Help me set up my "Flavor Pantry"

[cindycated]

Haha, can you tell I'm a newb? I can already see that this DIY thing is gonna be like cooking (which I'm just now learning how to do too), where you have to set up your pantry with all the condiments and spices that you're gonna need to be able to tweak things. I know that I'll be amassing flavors as I go (just like I'm building up my condiments and spices), but what are some basic "tweaking flavors" that are good to have? I'm initially looking at Capella and The Flavor Apprentice - Capella because they have the French toast I've been craving, and TFA because I'm placing an order from Wizard Labs for the base ingredients (to gang shipping). Or might buy bigger bottles from DIY One Stop instead - then there'd be more brands to choose from. If you can provide the brand names too, that would be very helpful. And coupon codes if recommending a certain place. I like those too!

I like desserts and baked goods. My first three flavors will be:
• French toast with blueberry syrup (Capella French toast and Capella blueberry?)
• Blueberry Cheesecake (Capella or TFA for the Cheesecake? I don't care about crust but I have to taste the cream cheese! I wanna feel the creaminess too! I got this from Sweet-Vapes once but can't afford her stuff right now, and no one else's BBCC has done that for me)
• Creme Brulee (Vanilla Custard and TFA Brown Sugar? Or is that Caramel? haha, or do I just let the coil flambe the brown sugar? Do they both make Vanilla Custard? Which is better?)

As you can see, my recipe concepts are crudely simplistic and I'm probably gonna need to do a lot of tweaking, so help me figure out what I need, because chances are, I won't have enough funds to pay for multiple shipments, and I'll end up vaping "ghetto liquid."

And how about sweetener? (crazy sweet tooth) I don't think either One Stop or Wizard Labs sells just plain old "sweetener." Should I just get TFA's "sweetener?" I don't mind sucralose. I've seen it at other juice places, but again, shipping costs... Aahh, if I only had steady income...

 

[Cookster]

Hi!

Check out HighDesertVapes, they have Capellas, TFA, FlavorWest and Nature's Flavors in small 3ml sizes, plus Nic/Pg/Vg. If you go to their forum here on ECF, they have a 10% off coupon code.

Happy mixing

 

[AuBadge]

If you're ordering sweetener ( just ordered some from ecigexpress with a couple other flavors, and the first-class shipping cost was reasonable), you might want to get some graham cracker flavor for that cheesecake for when you feel more adventurous.

 

[vimilla]

I too recently began DIY and to stock my pantry I chose to use mainly capella's for my first pantry stock. I also like fruity and pastry (sweet vapes - no tobaccos) so I tried to pick flavors that have versatility. Through the forums here I found a link to get the 5 flavor super deal for 19.95 direct through capella's. Plus with code disc10 there's 10% off, and they are also running $2 shipping! I got 10 pantry musts for $38! These are standard 13 ml bottles. When it's time to restock I will go through High Desert Vapes, as he sells "Ella's" in larger sizes.

Pick any 5 Flavors - $19.95
Flavor 1: Cinnamon Danish Swirl
Flavor 2: Marshmallow
Flavor 3: Vanilla Cupcake
Flavor 4: Vanilla Custard
Flavor 5: Blueberry

Pick any 5 Flavors - $19.95
Flavor 1: Sweet Strawberry
Flavor 2: Sugar Cookie
Flavor 3: Lemon Lime
Flavor 4: Graham Cracker
Flavor 5: New York Cheesecake

Subtotal: $39.90
Discounts: -$3.99
Shipping & Handling: $2.00
Tax: $0.00
Order Total: $37.91

I picked up a few TPA through other vendors while ordering mixing supplies. I got TPA blueberry extra and marshmallow. I like my capella's blueberry way-y-y better. Taste is more spot on, and it takes less liquid to get good flavor. I'll use up the TPA blueberry, but not reorder it. Same for the two marshmallows.

I also got some FlavourArts; Lemon Sicily (I freaking love this!), Vienna Cream (it's been a staple in all my pastry creations so far), and orange (haven't played with that much). Overall, I'm happy with my FlavourArts (through ecigexpress.)

And I picked up some concentrates from Vaping Zone. Mandarin, Key Lime, and Raspberry. Not had much luck with these yet. I think I am just too new to diy to get using these down to an art. I've left them alone for now. Oh, and also a peach and a pear of the concentrates. I was able to make a tasty Peach Cobbler using my peach concentrate with some capella's, but I didn't measure things out, just a drop of this and that. I'm still new, still playing.

And in response to the sweetener, I haven't ordered any yet either. No EM, no sucrolose, notta. I feel like I should "learn" my flavors before I start adding additives. This way it lessons the chances of things going wrong, and I can isolate problem flavors without possibly blaming a sweetener or additive. All of the juices I've created so far seem sweet enough just using marshmallows and vienna cream. I still need to get a good bavarian cream in my cupboards, but that's one I haven't decided who's brand... same with vanilla ice cream.

2 weeks in, I'm having fun, don't regret the upfront big expense, and I've come up with some tasty stuff! I've made a Papa Smurf (blueberry, strawberry, marshmallow, vienna cream), peach cobbler, blueberry cinnamon cheesecake, blueberry lemonade, strawberry lemonade. And I am working on a rainbow sherbet, key lime pie, orange dreamcicle, and a 7-up cake (remember those 7up bundt style pound cakes from the 70's & 80's?). So far so good!!

Good luck to you! And as a noob, I don't regret the switch. I'm having a blast, and it's all been quite yummy and vapeable!

 

[Ealisaid]

Capella's cheesecake is yummy and addictive but it does need at least a couple of days of steeping time before it's really good, so be patient.

My list of good "tweakers" would be:

TPA's Sweet Cream
Cotton Candy or Ethyl Maltol (any brand)
TPA's Bavarian Cream, although some people prefer Lorann or FW.
Marshmallow -- Capella's, or TPA Toasted Marshmallow
Vanilla, Vanilla Custard, and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Caramel
Coconut -- just a little bit won't add much coconut flavor but will round out your mixes with a nice creamy sweetness.
Graham Cracker -- Capella's is the best, imo.
Flavour Art's Vienna Cream -- this is perfect for someone with a huge sweet tooth. It's so sweet that I can't vape it on its own, but a couple of drops is nice.
Champagne -- so good with nearly all fruits
Mint -- peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen -- whatever you like. I never smoked menthols but I like a nice, refreshing minty vape and they're especially good on "bad taste bud" days.

Also, since you like French toast, the next time you're cooking some, try adding some Capella's Vanilla Custard to your batter. It's sooo good! Flavors -- They're not just for vaping!

 

[cindycated]

Thank you so much for your help, everybody. WOW! I just placed my first order for DIY stuff and still can't believe the savings.

Here's what I got (enough to tide me over for about 4 months):
From Wizard Labs:
60 ml: 60mg nic in 100% PG
250 ml: PG
120 ml: VG
(oh, and Brown Sugar for my Creme Brulee - don't like Caramel)
$25.89 shipped

From Capella:
5-Pack Deal: Vanilla Custard, Blueberry, New York Cheesecake, French Toast, French Vanilla
Plus one more to get the 10% discount: Cinammon Danish Swirl
$25.31 shipped

...and that's all the money I have for now. But I'll keep working on getting the other flavors you all suggested. Especially FA Vienna Cream and Capella Graham Cracker.

I skipped the sweetener this time around (thanks vimilla - I couldn't afford Capella's and Wizard Labs was out of stock anyway - and thanks for the link to the 5-pack deal. I couldn't find that anywhere on their site on my own.), but if I get desperate, I guess I could just go across the bridge to Tasty Vapor (who also stocks LorAnn)...

And HDV I'm definitely trying soon. Just couldn't do it this time, because it would've put me over budget (they only stock base stuff in 120 ml qtys) and Capella had that awesome deal.

Woohoo, I'm stoked!

 

[vimilla]

Glad to have helped, and glad you ordered! Looks tasty! Yeah, I am also "financially challenged" at the moment. I started DIY for the savings, but the fun and creativity are an added bonus. I've got several flavors I'd still like to get, but waiting for Black Friday in November (hoping for massive sales!) before I spend anymore.

There's no going back for me. The $ invested would have been spent in 3 months with vendors, but now I have enough for 9-12 months. I am comittted to making DIY work for me!

Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy your creations as much as I do. - and side note: Cin Danish swirl is awesome dripped in coffee!

 

[cindycated]

Yeah, I keep forgetting that these flavorings were originally for actual food!

I've been signing up for everybody's mailing list. Hopefully coupon codes will roll in that way...but it's nice to know that I'm set for a little while. Thanks again.