Newb question, menthol users pls help?

[mckerr68]

I recently purchased a Cloud 9 starter kit (plus juice and extra carts) for my hubby, a menthol analog smoker. The 3-piece unit works fine, but he was perplexed by the lack of menthol taste. As wives can be prone to do, I assumed he must be doing it wrong (sorry guys) and tried it myself. I understood what he meant. There was a slight, slight menthol undertone, but otherwise, it tasted like regular tobacco. I even added a few extra drops of juice to an already-filled cart to see if it helped, but it didn't. Now, I've read various comments warning newbs not to expect smoke juice to taste like analogs, but should we expect they'll be THAT far off? The thing is, I'd really like him to make the switch. But I know he won't unless the experience isn't in some way comparable to his analog experience, taste-wise. As is, it's about the equivalent of expecting him to switch from Newports to Marlboro kings.

I guess I'm wondering ... do we return the whole kit and kaboodle for a refund? Can we keep the unit and maybe find juice elsewhere that tastes more like actual menthol? Are there other options I'm not considering here? I contacted Cloud 9 customer service. I got an initial response inquiring about the unit's performance. But once I clarified that it was a taste issue and not a malfunction, I haven't heard back from them.

Thanks for your help. I'm trying to move on this while his interest is still pretty high! All guidance deeply appreciated.

Michelle

 

[Orion Marra]

mckerr68

Since everybody has a different pallet it is hard to say which tastes good or more like a analog taste. In my experience I haven't found one that tastes like a menthol analog. I too was a menthol smoker for 20+ years. I have found a few that gives me the menthol taste, but not the exact as it was. I have tried Menthol from awesomevapor.com which I have found to not be that bad. It is still my goto one when I am not happy with the others. You might want to try that.

Orion

 

[pfaber11]

You could try adding a pinch of menthol crystals to about thirty ml of juice. This is what i do and it's pretty good . My chemist has them about one fifty for a small tub and they go a long way. Just put them in give the bottle a good shake and let dissolve . Only takes a minute or so.

 

[bruzzo]

you could always get some menthol crystals to add to the liquid you buy.
if you decide to do it that way be advised you need very little to adjust the flavor.
my first attempt with it made the flavor so strong that it tasted like i was smoking vicks vapor rub.

 

[DonG]

Tons of vendors for "menthol crystals" on E-bay, not sure about other US sources. Some juice vendors have "menthol drops" in their diy flavoring sections which are made from menthol crystals and can be more simply added to your existing juice to enhance flavor. Please do try a few different juices from different vendors too.

 

[BradSmith]

Well it looks like a 510 knockoff product (labeled 501 so I don't really know for sure) so it's probably not too bad. It's about twice the price of what it should be. I was also a Menthol Smoker for close to 30 years. I have not found a Menthol that tastes just like a cig. However, it should taste strongly of Menthol. You could do better for the money that's for sure. However, if you feel like you must keep it you could buy some menthol crystals and add them to any liquid you are using to refill with. They can be bought on e-bay very cheaply.

Stick around a bit and someone might have some suggestions about the best place to buy a cig like menthol.

As for me, I would send it back and buy a better model and some better juice, my favorite supplier is MadVapes. I am not afilliated with them in anyway other than as a happy customer.

Good luck and keep asking questions there are many people here who will be glad to answer.

 

[texasgranny]

The most perplexing part of vaping at first, for me, was/has been finding the "right" juice.
I too was a 35 yr menthol smoker. I ordered "menthol" juices, but they did not fulfill
that menthol taste I was so use to. Some were close and some were way off.
Juices from different vendors and the mix they use, will be totally different. I wish that I or
others here could tell you the perfect menthol for him, but taste is going to be a very individual perference.
What I like, he might not.
You are going to have to buy some small bottles of juice and I would highly suggest from
different vendors and let him try different ones to see what his taste buds like and don't like.
I found that just using a menthol juice was not even close. I would add menthol juice
and a tobacco juice together and get a better balance.
But even after all that trial and error period, I have now settled on using juice with cinnamon
and menthol combined and then a tobacco flavor to be almost the right combo for me.
I use Pure Smokers--Fire and Ice--for my menthol type of juice. But it alone, is too much
so then I add a tobacco flavor and it really balances it out.
If he does get totally off analogs, the next thing that will happen (good thing) is that his
real taste and smell will start to return. In doing so, it may again change his taste in juice flavor.

So my suggestions is order small bottles of juice from several vendors and give those a try.
Some he will like and some he will hate. Don't forget trying to mix some together as well.

My only other thought is that sometimes menthol smokers are looking for more of something
vapers call TH or throat hit. Perhaps that could be what he is missing as well.
Sometimes (not all) it takes a unit with a stronger battery and a LR (low resistance) cartomizer
combination to get that TH. That is what I had to do. Some menthol smokers may feel
different, but some will also agree with this as well.

He is very lucky to have you support and help him in all this. Although it may seem confusing
at first, it really does work out rather well after some trial and error.
I totally layed down the analogs only after 2 weeks of vaping. There are 1000 stories
just like mine as well.
It does work!!

 

[mckerr68]

[chuckling] I said to my husband yesterday, "If anybody all can help, it's these folks. They know their stuff." Thanks SO much for all the input.

@BradSmith: Of course I have to ask ... what model would you recommend?

 

[mckerr68]

@Texasgranny: I'm interested in the stronger battery/low-resistance cartomizer combo you mention. What unit did you wind up getting that effect from?

 

[texasgranny]

@Texasgranny: I'm interested in the stronger battery/low-resistance cartomizer combo you mention. What unit did you wind up getting that effect from?

I have a Provape 1 and because of it's battery size, I can use a LR (low resistance) Boge cartomizer.
Together the combo gives me about a 4.7 to 5 volt vaping experience. I am not techy in any way, but this is just basically more "power". You are not suppose to use the LR cartos on smaller battery units, although some do, but manufactures say it can ruin your battery. If you spend time reading here, you will see that
many (but not all) people who have been vaping for awhile, move up to a unit with more power.
They are sometimes called mods. My Provape, was my very first unit. My research prior to my first
order showed that more power was probably where I would end up anyway, so that is where I started.
Now for comparison, I recently order a Riva which is a typical 510 unit. I wanted to experience the
difference's for myself and be able to comment on differences with actual experience.
Although it is a nice unit and does very well for alot of people, to me,
there is NO comparison with the TH or my overall satisfaction from vaping.
TH does come from a combo of several factors, but my personal opinion is that more power is what has
given the satisfaction to me.
Here is a link ProVape Electronic Cigarette Battery Mods, Atomizers and E-Cigarette Accessories. They do have a variable voltage (you can regulate the power output)
unit as well, but it is more money and there are going to be alot of people that love that aspect as well.
I did do the AW battery upgrade on my order as well.
So that is my story and what has worked for me.
If you have any additional questions, you can PM me as well.

 

[mckerr68]

Great info - thanks! I just ordered 3 different menthols from Pure Smoker, one from Vapor Concepts, and I'm still surfing through the other suggestions. Sounds like it's going to take some tinkering to get settled - but it's nice to know there are so many knowledgeable people here willing to help. Great stuff.

 

[player30]

My 2 cents-- I am hooked on Halo Truepure; it' my all day everyday. They send a sample of Freedom with any order, and so to get a hint of the tobacco flavor, I just add a few drops to my menthol. Also Halo's Menthol Ice is a stronger menthol, and you will definitely get the menthol he is craving.

Best wishes!

 

[XPaulC]

I find Decadent Vapours Mentholyptus, from Totally Wicked, works for me.
Have fun with your search.

 

[Tara M. Lang Hollo]

I, too, was a menthol smoker. I've tried different juices to find what I like (as we all do) and I have found, Like TG, that a bit of cinnamon with the mint was as close as I've found to the "real" cigarette menthol taste. I use Cinnamint from Kick Bass Vapors and totally love it. I got a couple of other minty dessert flavors today and like them but I feel the Cinnamint gives the strongest menthol flavor. Happy hunting!!

T

 

[mckerr68]

Thanks again everyone. I now have 7 varieties of menthol juice on order based on your great recommendations, and the hubby's excited and looking forward to experimenting. Plus I got a few empty dropper bottles so he can feel free to blend and test until something suits him. Really, really appreciate the help!!

 

[BradSmith]

[chuckling] I said to my husband yesterday, "If anybody all can help, it's these folks. They know their stuff." Thanks SO much for all the input.

@BradSmith: Of course I have to ask ... what model would you recommend?

I would sugget an eGo or eGo clone such as the hello as long as He doesn't mind a slightly bigger battery. The reason I say this is because they have a battery life many times that of the product you are using now. This is not just a matter of convenience the larger batter keeps it's voltage higher for a much longer period of time this allows the user to not only vape longer without having to swap out batteries but also keep the voltage in the "sweet spot" for longer. A 510 battery bight last two hours or four depending on how much a person vapes but half of that time it's going to be producing less than optimal vapor.

Good luck and please ask all the questions you can think of.