Help a newbie vaper with FlavourArt!

[mrmagica]

Hi All! So I just got a sub box mini. My local vape shop is expensive for e-liquid so figured I'd make my own. I have a week before I go away for a few months so need to take a selection of liquid!
I really liked the blueberry ready made from totally wicked. (50/50mix @6mg nic).
I hit FlavourArt and ordered 5 fruit flavours - and some Vanillin Crystals as I was told it would sweeten mixes up! (blueberry (bilberry), strawberry, apple, tiramisu and rasberry).

Attempted making a 5ml tester -. Went with 60vg/40pg to try and increase smoothness at 6mg nic and 2% blueberry reading the boards.

Result: Well it's nice but just too subtle, and not sweet! I upped to 3% but still doesn't seem very full flavoured compared to the totally wicked pre made.

Should I up the blueberry to 4%? Should I add vanillin crystals to sweeten it up? I'm consiering goign to 70/40 as it hits a bit harder than the premade...or maybe lessen nicotine?
I realise experimenting is key - but I don't have loads of time before knocking out 200-400ml!

Vanillin Crystals

Now I understand I must dilute these, adding say 6g to 60ml of pg/vg. But once I have 60mg of PG is that then used in the base VG/PG mix or do I add it as a 2% mix as I would add the flavour concentrate?

Note: right now I want to stick to single flavour mixes - try and keep it simple to start!

Thanks all!!

 

[Hans Wermhat]

I have only used a couple of FA flavors, but I used them at closer to 15%. You may not like them that strong though. I would definitely not be afraid of bumping it up to 5 - 7%.

Vanillin doesn't make anything sweeter in my experience. It has a little bit of a vanilla creamyness to it, but not much sweet. Ethyl maltol is a sweetener. Same concept. Dissolve the crystals in PG and yes, use it like a flavoring. Or buy it pre-mixed. Dissolving the crystals is a HUGE PITA! Lol!

Some mixes will be harsh the first day or 2 after you mix them, but will smooth out after a little bit of steeping. I mix at least 70% VG in all my juices, so it's not as bad for me. The nic and PG are what give you TH/harshness. The harshness from the nic eases a little bit after a day or 2 usually at lower nic levels. But MOST juices will need to steep anywhere from 2 days to 2 months depending on what you put in them. Fruits will taste more like the finished product early on. Tobaccos, vanillas, and bakery flavors need more time.

If you are looking for something you can vape right now, I can suggest a good one. One Stop DIY Shop has a flavor called Blue Raspberry Slushy. 30 ml bottle is about $5. I mix it at 15% and just add nic and VG. It's shake-and-vape, no steeping needed, but it gets a lil smoother after 2 days. They will ship it to you 2 Day Priority Mail for about $5. Tastes just like a blue slush puppy from 7-11. It will make 2 - 100 ml batches.

 

[WhiteHighlights]

Yikes Hans! 15% for FA flavors? Way too high! Yes, you can add too much flavor to a mix and mute it.

FA Bilberry is a strong flavor so I'm usually using a 1-3% tops in my mixes. However, I've been vaping for 2+ years and my taste buds have come back to life so I've reduced the level of flavor required in my mixes.

Agreed, vanillin won't add sweetness. I do use various vanillas in my mixes but haven't tried the crystals. It adds an interesting back note to the mixes.

mrmagica, you could do a mix of 3% bilberry and 1% raspberry and see if that helps the sweetness. If you buy more flavors, I'd recommend Vienna Cream. It helps round out the fruit. You can make it as creamy as you want or have just a touch. Lemon Sicily goes well with bilberry too.

With what you have and where you want to only do single flavor, mix up some of that tiramisu - but start low as it is very strong (.5 - 1%). Tiramisu is another flavor I cut it with Vienna Cream.

FA Strawberry isn't as intense, so start with 1-3%.

Another piece of advice - make sure you shake the flavors before mixing!

Once you have a little mixing experience, adding in two, three or more flavors becomes easy. Some of mine are ridiculous with 8+ flavors! But they're so yummy when I vape them it's worth it.

Good luck & have fun!

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

I've seen this site referred to as the FA bible for mixing : HIC's "My notes on"

You'll find "recommended" percentages for FA there.

 

[DoubleEwe]

I've seen this site referred to as the FA bible for mixing : HIC's "My notes on"

You'll find "recommended" percentages for FA there.

It is worth noting that most of HIC's notes are for single flavour percentages, so it wont necessarily translate into what will work in mixes. He (I believe) uses a decent 'clean' nicotine base, so that also plays a part (if nicotine base is not so clean then you need more flavouring to drown out the base).

Also worth taking a look at is e-liquid recipes dot com (google 'e-liquid calculator'), they give user recommended percentages for both single flavour and mixes, along with user notes and recipes using that flavour. (click on 'user' in top right corner, go to 'flavor list', search for your flavor...)

 

[glasseye]

Have you tried the Totally Wicked blueberry concentrate? Flavor Concentrates Vaping E Juice E-Liquid Concentrate
Might get you where you want to be better than FA.

 

[Hans Wermhat]

TFA Blueberry Extra isn't bad either. Super strong. It's a coil gunker though.