Learn from my mistakes

[SmokingBullet]

This may not apply to each and every one of you however, if you absorb anything from this you’ll be a head of the game. ​

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Once you find your hardware you’ll be wondering what to vape. There are numerous flavors to pick from; a kid in a candy store. You’ll watch video's and you’ll read tons of flavor reviews as well. Don’t be fooled by everything you see or read; you’ll hate at least 50% of what you first try. ​

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If you’re trying to quit smoking, here’s my advice to you …been there, done that, tried everything…and here’s what worked for me. ​

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Skip all the great flavors for now. Find something in taste as close to what you were smoking, the cigarette taste, be it a strong tobacco, light cigarettes, menthol or whatever your use to. Remember no matter hard you try you will never find the exact flavor taste in e-juice; you’re no longer burning tobacco or the numerous chemicals used in cigarettes, so don’t expect to find an exact duplicate of your previous cigarette flavor. With all the flavors out there, you’re sure to find something similar. ​

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Read everything you can before you buy. Once you think you have the flavor of your choice then make sure you pick the same strength of nicotine you’ve been accustom to. Don’t start by reducing the nicotine level thinking it’s better for you or you’ll quit sooner; you won’t. While quitting you’ll need the nicotine hit, if you don’t get it you won’t be successful. It’s why nicotine patches and gum is made in the strength you’re use to. You’ll reduce the nicotine you’ve been use to later in time, if you choose to. ​

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If you first start by trying all the new and exciting flavors, you’ll feel as if you’re sampling; playing around, the feeling will leave you wanting more and unsatisfied. If you vape something similar to what you‘ve been accustom to smoking, it will give you the feeling as if you still smoking; without the harmful effects. ​

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If you smoke Marlboro, get a similar flavor. If you’ve smoked menthols, find a menthol flavor similar to yours. Start your morning with the flavor you’re most use to, vape it most of the day. In the evenings try a new flavor for an hour or two then go back to your regular flavor. ​

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Chances are if you order flavors you’ve never had before you’ll keep ordering more only because you’re not satisfied mentally. You’re not vaping what your mind and body has been use to. That’s a mistake I made and most people make. I’d vape new flavors but still crave, and go back to smoking a regular cigarette several times a day. The need for a regular cigarette was relinquished almost immediately when I started vaping a flavor similar to my normal cigarette. The dessert and other flavors were the icing on the cake; used as a reward several times during the day. Within 2 days I was no longer craving a real cigarette in my normal flavor or nicotine. I haven’t had a real cigarette for several months now and most likely never will. Why? Because should I have the craving; which I don't, I can always reach for my menthol carto and be satisfied. ​

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We are creatures of habit. Wean yourself off your normal flavor, ultimately it will happen. Sooner or later you will reduce the nicotine level and find you vape for the pleasure and great flavors rather than a habit. ​

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This being said from a psych major. ​

 

[Hrtbrkr1965]

Excellent post and I agree totally!
When new people ask about tobacco flavors I keep seeing people say you only think you like tobacco but you really don't! LOL That advice didn't even resemble me as I like and want tobacco flavors! While nothing is exactly the same some do pretty well mimicking the taste!
As you said we are creatures of habit and can't change overnight...it's a transition! Go with what you are used to then experiment as you get control of your cravings!

 

[dormouse]

I agree too. Some people seem to be able to go straight to food and fruit flavors but I can't. I have to vape something that reminds me of my old cigarettes to feel satisfied. I did buy a bunch of foody fruity flavors too but I don't try to use them as my regular vape. Sometimes I set up a separate PV with a drip tip and occasionally take a few hits of a fun food flavor off that while still doing most of my vaping on my normal PV w/ a tobacco flavor. Sometimes I use a fruity juice to flavor a tobacco and that works well for me. But I found I could vape myself into a headache with just a fruity juice and never feel satisfied, even feel like I had just eaten and craving an analog. I think it was worth trying but I did spend literally hundreds on eliquids and only a few tobacco ones are the ones that satisfy my craving and have tastes I like.

 

[Jessara]

I suppose what you say is somewhat correct. When I had those moments of reallllly wanting a cigarette (like right after a meal), I always reached (and still do) for my menthol flavor. But now, since discovering another flavor that I *really* like a lot (non-tobacco flavor and much lower nicotine), I'm vaping it more often than the menthol.

I think the reason is because I'm no longer really vaping to replace cigarettes (except after meals and when I first wake up in the morning). I vape now because... I *really* like vaping.

 

[CANCHASER]

I have to agree. I am going on month 3 and the first is the day I plan on actually quitting analogs. I'm not smoking very many of them now, but I still have my morning and after dinner ones. There is such a large learning curve with ecigs and it takes a little while to find what you like. I have found my mix of battery, cartomizer and juice and I feel very confident for the first time in 30 years that I will be done with analogs completely.

 

[Quaato]

Spot on from my perspective!

Started vaping about 2½ weeks ago with juice that sounded like it would be close to full flavor taste. Of course, it wasn't exact, but close enough. It was 18mg, has reasonably good taste, throat and lung hit. I use that for most of each day and it has served its purpose. No analogs for that period of time. But, perhaps best is that I really have had no desire for one. I do tinker with other flavors in calm moments to expand my horizons.

So, what SmokingBullet said is very true, at least from my little corner of the world. I really doubt that I would be analog free at this time if the only thing I'd tried was fruity or other non ciggie flavors.

 

[ScottinSoCal]

I must be one of the exceptions that prove the rule. I tried the tobacco flavors and the "so close and yet so far" feeling made me crave a real cigarette. Going clear off the map to something that isn't even pretending to be tobacco flavored is what got me away from craving cigs long enough for the nicotine in there to do its job, and for me to figure out how to use an e-cig (it isn't very much like smoking) to satisfy my needs.

 

[Infernia]

I too am an exception. The tobacco flavors were not helping me. I tried a candy flavor that I happen to love and I quit. I think it can be as variable as the way we all perceive different flavors of e-liquids.
As I try to get others to give vaping a try to help quit; I keep in mind that they may prefer tobacco flavors to food. And to be safe maybe we should all try to match our accustomed flavor of cigarette as well as some fruit/food flavors we love. Both bases are covered.

 

[Cee_Jay]

The op is right on - unlikely you'll find a juice that is like any analog you've used because it's neither 'smoke' or a ciggy. There are however several that seem to be common substitutes - RY4, 555, USA, to name a few. Anything flue-cured will taste like you're licking an old ashtray.

 

[Stosh]

Count me into the "tobacco flavor made me want an analog" group. What worked for me was strong
flavors, hot cinnamon, menthol (strong sans tabacco flavor), licorice, ginger, etc... in high nicotine
level. Changing from tobacco flavors lessened my cravings, but as with everything in vaping, YMMV

 

[davidcid]

Count me in as an exception. The first few months of trying out different flavors, I would be vaping along side analog smokers. As a creature of habit, I would be stimulated when smelling the analog smoke in the air. I woud pause a moment and wiegh in recalling that cigarettes taste like .... bullets and my vape flavors taste good. Now that I have found my one and only flavor (TV coconut cream pie) and 10 months of vaping, I do not get stimulated by the analog smoke anymore.

 

[gmbaby58]

Wonderful info,will refer to this post often!

 

[ScottinSoCal]

I do not get stimulated by the analog smoke anymore.

The thing I find really strange is that I don't miss the analogs for the TH, the taste, or anything like that. I find myself missing the mechanics of smoking - the ritual. Packing the fresh pack. Pulling that first cig out. Fishing for the lighter and starting things to burn. Maybe it'll change - I'm *very* new to all this - but that's what I've been missing. I head out for my vaping session and get halfway there and start fumbling around for my lighter and the familiar box.

 

[Vchick]

AMEN.......I've been there, done all of that. It finally occurred to me that in between all of the other flavors I kept going back to a menthol that I really like. Nuff said, doing the menthol, finally have a pv that has good battery life and cartos that are like all day suckers......I've found my sweet spot!

PS. I don't even want to think about all I've spent/traded to get here......

 

[Stosh]

..... Fishing for the lighter and starting things to burn......

OOH, an arsonist thread...
guess we all had a little arsonist in us..

 

[Another Puffer]

I too have to agree that a tobacco flavor that closely resembles the analogs we smoked is the main thing that will stopped the cravings. Though I smoked ultra lights for many years I had to increase the nicotine to 18 mg before it was satisfying enough to want to quit. I still go back and forth from analogs to vaping, but plan to go to all vaping in the new year. Still working out the routine and what e-liquids I will use, plus the cartomizers I plan to stick with. The authentic tasting tobacco flavors are hard on cartomizers, because they gunk up the atomizer and burn easily. I don't want to drip so I will have to have plenty of filled cartos on hand everyday to keep vaping problem free. It has cost me allot of money and time so far, but I have figured out what works and what doesn't.
But the best thing is to do research and take notes, because if you are serious about vaping and end up doing the trial and error method, you will spend at least $400 in startup costs before you finally figure out what works for you. Very few e-liquid reviews and e-cig reviews have translated into any useful info for real world applications because of personal preferences and the simple fact that many maybe just a plug for a vendor.
As much as you try to bypass all the hype, it still gets you. Don't give up, because it will work when you finally figure it all out.

 

[Michelle M]

Even though I have countless sample bottles of foofy flavors, my trusted standbys have remained Camule (NHaler's version of Camel), Wowboy, USA mix. I want to feel like I'm having a cigarette and those are pretty darn close.

 

[lookin2quit]

I am another of those who find that the flavors other than tobacco work best for them. Tobacco flavors either tasted bad to me or made me crave an analog, so I went for the fruity/bakery/mint ones and that worked for me. I think for me it was because they tasted so much better to me than an analog ever could so I could easily tell myself that I preferred my PV. The only stumbling block for me now is the occasional need for them MAOIs that analogs provide. I have problems with depression/anxiety and sometimes stress just makes me need them. Looking into stuff like SNUs to get me past those times. I guess like with most things related to vaping this is also a "too each his own" issue.

 

[player30]

Great advice Bullet! I wholeheartedly agree with your advice. Four months into this, I still prefer menthol (like I smoked), and it is very refreshing. Some nonmenthol smokers have posted on this forum that they now prefer menthol. Like others I have a couple of "flavors" that are nice, but they are not at all what I prefer.

But different strokes for different folks, so whatever works for you is the best solution!

 

[Jessara]

But different strokes for different folks, so whatever works for you is the best solution!

You know, that is what it all boils down to. Nothing against the OP at all, but it really comes down to the fact that everyone has different needs, different things that make them get over the hump, different flavor preferences, etc. There is no *one way* that works for everyone. That's why there's so many e-cig models, so many flavors, manual battery vs automatic, etc. If I've learned *nothing* else, going from analogs to pv's is going to be some degree of "trial and error".