Help me jump in head first.

[Maurice Pudlo]

I love menthol and cinnamon, being new to the whole DIY thing I'm not 100% sure this is perfect or even good but its a starting point for what I want to vape.

I'm very sure that menthol and cinnamon are my ADV bread and butter, based on trying a slew of flavors outside this range that I just can't stand.

I need to order ingredients but want to check my idea for a mixture against everyone's knowledge and experience here.

So here is what I've come up with, its not particularly fancy, but my thoughts when putting it together are to run it in a Genesis style atty with 1 ohm builds on a mechanical mod eating imr 18650 batteries.

This should if I understand things correctly produce a fairly nice volume of vapor, the menthol, koolada, and cinnamon red hot should produce the throat hit, and both the EM and CDM should contribute to a nice fullness or mouth feel.

All TFA ingredients:

17.4% 50 mg/ml PG
69.7% VG
1.3% menthol
1% koolada
1.3% EM
8.3% cinnamon red hot
1% creme de menthe

Should be 8.7 mg/ml nic content

I'm looking for a crisp menthol that cools, a noticeable but not harsh throat hit, clearly cinnamon flavor and just a slight note of creamy mint.

Any suggestions for additions, substitutions, subtractions, etc. will be greatly appreciated.

Maurice

 

[WileECoyote]

Only one real way to find out. TFA is only 1.50 a flavor so it wouldn't be a big loss if you made a 5 mL batch and tried it out. Personally, cinnamon for me tend to burn and come out pretty harsh. I only run .5% menthol in my 30/70 PG/VG and that is plenty of menthol for me. Try it out and review it for us.

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

I ordered my flavorings, nicotine, PG, VG, and a bunch of 30ml cobalt blue bottles with glass dropper tops.

I did add a few flavorings to the list, mainly all of their cinnamon flavor types so I'm not stuck with CRH, or plain menthol.

So being the overly confident guy that I am, I ordered enough ingredients to make up 24 30ml bottles of e-juice.

With local pricing for a 30ml bottle of juice going for $26.00ish I'd have to screw up a ton of juice to not come out ahead on this adventure.

So yeah, now I get to fidget around waiting on vape-mail, oh joy.

I did decide to go with a 48mg/ml nicotine base rather than the 50mg/ml. Mainly because this being my first go at DIY I didn't want to play with making my own from 100mg/ml.

I also ordered the base in a PG/VG mix, TFA states son of the flavors I ordered don't mix well in 100% VG, so I'll have a bit of room to play with the PG/VG ratio with what I ordered.

I figure the quantity of ingredients I am purchasing should last me right around 6 months, if I nail a vape I like on the first try. Though I'll not kid myself into thinking that's very realistic. So maybe it'll do for 3 months.

Pics and updates when stuff starts rolling in sometime next week.

Maurice

 

[cg23]

I ordered my flavorings, nicotine, PG, VG, and a bunch of 30ml cobalt blue bottles with glass dropper tops.

I did add a few flavorings to the list, mainly all of their cinnamon flavor types so I'm not stuck with CRH, or plain menthol.

So being the overly confident guy that I am, I ordered enough ingredients to make up 24 30ml bottles of e-juice.

With local pricing for a 30ml bottle of juice going for $26.00ish I'd have to screw up a ton of juice to not come out ahead on this adventure.

So yeah, now I get to fidget around waiting on vape-mail, oh joy.

I did decide to go with a 48mg/ml nicotine base rather than the 50mg/ml. Mainly because this being my first go at DIY I didn't want to play with making my own from 100mg/ml.

I also ordered the base in a PG/VG mix, TFA states son of the flavors I ordered don't mix well in 100% VG, so I'll have a bit of room to play with the PG/VG ratio with what I ordered.

I figure the quantity of ingredients I am purchasing should last me right around 6 months, if I nail a vape I like on the first try. Though I'll not kid myself into thinking that's very realistic. So maybe it'll do for 3 months.

Pics and updates when stuff starts rolling in sometime next week.

Maurice

HI Maurice. Please pardon me as I'm getting ready to jump into this. Where did you order all this from. Thanks

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

The following from The Flavor Apprentice;

8ml;
Eucalyptus (menthol)
15ml;
Cinnamon flavor
Cinnamon Red Hot flavor x2
Cinnamon Spice
Creme de Menthe
Ethyl Maltol
Horehound
Koolada
16oz;
PG
VG
My total with shipping;
$68.68

The 48mg/ml nicotine was from Vapor World
4oz (118ml)
My total;
$16.98

The cobalt bottles 1oz each were from Packaging Options Direct
24 cobalt blue glass bottles
24 matching glass dropper tops
My total;
$18.84

All together I spent a whopping $104.50.

If I can produce 24 bottles of good e-liquid I'll have $4.36 in each. That is money well spent in my opinion, very well spent.

I'm rather sure I could have saved a few on the nicotine going elsewhere, but I really didn't look all that hard.

The bottles and flavors I expect to be top notch.

Maurice

 

[dannyv45]

If it's a 70VG/30PG mix your after your calculations are fine. If poor wicking becomes an issue add 4% distilled water to the mix. Your flavor percentages seem reasonable but maybe start the red hot at 7% and work up is needed. Not really sure you'll need the EM so I would leave it out and after a few days of vaping if you feel you need it then add it.

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

If it's a 70VG/30PG mix your after your calculations are fine. If poor wicking becomes an issue add 4% distilled water to the mix. Your flavor percentages seem reasonable but maybe start the red hot at 7% and work up is needed. Not really sure you'll need the EM so I would leave it out and after a few days of vaping if you feel you need it then add it.

I wasn't particularly trying to nail any specific VGG ratio, when I was doing my research on flavors to use it seems most that i wanted to use are in a PG base, so it just sort of worked out that way with the percentages.

I ended up ordering enough PG and VG to really fiddle around with the ratio.

My nicotine base is a mixture of both too, that'll give me the ability to go heavier on the VG than 30% by 8.5% if I see the need.

I believe my current stock of fluids are mostly PG base as they are quite thin in viscosity.

I'm more worried about flavor than blowing clouds the size of Nebraska, that being said I do like to "feel" the vapor. I think for me at least that is in some way contributing to the experience. I may be imagining it but I presume that vapor volume is helpful in delivering flavor at least as much as vapor quality (no spitting and sputtering).

I'll try the mix EM free, thanks for that input.

As I'm not heavily concerned with the PG:VG ratio would you still suggest adding the distilled water to thin the mix or would you think simply adjusting the ratio to a higher percentage of PG would improve wicking. I'm fine with trying to resolve wicking issues by messing with the mesh count I use or any means really. In fact I may just go out and buy a bottle of VG at the CVS around the corner to address potential wicking issues now. In any case I don't want to sacrifice a portion of juice percentage that could be working for me in some way if I don't have to, is that reasonable?

Thanks very much for your input, I wouldn't have thought to add water to improve wicking and haven't run across that just yet in my lurking on the forum.

I purchased a variety of Cinnamon flavors, that way I can determine which individual or mix suits my taste, I thought I was conservative with 8.3% but on your suggestion and WileECoyote saying similar I'll surely cut back and see how it goes.

I'm rather excited to get to mixing, there is always that little something missing or something just slightly not pleasant about premixed flavors that I am sure can be fixed by DIY.

Maurice

 

[cg23]

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm still on the fence a bit but these threads and post pump courage for the leap. LOL

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

HI Maurice. Please pardon me as I'm getting ready to jump into this. Where did you order all this from. Thanks

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm still on the fence a bit but these threads and post pump courage for the leap. LOL

I really know what I'm after so my flavor list is a bit focused on doing one thing.

Lots of people order a wider variety of flavors which could be used alone or in combination resulting in many may unique flavors.

For me this is all about a perfect Cinnamon Menthol with a slight filler of creamyness and mint.

If all goes well I'll be in heaven, if not I'll keep trying.

Maurice

 

[cg23]

I can't really decide what I'm after. Lol. I do hsve a few favorite flavors that i would love to replicate. For me, starting out, I'm probably better at following exact recipes...time for me to pull the trigger- On something. So many decisions. Lol

 

[dannyv45]

I'll try the mix EM free, thanks for that input.

As I'm not heavily concerned with the PG:VG ratio would you still suggest adding the distilled water to thin the mix or would you think simply adjusting the ratio to a higher percentage of PG would improve wicking. I'm fine with trying to resolve wicking issues by messing with the mesh count I use or any means really. In fact I may just go out and buy a bottle of VG at the CVS around the corner to address potential wicking issues now. In any case I don't want to sacrifice a portion of juice percentage that could be working for me in some way if I don't have to, is that reasonable?

It all boils down to if your happy with the flavor at high VG concentrations but wicking is a problem then water is the better solution.

If your not happy with the flavor and feel the VG is reducing it or a higher throat hit is desired or if the vape has a bit to much thickness or sweetness then PG would be the best solution.

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

I see, thank you. I understood that VG is said to mute flavor a bit but didn't really consider that multiple effects would result when thinning with PG.

I'll be trying each flavor in both PG and VG to determine what percentage results in an enjoyable vape with the taste I'm looking for. Hopefully I can get similar flavor from each (at different percentages of flavoring I presume) and work from there on other aspects like throat hit and mouth feel.

Again, thank you for your input. I'm sure I have lots of learning to do and every bit of info helps.

Maurice

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

I have vape mail jitters, the bottles are in my city, TFA flavors are expected to be here this week, I'm checking on the nic progress way more often than is healthy.

LOL, I'm a bit excited to dive into this.

Maurice

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

Looks like my choice in Nicotine suppliers is less than speedy in getting things out the door, or responding to email.

The online info from VaporWorld tells me the package has yet to ship, sooooo...

So I'm putting on a little race, MyFreedomSmokes.com (ordered 2/19/14) vs. VaporWorld.biz (ordered 2/15/14), and Wizard Labs (ordered 2/15/14) lets see who gets here first.

We shall see.

Maurice Pudlo

In other news my glass bottles are on the truck for delivery ... oh yeah.

 

[cg23]

Thanks for the update. I've yet to pull the trigger on ordering, kinda .... with the research. LOL. I tell ya....you ireally make me anxious to to jump in. Keep us posted. Thanks

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

The bottles are in.

Maurice

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

It looks as if my TFA order is out for delivery & the my freedom smokes nicotine is in Louisville.

VaporWorld seems to have just handed my order over to the Vape-Mail Master, I need to check on Wizard Labs.

The folks at VaporWorld never did get back with me on my email, based on their slowness in getting my order into the Vape-Mail system and lack of response to email communication I can't say I'm pleased with their service. This is not to say their product is bad, I'll get to that when the product gets here.

I purchased a USA produced and locally bottled liter of Heaven Hill Vodka for sterilization. I try to support my local shops when I can.

So all in all today is looking up, its almost time to DIY.

I have seen several posts about DIY being less expensive but falling short of the gourmet/premium e-juices, I'll make no excuses if my efforts don't come up to that level, but I am in no way placing the bar any lower than perfection as my final goal.

Maurice

 

[cg23]

Hopefully by this weekend you'll be on the Diy mad scientist path toward perfection. Lol. It's funny cause I see myself in your efforts. Probably why I'm peaking out the window in fear....soooooooon. Good luck.

 

[dannyv45]

I have seen several posts about DIY being less expensive but falling short of the gourmet/premium e-juices, I'll make no excuses if my efforts don't come up to that level, but I am in no way placing the bar any lower than perfection as my final goal.

Maurice

It's OK to place the bar as high as you like but always remember to start with baby steps that's how you learn. If you place the cart before the horse and jump in with a huge complicated multi combination mix your creating a recipe for disaster. Start simple and learn the art first. Ask lots of questions along the way that's what were here for.

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

It's OK to place the bar as high as you like but always remember to start with baby steps that's how you learn. If you place the cart before the horse and jump in with a huge complicated multi combination mix your creating a recipe for disaster. Start simple and learn the art first. Ask lots of questions along the way that's what were here for.

This is exactly why I'm aiming at what I think is a simple Mentholated Cinnamon.



My TFA flavors are in, and the first of the three nicotine orders came as well. (MyFreedomSmokes)

As for the nicotine, being new to DIY I'm going to wait until they all come in so I can compare them with each other.

Maurice