My DIY Diary

[flowerpots]

Each of these is at 5% concentration, tested on a LR510 atty:

Passion Fruit - TFA

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 2/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 1.5/5

Quince - TFA Slight perfume taste still present - will steep with caps off when adding another % and steep a long period to see if it dissipates

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 1.5/5
Tartness: 0.5/5
Strength of taste: 2/5

Blueberry Extra - TFA

Fragrance: 1.5/5
Sweetness: 2.5/5
Tartness: 0.5/5
Strength of taste: 2.5/5

Apple Tart (Granny Smith) - TFA Same burning plastic taste as before - going to let it steep with the cap off at the next % and steep for a longer time to see if it dissipates

Fragrance: 1.5/5
Sweetness: 1.5/5
Tartness: 2/5
Strength of taste: 2.5/5

Honeysuckle - TFA

Fragrance: 0/5
Sweetness: 2/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 2/5

Honey Dew - TFA I'm not sure this needs to go any higher in concentration. But, I will add another % and see what happens. Most people would find this % about right, I think.

Fragrance: 1.5/5
Sweetness: 3.5/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 3.5/5

Pomegranate Deluxe - TFA Slight perfume taste - will steep with cap off at next % bump and steep for a longer time to see if it dissipates

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 1/5
Tartness: 1.5/5
Strength of taste: 1.5/5

Strawberry (Ripe) - TFA

Fragrance: 2/5
Sweetness: 2/5
Tartness: 2/5
Strength of taste: 2.5/5

Orange Cream - TFA

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 1/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 1/5

 

[flowerpots]

I found this list of flavor pairings. It's written for food, but will work with vape recipes equally as well:

Flavor Profiles that Pair Together in Recipes - Nouveau RawNouveau Raw

• Allspice pairs well with: apples, caramel, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nuts, nutmeg, pears, pumpkin
• Almond pairs well with: apple, apricot, banana, caramel, cherry, coffee, fig, honey, orange, peach, pear, plum
• Anice pairs well with: apples, caramel, chocolate, citrus, cinnamon, coconut, cranberry, figs, peaches, pomegranates, pumpkin
• Apple pairs well with: caramel, cardamom, chestnut, cinnamon, cranberry, currant, ginger, hazelnut, mango, maple, walnut
• Apricot pairs well with: almond, caramel, cardamom, ginger, hazelnut, honey, orange, peach, vanilla, plum
• Asian Pear pairs well with: almond, apple, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, honey, macadamia, nutmeg, raisin, vanilla
• Banana pairs well with: caramel, cherry, chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, ginger, hazelnut, honey, mango, molasses, papaya
• Blackberry pairs well with: apricot, cinnamon, citrus, hazelnut, lemon, other berries, peach, plum
• Blood Orange pairs well with: almond, cardamom, chocolate, cinnamon, clove, fig, ginger, honey, other citrus
• Blueberry pairs well with: other berries, cardamom, mango, lemon, hazelnut, ginger, fig, lavender, other citrus
• Butternut Squash pairs well with: the naturally sweet taste of butternut squash is enhanced when paired with fruit, such as fresh and dried apples, fresh pear, orange juice and dried cranberries
• Cardamom pairs well with: apples, bananas, caramel, citrus fruit, coconut, ice cream, nuts, mango, allspice, almond, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, dates, ginger, pears, star anise
• Cherry pairs well with: apricot, chocolate, citrus, nectarine, peach, plum, vanilla
• Chestnut pairs well with: apple, caramel, chocolate, coffee, pear, vanilla
• Chocolate pairs well with: oranges, nuts, Allspice, almond, aniseed, cinnamon, clove, ginger, mint, nutmeg, vanilla
• Cinnamon pairs well with: allspice, apples, bananas, cantaloupe, cardamom, clove, caramel, chocolate, coffee, cranberry, dates, figs, ginger, mint, nutmeg, grapes, oranges, peaches, pears, star anise, vanilla
• Clove pairs well with: allspice, apples, cakes, cardamom, chocolate, citrus, ginger, nutmeg, orange, peaches, pineapple, pumpkin, star anise, vanilla
• Coconut pairs well with: Allspice, banana, Brazil nut, caramel, chocolate, citrus, ginger, guava, passionfruit, pineapple, vanilla
• Cranberry pairs well with: apple, chocolate, cinnamon, citrus, mango, mint, pear
• Currants, Black and Red, pairs well with: chocolate, citrus
• Elderberry pairs well with: apricot, fig, honey, lemon, mandarin, other berries, peach, plum
• Fig pairs well with: almond, cinnamon, citrus, hazelnut, pear, vanilla
• Ginger pairs well with: allspice, almond, anise, apple, apricot, banana, berries, Brazil nut, caramel, chocolate, cinnamon, citrus, cloves, coconut, cranberry, dates, grape, hazelnut, passion fruit, peach, pear, pineapple, plum, nutmeg, peaches, pears, pumpkin, raisins, vanilla
• Grape pairs well with: chocolate, citrus, fig, honey, ginger, raisin
• Grapefruit pairs well with: caramel, citrus, mint, tropical fruit, vanilla
• Guava pairs well with: citrus, lime, coconut, huckleberry, pineapple, strawberry, tropical fruit
• Hazelnut pairs well with: apple, apricot, banana, berries, caramel, cherry, chocolate, citrus, fig, mandarin, peach, pear, plum
• Jicama pairs well with: acidic fruits and juices such as lime, lemon and orange juice, cucumber and grapefruit
• Kiwi pairs well with: apple, banana, berries, cherry, citrus, coconut, mango, tropical fruit
• Lemon pairs well with: apricot, berries, cardamom, cherry, citrus, ginger, nectarine, peach, plum, prickly pear, tropical fruit
• Lime pairs well with: apple, berries, cherry, ginger, papaya, plum, strawberry, tropical fruit
• Lychee pairs well with: citrus, ginger, gooseberry, tropical fruit, vanilla
• Mandarin pairs well with: cardamom, cherry, chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, fig, ginger, nutmeg, tropical fruits, vanilla, star anise
• Mango pairs well with: apple, banana, berries, caramel, citrus, coconut, melon, tropical fruits, vanilla, cinnamon
• Melon pairs well with: berries, citrus
• Nutmeg pairs well with: allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coffee, cranberries, ginger, peaches, pumpkin, vanilla
• Orange pairs well with: almonds, berries, brandy, cherry, chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, cranberry, fig, ginger, grape, hazelnut, mint, nutmeg, pineapple, vanilla
• Pear pairs well with: almond, apple, caramel, chestnut, chocolate, cinnamon, citrus, ginger, hazelnut, vanilla, walnut
• Pineapple pairs well with: caramel, coconut, macadamia, tropical fruit
• Plum pairs well with: almond, cinnamon, citrus, chestnut, hazelnut, honey, vanilla
• Pomegranate pairs well with: apple, citrus, cucumber, mint, tropical fruit
• Prickly Pear pairs well with: citrus, lime, tropical fruit
• Raspberry pairs well with: apricot, cinnamon, citrus, ginger, lemon, nectarine, other berries, peach, plum, vanilla
• Rose water pairs well with: cardamom, almonds, pistachios and coconuts
• Sesame pairs well with: citrus, ginger
• Strawberry pairs well with: apple, chocolate, citrus, mint, vanilla
• Walnut pairs well with: apple, apricot, banana, caramel, chocolate, cinnamon, nectarine, peach, pear, plum, rum

 

[flowerpots]

I am mixing 1/3 of a 5ml bottle of the Inawera Cherry (CZERESNIE) at 8% with 2/3 of a 5ml bottle of the Hangsen Plum at 8% to test these in combination

Very good

I let this mix steep a couple more days and it is just getting better. This is a richer fruit mix, not light like many of them. The Cherry adds a rich savory note (it's like cherry pie filling/cherry compote) and the Plum is crisper and just a little brighter. It is layered and has a lot of potential. It's fine as is, and some may like it without any adjustments, but I want to keep tweaking to see if I can find that perfect recipe. So, I'm thinking of adding maybe Apricot or Nectarine to it.

I added 12% of TFA Nectarine to this the other night. It seems to have melded into a 1 dimensional juice. I'm going to let it steep longer. I think I added too much Nectarine

At the % I added the Nectarine, it is dominant now. The sharp note from the Nectarine is in the forefront. There is a slight Cherry on the exhale. The Plum is present the whole time as a sort of carrier flavor, but not overtly discernible. I think had I used a lower % of the Nectarine, this would be a better mix. Again, this is a simple fruit, not complex. With no added sweetener, other than what is in the flavorings themselves, this mix is not candy sweet, but sweet enough for my palate. Just to see what happens to this mix, I am going to add a very low % of TFA Lemon. Many DIY'ers use real lemon juice to alter the PH and post positive results from this. I am leery of using real juice, so I will use the Lemon flavoring instead to see if this adds any layers or complexity to the mix. I am not wanting the lemon to be discernible, only to compliment. I tested the Lemon and at 5% and it was weak in taste on a taste test. So, instead of starting with 5%, I will start with 2%.

 

[TamiP]

Thanks for sharing that flavor compatability page. That's very nice.

 

[flowerpots]

I am mixing 1/3 of a 5ml bottle of the Hangsen Plum at 8% with 3mls of the steeping batch of Inawera Dark Fire tobacco at 16 drops/5ml.

This is really, really good!

This has been steeping about 10+ days since I last tasted it in a LR510 atty. The Plum is not overt, very subtle. This is very good as is, somewhat complex because of the tobacco, but I'm going to add some FA Apricot to see what happens at 5%. I will let this steep a few days before retesting.

 

[flowerpots]

Latest test with 16 drops/5ml or 48 drops/15ml sample:

Dark Fire - INA (WG) - This is as as strong as I will want this flavor either standalone or in a mix.

Fragrance: 2/5
Throat hit: 2/5
Sweetness: 2.5/5
Sourness: 2/5
Strength of taste: 4/5

These single flavor tobacco samples have been steeping almost a month.

Separate out 5ml of the Dark Fire tobacco and add 1 drop of Inawera DNB (Dirty Neutral Base) to give it that ashy note.

This has steeping a few days. Oh my! As good as this is, I'm going to add a drop of Hangsen Plum and see what happens.

This is developing into something recipe-worthy...it needs another drop of Plum.

This has been steeping a few more days. The Plum is more present now. The DNB adds a dryer feel to the mix, and takes any sweetness from it. I am going to add CAP Fig at 2% to add a sweetness, but also to compliment the dark tobacco and dark Plum fruit. When I tested CAP Fig, it had a slight floral note to it, so I will steep with the cap off to dissipate the note.

 

[flowerpots]

Latest test with 14d rops/5ml or 42 drops/15ml sample:

7 Leaves - FA This is as strong as I will ever use this flavor either standalone or in a recipe

Fragrance: 4/5
Throat hit: 3/5
Sweetness: 2/5
Sourness: 4/5
Strength of taste: 4/5

These single flavor tobacco samples have been steeping almost a month.


4) Separate out 5ml of the FA 7 Leaves tobacco and add 1 drop of DNB

This has been steeping a few days.

Of the 3 tobaccos I tested with DNB, this tobacco tastes the best with the DNB added in.Like the Virginia, the DNB adds a layer to this mix, making it more complex.

This is a brighter tobacco, so I am going to test this with TFA Pear at 6%.

 

[flowerpots]

Latest test with 16 drops/5ml or 48 drops/15ml sample:

Virginia - INA (WG - tino d'milano) - Also added 2 more drops/5ml or 6 drops for the 15ml sample of Virginia TA; I think this is as strong as I want it either standalone or in a mix.

Fragrance: 2/5
Throat hit: 1/5
Sweetness: 3.5/5
Strength of taste: 3.5/5

These single flavor tobacco samples have been steeping almost a month.


3) Separate out 5ml of the Inawera WG - tino d'milano Virginia tobacco and add 1 drop of the DNB

DNB is equally good in this tobacco, but the effect is a little different. Virginia is bright, but mellow, and the DNB adds a layer to the mix.

I am going to add INA Black Currant to this mix at 5% and let it steep.

 

[flowerpots]

I also mixed the Dragon Fruit and Mango, both at 17%

The Dragon Fruit/Mango is more interesting, but lacks something.

This has been steeping over a month. With just these 2 flavors, this is a mellow vape. The Mango definitely dominates, and the Dragon Fruit is a backnote, more noticeable on the exhale, at least to my palate. It is too 2-dimensional for me, though. I divided this 5ml bottle into 3rds, thereby making 3x1.5+ bottles of this mixture. I am adding:


Bottle #3) 1 drop of TFA Juicy Peach

Going to let these steep a few days

The bite of the Mango is what I notice first, along with medium Mango flavor. Then, I get a backnote of DF, subtle, and Peach is not discernible. I want to taste the peach. Going to add 2% more.

 

[flowerpots]

Each of these is at 6% concentration, tested on a LR510 atty:

Passion Fruit - TFA No change from 5%

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 2/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 1.5/5

Quince - TFA Perfume note has dissipated, but the liquid steeped for 4 days, uncapped

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 1.5/5
Tartness: 0.5/5
Strength of taste: 2.5/5

Blueberry Extra - TFA No change from 5%

Fragrance: 1.5/5
Sweetness: 2.5/5

Tartness: 0.5/5
Strength of taste: 2.5/5

Apple Tart (Granny Smith) - TFA Same burning plastic taste as before, even with steeping with the cap off for 4 days

Fragrance: 2/5
Sweetness: 1.5/5
Tartness: 2/5
Strength of taste: 2.5/5

Honeysuckle - TFA

Fragrance: 0/5
Sweetness: 2.5/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 2.5/5

Honey Dew - TFA No change from 5%

Fragrance: 1.5/5
Sweetness: 3.5/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 3.5/5

Pomegranate Deluxe - TFA Slight perfume taste has dissipated with steeping cap off for 4 days, but the flavor is the same as at 5%

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 1/5
Tartness: 1.5/5
Strength of taste: 1.5/5

Strawberry (Ripe) - TFA

Fragrance: 2.5/5
Sweetness: 2/5
Tartness: 1/5
Strength of taste: 2.5/5

Orange Cream - TFA

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 1.5/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 1.5/5

 

[flowerpots]

See post #123, then read:

At the % I added the Nectarine, it is dominant now. The sharp note from the Nectarine is in the forefront. There is a slight Cherry on the exhale. The Plum is present the whole time as a sort of carrier flavor, but not overtly discernible. I think had I used a lower % of the Nectarine, this would be a better mix. Again, this is a simple fruit, not complex. With no added sweetener, other than what is in the flavorings themselves, this mix is not candy sweet, but sweet enough for my palate. Just to see what happens to this mix, I am going to add a very low % of TFA Lemon. Many DIY'ers use real lemon juice to alter the PH and post positive results from this. I am leery of using real juice, so I will use the Lemon flavoring instead to see if this adds any layers or complexity to the mix. I am not wanting the lemon to be discernible, only to compliment. I tested the Lemon and at 5% and it was weak in taste on a taste test. So, instead of starting with 5%, I will start with 2%.

This has mellowed and the sharp Nectarine bite is gone, with a medium Nectarine flavor. No discernible Cherry, except for a slight richness that most fruit flavors don't have, and no discernible Plum. No discernible lemon. I'm not sure what to do with this mix now. Any ideas? I'm thinking of adding Plum back into the mix to bring the flavor back into the profile.

 

[flowerpots]

Read post #125, then read:

This has been steeping about 10+ days since I last tasted it in a LR510 atty. The Plum is not overt, very subtle. This is very good as is, somewhat complex because of the tobacco, but I'm going to add some FA Apricot to see what happens at 5%. I will let this steep a few days before retesting.

No discernible Apricot - adding 2% more.

 

[flowerpots]

Read post #126, then read:

This has been steeping a few more days. The Plum is more present now. The DNB adds a dryer feel to the mix, and takes any sweetness from it. I am going to add CAP Fig at 2% to add a sweetness, but also to compliment the dark tobacco and dark Plum fruit. When I tested CAP Fig, it had a slight floral note to it, so I will steep with the cap off to dissipate the note.

The only thing this accomplished was sweetening the mix and took away the ashy note, that I wanted. I will add back in 1 more drop of DNB.

 

[flowerpots]

Read post #127, then read:

This is a brighter tobacco, so I am going to test this with TFA Pear at 6%.

This is interesting. The Pear adds a sweet, crisp note to the mix, but the Pear is not overtly present. The tobacco is medium impact with the original sharper note gone. The DNB ashy quality is gone though, so I will add back in a drop of the DNB.

 

[flowerpots]

Read post #128, then read:

I am going to add INA Black Currant to this mix at 5% and let it steep.

Holy Moly, 5% is WAY too much Blackcurrant....adding 3mls of the steeping tobacco batch to tone this down a bit.

 

[flowerpots]

Each of these is at 7% concentration, tested on a LR510 atty:

Passion Fruit - TFA

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 2.5/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 2/5

Quince - TFA Slight perfume again, but the liquid only steeped 2 days this time, cap off. This is a delicate flavor, like Guava, Boysenberry, and a few others. Even at 3/5 strength of taste, this is not the strength of other stronger flavors at 3/5, but I'm gauging this on the flavor itself, based on how strong the flavor is. So, at 3/5, this is still a mild fruit flavor to my palate.

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 2/5
Tartness: 0.5/5
Strength of taste: 3/5

Blueberry Extra - TFA

Fragrance: 2/5
Sweetness: 2.5/5
Tartness: 0.5/5
Strength of taste: 3/5

Apple Tart (Granny Smith) - TFA Same burning plastic taste as before, even with steeping with the cap off - This flavor is a dud for me. I'm going to stop testing this flavor and 86 it.

Fragrance: 2.5/5
Sweetness: 1.5/5
Tartness: 2/5
Strength of taste: 3/5

Honeysuckle - TFA At this %, I get that same honeysuckle flower taste you experience when you would suck on them as a child (okay, maybe not everyone did this. But, if you did, then you will notice that same taste at this %). It's not a floral note per se, like other flavors have a floral/perfume note - just the taste of the flower itself.

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 3/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 3/5

Honey Dew - TFA I would say this is as high of a % as you would ever need to go, either standalone or in a mix. But, I'll keep adding more to see what happens at higher %'s.

Fragrance: 2/5
Sweetness: 3.5/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 4/5

Pomegranate Deluxe - TFA Slight perfume taste is still not present, even after adding another % and only steeping 2 days this time, cap off. However, this seems to be one of those delicate/mild fruit flavors and I was looking for more pow to my taste buds.

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 1/5
Tartness: 1.5/5
Strength of taste: 2/5

Strawberry (Ripe) - TFA No change from 6%

Fragrance: 2.5/5
Sweetness: 2/5
Tartness: 1/5
Strength of taste: 2.5/5

Orange Cream - TFA No change from 6%

Fragrance: 0.5/5
Sweetness: 1.5/5
Tartness: 0/5
Strength of taste: 1.5/5

 

[flowerpots]

See post #123, then read:

This has mellowed and the sharp Nectarine bite is gone, with a medium Nectarine flavor. No discernible Cherry, except for a slight richness that most fruit flavors don't have, and no discernible Plum. No discernible lemon. I'm not sure what to do with this mix now. Any ideas? I'm thinking of adding Plum back into the mix to bring the flavor back into the profile.

After adding Plum back in, this is fairly complex, nothing like a dessert vape, but easily more complex than many fruit vapes out there. I'm going to try 2 drops of saline solution to see if this makes any difference.

_________

I did not notice any difference with 2 drops of saline with the 5ml sample. I added 2 more drops and do detect a "brighter" quality to the mix. But, this brightness also minimizes the complexity of the mix. So, I'm going to post the recipe for this and recommend not using saline. I rate this recipe 7/10.

_________

Ist recipe!


6% Plum
6% Nectarine
3% Maraschino Cherry
2% Lemon Flavor Concentrate (not lemon juice) *the lemon takes the sharp note off the nectarine, if you prefer that, omit the lemon

Steep 1 week (or more) or use heat/UC steeping

I’m still tweaking this and will post changes to it, if I make any

 

[flowerpots]

I am mixing 1/3 of a 5ml bottle of the Hangsen Plum at 8% with 3mls of the steeping batch of Inawera Dark Fire tobacco at 16 drops/5ml

This is really, really good!

This has been steeping about 10+ days since I last tasted it in a LR510 atty. The Plum is not overt, very subtle. This is very good as is, somewhat complex because of the tobacco, but I'm going to add some FA Apricot to see what happens at 5%. I will let this steep a few days before retesting.

No discernible Apricot - adding 2% more.

The Apricot at 7% has brightened this mix, the Plum is a background flavor. I cannot overtly taste the Apricot. The brightness brings balance to the earthy, vinegary darkness of the Dark Fire tobacco. It's a nice balance. I think if I add a higher % of Apricot, it will mask the Plum altogether and throw the balance in the direction of a lighter tobacco. I don't personally want this. So, I'm going to call it good as is. I rate this 6/10.

______


3 parts INA Dark Fire tobacco
1.5 parts Plum
1 part Apricot

 

[Mone415]

Hey flowerpots I think the flavor research u r doin is invaluable. Thank u very much for takin the time to sit down taste this stuff an write about it. Great job!!!

 

[Mone415]

I'm curious to know. (Im doin DIY 2 and u seem very detailed.) When u make these samples, taste them then add more percentages. How do u compensate for the loss u use to taste when adding flavor back in.