How to Organize a Flavoring Collection?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Janet

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 14, 2008
732
296
68
Akron OH USA
I got my bottles at WalMart, too. They are so convenient! I don't keep my nic in one, tho. Does it hold up ok? I only have a 125ml bottle right now,and it's in the drawer. Does freezing it change the consistency or quality?

I bought my label maker years ago. Apparently they aren't made anymore. Brother P-Touch PT-2700 But I love it!

FWIW, When I do make up my mixes, I put the date on a separate label. That way, when I refill the bottle, I don't have to make a whole new label. (I don't know how to post pics here, sorry.)
I'm still hunting for "just the right method" for storage.
:glug:
Is it best to keep the flavoring bottles in the dark? I do have a small box that I keep steeping bottles in, but I'm not sure what's best for flavorings. I know at the vape shops they keep the mixed bottles out in view, so, maybe it doesn't matter?

Too bad you're not closer. Hubby and I are carpenters. :cool:
Hi GatorzGirl! The condiment bottle is 16 ozs, so a bottle filled with my base will last for about 16 weeks. I just keep the condiment bottle filled with the base in a cupboard (away from heat and light) and it's fine. As far as I can tell, the taste does not change over that period of time, nor does it develop any color or odor.

I've been using a crystal clear nic with no odor for quite a while now, but I have bought nic in the past that came with some normal nic odor and slightly yellow color. It's alright - it just has an extra taste that is a bit peppery.

Take your nic out of the drawer and store it in the freezer to keep it fresh longer. Freezing will not hurt it. It depends on how fast you use it up, so if you will use it up fairly quickly, keeping it in the dark might be enough. I now keep my 100mg/ml VG nic in the freezer. It does not freeze, but boy does it get thick (I think I will order a PG nic next time) - so when I'm going to mix a batch of base, I'll take it out of the freezer and let it sit in room temperature for a while in the cupboard so it doesn't get exposed to light (probably doesn't matter that much as long as it's not baking in the sun). When I last bought nic, it was the first time I bought a 240 ml bottle of 100mg/ml (previously I bought 120 ml bottles, one at a time). Since I knew it would take quite a while for me to use 240 mls, I chose to store it in the freezer. Before that, I had just kept the smaller bottle in the fridge, so I didn't really need to warm it up to use it. Keeping nicotine in the dark will help preserve it, as well as keeping it cold. Light, heat and oxygen will affect it and make nicotine get darker and also change the taste which is not good, although some have reported e-liquid (depending on the flavor) that has aged for many months actually tastes better than when new, even though it has turned dark brown. That has never been my experience - whenever I've found an old bottle of e-liquid that has turned really dark, the taste has been awful. I'm sure the quality of the nicotine affects this effect too. Since exposure to air affects the nic, it's good to get the cap back on its bottle as quickly as you can.

It's best to keep flavoring bottles in the dark, away from heat and light. Some flavorings may crystallize a bit if kept in the fridge, but it shouldn't hurt them. If it happens, warming it up should dissolve the crystals. I've never felt the need to keep flavorings in the fridge - kind of like before I was vaping and I never kept vanilla or almond liquid flavoring used for baking in the fridge. A big bottle of vanilla stays in my cupboard lasting for a few years at a time and it never went bad. That stuff usually has enough alcohol in it to probably preserve it indefinitely. I would think that any flavorings with PG as a carrier would behave similarly since it is a type of alcohol.

As far as the vape shops keeping liquids out and on display, my guess is that they are not sitting there very long because customers buy them - so a vape shop's stuff isn't going to hang around nearly as long as our stuff does in our homes. If something has dust on it, then I would wonder if it's too old. I would also look for "born on" dates.

Your idea to have separate labels for the name and date is a really good idea. I just write the flavor of my mix on a label for the bottle and make notes on the wall calendar in my kitchen and more extensive notes (like when developing a new recipe) in a notebook. After finally finding two "sweet spot" vapes and getting the recipes tweaked, I haven't felt the need to do much mixing, except for keeping those two flavors made. But now, I just had to get in the mood to find some more flavors to vape, and now there are flavoring bottles scattered all over my kitchen counter.

The flavorings cupboard is kind of on hold until I get my computer fixed or replaced. I think I have spent enough hours on the phone with tech support and finally made some progress yesterday. My printer that served me well for over 7 years probably needs replaced too. Researching computers and printers to buy is so time consuming.

It would be nice to be friends with some vapers in person, especially ones with carpentry skills and equipment and the work space for it. ;)
 

Azyre

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Dec 25, 2012
150
70
Holiday, Florida
www.milieux.com
I used to use a vintage wood accordion sewing box for my flavors which worked well until my flavor inventory outgrew it. I'm using those nail polish racks now, and they work good for me though the small bottles to get knocked over easily in the rows that aren't full yet.

2zBSQnsl.jpg
 

jpasint

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 2, 2014
464
898
Coconut Creek, Florida
I used to use a vintage wood accordion sewing box for my flavors which worked well until my flavor inventory outgrew it. I'm using those nail polish racks now, and they work good for me though the small bottles to get knocked over easily in the rows that aren't full yet.

2zBSQnsl.jpg
Looks like you could use a few more flavors. :)
 

aikanae1

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 2, 2013
8,423
26,259
az
Michael's comes up with some interesting ideas and if they don't have it on sale, there's usually a 40% off coupon.
I guess this was for gift wrap, but I see flavors, eliquids, building stuff in bins and where they put ribbon, wire instead. The only thing missing would be a glass door to keep the dust out.
Recollections™ Embellishment Center
unnamed.jpg
 

Wolfenstark

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 1, 2014
4,815
14,724
Perth , Australia
I put mine into containers with the categories
Bases & Sweeteners - ones like creams and vanillas and sweetener , caramel.

Fruits and Nuts

Cakes and pastries.

In a future flavouring purchase I'll not do the cakes and pastries and buy ones like pie crust and marshmallow which will go into bases & sweeteners.

As for the containers well there an empty box, candy tin & ice cream container.
 

Janet

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 14, 2008
732
296
68
Akron OH USA
Looks like you could use a few more flavors. :)
jpasint, Agree! I know I can always use more flavors - there seems to be never-ending choices - and I want too many. :rolleyes:

I used to use a vintage wood accordion sewing box for my flavors which worked well until my flavor inventory outgrew it. I'm using those nail polish racks now, and they work good for me though the small bottles to get knocked over easily in the rows that aren't full yet.
Azyre, This is a good way :thumbs: As for the tiny bottles, I thought about corralling them in shallow little boxes of some kind, or maybe there is a way to make some kind of dividers that could be moved. Maybe cutting some black foam core in pieces that would fit tight enough in the rack? I've also seen plastic corrugated cardboard. It came in different colors and I bought some bright blue to make a sign once. I think I got it at a store like Michael's. There are also those clear plastic disposable containers that certain foods come in from the grocery store - the kind that are boxes with hinged lids. Those could be cut down to fit and the plastic would be flat. I don't think they would "junk up" the look. It would be nice to have movable dividers just help organize categories. I'd love to see your vintage sewing box. I sew and the antique sewing paraphernalia is really something. Those vintage accordion sewing boxes look much nicer than big accordion tackle boxes (although they are great for organizing stuff too).

2zBSQnsl.jpg
[/QUOTE]
 

Janet

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 14, 2008
732
296
68
Akron OH USA
I put mine into containers with the categories
Bases & Sweeteners - ones like creams and vanillas and sweetener , caramel.

Fruits and Nuts

Cakes and pastries.

In a future flavouring purchase I'll not do the cakes and pastries and buy ones like pie crust and marshmallow which will go into bases & sweeteners.

As for the containers well there an empty box, candy tin & ice cream container.
Sounds like a good system to me Wolf - I could use a friend like you to help me to not make things so complicated.:blush: I'm having a little trouble handling life in general right now and having a tendency to get lost in all the details is not helping.:cry:
 

Wolfenstark

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 1, 2014
4,815
14,724
Perth , Australia
Sounds like a good system to me Wolf - I could use a friend like you to help me to not make things so complicated.:blush: I'm having a little trouble handling life in general right now and having a tendency to get lost in all the details is not helping.:cry:

What seems to be the problem ? Don't worry if too many :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Janet

Janet

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 14, 2008
732
296
68
Akron OH USA
What seems to be the problem ? Don't worry if too many :)
It's sweet of you to ask. I'm just having trouble juggling too many things - computer problems, health issues, depression, too many bad hair days... It would be nice to have some personal assistants (I can always wish, can't I?). Honestly, right now I just want to forget about everything, maybe just watch Netflix and YouTube and vape, vape, vape. I feel "stuck" and need to do priorities, but I just don't feel like it. I am tired of forcing myself to do things like cleaning and organizing and other basic self-care. It's hard when I feel exhausted and in pain most of the time (stupid fibromyalgia!). Sorry, I don't like to whine. But there, I said it.
 

Wolfenstark

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 1, 2014
4,815
14,724
Perth , Australia
It's sweet of you to ask. I'm just having trouble juggling too many things - computer problems, health issues, depression, too many bad hair days... It would be nice to have some personal assistants (I can always wish, can't I?). Honestly, right now I just want to forget about everything, maybe just watch Netflix and YouTube and vape, vape, vape. I feel "stuck" and need to do priorities, but I just don't feel like it. I am tired of forcing myself to do things like cleaning and organizing and other basic self-care. It's hard when I feel exhausted and in pain most of the time (stupid fibromyalgia!). Sorry, I don't like to whine. But there, I said it.

I have first hand experience with mental issues , could say it runs in the family.
Well I know some things about computers though mostly Apple computers.
Escapism always good.
If it is just you forcing yourself then the boss my go easy on you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Janet

Janet

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 14, 2008
732
296
68
Akron OH USA
I have first hand experience with mental issues , could say it runs in the family.
Well I know some things about computers though mostly Apple computers.
Escapism always good.
If it is just you forcing yourself then the boss my go easy on you.
:offtopic:Flavor storage racks are on hold for now :(. But at least I know what I'm going to do. Computer is priority, but making progress. It's an HP Pavilion notebook, Windows 7, intel i5 Core. It's over 5 years old, but pretty good for a Windows notebook. I think all it needs is a new power cord adapter and battery. If I'm careful to not move it so the power cord stays put, it's OK - but I don't know how much longer that will work. Anyway, I finally found the right parts online (hopefully) and currently waiting for them to arrive. HP told me they were obsolete.o_O I really hope it's not the power cord jack or anything beyond in the laptop guts. A new laptop is not in my budget right now. If I can figure out a good physical set-up and can find a good computer repair person I can trust, I will just have someone build a desktop for my next computer.

You might like to know the first home computer I bought was in 1994. It was one of Apple's first "Portables" made around 1990. I bought it used and it didn't come with any user manual. All I needed was a word processor, so it was fine for that. It had Flying Toasters which I thought was a hoot! I kind of wish I still had that piece of history. It would be great if laptops were so easy to take apart as that old Mac portable. I don't know much about how computers work, but I do know that today's laptops are not so easy to take apart for repairs. I'd probably be an Apple person if it weren't for the fact most of my computer experience years have been spent on some kind of DOS at work in the early 80's through 2014, plus whatever Windows system my employer used after 1995 and during that time, first Windows 95, then XP. I remember when the internet first became available for regular home use around 25 years ago. Even though it was rather primitive compared to today, I thought, "Wow...this is going to change the world!"

Thanks Wolf for approval for escapism and going easy on myself. :) I did manage to force myself to go to a patriotic concert on the 4th of July and I actually enjoyed it - also met and talked with some new and interesting people.
 

john333

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Mar 20, 2011
1,658
1,129
Indiana
eliquidstand.jpg
around a year ago I picked up three test tube holders thinking they would work for my bottle storage. they hold the bottles ok but the solid plastic covered the labels too much making them hard to read. for several months been looking around for something to work better and decided to get these from amazon. they are for cosmetics and each square is one inch across. I ordered eight for a little over $5 each with free shipping. I think I have around 150 flavors and they may even hold my 30ml concentrates.
 

Attachments

  • eliquidstand.jpg
    eliquidstand.jpg
    40.1 KB · Views: 36

john333

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Mar 20, 2011
1,658
1,129
Indiana
:offtopic:Flavor storage racks are on hold for now :(. But at least I know what I'm going to do. Computer is priority, but making progress. It's an HP Pavilion notebook, Windows 7, intel i5 Core. It's over 5 years old, but pretty good for a Windows notebook. I think all it needs is a new power cord adapter and battery. If I'm careful to not move it so the power cord stays put, it's OK - but I don't know how much longer that will work. Anyway, I finally found the right parts online (hopefully) and currently waiting for them to arrive. HP told me they were obsolete.o_O I really hope it's not the power cord jack or anything beyond in the laptop guts. A new laptop is not in my budget right now. If I can figure out a good physical set-up and can find a good computer repair person I can trust, I will just have someone build a desktop for my next computer.

You might like to know the first home computer I bought was in 1994. It was one of Apple's first "Portables" made around 1990. I bought it used and it didn't come with any user manual. All I needed was a word processor, so it was fine for that. It had Flying Toasters which I thought was a hoot! I kind of wish I still had that piece of history. It would be great if laptops were so easy to take apart as that old Mac portable. I don't know much about how computers work, but I do know that today's laptops are not so easy to take apart for repairs. I'd probably be an Apple person if it weren't for the fact most of my computer experience years have been spent on some kind of DOS at work in the early 80's through 2014, plus whatever Windows system my employer used after 1995 and during that time, first Windows 95, then XP. I remember when the internet first became available for regular home use around 25 years ago. Even though it was rather primitive compared to today, I thought, "Wow...this is going to change the world!"

Thanks Wolf for approval for escapism and going easy on myself. :) I did manage to force myself to go to a patriotic concert on the 4th of July and I actually enjoyed it - also met and talked with some new and interesting people.
I went to work for 3M company in 1981 manufacturing 8" and 5.25" floppies. The first amazement was how many type written pages one would hold. We eventually made the 3.5" before technology passed us by. The plant in Oklahoma once employed 1,000 people but was spun off to a new company called Imation then finally shut their doors a few years back. I think they got down to 35 employees. I know what you're talking about. Those were exciting times watching the computer age come to life. There's a show on AMC in their second season called "Halt and Catch Fire" that takes place back then and is fun to watch if you like all that.
 

Janet

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 14, 2008
732
296
68
Akron OH USA
I just found out if I buy anything from Amazon between July 1 - Sept 30, I'll get a decent discount by using my DiscoverCard. I can find lots of nail polish racks on Amazon, but not the ones I found on Ebay (ones like Azyre posted). I would prefer them in white to go better with my kitchen. I still have not spent a long time hunting though. Maybe they are there somewhere. If anyone knows where/if they are on Amazon, please post. - Thanks!
 

Janet

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 14, 2008
732
296
68
Akron OH USA
I went to work for 3M company in 1981 manufacturing 8" and 5.25" floppies. The first amazement was how many type written pages one would hold. We eventually made the 3.5" before technology passed us by. The plant in Oklahoma once employed 1,000 people but was spun off to a new company called Imation then finally shut their doors a few years back. I think they got down to 35 employees. I know what you're talking about. Those were exciting times watching the computer age come to life. There's a show on AMC in their second season called "Halt and Catch Fire" that takes place back then and is fun to watch if you like all that.
Neat story John! As a secretary at the community hospital in the early 80's, I remember going to a computer kept in a different office to work on spreadsheets and documents, and saved my work on 5.25" floppies. Hmmm, maybe you had a part in making the discs I used! I had the same amazement - All these pages could be on just this one disc??? I remember all the banks of computers in the hospital's IT dept and I imagine all of the the information they processed in that giant room could now fit in the palm of my hand (or maybe my lap)! It was so wonderful to type anything and be able to erase and cut and paste. No more need for "White-Out!" Well, at least for a while - I still had to use a typewriter (an IBM Selectric!) at my desk for a lot of stuff for a couple more years before all the secretaries got their own terminal, keyboard, and tower at their desks. By then we had 3.5" discs. The AMC show sounds great. I don't have TV, but maybe it's on Netflix or somewhere. There sure is a lot of stuff on YouTube to learn about most anything too. I still appreciate mechanical stuff like typewriters that don't need electricity. Also hand-written notes and letters are becoming more and more very prized possessions. I am sad that handwriting is becoming a thing of the past. I don't get much mail anymore when I know right away who it's from by just the first glance at the handwritten address. Even though I love label makers, maybe that's why I still prefer writing out e-juice recipes and bottle labels by hand. ;)
 

john333

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Mar 20, 2011
1,658
1,129
Indiana
Neat story John! As a secretary at the community hospital in the early 80's, I remember going to a computer kept in a different office to work on spreadsheets and documents, and saved my work on 5.25" floppies. Hmmm, maybe you had a part in making the discs I used! I had the same amazement - All these pages could be on just this one disc??? I remember all the banks of computers in the hospital's IT dept and I imagine all of the the information they processed in that giant room could now fit in the palm of my hand (or maybe my lap)! It was so wonderful to type anything and be able to erase and cut and paste. No more need for "White-Out!" Well, at least for a while - I still had to use a typewriter (an IBM Selectric!) at my desk for a lot of stuff for a couple more years before all the secretaries got their own terminal, keyboard, and tower at their desks. By then we had 3.5" discs. The AMC show sounds great. I don't have TV, but maybe it's on Netflix or somewhere. There sure is a lot of stuff on YouTube to learn about most anything too. I still appreciate mechanical stuff like typewriters that don't need electricity. Also hand-written notes and letters are becoming more and more very prized possessions. I am sad that handwriting is becoming a thing of the past. I don't get much mail anymore when I know right away who it's from by just the first glance at the handwritten address. Even though I love label makers, maybe that's why I still prefer writing out e-juice recipes and bottle labels by hand. ;)
I tear my labels from brown paper and scotch tape them. I personally like how they look. Oh yeah, I used IBM Selectrics. They were quite the machine. Had several different balls for the fonts. I could blaze at 55 wpm ha ha. Did your hospital have the big printers with the green and white striped paper? Things were loud.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread