I've been a "silent member" of this site for quite a while now, using it as a great source of info about a topic I've become wildly enthusiastic about. I too quit reqular cigs in three days. I have bought 6 different models of e-cig over time, looking for the "perfect vape", and guess what? I've decided there's no such thing. I sold off the three that I felt were the worst performers for my personal tastes (and no, I won't bad mouth any brand or company here), and kept a DSE 801, DSE 901 and DSE 401, with spare batts & atty's for all of them. Between these three, there is one that fits my mood and the requirements of the situation I am in at all times.
I've learned a few different ways of re-packing and refilling all three of the cartridges for optimal results, and may get into that at a later date, although other posts have it pretty well covered (though I've a few tricks of my own I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere). But the main point I wanted to make is that all three of these models can be made to produce nice, thick, satisfying vapor, though each has its own special draw, and a different "feel". A brand-new, quality 801 atomizer will have a slight edge on vapor production for a while, though less than you might think, and the 801 design results in more cooling of the vapor by the time it reaches your mouth, which can reduce the "throat hit sensation" somewhat. And even though the 401 is small and doesn't hold a lot of fluid (which is sometimes exactly what you want - to be able to switch flavors quickly, easily, and without wasting a lot of good eLiquid), that little 401 can really crank out the vapor! How many of you actually get around to picking up and finishing a half-emptied 801 cartridge? Or switch flavors on your 901 before the cart is completely run dry, and then re-stuff it and smoke some different flavor, throwing out the still-damp packing?
Now "Flavors" is what I'd originally meant to address here, but felt a little background might help set the stage for the rest of this discussion. I've tried several Chinese-made e-liquids, and have only found one or two that I would consider worth repeating. I figured that it had to be possible to make better tasting, more interesting flavors, if someone would just combine the right high-quality ingredients and a little imagination in the right proportions - i.e., show some real inserest in what they were doing. I then stumbled onto three different web sites at about the same time that, in my opinion, did almost everything right: JuicyLiquid, totallywicked-eliquid, and FlavourArt (an Italian company). All of them give you the opportunity to create your own flavors, or mixtures of flavors from basically three ingredients: A high-quality flavor concentrate, a potent unflavored nicotine base solution, and a dilutent - propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine - to dilute the mixture down until it has the nicotine strength you want. All three sites give you simple-to-follow instructions for doing it yourself, and at least two of the three will take care of those who just aren't inclined or capable by mixing them up for you. FlavourArt will even make custom flavor mixes for you. And all of them produce fantastic flavors that are much more realistic and satisfying than anything I found from the Chinese sources. I'm sure I missed some other sites worth mention, but these three will definitely get you going in the right direction. And FlavourArt has literally hundreds of flavors (anyone feel like a beef & tomato vape with a little basil?) and great personnel. And then if you really get into mixing your own, there are still other places to find out about for obtaining the base ingredients in larger amounts, cheaply and at USP or better purity. Since I don't seem to be allowed to post URLs here, you'll have to do the lookup and searching yourself for now.
I ended up becoming so interested in the process and the possibilities involved in flavor creation that one corner of my office now looks like a chemical lab, with scores of bottles of flavoring extracts, nicotine solution, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, purified water, menthol crystals, 100-proof vodka (of limited use, but essential in small amounts for a couple of things), measuring syringes, pipettes, plastic bottles of all sizes, etc. And since my sister has also become a "vaper" (God, but I hate that word, we've *got* to come up with something better!), I have a lot of opportunities for trying out ideas. And here is where the 401 and dripping or dipping come in really handy, too. And, according to my sister at least, some of the flavors I've created are pretty special. I may eventually look into selling small quantities if I get good feedback from some other "vapers" I've been giving samples to. Not to make a profit - I'd have to charge a lot and greatly increase quantity to do that! But just to cover some of the cost of what for me is basically another fun hobby.
I now find that i can enjoy both straight tobacco and tobacco-based flavors (including menthol of course, as well as flavorings like brandy, vanilla, rum, orange, dark cherry...) as well as a number of flavors that have nothing to do with traditional smoking, such as raspberry champagne, coffee/cocoa/cream, citrus flavors with floral accents, herbal - almost incense-like flavors, and all sorts of combinations I have been learning to create. And all are of considerably better quality than most of what I sampled from the pre-mixed, Chinese sources, or at least all the ones I tell anybody else about are. And I can make the nicotine content *exactly* what I want it to be, to the milligram, which is also useful.
I'd like to hear from any others out there who've caught the mix-it-yourself bug and are starting to catch hell from your partner about all the little bottles of flavorings slowly filling up a corner of the refrigerator, or the office that's starting to look like a .... lab. Or who wish they had never asked "What's with the gloves?" and then heard mentioned the possible consequences of spilling 100mg/ml nic solution on your skin - and then had me tape a big skull-and-crossbones image to the bottle of nicotine base.
