My Views On High End E Liquid, So Far

[krisjay]

After spending the last couple weeks focusing on high price high profile E Liquids, I have come to the conclusion that the cost to enjoyment ratio does not equate to great tasting E Liquid. Using many different builds on mech mods, many different rda's, Russians and different builds on the Russian, regular tank ego type setups, basically any kind of setup I could think of, and different ohm, different gauges, the fact is, the costly stuff just isn't that much better the lower cost non hyped juice. I spent money for many of the BIG NAME juices, not really worth the extra cost, some times the lower cost beating out the hyped stuff. Some of the hyped juices taste good, but they don't taste 4 or 5 times the cost good. Just my opinion, but I'm glad I at least tried them, now I can not wonder if I'm missing anything, I am comfortable I am not. A couple juices I'll let steep more, but even those, I don't see blowing my mind. Better to learn this now then later. I think it is time to consider DIY, I'm starting to think I can come up with stuff as good as I'm paying someone else to make.

EDIT: There was one E Liquid that stood out enough, and was different enough, and good enough to warrant a higher cost, that was, Mad Scientist-Swirly Pop, it is unique enough in it's flavor profile and is breaking enough new ground to warrant being singled out in my opinion as something worth paying extra for.

 

[inswva]

It is certainly subjective. The most expensive juice I use also happens to be my all-time favorite. Easily the best liquid I've used. Versus the cheaper juices I've vaped, the depth and clarity of flavors in the expensive stuff is, to me, worth the difference in cost. Unfortunately, the price relegates it to a "luxury" vape for me rather than an ADV.

 

[twgbonehead]

I haven't tried the "Stratospheric" juices. I think Deadly Sin from GoodLife is fantastic. That's the only expensive juice I continue to use, the rest is bottom-shelf stuff, which is fine for me.

 

[DaveP]

I don't usually rush to buy the latest and greatest. My favorites are in low priced 50ml bottles. It's not about being cheap, though. It's just that I can't really find juices of any I've tried that beat those $13.99 50ml deals. Dekang and Madvapes are two brands that sell bigger bottles for a fair price. Madvapes MAD 4 is about as good as I've experienced for an RY4 vape. Madvapes Tobacco (not to be confused with Mad Tobacco, which is a sweeter, less traditional tobacco blend) is a great aromatic tobacco flavor. I frequently cut it half and half with Mad 4 or Mad Tobacco because it's so flavored that it becomes too cloying after a while unless I cut it. Then, it's just right and a perfect all day vape when I want more of a tobacco flavor.

I'm vaping my first bottle of the winner of ECF's tobacco flavor of the year, Nicoticket H1N1 Virus, and it's just alright for twice the price. It's actually more of a Maple Cookie flavor than something I'd call a tobacco flavor. It's a juice that I'll vape until it's gone because it's a nice, rounded flavor that is satisfying to vape, but I don't see it being called a tobacco flavor. My wife says it smells like maple syrup on the exhale, but she can sense faint aromas that I seldom notice.

 

[Rat2chat2]

I have so enjoyed my juices since I started using a reo and making my own juice. The same juice I was using tasted much better after I started dripping. It is a fun hobby and quite cost effective also. There are so many wonderful threads on ecf regarding DIY. Good luck to you.

 

[sincerelysasquatch]

Itcvapes spoonlicker v2 has become my adv but I prefer some Space Jam flavors even though they are slightly under $1/ml. The difference is worth the cost to me, but I simply can't afford to vape space jam all of the time.

Sent from my LG-LS860 using Tapatalk

 

[Skeeter812]

I totally agree with squatch. ITCVapes offer a very good selection of e-juice at very good prices. My last purchase averaged about 17 cents a ml. They also offer their juice in 120 and 240 ml bottles as this option saves you even more money. A 120ml bottle costs about $22 depending on the options you select. I would strongly suggest that you try the spoonlicker and the spoonlicker v2. Luke is always adding new flavors to the menu. There is a thread discussing the products from ITC. Give it a read and decide for yourself.

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

There is an e-cig shop in ct with very decent prices for very good juice. I could never see spending $25-30 for a small bottle of e-juice.

 

[GPC2012]

You should try Bionic Vapor E Juice. The only thing I can't personally vouch for is Heavens Temptation all of the other I have tried and like. But the real fantastic stars of the show are IMHO Prophets Drunken Cheesecake* and Space Cruise**,

*I don't normally go for the dessert type vapes, but this is one of my two ADV's

**I would have never even thought of putting a grapefruit flavor in Ejuice, but this combo of cantaloupe, grapefruit, and apple is the other one of my ADV's.

Both give an excellent fore flavor on inhale with an exciting difference on the exhale. Just Fantastic.

 

[krisjay]

I totally agree with squatch. ITCVapes offer a very good selection of e-juice at very good prices. My last purchase averaged about 17 cents a ml. They also offer their juice in 120 and 240 ml bottles as this option saves you even more money. A 120ml bottle costs about $22 depending on the options you select. I would strongly suggest that you try the spoonlicker and the spoonlicker v2. Luke is always adding new flavors to the menu. There is a thread discussing the products from ITC. Give it a read and decide for yourself.

I am already a fan of ITCVapes, and agree, the Spoonlicker is great and I love the Monkey Cake, ITCVapes is a great example of wonderful ejuice at a great price.

 

[regal55]

In cost of ejuice you have to factor in the gunk factor, it may taste real good and be inexpensive but go thru two coils a day. Its all very subjective. I come from diy high end audio and you want to talk about a sense that no one agree upon that's it. I have been pleasantly surprised at the lack of "scientific" taste arguments here. I like the attitude of the forum, kinda my taste buds are different than your and leave it at that. great forum.

 

[krisjay]

Indeed, taste are very subjective, that's why I stated it is only my opinion. I also am in the audio hobby world, talk about walking on landmines, start talking the merits of open baffle speakers or any number of other audio related gear or vintage vs modern gear. At least here on this forum, there seems to be room for all opinions.

 

[regal55]

I am already a fan of ITCVapes, and agree, the Spoonlicker is great and I love the Monkey Cake, ITCVapes is a great example of wonderful ejuice at a great price.

My problem with them is they keep claiming 24 mg/ml juice but it never happens, I quit checking.

 

[jdrewry]

High price NEVER guarantees "high end" eliquid.

 

[bigaug]

I'm a pretty new vaper. I've tried quite a few different brands. One thing I've noticed between some of the less expensive juices (Seduce Juice, Vapealicious, Indigo) and the more premium brands (Five Pawns) is the complexity and clarity of flavors. I have not had a single bottle that I absolutely did not like and would not vape. In fact, I can say that I've really enjoyed almost every bottle that I've tried. However, there is a marked difference between them. Companies like Vapealicious or Seduce do their basic flavors extremely well. They taste exactly like the flavor they are trying to recreate (Peanut Butter Cookie, Butter Cake, Snickerdoodle, etc). That's it though. They are very basic. Things like Perpetual Check, Lucena, and Castle Long have layers of flavors and each layer is spot on. I think that's going to be the big difference.

I just got my first box from Craft Vapery, so I'll be tasting some more premium stuff and I won't be surprised to find that some of the "non-premiums" tasting just as good. I doubt they'll have those layers of accurate flavor though.

 

[Desertfremen]

I'm a pretty new vaper. I've tried quite a few different brands. One thing I've noticed between some of the less expensive juices (Seduce Juice, Vapealicious, Indigo) and the more premium brands (Five Pawns) is the complexity and clarity of flavors. I have not had a single bottle that I absolutely did not like and would not vape. In fact, I can say that I've really enjoyed almost every bottle that I've tried. However, there is a marked difference between them. Companies like Vapealicious or Seduce do their basic flavors extremely well. They taste exactly like the flavor they are trying to recreate (Peanut Butter Cookie, Butter Cake, Snickerdoodle, etc). That's it though. They are very basic. Things like Perpetual Check, Lucena, and Castle Long have layers of flavors and each layer is spot on. I think that's going to be the big difference.

I just got my first box from Craft Vapery, so I'll be tasting some more premium stuff and I won't be surprised to find that some of the "non-premiums" tasting just as good. I doubt they'll have those layers of accurate flavor though.

QFT!, I've been vaping for years and I did DIY juice for years before I quit. Why? while I could make a good basic flavour, that's all it was. Monotone flavours with no nuances to them at all. Whenever I tried to make anything more complicated I still ended up with the same thing; juice that tasted the same on the inhale and exhale with no real complexity or transition of flavour. But juices from the more premium/gourmet brands have layers of flavours with some perceived only on the inhale, and others on the exhale. Some of those juices will also have different nuances with every vape, even though the settings on my device remain the same. I never get vapers tongue with these kinds of juices. For these types of juices I'll gladly pay the price. I have tried to make them with no success, which means that yes, I'm no mixologist, but to me also means that there is some artistry and talent into making the kinds of flavours. A talent I do not possess, that I have great respect for and am willing to pay for.

 

[Tangaroav]

I have tried many ''premium'', beautifuly named e-juice, I have found them to be ok but not worth the 500% to 1000 %,or more, profit in the asking price. I felt gouged everytime when I compared them to ''cheap'' e-juice.

We can talk about nuances, complexity ....etc. It is only marketing ! A nicely design web store and product descriptions that are written by experts marketers are they only thing that is 'premium' IMO.

I have tried some juices that were described on forums as the best, ALWAYS to find out that some people are simply influenced by all this glimmer and that their 'best' juice is ordinary in everything except price.

Needless to say, I am a DIY'er .

 

[MayLovesMetal]

QFT!, I've been vaping for years and I did DIY juice for years before I quit. Why? while I could make a good basic flavour, that's all it was. Monotone flavours with no nuances to them at all. Whenever I tried to make anything more complicated I still ended up with the same thing; juice that tasted the same on the inhale and exhale with no real complexity or transition of flavour. But juices from the more premium/gourmet brands have layers of flavours with some perceived only on the inhale, and others on the exhale. Some of those juices will also have different nuances with every vape, even though the settings on my device remain the same. I never get vapers tongue with these kinds of juices. For these types of juices I'll gladly pay the price. I have tried to make them with no success, which means that yes, I'm no mixologist, but to me also means that there is some artistry and talent into making the kinds of flavours. A talent I do not possess, that I have great respect for and am willing to pay for.

It isn't even just that you aren't a mixologist necessarily..I've found the same thing with DIY, and learned some valuable lessons about juice in my adventures with it. Mt. Baker, other lower priced places (and lots of expensive ones too) as well as DIYers such as you and I make our liquids with Flavor West and the other commercially available extracts/flavorings and they simply are not ever going to compare with proprietary extracts from places like Ahlusion. I can use ejuicemeup and my own math to make basic sugar cookie and the like..I can't make superb fruit flavored juices as I don't have the fruit trees, the equipment or the knowledge to make my own flavorings. Some "high end" or high priced juices are marketing and packaging, while some are beyond the typical home chef's capabilities. Once you've DIYed a bit you can taste which are which and if you're like me, you're willing to pay if needed for the difference. =)

 

[inswva]

I have tried many ''premium'', beautifuly named e-juice, I have found them to be ok but not worth the 500% to 1000 %,or more, profit in the asking price. I felt gouged everytime when I compared them to ''cheap'' e-juice.

We can talk about nuances, complexity ....etc. It is only marketing ! A nicely design web store and product descriptions that are written by experts marketers are they only thing that is 'premium' IMO.

I have tried some juices that were described on forums as the best, ALWAYS to find out that some people are simply influenced by all this glimmer and that their 'best' juice is ordinary in everything except price.

Needless to say, I am a DIY'er .

So, because you haven't been impressed by some of the "premium" liquids, anyone who actually enjoys them must be under some kind of marketing spell? That's a patently ridiculous assertion.

 

[Tangaroav]

So, because you haven't been impressed by some of the "premium" liquids, anyone who actually enjoys them must be under some kind of marketing spell? That's a patently ridiculous assertion.

I am only describing MY experience and My opinion. There is nothing ridiculous except your reaction. Maybe you feel the hat fits a bit tight, well that's really too bad. I think you will find a lot of vapers have experiences similar to mine.

.... and a possible/probable yes to your question if anyone pays more than 3$ for 15ml when buying in 50ml volume or larger.