Need help with custard/vanilla flavours please

[DoubleEwe]

I mixed my first 15 bottles a couple of weeks ago trying to make 3 to 4 different flavour mixes...

1) Condensed milk + Honeydew Melon
2) White Chocolate + Vanilla + Raspberry
3) Vanilla Custard
4) Creme Brulee

Those are the overall flavours I am aiming for, I have added other ingredients to the mixes (things like marshmallow, coconut, caramel etc) to add depth and all that. Keeping the total % flavouring around 10 - 12%.
All 70% VG mixes, 10ml bottles, 6mg nicotine.

Week 1 tasting:
All tasted like crap, powdery (talc/ baby powder), very harsh. Became disheartened.

Week 2 tasting:
Much better all round. Far far less harsh, some pretty vape-able. I get certain notes coming through (even some of the 1% flavours used in the mix) but still none are very creamy or vanilla-ry or custardy.

I have no ultrasonic, nor vibrator (see homemade ultrasonic thread), I have been steeping them in the airing cupboard.

Is this what is to be expected with a high VG juice?
Will the custard/vanilla flavour come through as the steep progresses?

All words of wisdom are much appreciated

 

[LMS62]

Even a high DIY VG juice can come through with great flavors, but because of the viscosity of VG, the steeping time can take a bit longer. For custards, my own personal rule of thumb is 3 to 4 weeks minimum of steep time to get the full flavor. When it comes to DIY, patience is a must.

What types of percentages of flavor have you been adding to your mixes? Just remember, more is not always better.

 

[sketchness]

I am making 80% vg custards and they turn into something magical between 3 weeks and a month. It is a trip. I taste them at 3 weeks and they still taste like chemicals and AP. and 10 days later BAM delicious.

Some I did early on and forgotten about were awesome. Then I was wishing I had made 100ml bottles instead of 30's.

 

[Mrdaputer]

Have you thought about using ultrasonic a crock pot or even a thermos to speed up the steep process?

 

[DoubleEwe]

Even a high DIY VG juice can come through with great flavors, but because of the viscosity of VG, the steeping time can take a bit longer. For custards, my own personal rule of thumb is 3 to 4 weeks minimum of steep time to get the full flavor. When it comes to DIY, patience is a must.

What types of percentages of flavor have you been adding to your mixes? Just remember, more is not always better.

That is good to know. I will resist vaping the OK ones until they develop fully.

For the main flavours in the mixtures I have been using around 3 - 6%
For example:
Vanilla Custard 5%
Vanilla 2%
Caramel 1%
Butterscotch 1%
Marshmallow 1%
Total flavouring 10%

The above recipe tastes pretty bland at the moment, only the caramel is coming through.

I also have a single flavour bottle (12% Vanilla Custard one week old) just to see what happens with it on its lonesome at double strength.

I just see so many DIYers claiming amazing results from their freshly mixed juices (without super steeping with USC etc), which I now understand is probably due to one of two reasons: 1)Too much flavouring used 2)They have no taste buds

 

[DoubleEwe]

Have you thought about using ultrasonic a crock pot or even a thermos to speed up the steep process?

I did put them in a hot water bath (bucket of hot tap water) until it cooled, did that twice. Now they reside above some heating pipes in the airing cupboard, which seems to be keeping them nice and warm and keeping the viscosity low.

 

[LMS62]

That is good to know. I will resist vaping the OK ones until they develop fully.

For the main flavours in the mixtures I have been using around 3 - 6%
For example:
Vanilla Custard 5%
Vanilla 2%
Caramel 1%
Butterscotch 1%
Marshmallow 1%
Total flavouring 10%

The above recipe tastes pretty bland at the moment, only the caramel is coming through.

I also have a single flavour bottle (12% Vanilla Custard one week old) just to see what happens with it on its lonesome at double strength.

I just see so many DIYers claiming amazing results from their freshly mixed juices (without super steeping with USC etc), which I now understand is probably due to one of two reasons: 1)Too much flavouring used 2)They have no taste buds

I know how tough it can be to resist until a juice is properly steeped, as it's as bad as waiting for vape mail to come in...lol.

Your percentages seem a bit on the low side, at least for my tastes. Below is a recipe that Bill's Magic Vapor was kind enough to provide for a vanilla custard, and I have to say, best vanilla custard I have ever had. It is a strong, sweet vape, so if you're not a huge fan of sweetness, you can always adjust the vanilla custard and sweetener (or of course anything else for that matter) to your own tastes.

When I made my first bottle, I couldn't resist the steep time required, so I tried it at the 12 day mark, and it was very good. I liked it so much, I have made 300ml since.

13% Vanilla Custard
6% Sweetener
3.5% Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
2% Egg Nog
2% Butter
1.5% Graham Cracker

 

[sketchness]

It is tough to gauge these recipes without knowing the flavor maker. I believe that bills recipe is all TFA?

And the point about some people liking the custard recipe fresh? Their taste buds are very different from mine, they are proud to have made something vapeable and embellish, or they are lying. This is after all the internet.

 

[DoubleEwe]

My flavourings are from a different source to the usual suspects, they are all PG, no alcohol and mostly packed with delicious diketones.

Having been less than impressed with the majority of both premium and cheap bought e-liquids I wanted to steer clear of the flavourings that the majority of vendors use. I was close to going with one of the top food flavouring companies (supplier to the catering industry), until I found out the minimum order was 10kg per flavour. (Could of got free 30ml samples though)

So I will hold off on the making a batch with higher percentages until I do my 4week taste test.

Glad to hear that I am on the right path and that time is probably the missing ingredient.

 

[Skull688]

With more than 50%VG you need at least 15-17% flavouring. To have a faster steep I use bain-marie around 60° (sorry I can't tell in Fahrenheit).