I am requesting help with my DIY adventure into a cola eliquid

[James Richards]

OK. So. I am doing rather well in the DIY department. I've made some interesting flavors, some really good ones and also some bad ones that just don't taste good no matter what I do. One has me puzzled...
I tried making a Cherry Cola...like the coca cola branded cherry cola.
Here's my mix:
100 mg / 100% VG nic base
50/50 PV /VG ratio

Cherry: 14% Flavor Apprentice
Black Cherry 4% LorAnn
Cola 4% LorAnn

The first couple hits are awesome! Tastes like cherry cola! I am happy and not 10 minutes later after maybe 10 hits (mouth draws, about 2 or three seconds each) It gets this 'burnt' flavor. Not really burnt, as the cola flavor is still there, but it is 'strong' and I taste no cherry anymore. A new built atomizer (I use cotton built protank II's) fixes it...it seems the cola flavor does not vape well...at all.
Anyone have any advice in trying to "protect" the flavor? Is this to be expected?

 

[HeadInClouds]

I haven't used those LorAnn flavors, but I can give you a flawless Cherry Coke recipe. It uses FlavourArt, tastes just right, won't fade or give you other weird flavors/effects:

3% FA Cola
1.5% FA Black Cherry

shake and vape, no steeping needed

 

[James Richards]

That's pretty much how I vape. I only steep if I find a recipe didn't work right away.

I've seen a lot of people using FA...there seems to be camps that swear by them. I buy my DIY supplies from Wizard Labs...they don't have FA flavors... Any recommendations on a one-stop-shop place? Get liquids and supplies from the same place?

 

[Crunktanium]

The Lorann Cola is YUCK!

Stick to TFA or FA as suggested avoid that nasty black tar looking stuff from Lorann. Not that all their flavors are bad but the cola IMHO is horrible and guaranteed to clog your coils.

 

[kabalm18]

I have made HIC's cherry coke and it's good. Tastes like Cherry Coke.

 

[RocketPuppy]

Here's a list of who sells what: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/539843-flavor-flavour-suppliers.html

 

[James Richards]

Thank you, RocketPuppy. I can, however, do searches on Google to find a list like that, what I am looking for is places that are trusted. Or is that the reason for the list? Trusted sources?

 

[RocketPuppy]

After reading quite a few thread concerning chemicals that should be avoided, there are a few companies that I personally would stay away from. Here's a really interesting thread: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=534508

I think that HeadInClouds has a great recipe and from a solid company that is upfront with their testing.

 

[RocketPuppy]

I will follow up my list with another thread that contains sellers who use documented and tested ingredients.
Here's on for TFA flavors.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=554391

 

[derogg]

Inawera cola (red label). Best cola flavor IMO. great flavor and fizzy. Dripping some right now.
- Dirk

 

[Aheadatime]

I really like the Hangsen Blue Cola. Tastes alot like fizzy cola to me, although it does lack sweetness. This is one of the few flavors that I add sweetener to.

 

[James Richards]

I would like to try sweeteners and additive stuff...once I read more. RocketPuppy's articles have me considering a different method to mixing and what I can do to further my health. Good thing is...so far my doc says I'm OK. He doesn't see anything negative yet. He has me taking more tests (x-rays, blood work, the 9 yards) since it was pretty much a life saving decision to stop smoking "analog" cigarettes.

Speaking of sweeteners... I keep seeing this kind of stuff: Sweetener Flavor Concentrate (TFA)

Is this what I can use to give a little extra sweetness to my candy-like juices? Or will this pretty much just give a Equal (r) "the pink stuff" flavor?

 

[Aheadatime]

Speaking of sweeteners... I keep seeing this kind of stuff: Sweetener Flavor Concentrate (TFA)

Is this what I can use to give a little extra sweetness to my candy-like juices? Or will this pretty much just give a Equal (r) "the pink stuff" flavor?

This is the sweetener that I generally use. Use .5%-1%, as any more will ruin a mix. When I say ruin, I mean it will basically sweeten it to the point that you can't taste any other flavors in the mix, so all of your mixes taste like sugar. Some flavors are very 'fussy', so even using the .5%-1% might diminish them, but this is something you have to sort of learn as you go. I strongly recommend always mixing without sweetener first, and only adding .5% if the mix has the flavor profile spot-on but is lacking in sweetness.

Other things to add for sweetness would be marshmallow, creams, vanillin, and EM, although EM doesn't really sweeten a juice (it sort of just rounds the mix out so to speak, making all the flavors work together), and should never be used at more than .5%-1% imo.