My DIY ejuice doesn't taste great but my friends disposable tastes great. What am I doing wrong?

[Modapa]

I've been making my own ejuice for over 10 years but have never gotten the taste right. I use e-juice me up to calculate everything but just thought my tastebuds were bad. Then, I tasted the disposable vapes from two of my friends and they both tasted wonderful! So what am I doing wrong that I can't taste mine and does anyone know what they use in these disposables? I don't know the brand but I think one was Hawaiian Punch and the other was vanilla.

 

[DavidOck]

Posting the recipes you use might help...

Without that info, hard to say much of anything useful

 

[Modapa]

I was looking to find out if anyone knows what is in the disposables that made them taste so much better but here is my recipe:
100 mg Nicotine (PG 100%) = 1.8 ml (6%)
PG = 7.2 ml (24%)
VG = 15 ml (50%
Flavor (Dragonfruit) = 6 ml (20%

 

[DavidOck]

I don't use any of the disposables, but have read that they do run the flavor percent up pretty high. Not sure if it's higher than what you use, though...

Maybe, unless you have reasons to mix at that PG/VG ratio, reduce the VG. While it does make pretty clouds, PG carries the flavor better.

Might also want to try out some different makers Dragonfruit, they're not all equal or as strong/concentrated.

Conversely, and counter-intuitive, you might need to reduce the amount of flavoring. Sometimes a high percentage just kind of washes out, goes "blah."

And join us over here

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Just jump to the last post, no need to spend the next few weeks catching up

 

[Whiplash]

I've been making my own ejuice for over 10 years but have never gotten the taste right. I use e-juice me up to calculate everything but just thought my tastebuds were bad. Then, I tasted the disposable vapes from two of my friends and they both tasted wonderful! So what am I doing wrong that I can't taste mine and does anyone know what they use in these disposables? I don't know the brand but I think one was Hawaiian Punch and the other was vanilla.

You have been at this for as long as I have but I’ll offer what I can.
The Juice in the disposable in mixed by a pro who starts with individual molecules (Acetyl Pyrazine, Ethyl Maltol, Linalool, . . . ) – all are ‘artificial flavorings’. Think of a master chef and their rack of spices. I tried it with very little success. The same is true of the flavorings we use now (FlavourArt, Capella, The Flavor Apprentice). All are a mixture of flavor molecules.
Two of the most important lessons learned in my DIY journey are:
1. Use as little flavoring as you can. More is not necessarily better. My best recipes are around 5%.
2. Use only a few flavors. I start with a primary flavor (usually around 2-3% ) and add a “note” or two at no more than 1%.
One I’m working with now is ’Inawera’ 555 Gold.
555 Gold 2.0%
DK tobacco 0.5%
Caramel 0.3%
If you like “Tobacco” flavor, the possibilities are endless with 555.
Hope this helps.

Loyal

 

[Coyote628]

I have to agree about disposables having awesome flavors. It's like some juice mixer in China is showing off.

 

[boo2600]

I was looking to find out if anyone knows what is in the disposables that made them taste so much better but here is my recipe:
100 mg Nicotine (PG 100%) = 1.8 ml (6%)
PG = 7.2 ml (24%)
VG = 15 ml (50%
Flavor (Dragonfruit) = 6 ml (20%

My wife is not going to be around for many more years or maybe months. I told her she needs to share her recipes with the family. She said she is just going to give them her recipe cards... lol I told her, I know there are things you do that are not in the cards. Secret ingredients and techniques.

Maybe? I have had juice that people have made, no one else can make, even with the recipe. I do know people who age flavourings, sometimes for years. Perhaps..

 

[Whiplash]

I was looking to find out if anyone knows what is in the disposables that made them taste so much better but here is my recipe:
100 mg Nicotine (PG 100%) = 1.8 ml (6%)
PG = 7.2 ml (24%)
VG = 15 ml (50%
Flavor (Dragonfruit) = 6 ml (20%

I know this will seem radical but try cutting the Dragonfruit to 4% or less.

 

[smacuser]

I always think of dragon fruit as a additional flavor to a larger recipe, like guava or cactus. As well as mixing the flavor at a lower percentage, maybe add an additional flavor like a cream, vanilla, or even a little super sweet will make it pop. On ELR, the average for a single flavor like TFA Dragon Fruit is around 7%, which is on the high side compared to others.

Which dragon fruit are you using?

 

[Modapa]

Wow, I'm truly sorry for not answering any of these posts! There were things going on last year that took all of my attention and I totally forgot I even asked the question. Please accept my apologies to all of you that answered my questions.

So it looks like instead of INCREASING my flavors, I should be REDUCING them! I went from a 10% start up to 20% trying to figure it out so now I'll drop down to maybe5 or 6% to start. I usually buy my dragon fruit from Nic Vape but I am prone to trying different flavors and have been out of it for a while. I have the same issues no matter what the flavor is. Also, I gave the quantities for my PG and VG but the actual proportion is usually 50/50 because my nicotine is 100% PG. Maybe I should reduce the VG even more???
I use the E Juice Me UP calculator to figure out the amounts. I haven't used FlavourArt, Capella, or The Flavor Apprentice because there was some controversy over additives that could cause health issues although it's been so long and I am so old that I can't remember what it was, lol. I still have some Capella flavors that are over 10 years old, but they probably aren't any good by now. They all have cream in them and maybe that was the problem. How do those brands stack up?

Thank you all for your advice and I'm due to make my next batch in the next week or so. I'll give your ideas a try.

 

[DavidOck]

Welcome back

Maybe I should reduce the VG even more???

mmm, maybe? PG tends to carry more flavor, VG makes bigger clouds. I mix to about 65% PG. And you're correct, most flavors are in PG.

some controversy over additives that could cause health issues although it's been so long

Yup, generally not an issue any more, if it ever really was. The amounts in vape juice were extremely low, nobody but the workers in microwave popcorn plants ever got "popcorn lung!"

All the flavor brands you referenced are good. As are many others. But the same flavor NAME won't necessarily taste the same from different brands, which is why that question is often raised. And some brands are stronger than others, so that also factors in for mixing.

Try to keep your mixes in the 5 - 15% range, a VERY general rule of thumb.

Good luck!

 

[Modapa]

Welcome back



mmm, maybe? PG tends to carry more flavor, VG makes bigger clouds. I mix to about 65% PG. And you're correct, most flavors are in PG.



Yup, generally not an issue any more, if it ever really was. The amounts in vape juice were extremely low, nobody but the workers in microwave popcorn plants ever got "popcorn lung!"

All the flavor brands you referenced are good. As are many others. But the same flavor NAME won't necessarily taste the same from different brands, which is why that question is often raised. And some brands are stronger than others, so that also factors in for mixing.

Try to keep your mixes in the 5 - 15% range, a VERY general rule of thumb.

Good luck!

Ahhh! Now I remember! LOL. Popcorn lung was an issue back in the day. I suppose I should just throw away all of my over 10 year old Cappela flavors though.....?

I'm going to try to reduce the VG to get a 70/30 PG/VG ratio and see if that helps.

 

[DavidOck]

Give them a sniff test before tossing, they might still be ok. Although starting out with fresh ones isn't a bad idea

 

[Inaevadn]

Been mixing for years, and disposables do taste way bolder. They use high flavor percentages (15-20%) and tons of sweetener. Try upping your flavor, like 8-10% for Hawaiian Punch vibes or 5-7% Capella Vanilla Custard with some ethyl maltol. Steep longer too.

 

[Modapa]

Been mixing for years, and disposables do taste way bolder. They use high flavor percentages (15-20%) and tons of sweetener. Try upping your flavor, like 8-10% for Hawaiian Punch vibes or 5-7% Capella Vanilla Custard with some ethyl maltol. Steep longer too.

Everyone else is telling me to drop my flavor percentage down to around 6-7. How do they use such a high percentage and have it taste good? Is it the sweetener? What do you use for sweetener? Is that what ethyl maltol is?

Thanks!

 

[DavidOck]

Yes, ethyl maltol is a sweetener, use sparingly if at all. Disposables probably use a different one, and most will actually mute the flavor... EM doesn't, ime. Although I hardly ever find a need for it.

6 - 7, even up to 10 can work well, maybe even a bit higher, depending on the brand/flavor. Some brands are very concentrated, and 1 - 2 % is all that's needed. Others, not so much.

One of my regulars is at 12 - 3 TFA flavors all at 4%. Same flavors from other makers, I need to reduce that.

DO join us over here, you'll get lots of experienced help

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www.e-cigarette-forum.com