First attempt is a flop! :(

[4am]

Got some capella flavors. They smell really nice. I imagine they would taste really nice too, but the base liquid I got tastes funny I think.

I got a 50/50 mix of vg and pg. I have been using 100% pg juice from Smokeless Image.

I put about 15-20% of flavor in each test liquid and used some crappy cheap clearomizers for testing. All of the flavors tasted funny to me.

I couldn't figure it out because the flavorings smelled pretty good. However, when I sniffed the unflavored vg/pg base, I think I found where the strange flavor was coming from.

It says 'unflavored' on the base bottle. But where is that strange smell and taste coming from? Ick.

 

[bnrkwest]

Got some capella flavors. They smell really nice. I imagine they would taste really nice too, but the base liquid I got tastes funny I think.

I got a 50/50 mix of vg and pg. I have been using 100% pg juice from Smokeless Image.

I put about 15-20% of flavor in each test liquid and used some crappy cheap clearomizers for testing. All of the flavors tasted funny to me.

I couldn't figure it out because the flavorings smelled pretty good. However, when I sniffed the unflavored vg/pg base, I think I found where the strange flavor was coming from.

It says 'unflavored' on the base bottle. But where is that strange smell and taste coming from? Ick.

Leave them sit around for 2 weeks then try them. I also found that for me fresh mixed Capella's does not agree with me, I have some type of flavor reaction to it, but after I let it steep it is fine, so that funky taste might be the flavor before it steeps. bnrk

 

[4am]

Thanks. But I am thinking the BASE smells like the funny taste I am getting. I only vaped 100% PG before. Does VG have a 'flavor' to it?

 

[Sdh]

Thanks. But I am thinking the BASE smells like the funny taste I am getting. I only vaped 100% PG before. Does VG have a 'flavor' to it?

It could be your base. Not all pg/vg taste great. USP Dow is a nice brand. Nicotine RTS or ecigexpress for a smooth vape. RTS vaping is having a sale and they sell dow vg/pg.

 

[panachronic]

Thanks. But I am thinking the BASE smells like the funny taste I am getting. I only vaped 100% PG before. Does VG have a 'flavor' to it?

Some people say that VG has a flavor, yes. And I think there is a general consensus that VG dulls the flavorings in a juice.

Honestly, 50% is a lot of VG. I know some people like it and some people even vape 100% VG juice, but for most people the sweet spot seems to be in the neighborhood of 20% or so. That's all that's needed to add vapor volume.

 

[salemgold]

+1 for RTS. I have used nothing but their PG/VG and nic for about a year now. I too got tired of the bases overpowering my flavors. They have a 20% off sale going on right now with code REGULARFOLKS.
Over $75 order ships free

 

[salemgold]

Thanks. But I am thinking the BASE smells like the funny taste I am getting. I only vaped 100% PG before. Does VG have a 'flavor' to it?

I use a 50/50 blend and have tasted VG that tastes like dirty feet smell before. Since I have been uisng RTS, I have not had a single issue with any of the base flavors coming through in my flavors.

 

[hdzrtvap]

why not just vape a little of your base liquid with no flavoring? that should tell you if its your base or not. also would like to recommend dripping to taste your DIY, its a lot easier and faster to check the flavor and lastly 15 to 20% could very well be to much for a single flavor as sometimes less is more.

I use TFA and some must steep for a min of one day but most at least 3 to 5 days.

 

[AzPlumber]

Great suggestion above, vape some of the base with out flavoring and see if it is the culprit. I see most are jumping on the VG as the possible issue but I have also run across PG that has a bad taste. Another thing that has not been adressed is nicotine, does this unflavored base contain nic and if so it could also be the source of an off taste,

 

[Wuzznt Me]

I've had some PG and VG nic both that had unpleasant taste. If I could get a truley taste free unflavored I doubt I'd ad much to it. I read somewhere that a tiny bit of vinegar or something like that buffered that taste but I don't know where I read it.

 

[bnrkwest]

I am getting to the point I really refer about 90% PG and 10% VG. Lately Iam having some real issues with clogged cartos and VG seems to be the problem as well as some flavors. Using mostly all PG and I don't have those issues. Also good advice to try and vape the unflavored nic liquid. I do that alot when I am burned out on flavor bnrk

 

[YorkieGirl1]

One of the most important things to do in the beginning with DIY is this:

Set up a small experiment - take at least 6 bottles and do the following with NO NIC:
1 bottle at 100% pg, 1 at 20/80, one at 40/60, one at 60/40 one at 80/20 and one at 100%vg. Vape a sample of each.

When I originally started vaping - honestly I almost gave up because i was coughing so much, nothing tasted good, I was drying out, having upset stomach etc because I kept reading how pg was the best for a flavor carrier, vg was too thick, tasted funny etc. Well after this experiement I found the flavor of the all VG to taste BETTER (in my opinion of course) and the flavoring overall was sweeter, so i tried a mix of all vg with just pg from the mix (was about 80/20) and found all the nasty symptoms to go away. Now when i use a PG based ejuice, it just tastes wrong to me. I love my VG. Now everyone is different, but try this experiment before you waste more flavorings and nic and add frustration to find your perfect base =).

 

[liveone]

Good stuff Yorkie! I think with DIY you have to make your pg/vg/nic base and vape it flavorless to see how you like it. Go ahead and experiment with different percentages. I like 50/50. Then when you start adding flavoring do it very gradually. Drop at a time and vape test it. You need a reference point. It works better for me than mixing percentages of flavorings that sound like they would go together. Sometimes two flavorings together don't complement each other. Rather they work against each other.

 

[Joie]

If you use 100 o/o VG isn't it too think to vape with an atty? Do you thin it out with distiller water?

 

[CANCHASER]

This week is the first time I have ever tried the DIY route and now I really wish I would have done it 2 years ago when I started the vaping adventure. I ordered my mixes from Ecigexpress and ordered the base as 36mg nic with a 50/50 pg/vg. I mixed that with 50% vg and it has the perfect vapor/throat hit for me. I have just filled 3 ml bottles with my base and started adding my flavor a drop at a time and then test vape to find my perfect mix. I mix mine with 2 drops of flavoring per 3ml and to me it's great, not overpowering like 95% of the premixed juice I have bought. As far as it being thick, yes it is a little thick and I've added 1 drop of water per ml to help with that. I'm hoping someone with more experience will answer is adding the water is the best way to thin it out without changing the flavor/performance of the juice. Oh and the stuff I got from ecigexpress did not have any funky taste/smells and vaped great without any flavors added at all.

 

[YorkieGirl1]

Yes, youll want to thin it out - again as much as to your preference - as long as your substituting a drop of water, or vodka, etc in place of a drop of vg that would of been there at 100vg - your not loosing any of the flavoring percentage. You can use distilled water, or pga (pure grain alcohol) and even most flavorings assist in thinning out - if you use 20% flavoring, you wouldnt need to thin your VG out at all as the flavorings would do that job for you -- hope that made sense?

1

If you use 100 o/o VG isn't it too think to vape with an atty? Do you thin it out with distiller water?

 

[Joie]

Yes, youll want to thin it out - again as much as to your preference - as long as your substituting a drop of water, or vodka, etc in place of a drop of vg that would of been there at 100vg - your not loosing any of the flavoring percentage. You can use distilled water, or pga (pure grain alcohol) and even most flavorings assist in thinning out - if you use 20% flavoring, you wouldnt need to thin your VG out at all as the flavorings would do that job for you -- hope that made sense?

1

Yes that makes perfect sense....thanks.
Still wondering why soooo many differnt %'s of juice per recipe.....I have some Lorane flavors and seem to have to use alot to get a good taste.
I see some people who say a drop or 2 per 3ml...sounds crazy, but then I saw a youtube that the guy says he mixes his 40% flavor.....guess i am just going to have to keep experimenting.....I like strong flavors s a drop or 2 would never work....unless it is another brand and is super concentrated or something.

 

[YorkieGirl1]

I agree - a few drops dont do it for me either. I like a LOT of flavoring!!! Use 20-25% of loranns and use a few drops of sweetner (to any mixes to help enhance the flavoring) and you will probably like it alot better! =)

 

[jackbox]

I have been making 70% PG / 30% VG. I use a 36mg/ml PG nic base and target my juice at 6 to 8% mg/ml nic. I used flavorings from Flavour Arts and The Perfumer's Apprentice. After some trial and error I find 15% flavoring to the total volume is about where I like it for most flavors, except the super intense ones like Zen Garden which I would not go over 5% flavoring. I get my nic base and pg/vg liquids from Health Cabin since I am in Thailand and so far, so good.