Nic Base Storage: Freezer vs. Room Temp Experiment

[Molchi]

Thanks @madstabber, so since you just putted it back in i maybe should wait a bit to see if your bottle breaks or not

 

[NolaMel]

Isn't getting him a chest freezer kind of like husband getting wife a new bass boat?

Mine would love it. No more fighting over space for fish/duck/deer. Although if we get our limits on saltwater trout, redfish or puppy drum tomorrow, I’ll gladly move some veggies and fruits to the nic freezer.

 

[stols001]

Eh, just freeze it and fix it when you can. My opinion only really. I don't quite get the bottle "imploding" you'd have to do something with an extremely industrial vacuum sealant for that to happen.

Confused, but when in doubt, freeze it.

Anna

 

[Rossum]

when in doubt, freeze it.

This.

More head-space will actually decrease the pressure drop in the bottle due to the shrinkage of the liquid.

 

[Molchi]

Thanks for your replies, i just wasn't sure about shrinkage and pressure, should have paid more attention in physics classes

 

[madstabber]

Thanks @madstabber, so since you just putted it back in i maybe should wait a bit to see if your bottle breaks or not

It won’t break I just wasn’t sure if it will oxidate quicker than a bottle completely full.

 

[ChelsB]

I have some info some might be interested in. The other day I “opened” a bottle of Nude Nic for the first time (I had to pierce the top seal with a needle so it wasn’t technically opened), 100 mg, 100% PG with a manufacture date of Oct 31, 2018 which was stored in the refrigerator the whole time. The liquid in the syringe was a light brown. So this reinforces the need to freeze nicotine and not just in the fridge for long term storage.
Of course I have no idea what it looked like when I first received it as it’s packaged in amber bottles and unless nic is packed in clear and/or plastic bottles, I don’t open it to check if it doesn’t need transferring to reduce oxygen exposure.
As an aside, I don’t have a needle long enough to get to the bottom of the bottle and that stopper isn’t budging. Any suggestions for when it gets really low (other than tilting the bottle) as to how to extract the last amount? That is, of course, if the nic tastes good. The batches are currently steeping so I can’t comment yet on the taste.


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[UncLeJunkLe]

I have some info some might be interested in. The other day I “opened” a bottle of Nude Nic for the first time (I had to pierce the top seal with a needle so it wasn’t technically opened), 100 mg, 100% PG with a manufacture date of Oct 31, 2018 which was stored in the refrigerator the whole time. The liquid in the syringe was a light brown. So this reinforces the need to freeze nicotine and not just in the fridge for long term storage.
Of course I have no idea what it looked like when I first received it as it’s packaged in amber bottles and unless nic is packed in clear and/or plastic bottles, I don’t open it to check if it doesn’t need transferring to reduce oxygen exposure.
As an aside, I don’t have a needle long enough to get to the bottom of the bottle and that stopper isn’t budging. Any suggestions for when it gets really low (other than tilting the bottle) as to how to extract the last amount? That is, of course, if the nic tastes good. The batches are currently steeping so I can’t comment yet on the taste.

I'm sure it will be fine. I have been researching the topic of nic base storage for almost a month and the conclusion I have come to is that while freezing it is a good idea, discolored nic taste the same as clear nic to most of have reported vaping it.

Personally, I have been buying bulk ready-made eliquid for a few years and I buy liters of it at one time. I let it steep for at least 2 months but usually more. I only vape peppermint with a little RY4 here and there. I don't keep it in the fridge or anything. It gets darker over time and 1liter takes me months to consume. My point is, it gets darker and tastes the same to me.

YMMV

 

[dcdozer]

I have some info some might be interested in. The other day I “opened” a bottle of Nude Nic for the first time (I had to pierce the top seal with a needle so it wasn’t technically opened), 100 mg, 100% PG with a manufacture date of Oct 31, 2018 which was stored in the refrigerator the whole time. The liquid in the syringe was a light brown. So this reinforces the need to freeze nicotine and not just in the fridge for long term storage.
Of course I have no idea what it looked like when I first received it as it’s packaged in amber bottles and unless nic is packed in clear and/or plastic bottles, I don’t open it to check if it doesn’t need transferring to reduce oxygen exposure.
As an aside, I don’t have a needle long enough to get to the bottom of the bottle and that stopper isn’t budging. Any suggestions for when it gets really low (other than tilting the bottle) as to how to extract the last amount? That is, of course, if the nic tastes good. The batches are currently steeping so I can’t comment yet on the taste.

It sounds like your nic is in the armor v2 bottle. If so, you can just insert a standard syringe into the opening, turn upside down and extract. If not, I'm not sure what's going on!

 

[Rossum]

Personally, I have been buying bulk ready-made eliquid for a few years and I buy liters of it at one time. I let it steep for at least 2 months but usually more. I only vape peppermint with a little RY4 here and there. I don't keep it in the fridge or anything. It gets darker over time and 1liter takes me months to consume. My point is, it gets darker and tastes the same to me.

Flavored liquid darkening is not at all the same as unflavored nic base darkening. I can make unflavored vaping-strength liquid (in my case ~12 mg) and leave it sitting at room temperature for several weeks with no darkening. I can make zero-nic flavored liquid and leave it at room temperature for weeks with no darkening. But if I mix flavors and nic, the combination will almost always begin to darken within a few days. This is due to some sort of interaction between the nic and the flavorings and not an indication that the nic itself has oxidized.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Here's some old and new eliquid.

Left - brand new 18mg 50/50 Hearlandvapes Peppermint
Middle - 1yr 7 mo old 18mg 50/50 Hearlandvapes Peppermint
Right - brand new 6mg 50/50 Hearlandvapes RY4

EDIT: Ooops. I just realized I didn't get the date on the RY4 in the pic. It's just as new as the peppermint on the left, though. Bought same day with same date.

 

[440BB]

I have some info some might be interested in. The other day I “opened” a bottle of Nude Nic for the first time (I had to pierce the top seal with a needle so it wasn’t technically opened), 100 mg, 100% PG with a manufacture date of Oct 31, 2018 which was stored in the refrigerator the whole time. The liquid in the syringe was a light brown. So this reinforces the need to freeze nicotine and not just in the fridge for long term storage.
Of course I have no idea what it looked like when I first received it as it’s packaged in amber bottles and unless nic is packed in clear and/or plastic bottles, I don’t open it to check if it doesn’t need transferring to reduce oxygen exposure.
As an aside, I don’t have a needle long enough to get to the bottom of the bottle and that stopper isn’t budging. Any suggestions for when it gets really low (other than tilting the bottle) as to how to extract the last amount? That is, of course, if the nic tastes good. The batches are currently steeping so I can’t comment yet on the taste.

I agree. I'm sure that refrigerator storage slows oxidation down but freezing brings it almost to a halt. Frankly with NN's premium packaging I'm surprised you see much after only a year in the fridge, assuming it arrived pretty colorless. Darn amber bottles lol.

 

[Rossum]

Darn amber bottles lol.

I know, right.

FWIW, I mixed down another 120 ml bottle of NN Armor V1 from 2014 last weekend. I don't know exactly when I got it, but since I didn't date it, it was one of the early batches from the first half of the year. That makes it at least 5-1/2 years old. It's been in the freezer the whole time. No discoloration or off taste at all.

 

[dcdozer]

I know, right.

FWIW, I mixed down another 120 ml bottle of NN Armor V1 from 2014 last weekend. I don't know exactly when I got it, but since I didn't date it, it was one of the early batches from the first half of the year. That makes it at least 5-1/2 years old. It's been in the freezer the whole time. No discoloration or off taste at all.

Same with me, but the oldest in my stash is early 2016. But is there a question of nicotine strength going down over time?

 

[Rossum]

Same with me, but the oldest in my stash is early 2016. But is there a question of nicotine strength going down over time?

I don't think so, at least not in a significant way. It can't physically leave the bottle, so all it can do is react with something. The most reactive stuff in a bottle of nic base is oxygen. We know nic likes to react with oxygen over time, so if it hasn't reacted with whatever residual oxygen is in that bottle (and there will be some, even if it's greatly reduced by argon purging), then what's it going to react with? PG and VG are both pretty dang stable.

 

[ChelsB]

Flavored liquid darkening is not at all the same as unflavored nic base darkening. I can make unflavored vaping-strength liquid (in my case ~12 mg) and leave it sitting at room temperature for several weeks with no darkening. I can make zero-nic flavored liquid and leave it at room temperature for weeks with no darkening. But if I mix flavors and nic, the combination will almost always begin to darken within a few days. This is due to some sort of interaction between the nic and the flavorings and not an indication that the nic itself has oxidized.

Absolutely correct. I have 6 month old unflavored base that’s barely changed color (that particular nic was clear to begin with). I find strawberry to be the quickest to darken and conversely, menthol/mint to be the slowest .
Yesterday I ordered more nic from Wizard Labs. It’s been over 3 years since I’ve ordered from them so I decided to take advantage of the sale they’re currently having. Since their reputation is decent, I’m expecting nice, clear nic, especially with the weather not going higher than the mid 50s lately


http://www.sincemylastcigarette.com/banners/1472238000_20_1_USD_8_default.png[/img

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Yesterday I ordered more nic from Wizard Labs.

I’m expecting nice, clear nic

Would be interesting to see.

 

[ChelsB]

Would be interesting to see.

I will definitely report back. IIRC, their nic comes in plastic so I’ll be transferring it. I’ll post a pic when I do


http://www.sincemylastcigarette.com/banners/1472238000_20_1_USD_8_default.png[/img

 

[Bronze]

Would be interesting to see.

Or hopefully, not see.

 

[ChelsB]

Or hopefully, not see.

Agreed.
I will pour it into a clear glass container with a white paper towel as background and take a picture in good light for posting.


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