How do you figure out how to tweak your recipes?

[frizzy_tyger]

So I'm new to diy (I've started since the FDA deeming). For my own ejuice I'm pretty spastic with flavors and having fun with playing arround, but I am also trying to diy for my aunt as well. She has found exactly 2 flavors she likes. A strawberry cheesecake and a pineapple upside down cake from a local B&M.

I tried mixing up a version of them, based on recipes I found, neither were super close but she liked the strawberry cheesecake I made up but really dislikes the pineapple upside down cake I've made so now I'm trying to tweak it to be more similar to the one she is used to, but I'm not sure how I would go about doing so.

I bought a bottle from the local B&M and my version has more pineapple flavor, more vanilla, and less of the "dark" brown sugar flavor.

I used 8% pineapple juicy, 6% vanilla cupcake, and 3% brown sugar all by TFA. How can I go about tweaking this recipe? I imagine I would use less pineapple and more brown sugar but how do I listen the vanilla flavor since it's part of the cake flavor? I'm open to other brands, I just bought all TFA to save on shipping.

 

[BrotherBob]

Could google each flavor in turn like: "vape All about TFA Brown Sugar flavoring".
Once you know a little about each flavor such as percent normally used in mix and what it brings to the recipe you will start to get a sense of mixing.
Time and research study go along way.
Might like to read and study:
dannyv45's blog | E-Cigarette Forum
Hoosier's blog | E-Cigarette Forum
DIY Resources
You will want to scroll down to Sir2fyablyNutz thread, he lists most of the places you can find recipes.
Re: First DIY Order
How hard is it to get in to DIY liqiud?

 

[frizzy_tyger]

Could google each flavor in turn like: "vape All about TFA Brown Sugar flavoring".
Once you know a little about each flavor such as percent normally used in mix and what it brings to the recipe you will start to get a sense of mixing.
Time and research study go along way.
Might like to read and study:
dannyv45's blog | E-Cigarette Forum
Hoosier's blog | E-Cigarette Forum
DIY Resources
You will want to scroll down to Sir2fyablyNutz thread, he lists most of the places you can find recipes.
Re: First DIY Order
How hard is it to get in to DIY liqiud?

Thanks BrotherBob! I'll Google the individual flavors and read through the links.

 

[JCinFLA]

You also might want to try Bill's Magic Vapor's 100DT (100 drop test) to make very small sample batches...that you can tweak as you go. You might have a good chance of "hitting" the mark on your Aunt's pineapple upside down cake that way.

I use his 100DT every time I try out a new recipe someone posts, as well as any new ones I try to make up myself. Haven't had anything that has been "flushed" or put down the drain yet using it!

Here's a link to read all about it in his blogs:

Using Bill's 100DT Taste Test Method | E-Cigarette Forum

You might be interested in reading some of the rest of his blog entries as well. He's a wealth of information on how flavors work together for various types of mixes (pies, pastries, fruity blends, etc.).

 

[frizzy_tyger]

You also might want to try Bill's Magic Vapor's 100DT (100 drop test) to make very small sample batches...that you can tweak as you go. You might have a good chance of "hitting" the mark on your Aunt's pineapple upside down cake that way.

I use his 100DT every time I try out a new recipe someone posts, as well as any new ones I try to make up myself. Haven't had anything that has been "flushed" or put down the drain yet using it!

Here's a link to read all about it in his blogs:

Using Bill's 100DT Taste Test Method | E-Cigarette Forum

You might be interested in reading some of the rest of his blog entries as well. He's a wealth of information on how flavors work together for various types of mixes (pies, pastries, fruity blends, etc.).

Thanks JCinFLA I'll check out the 100 drop test and Bill's blog. Out of curiosity how many ml does 100 drops roughly translate to?

 

[Katya]

Thanks JCinFLA I'll check out the 100 drop test and Bill's blog. Out of curiosity how many ml does 100 drops roughly translate to?

Depends on the size of your dropper. In my case, 1 ml = ~20-25 drops.

 

[frizzy_tyger]

Depends on the size of your dropper. In my case, 1 ml = ~20-25 drops.

I guess I didn't realize droppers were different sizes, lol. I had been using oral syringes to measure so I hadn't really compared dropper sizes. Should I assume I would need to use the same dropper for all the components for the 100 drop test to work correctly?

 

[Katya]

I guess I didn't realize droppers were different sizes, lol. I had been using oral syringes to measure so I hadn't really compared dropper sizes. Should I assume I would need to use the same dropper for all the components for the 100 drop test to work correctly?

If you want to replicate his recipes, yes. Otherwise the flavor will be different because the proportions of all the components will be different.

 

[frizzy_tyger]

Thanks @Katya

 

[Katya]

Thanks @Katya

Pleasure! And good luck!

 

[Frenchfry1942]

Give her recipes to consider. TFA-only ones.

 

[JCinFLA]

@frizzy_tyger - Well, I was on another forum and missed your questions. But Katya was right...100 drops is between about 4-5 mLs, depending upon the droppers used.

I do the 100DT with either several syringes that all have the same gauge blunt needle tips on them, or I use all 1mL pipettes which produce pretty uniform drops. The plain VG and my Nic in VG drops do seem to be alittle bigger than the flavoring drops and plain PG drops, but...it's close enough for my testing and has worked out well so far. If I remember correctly...Bill thinks so, too, for his own mixes. He doesn't sweat the possible tiny difference in size either.

 

[scotdc]

There is also a very good chance you are using different ingredients than your B&M, the same flavors from different manufacturers vary widely. If you truly want to make a clone (or even the best recipe for you) you should gather a few different kinds. For example you might want to get Pineapple flavors from Inawera, Capella and Flavourart to compare - trust me, each one will taste different. Then make tests with each at varying percentages and when you've found your sweet spot with pineapple, add one more ingredient at a time until you're satisfied.

It's an involved process that takes time, but it's a blast! Have fun and play with your food.

 

[frizzy_tyger]

@frizzy_tyger - Well, I was on another forum and missed your questions. But Katya was right...100 drops is between about 4-5 mLs, depending upon the droppers used.

I do the 100DT with either several syringes that all have the same gauge blunt needle tips on them, or I use all 1mL pipettes which produce pretty uniform drops. The plain VG and my Nic in VG drops do seem to be alittle bigger than the flavoring drops and plain PG drops, but...it's close enough for my testing and has worked out well so far. If I remember correctly...Bill thinks so, too, for his own mixes. He doesn't sweat the possible tiny difference in size either.

Thanks JCinFLA it's good to know the drops don't need to be super precise for testing.

There is also a very good chance you are using different ingredients than your B&M, the same flavors from different manufacturers vary widely. If you truly want to make a clone (or even the best recipe for you) you should gather a few different kinds. For example you might want to get Pineapple flavors from Inawera, Capella and Flavourart to compare - trust me, each one will taste different. Then make tests with each at varying percentages and when you've found your sweet spot with pineapple, add one more ingredient at a time until you're satisfied.

It's an involved process that takes time, but it's a blast! Have fun and play with your food.

I definitely plan on getting some other brands. I'd originally went with all TFA to save on shipping some and they had smaller bottles than capella. They seemed to be the most common two I'd found in recipes. I'll make my way arround to others soon, for my own stuff the playing arround is fun, I'm just anxious about getting my aunt setup since she only uses the two flavors.

 

[dannyv45]

Read my blog on using a 3 sample comparison method. This refers to mixing an ry4 but works for any mix.
I also noticed you said you were using an orial syringe and working by drops. I would suggest using the syringe and work with percentages and ml's not drops. There's much less accuracy working with drops due to viscosoty and temperature changes even if you use the same dropper device every time. It may not be critical when experimenting with your own recipe designs but is very critical when trying to clone a juice. Use a good e-juice calculator to help you figure this out such as this one.

eJuice Me Up - Best eJuice Calculator

Mixing 101, The Basics - A simple walk through on mixing a favorate standard... RY4 | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[frizzy_tyger]

Read my blog on using a 3 sample comparison method. This refers to mixing an ry4 but works for any mix.
I also noticed you said you were using an orial syringe and working by drops. I would suggest using the syringe and work with percentages and ml's not drops. There's much less accuracy working with drops due to viscosoty and temperature changes even if you use the same dropper. Use a good e-juice calculator to help you figure this out such as this one.

eJuice Me Up - Best eJuice Calculator

Mixing 101, The Basics - A simple walk through on mixing a favorate standard... RY4 | E-Cigarette Forum

Thanks dannyv45, I'll read through the links.

I actually haven't actually used the drops yet, others had brought up the 100 drop test as a way to make less liquid for testing. I had been using percentages previously.

I definitely made a mistake by making 15ml bottles in the begining, although only 1 of the 6 I tried was a flop, but 3 were also kinda meh. At least I'd read to always test with 0nic and haven't ruined that.

 

[dannyv45]

Thanks dannyv45, I'll read through the links.

I actually haven't actually used the drops yet, others had brought up the 100 drop test as a way to make less liquid for testing. I had been using percentages previously.

I definitely made a mistake by making 15ml bottles in the begining, although only 1 of the 6 I tried was a flop, but 3 were also kinda meh. At least I'd read to always test with 0nic and haven't ruined that.

The drop test is not a bad method but other conciderations as previously mentioned do apply. Also bookmark my other blogs which will help as issues arise.

In fact I give a modified drop test example to convert drops to percentages here.

How I test new flavorings and hone in on the amount to use. | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[frizzy_tyger]

The drop test is not a bad method but other conciderations as previously mentioned do apply. Also bookmark my other blogs which will help as issues arise.

In fact I give a modified drop test example to convert drops to percentages here.

How I test new flavorings and hone in on the amount to use. | E-Cigarette Forum

Thanks dannyv45, I'll makd sure to do so.