Juice darkened significantly the day after mixing. Anyone have clue to the mechanism?

[Flaklaflubillibu]

My first mix of 5% TPA strawberry was clear after mixing and remained clear throughout the next day and thereafter.

For my second mix the next day, I whipped up 5% TPA Bavarian cream + 5% TPA Milk Chocolate. It had a slight color to it upon mixing, but nothing striking. The day after, today, it has turned brown in color. Not a very dark brown or anything, but it is noticibly brown.

I can only assume some sort of reaction took place, innocuous or not I do not know. The taste somewhat similar to the day it was made, although a tad different. Does anyone know what sort of magic took place in my bottle of juice?

If a juice starts out relatively clear, but turns color is this cause for concern for you?

 

[Kbut655]

I know all my juices get darker as they steep. I have heard this is due to the oxidation of nicotine.

 

[Flaklaflubillibu]

I know all my juices get darker as they steep. I have heard this is due to the oxidation of nicotine.

Does the oxidation of nicotine decrease its potency? Convert it to a harmful substance?

 

[upStomp]

I don't think it's anything to worry about. In fact, I look forward to seeing the change in color. Every flavoring is different. I have one flavor that starts 100% clear, but within a week after mixing it turns a deep, dramatic pinkish/salmon color. Others just darken (browns - usually tobaccos, vanillas, and sugars) or brighten (yellows and reds - usually fruits).

From my observations, the level of nicotine usually dictates the amount and speed of the color change. The flavoring dictates the color hue itself, and doesn't always match the flavoring in its original state.

Pretty cool stuff, IMHO.

 

[Hoosier]

Ah, the magic of steeping.

Your chemicals are combining and this is good.

Some color comes from nic oxidation and the rest comes from the other reactions.

I have one mix that is OK while it is pink, but is great when it becomes a light tan.

I have others that if they darken too much are no longer great to vape.

It all depends, but what you have observed is typical.

 

[MaxUT]

I have an old, overlooked bottle of 15% PA Vanilla Ice Cream in VG, and it's almost black. Vanilla seems prone to darkening so I would suspect your Bavarian Cream is too.

 

[Flaklaflubillibu]

Made up some more strawberry and threw out that crap. The more I vaped it and tried to like it, yet the darker and seemingly thicker it got, the more it didn't taste right. It could have been psychological, it could have been my eGo-T being finicky with this particular mixture, I don't know. But I do know, so far from my experience, this dark DIY as well as a bottle of Cherry VG from LF that also happened to be dark, did not vape well for me. The relatively clear PS USA Tonics all vaped well, and my 100% clear strawberry DIY the best so far. I will have to do a DIY with just bavarian cream, and another with just milk chocolate to see who the culprit was, or perhaps it was just their combination. Alas, not so simple.

Although just because a solution remains clear, does not mean reactions are not taking place, a solution that is changing colors almost definitely means reactions are taking place. When there is already enough unknowns, the last thing for me is this. I'm definitely sticking to DIY and vaping, and as always, I appreciate all the comments and advice, but I'm going to avoid flavors that cause a darkening of the mixture over time. Just a personal preference.

 

[salemgold]

I have many DIY juice mixes that I am able to tell when they reach flavor perfection by the changes in color of the juice. Vanilla and chocolate will turn darker with aging.

 

[Flaklaflubillibu]

I have many DIY juice mixes that I am able to tell when they reach flavor perfection by the changes in color of the juice. Vanilla and chocolate will turn darker with aging.

Thanks for your reply. Except for my first DIY with only 10 mg/ml nicotine where I could truly feel the effect of the nicotine (or maybe I was really excited to be vaping my own juice), I find it hard if not impossible to tell if the nicotine is taking effect through vaping. If you are sensitive enough to nicotine to tell it's working, do you ever notice if your darker juices work just as well? If so, at least this would rule out degradation of nicotine causing the color change, which is a good thing. This would be my primary concern even though I don't necessarily get a nicotine rush.

 

[Hoosier]

You realize that heating nicotine and subjecting it to air degrades it very quickly?

The act of vaping it will degrade it much more than can be done in a bottle surrounded by PG or VG.

I've had test batches without any nicotine in them change color with steeping, so I know it is not all about the nic regardless.

On another topic, how do, "I find it hard if not impossible to tell if the nicotine is taking effect through vaping." and , "...with only 10 mg/ml nicotine where I could truly feel the effect of the nicotine." work in the same paragraph? You are saying that you have not quit smoking? If you cannot tell, then why use nicotine at all? I am very confused...

 

[salemgold]

I have to agree with Hoosier. It is the flavoring that changes color with steeping and not the nic.

 

[Shantia]

Most of my brown juices when introduced to nicotine change from a brown color to orange sometimes. Not sure why but the flavor remains good. These are flavors with no artificial dye. I have never noticed brown colors getting more brown as they age. Maybe its the nicotine i use ..*shrugs*.

 

[Flaklaflubillibu]

You realize that heating nicotine and subjecting it to air degrades it very quickly?

The act of vaping it will degrade it much more than can be done in a bottle surrounded by PG or VG.

I've had test batches without any nicotine in them change color with steeping, so I know it is not all about the nic regardless.

This is good to hear as this almost ensures the quality of the nicotine is not affected during these color changes, but it is still uncertain what reactions took place to result in these color changes. Again, from my limited experience, dark juices did not vape well with my PV. That is all.

On another topic, how do, "I find it hard if not impossible to tell if the nicotine is taking effect through vaping." and , "...with only 10 mg/ml nicotine where I could truly feel the effect of the nicotine." work in the same paragraph? You are saying that you have not quit smoking? If you cannot tell, then why use nicotine at all? I am very confused...

I did give up analogs as soon as I took up vaping. Haven't had a single one since.

Indeed, my statement is contradictory and requires clarification. The sensation of "nicotine taking effect" is one I can only relate to the reference head rush of analogs, which I have since come to learn was never due to the nicotine itself. As such vaping most certainly satisfies the oral fixation instead, which was much a part of my addiction to analogs besides the head rush. In fact, I never had withdrawals when I would quit cold turkey for several weeks. What I would miss would be the mere act of smoking.

I believe there is a bodily addiction to nicotine the effects of which I do not entirely register cognitively; The effects I did register cognitively from analogs, which I thought were due to nicotine, were not due to nicotine.

After mixing and vaping my first DIY juice, I did however perceive an elevated heart rate, which I first attributed to the fresh, high quality nicotine I used. As this effect was a first in two weeks since I took up vaping, this is the reason I stated "I find it hard if not impossible to tell if the nicotine is taking effect through vaping."

I take pleasure in vaping regardless of whether I feel an effect or not, but it makes more sense to vape if there is something there. Hence I will only ever vape with a low to medium dose of nicotine present.

 

[Hoosier]

Ah, thanks. That makes sense.

I'm the other type. I'm addicted to the nicotine, the act of smoking is secondary.

There are a number of vices I have walked away from, but nicotine was impossible. When a guy like me goes through the cold turkey "grouchies" people throw cigs at ya as they run away screaming. And the stint being addicted to the gum was horribly expensive.

That "high" from nic only occured when I chewed, long before I smoked. So head-rush from a cig is not something I'm overly familiar with.

 

[Kbut655]

Does the oxidation of nicotine decrease its potency? Convert it to a harmful substance?

No harmful substances to worry about but the nicotine levels do decrease very slowly as they oxidize.

 

[StormFinch]

When a guy like me goes through the cold turkey "grouchies" people throw cigs at ya as they run away screaming.

I adore you dear Hoosier. You never fail to make me smile at the very least, and at times laugh out loud while other people look at me funny.

 

[Hoosier]

I adore you dear Hoosier. You never fail to make me smile at the very least, and at times laugh out loud while other people look at me funny.

You're sweet, but it's the truth.

When I was young, it used to upset me when people screamed and ran from the sight of me, particularly children. I've taught myself to enjoy my unique effects on people.

And I've stopped wearing black leather, wearing my hair long, hanging out in the shade of building corners at night, and chasing squirrels through playgrounds with a large knife, so that helps too...

(I'm kidding about the squirrels bit, but the rest is true)

 

[Animeguy]

My djarum black juice starts out as bright orange or neon yellow color depending on mixture, a week later they go to dark brown. I usually mix my new juice with my old juice for some reason. Probably cuz if I don't I end up just throwing away my old juice lol.