of the juices that didn't thrill me at first and I'm finding them to all be much better now. I think 2 things have happened, first my taste buds are healing and second the juices had some time to steep and develop properly. If you've recently quit smoking be prepared to be disappointed with the accuracy and strength of a lot of flavors. Put those bottles aside for 2 months and come back to them when your taste buds have started to wake up again.

I like 50/50 blend. Really good vapor and I really don't notice a drop in flavor compared to a juice with a higher PG amount. I've tried the same flavor from the same vendor in both 100% VG and 80/20 PG/VG and could not taste a real difference. It's possible the vendor adds extra flavor to their 100% VG juice but there is no mention of it on their website.

I've read a lot of times in these forums that PG gives you throat hit and VG gives you vapor. The VG and vapor part is accurate however in my opinion PG give you throat irritation and not throat hit. PG is very drying and scratchy on my throat and my brothers as well. Maybe it's in our DNA or something. Nicotine gives a pleasant throat hit, the sensation of your throat slightly tightening up in a pleasant way. Again these are just my opinions based on my experience but nicotine gives you a throat hit where PG gives you a throat irritation.

With all that said I also enjoy 60/40 and 70/30. Some 80/20's vape Ok but most seem to lack vapor and make my throat to dry.

I've recently started to DIY and the savings can be tremendous once you figure out what you're doing. You'll need flavoring as you mentioned and you'll also need some PG and VG. Some syringes and or droppers to measure everything out and if you don't have any empty bottles around you'll want some of those as well. I got my PG, VG and syringes from wizardlabs.us.

I would suggest you take some time and search for some recipes that sound good to you and order the flavors you'll need to make those. Find an online e-juice recipe calculator and play around with it for a while. Look at the results and hopefully you'll get an understanding of what you need to order. Change the base nicotine strength and see if you can obtain the level you want in your finished product with what you had in mind for your base level. Decide if you want your nicotine to be PG or VG based.

One of the great things about starting DIY is you can adjust the flavor to your taste. As your tastebuds heal your recipes might change as well and you can do that.

Good luck

 

[Oktyabr]

A ton of excellent advice!

It took me awhile to figure it out but YES, do read the reviews on the juice. Many customers of theirs do a good job of describing how they ordered their juice and what they thought of it and what changes they might make on a re-order (more or less flavor shots). Some of the flavors, from any vendor, will need no extra flavoring to taste particularly strong... among those are most of the menthols and mints, licorice flavors, and often the coffee and chocolate flavorings. Fruit flavors I have found usually tend towards the "subtle" side of flavoring and I usually opt for more flavor shots with those than others.

MBV also sells DIY supplies. I purchased a large bottle of pure VG and now I order everything with a higher nic level, 80/20 pg-vg, and usually 3 or 4 flavor shots (they are only 25 cents each!) and then dilute it further with some VG to taste.