Looking for help on my mix something not quite right

[Siochanai]

Hello Everyone,

I decided to try a little DIY and I put together two different mixes to experiment a little bit to see how flavors work together.

The first mix I am not quite sure if it is going to work at all. I vaped it after an hour or two of steeping and it seemed quite harsh in flavor so I figured I may have used too much of a particular flavor or maybe just too high of a percentage but I think it can work with some tweaking because after about 5 vapes or so it seems to start to get better. So here is that one.

Black Berry, Clearly Grape, and Lemon Lime 15% flavor.
50/50 PG/VG 6mg Nic level.

1ml VG based Nic 60mg
3.5ml PG
4ml VG
0.7ml Black Berry (from DIY Flavor Shack)
0.5ml Clearly Grape (from DIY Flavor Shack)
0.3ml Lemon Lime (from DIY Flavor Shack)

On the first few vapes this is super harsh on the throat hit but after a few vapes it seems to settle down I think the Lemon Lime is overpowering even at 3%.
Have not tried this one again yet after sitting longer.

The second one seems much better, however, the first 2 hits of this one are equally harsh like the above but after that the flavor really seems to start to pop in. I vaped it this morning after sitting for about 9 hours.

Black Berry, Clearly Grape 10% flavor
50/50 PG/VG 6mg Nic level.

1ml VG based Nic 60mg
4ml PG
4ml VG
0.7ml Black Berry (DIY flavor shack)
0.3ml Clearly Grape (DIY flavor shack)

The weird thing I notice is both of these flavors have a settle down point in a vape chain the first being dominated by the lemon lime I think and the second seems to marry much better. Any tips and advice on where I can go with these to improve them or should they just be trashed and go a different direction. Maybe the flavor proportions need to change I am not sure advice is well appreciated.

BTW all proportions were calculated with the ejuice Me Up calculator.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Spazmelda]

You could just try reducing the lemon lime in the first one. You could try 1% or you could try drops (I'm not sure what you are using to measure). Another option is to mix the two mixes. If you mix the two half and half, it would be basically the first recipe but with half the lemon lime (or 1.5%). Mixing in different proportions would give you different percentages of the lemon lime. Another option would be adding some smooth or EM to kind of smooth it out some (I have never used smooth myself, so I may be confused about what it can add to a mix). I guess I'd probably just try reducing the lemon lime first and see how that goes.

 

[Siochanai]

Awesome thanks for that it worked. It is for sure vapeable now.

Could probably still use a tweak on the lemon lime side that seems to be quite strong more then I anticipated.

I think if I do a 7%, 7%, 1% or a 7.5%, 7%, 0.5% it would be perfect it is definitely heading in the right direction I am looking for a sweet with a hint of tang flavor.

When I get a chance later I will mix up the 1% lemon lime version and try that out. At least I do not need to dump it down the drain now Thanks a bunch.

 

[Spazmelda]

YW! I like mixing batches together in small amounts to fine tune percentages. You just have to be able to do the math to figure out what your final percentage is, if you want to reproduce it. Luckily, it's not too hard. Like, if you mixed 1 part of your first with 2 parts of the second, your new % of lemon lime would be 1/3 of 3% (1%). Then of course, if you mixed 1 part of your first with 3 parts of your second, your new percentage would be 1/4 of 3% (0.75%). I find this approach gives a lot of flexibility, and cuts down on time consuming measurements, allowing a wider range of testing percentages with less work. It's probably not as accurate as mixing up fresh batches with each percentage carefully measured, but it can be very helpful to get you in the ballpark.

 

[xxJollyRogerxx]

Blackberry and Grape seem like an odd mix together
The flavoring strength depends on the vendor and some are WAY strong and others not. You need to learn how that flavoring is first then you can work out the proper percentages you like. A first good indicator is how strong the smell is. The vendor you got your flavoring from probably re-branded someone's else flavors so you need to start there and find out whose flavoring they are selling then you can get some accurate information on that flavor and adjust accordingly.

 

[Siochanai]

Yesterday I ran a quick batch at 1% lemon lime 8% blackberry and 7% grape. Total 16% flavor. Came out just like I wanted but I did a little smoothing with 2 drops of EM. It is a really interesting flavor the blackberry and grape go well together get a nice sweet drag and then the tang from the lemon lime hits on the exhale really awesome how it does that. Not sure how it will hold up going to try it out again today to see how it is after 24 hours.

 

[xxJollyRogerxx]

Interesting I may have to try that out then.

By chance, does anyone know whose flavors the DIY Shack is rebranding?

 

[Siochanai]

I am not sure does not say on their site but I think most of the DIYFlavorings they list are Loranns but I can't be 100% positive on all of them.

 

[dannyv45]

Yesterday I ran a quick batch at 1% lemon lime 8% blackberry and 7% grape. Total 16% flavor. Came out just like I wanted but I did a little smoothing with 2 drops of EM. It is a really interesting flavor the blackberry and grape go well together get a nice sweet drag and then the tang from the lemon lime hits on the exhale really awesome how it does that. Not sure how it will hold up going to try it out again today to see how it is after 24 hours.

Your approach is very good and I'm glad to see your starting to get results. Smart thinking to add a little EM to take the harsh edge off but don't over do it or your flavors may fade over time. EM will add body and thickness and blend flavors evenly. It will boost the sweetness in the flavoring but it won't by itself add sweetness. Keep adjusting flavor percentages until you get into the ball park then use the EM to hone in on the flavor consistancy. Then when you get there with the EM if it lacks sweetness use some sweetener and don't try to compensate for sweetness with the EM.

 

[Aheadatime]

Pretty sure DIYFS makes their own flavor concentrates. I don't think they're re-branded.

 

[Siochanai]

I really love this flavor works great. I just made a new 10 ml batch today same flavor proportions 1% Lemon Lime 8% Black Berry and 7% grape but instead of using 2 drops of EM to smooth I used I think 2 or 3 drops of sweetness instead. Came out much better I think.

 

[Tepid]

It could be that you are sensitive to the initial chemicals/Alcohol coming from the flavors in the beginning.
Do you have the same issue when you re-drip the same juice? Then that is probably what is doing it.

Also note, that EM will intensify over time. Some flavors do that, some will actually mute out over time.
The juice you vape on Day one will be very different if you leave it sit for a week or more.
Blending flavors is never easy. As stated, different vendors of the same flavor will never taste the same at first.
Some will after a long steep.

You can try to help blend them with a hot water bath, and this will help evaporate off the Alcohol/cehm nuances.
Some flavors will benefit a lot form that. My guess is, Lemon and Lime will.

I think a lot of people really miss this next point in juice making.....
Remember, these flavors are used in Culinary arts first, we just adopted them.
When they are used to make candies and what not, the base Alcohols are evaporated away during the cooking process.
The flavor you put into your candy, cookies, whatever, will not taste the same coming out of the oven.

I am one of those people sensitive to those Alcohols.

Just putting this out there,, maybe it will help you.

 

[Siochanai]

Thank's Tepid it is definitely a alcohol type bite but once the atomizer warms up that goes away even after a re-drip. The harshness comes actually when everything is completely cool. So I am guessing the atty heat is evaporating off that alcohol. Do you recommend a certain temp for the hot water bath might give that a shot even though it is fine the way it is in my last batch. I just give the atty a good fire before I vape off it so it is warm on the first vape.

 

[Tepid]

I actually still do that, like prime the coil. But, keep juice around 140 - 150 degrees for a while depending on how much juice you made. Use a wide mouth container. I use a capers jar, perfect size and height. But, I would never fill it more than half way with juice. And a coffee cup works best to hold the hot water.