Juice and perception?

[drglock]

Hey all, as I'm falling deeper into my vaping lifestyle, certain questions pop up which confuse me!
The reason I'm putting this in the new member column instead of the ejuice column is because I felt new vapors might benefit from this discussion.

Since I began vaping a month ago, I've tried a limited amount of juice vendors, and have been very happy with mtbakervapor.
They are very well priced at about $8 for 30 ml, and I have found several flavors from them that are quite amazing.

So, finally, on to the question.

Are other "gourmet" juice venders who charge up to $20 for 30 ml really that much better, or do people rave about them because they just happen to find a flavor with that vendor they happen to like.

There is only so much you can do with the 4 main ingredients found in juice, so the deciding factor must be in the quality and amount of flavoring used, any sweetener used, aging done at the vendor before shipping, etc...

Just trying to expand my knowledge base, and thank you for your input!

 

[Frenchfry1942]

I am finding plenty of flavors in the lower cost range. I have found it important to do my part in receiving the liquid and further preparing it for vaping.

I have about eight bottle that I just started on and I just ordered about the same. When they arrive, I will let them aerate and steep for better flavor. When I finish the current set, the new set should be ready. I will then order another set.

The process that I use for prepping the liquid (aerate & steeping) is a story for another day.

 

[Bunnykiller]

There are juice makers that charge a higher price due to the process of making their juice. NET's ( natural extracted tobacco) type of juice actually uses tobacco in the process to obtain flavor characteristics, thus a higher price....
Non tobacco flavors usually consist of the 4 main ingredients PG/VG, Nic, Flavorant, and a thinner ( water/alcohol)

 

[Baditude]

Most of the "premium e-juice" manufacturers use all-natural, all-organic flavorings in their mixtures. Just like with organic and natural foods found in your grocery store, this is more expensive to obtain. Hense the higher prices for premium e-liquids.

The less expensive e-liquids likely use the cheaper artificial flavorings.

Having been able to sample premium flavors at my local vape shop and compare them to standard e-liquid manufacturers' flavors, I can attest to a difference in taste. My favorite e-liquid vendors seem to be the ones who use all-organic, all-natural flavorings. Whether this difference is worth the premium price only you can decide.

 

[CreepyLady]

Most of the "premium e-juice" manufacturers use all-natural, all-organic flavorings in their mixtures. Just like with organic and natural foods found in your grocery store, this is more expensive to obtain. Hense the higher prices for premium e-liquids.

The less expensive e-liquids likely use the cheaper artificial flavorings.

This ^^ exactly.

As far as being very literal - PG/VG/Flavoring and Nic(optional) are in both cheaper and gourmet vendors. The difference is not the amount of flavoring but more so the source of the flavoring.

It is a whole different beast to use x brand premade vanilla flavor vs purchase organic vanilla beans, extract your own flavoring.

 

[erazzz]

Different tastes. Some of the gourmet vendors you may not really like, some you'll love. Once you find one you really love you'll pay the extra $$ for the juice.

I've been testing out Mt Baker Vapor but I haven't really been able to get into it. Everything I buy is okay. It is all vapable, but I've noticed I'm starting to steer away from most of the artificial flavors. My ADV is still an artificial cream and mint that I love (luckily not bad price either, $15 for 30ml from Dark City Vapor). However, my other juices in rotation are the naturally flavored/complex ones.

An issue with the gourmet ones I have is that they take patience. They all have to steep 2-3 weeks before they really get that one of a kind flavor.

 

[obediahx]

I think it's hit or miss, but I recently got Boba's Bounty and Hype from Alien Visions and the flavor is just so much better than the cheaper stuff I've been getting and I think totally worth the extra money. Hype may be the best liquid I've ever tried so far and while I'm not super into tobacco liquids, boba does have a ton of flavor.

 

[~Sue~Feb2012]

If you've found inexpensive juices you like and are quite happy with them, that's wonderful!

Everyone said it already--only you can decide if it's worth it to buy higher priced juices. There are some excellent medium price ranges out there as well and are excellent.

Some vendors use naturally extracted tobacco in their base and then (may or may not) add natural or organic "premium" flavors to make them complex and very tasty. There are a few that use labs, chemists and high technology to extract natural tobacco alkaloids. Some vendors just use ordinary flavors. It may depend on the source.

If I'm going for a "sweet" e-liquid, I prefer the ones that have no additional "sweeteners" but rather the type of tobacco used or other natural ingredients used that are inherently sweet and need no additional add-ins, food colorings or other "artificial" ingredients. Most of the e-liquids that I prefer are 100% VG so they only have the 3 main ingredients that you speak of, but have so much more to them.

Some are good right out of the mail, some need a week up to a few months before they are wonderful, but it probably doesn't matter if they are $8.00 or up to $20.00. It may also depend on your taste buds or whether or not your tastes will change in time.

 

[SpyderBite]

I've tried numerous vendors for eJuice. Some were great and some were bad. Some were cheap and others were expensive. Eventually a b&m store opened in my area that sold good eJuice at a good price and I no longer have to pay shipping or wait for an order when I'm running low.

There are some great vendors online. You'll just have to keep shopping around until you find one that you like. Sort of like a bar; if only one was really good and really cheap, everybody would drink there.

 

[skoony]

like someone said if you like it,your there.
as far as gourmet v cheaper alteritives theres really no difference
in the quality of the product from any reputable vender,but the cost in ingreidients.but beleive me there isn't a $8.00 to $30.00 per 30 ml difference.
as far as steeping.there is no such thing.its just the time it takes
for your tank wicks to thicken up with liguid to get that so called just right taste.
properly mixed juice is just that.good right out of the bottle.
juice cant steep or age because there are no organic processes such as
you would find in wine or spirits going on.

regards
mike

 

[~Sue~Feb2012]

like someone said if you like it,your there.
as far as gourmet v cheaper alteritives theres really no difference
in the quality of the product from any reputable vender,but the cost in ingreidients.but beleive me there isn't a $8.00 to $30.00 per 30 ml difference.
as far as steeping.there is no such thing.its just the time it takes
for your tank wicks to thicken up with liguid to get that so called just right taste.
properly mixed juice is just that.good right out of the bottle.
juice cant steep or age because there are no organic processes such as
you would find in wine or spirits going on.

regards
mike

Some e-liquids do benefit from aging but certainly not for years and years as you would find with some wines and spirits!

 

[Saganite]

It all boils down to flavor and perception. I've found plenty of more expensive ones I don't care for and several cheap ones I live quite a bit.

If you're happy with what you have found already, don't worry about whether there are better flavors out there. There probably are and there always will be. No sense getting yourself caught in that trap if you've already found your All Day Vapes.

On the other hand, if you get tired of those flavors or if you just want to try some "gourmet" juices, many sites offer sample kits or sample size bottles so you aren't out too much cash.