Is it possible DIY state-of-the-art high-end juices

[BigDaddio]

I also get where OP is coming from, I love some certain liquids, like Space Jam, five pawns, or TVC. They are rich and complex. not your run of the mill. I beat run of the mill every day but these guys have something extra that just makes them great. I believe some of them make their own extractions. They just seem thick and luxurious to vape where as my stuff has a thin feel in comparison. They don't use more VG or anything TVC lets you select, five pawns is 50/50.

I think a big part is the small batches we make. You can add more subtle flavors when you make liters at a time. Its much easier to add less than 1% of something when it's in 1000 ml... Oh well keep on plugging away! I also think there are some flavors that we don't think of using that add a little something. Like adding a touch of graham cracker to a fruit to give it a woody tone or something.

BTW Thanks for the tip on searching, I found this post when trying to search the DIY forum alone.

 

[go-orange]

I have a suggestion/recommendation for new DIYers that has helped me.

When I first started DIY last year, my optimism crashed headfirst into my lack of patience. My first thoughts were "ORDER ALL FLAVORS!! NOW!" and a few months later I had spent more money than I intended, figured out how to use basic e-juice calculators, and was so disappointed when what I had originally thought was the "easy" part ...well it just wasn't easy. I love to cook, and thought if I could follow recipes---well that must be the hardest part..? After throwing out a crazy plethora of just TERRIBLE tasting juices I dialed things back and started all over. I am still using those first flavorings and extracts-only now I have settled into mixing, steeping, and vaping each flavor individually, and crafting the individual flavor to tasting the best that flavor could taste-to the best of my ability.

Realistically speaking, once I have found a "good and sweet vanilla" I still make room on the wall shelf. No matter the steeping techniques I have tried-it is still time and the occasional shaking of the bottle that can turn so-so juice into a solid and lovely DIY flavor staple. like someone else said---Have Fun!

 

[Crunktanium]

Many juices people love are borrowed recipes that were altered slightly. Some vendors even borrow recipes exactly from the web and simply rename. It's a sad reality but if something is popular and easy to copy many will do just that.

 

[ukeman]

The answers from experienced DIY'ers is spot on, and good advice ie. the coach analogy and success… still I stand by a saying that has stood me good all my life: " if you want to catch a fish, do what the guys (gals) that catch fish do"… down to the letter (in principle, not $).

If some are turned off by their first samplings, don't forget, a few years ago, when many first started vaping and saw that list of flavors available (juices not faovorings) on a ie discount gear site, our eyes lit up; "wow…. that sounds great!" only to find they were cheap because they didn't taste what they "sounded" like…lol.

Don't let that discourage you though… Go to the "Best of" threads and look for the flavorings you are interested in… buy the brands that seem to get good reviews. At least you know you are in the ballpark when you have a flavoring that has some noted success.

DIY has proven to be an enigma to me because while on one hand it can be totally intimidating and frustrating, some of the victories come amazingly easy!

ie. flavors that hit it out of the park (right "off the bat") … are as good as some of the best out there…

in my brief experience: TFA and VZSC Melon flavors… Berry flavors (amazing)

 

[ukeman]

Many juices people love are borrowed recipes that were altered slightly. Some vendors even borrow recipes exactly from the web and simply rename. It's a sad reality but if something is popular and easy to copy many will do just that.

true, like clone mods ie,
and the fact that DIY can definitely appear difficult.

i recently got into melon vapes… being it is an out of the ordinary (old school) flavor like apple, peach etc, after years of vaping other stuff, I bought what was the most popular juice on an ecig site… called Melon Ball… wow… spot on!

I kept ordering because of my ignorance; that just about all the TFA (10%) and VZSC (3%) melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon) are "spot on" …
same for the berry flavors (rasp, black, strawberry)

if anyone wants to start out DIY with a "win" imo…

 

[Crunktanium]

Yep I know a few vendors who had me fooled into thinking their mountain dew or even peach was a secret formula. Come to find the secret was simply TFA juicy peach and some sweetener or TFA dew and sweetener.

 

[twolostminds]

adding a touch of graham cracker to a fruit to give it a woody tone

Now that is something that would never have occurred to me. A thread with this type of information would go a long way towards helping those of us that are new to DIY mixing.

 

[BigDaddio]

THERE IS!!! There are a few DIY Master Threads

I have found these since my last post. The first post has links to the other threads as well.

 

[mxrdrver]

You'd be supprised how many of the high end juices are simple one flavor recipes.

 

[talon4x4]

I guess the one question I would have after reading through this thread, and one we probably wouldn't get the answer to, is are the flavorings used in the 'high-end' juices something that is available to everyone or is it made up special just for the person selling the 'high-end' juice. If these 'high-end' juices are being made from off the shelf flavors (ie. TFA, LA, FA, etc.) then one could easily recreate the juice with a little experimentation. But the juice makers aren't going to give away their secrets anymore then a world class chef or a magician . So all you can do is buy the flavors you think are in your 'high-end' juices and get to mixing. That's what I did and I'm having fun with it.

Good luck!

 

[juice drippin off my chin]

Original poster follow-up: again thanks to everybody in this thread for all their input. I was, after all, able to completely reproduce my favorite e-liquid's i.e. Ben Jonson's cr3am (Oreo cookie), and Mr. Good Vape Melon Head.

I went to one of the prominent online vendors that carries all the top shelf flavorings from the various companies (FA,PA,CAP etc.) and spoke to one of their mix masters. I explained to the guy what I was looking to create and off the top of his head he gave me the formulas for both, and they came out near to exact (originals on hand for comparison).

So in answer to my original question of a couple months ago: The answer is a resounding YES...

 

[antek]

Original poster follow-up: again thanks to everybody in this thread for all their input. I was, after all, able to completely reproduce my favorite e-liquid's i.e. Ben Jonson's cr3am (Oreo cookie), and Mr. Good Vape Melon Head.

I went to one of the prominent online vendors that carries all the top shelf flavorings from the various companies (FA,PA,CAP etc.) and spoke to one of their mix masters. I explained to the guy what I was looking to create and off the top of his head he gave me the formulas for both, and they came out near to exact (originals on hand for comparison).

So in answer to my original question of a couple months ago: The answer is a resounding YES...

you mind sharing the cr3am recipe? that also is my favorite e-juice and im trying to start diy

 

[Fizzpop]

I have just started making my own juices. So with that "Beginner's mind" disclaimer out of the way, I am pleased to say I have made several very enjoyable juices already. What I found almost immediately was that you will have the best success by mixing simple flavors first. In fact, it is important to mix up singleton flavors so you know what they taste like. You can't start blending 4 different flavors without first understanding the characteristics of each alone.

The other thing I have discovered is that many times, less is more - 3-5% is often all the flavoring you need. I often wonder if those who report failure with DIY are just using too much flavoring.

 

[HeadInClouds]

I would love to duplicate KBV cantaloupe. There's another flavor in there, just can't put my finger on it.

I don't know who KBV is, but if you like cantaloupe, FlavourArt's Cantaloupe Melon flavor is the BEST. I'm not a huge melon fan, but this particular flavoring is one of the most accurate, true-to-life fruit flavors I've found. And it takes only 5% as a single flavor. You really owe it to yourself to try it

 

[jgoss]

I don't recall who, but someone was looking for a banana cream?

I like...
13% banana cream (LA)
4% bavarian cream (TFA)
3% French Vanilla (CAP)
1% EM

The french vanilla and cream can be changed around to your favorites, but I do find that LA makes my favorite banana cream. It tastes and smells candy like, until you get the EM in there and let it steep for a few days. It mellows out quite nicely. Tastes like banana pudding with nilla wafers to me. I also use 10% saline solution in most of my juices,to add a little salt, and to thin it out (i don't use extra pg, makes me sneeze) and that changes the flavor too, but you can leave it out if you wish.

 

[Coelli]

Original poster follow-up: again thanks to everybody in this thread for all their input. I was, after all, able to completely reproduce my favorite e-liquid's i.e. Ben Jonson's cr3am (Oreo cookie), and Mr. Good Vape Melon Head

I would also love to have the recipe for your Cr3am mix - that's one of the ones we keep buying, and I'd really like to be able to DIY it. Thanks in advance!!

 

[mountaingal]

I just found this for you: recipes galore:
E-Liquid Recipes | DIY E-Juice | e cig Liquids

 

[jonny45378]

I know this won't be of much help but my local vape shop made a almost dead on moon sugar. It was fantastic.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk 2

 

[Bunnykiller]

a really good cook will have a pantry full of spices, not just 5 or 10 but dozens... and if you think of juice making as a chef would handle making a dinner... you will have tasted dozens of flavors and understand from that point that flavors compliment each other, intensify each other or just fight against each other and make things just nasty....
sample the flavors, see how close they resemble the real thing ( does the blueberry flavor actually taste like blueberry??) and how would one flavor in addition to another make it taste better??