Not pleased with TFA

[CallmeB]

Out of 5 flavors I ordered form TFA (The Flavor Apprentice) so far none of them have come through. Most of this is my fault for not paying closer attention to the warnings they posted. I thought they were just trying to hype their products. You know like, Altoids, "so strong they come in a can". Well I won't make that mistake again. I've thrown out 60ml today of straight poison god awful mistakes. One ate my tank. Another stunk my whole house up and forced me to open all the windows to air it out

The flavors like, Watermelon, blueberry, banana cream are terribly weak, or maybe they need to steep for a while. I've been mixing and testing right afterward. They do seem to improve over time. This is really F N with my need for instant gratification.

I gotta say, I thought you guys were a bunch of fan boys just sittin around pattin ur selves on the back for figuring out something that any idiot measuring cup could do. I thought this stuff would be like Hamburger Helper. I was WRONG. But it's not impossible. I've only been at this for 1 day. Had some set backs but I've learned some valuable lessons along the way. I at least can mix a juice that doesn't make me ill.

But back to the reason I posted. I am not pleased with TFA. Am I wrong to feel this way? Do you guys order from them and like their flavors? I see the comments on the MyFreedomSmokes, but I know websites pay 3rd party companies to hire ppl to make those comments. Not all of them, but some. So I don't trust comments on sites that are trying to sell me something. I think I'm going to go with a different group next time. MFS I think, but I still have enough flavors from TFA to supply a small town, so I'll be using those. Might figure out how to get them to work.

You know there should be a catalyst to fuse the flavor to the mixing medium (PG/VG) quicker. My next door neighbor is a chemical engineer. I wonder if she might have any ideas.

 

[CreepyLady]

What percentages are you mixing at? To much flavoring will taste weak or virtually unflavored as will not enough. Some ideas of the percentage guidelines for your specific flavors are here http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo.../4658-flavor-apprentice-flavoring-thread.html.

Are you using any additives? There are many (like sweetener) that are imperative to making a decent juice. Check out the DIY forum - DIY E-Liquid for some recipes to work with

Happy mixing!

 

[mace bewley]

Everyone's taste is subjective.... A flavor I like at 10% might be god awful to you. With only a day experience under your belt you haven't got enough mix time to find what percentages YOU like. My advice is keep trying and you will get to where you wanna be.

 

[CallmeB]

I have recently gone back to the website I bought the flavors at and seen that the 2 that give me problems have warnings. I should have taken them more srsly. I stupidly went by the star rating. Ur absolutely right Mace. I obviously underestimated how hard this would be. Still I learn quick. I have 2 flavors mixed that are pretty yummy (banana cream and blueberry) Also made that noxious caramel cappuccino vapable though I wouldn't say it is tasty by any stretch. Think it would make a great mixing component in a larger batch of a tobacco flavor.

I expected these flavors to be terribly mild and that they would need to be mixed at very high concentrations to get any effect. Boy was I wrong. It's a fine line between subtle and apocalyptic nuclear fallout. Those links helped a lot. there are some outstanding tools for us DIYers. I got the Juice Me Up program and it is great for keeping track of what I've done, so I don't make the same mistakes more than once. All about organization.

 

[ExMarbRed]

Also made that noxious caramel cappuccino vapable though I wouldn't say it is tasty by any stretch.

Please don't tell me you did what I did and tried the Caramel Capp at 10%? I couldn't get near it for a year afterwards!

Seriously, one drop per 10ml is tasty after a week or so and gets better for another couple weeks. Some flavors need time to "get there". Two drops would be pretty strong after a week.

Going on three months my ADV has been a clone of Halo's Twisted Java by HeadInClouds. Simple recipe and great flavor if you like coffee vapes.
Candy Cane (FW) 10%
Caramel Capp (TFA) 2%

Shake it up real good and it's good to go.

I like strong flavors and use as close to 100% VG as possible so I increased the above to 15% and 3%. NEVER thought I could do CC at 3% but it's great all day every day!

There is a lot of great information in the DIY forum. Do a little reading every night and you'll be making stuff you love in no time.

TFA flavors are a little tricky but they do have some awesome flavors. I think the hardest part is there is no set starting percentages. Some are good at 2-3% (and much less in the case of CC) and some need up to 15%. But like I said there is tons of info in DIY.

Good luck and don't give up. Getting that first success is the hardest part. Once you have that one out of the way things seem to go much easier.

 

[CallmeB]

LOL no, I did the CC at 20%. My entire house reeks. That's nothing compared to the 30% TFA spearmint debacle. Ate my tank up in under 5mins. Did that stop me from vaping it? Hell no. I vaped that molten plastic anyway. (I didn't know my tank was melting.) I thought the CC was just finishing up on my coils. lol Oh boy, the stories I will have when I finally do get this all down.

http://brentnewton.deviantart.com/art/F-d-Up-e-Tank-455423628

I did an experiment to make sure it was the spearmint. It was without a doubt.
http://brentnewton.deviantart.com/art/Experiment-455562594

got a

 

[GaryInTexas]

May I suggest a special meal of activated charcoal. It will go well with that 30% spearmint and molten plastic.

 

[Heabob]

Some of my favorite TFA's

Blueberry Wild
Orange Cream
Pineapple
Vanilla Swirl
French Vanilla
Sweet Cream
Root Beer Float (I get the root beer but no float)
Graham Cracker (Clear)
Brown Sugar Extra

 

[CallmeB]

Thanks. Good to get some suggestions. I don't have any of those. The banana cream is pretty good and the blueberry I have. Both TFA. The blueberry requires at least a day to steep. They all do I think. I'm going to mix up some batches and leave them to steep for a week and must vape on whatever till then.

hey in your signature you should account for the money you save through lower premiums on health insurance and all the other crap that costs you when you smoke. You know that resale of a car is 20% less just for smoking in it? So ur car is worth more now too. Vaping is so win.

 

[vaperature]

Get a little dripper and test the juices out at lower percentages, raising the percentage until you find it satisfactory. Whatever made you think your juice needed 30% flavoring anyway? Just wondering. Did you see something somewhere that told you to do that?

 

[DocTonyNYC]

My experience with DIY is that it takes time and practice--and more patience than I can usually muster. It sounds like you also are "patience challenged." Am I right?

Have you seen the list of recommended percentages for TFA flavors? That's probably the best place to start. Although I don't necessarily agree with all of the recommendations (yes, taste is subjective), I always look at the list first before mixing anything: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/336110-flavor-apprentice-flavoring-thread.html (more recently updated lists are towards the end of the thread).

 

[crxess]

1) I have over 60 TFA flavors - Most are good to very good {When Mixed properly or combined PROPERLY} I also use Capella and VZ Flavors. I do NOT recommend buying more or other brands until you start getting a grasp on how things work.

2) TFA is most certainly not at fault for your lack of success. We have an EXCELLENT DIY section and you can learn a ton from asking questions.

Start simple - tiny batches 3-5 ml / NO nic / 5% Flavoring - Find out what each is like.

Simple things like Juicy Peach, excellent at 8% or RY4Double at 10% or less. Do not take the % recommendations of others as gospel. Everyone had different senses an levels of tolerance to taste. what one may like at 20% may make another gag.

Good luck on your venture!

Steeping is Flavor/mod dependent. I use an Ultrasonic Cleaner to shorten Steeping time on my more complex mixes - Hate to wait, but have never tried a mix with less than a day of steeping and then it was single fruit flavors only.

Oh, my first 2 mixes were great.......the next 1/2 dozen were disasters. But I am happy to say I finally have about a dozen of my own personal mixes I can enjoy.

 

[CallmeB]

I actually have an ultra sonic thingamabob. Sonicare. I have fixed a bottle to my vibrating sander and that thing will turn any liquid white with microscopic air bubbles. I might rig up a clamp and some bungy cord and leave some bottles on that for 20mins, 30 secs is all it takes to atomize a liquid. I'll give it a try and see if that speeds the process along. Can't hurt to be sure things are mixed. I think heating the mix would facilitate flavor bonding.

Yeah someone linked me to the TFA percentages blog post. Very helpful. I'm pretty disappointed in the spearmint, but it may work if I add a whole lot of sweetener and use like 1% spearmint. It tastes like oven cleaner. Exactly like oven cleaner.

 

[TyCreek]

Interesting... I was worried that DIY would be a really long series of trial and error since I can't stand most juices I've tried (long list of vendors and flavors) ... Anyway, I ordered an assortment of fruit/coffee/candy flavors (many TFA) in preparation to attempt my own. My first batch of 3 different flavors in 15ml bottles were pretty good at about 5% though one was a bit too strong and another a bit weak. Over the last few weeks I've mixed up a good dozen different flavors in 30ml bottles now. Tonight I got my first nasty at any % called french vanilla deluxe by TFA, though the other 2 vanilla's were fine at 5-7%. My experience was totally opposite of what I figured mixing would be. A few extra drops if the flavor seems weak or add some nic/VG if too strong! So far, DIY is a big hit and I'm not likely to buy another bottle of pre-mixed from a store again.

 

[DetraMental]

I believe ya when you say you're a quick learner and I think you'll be making some great e-liquid in no time. Making mistakes up front lets you learn quickly what to watch out for. I make 1ml-3ml non-nic test batches of each flavor to taste so I can see how they work. This helps me determine if I like them by themselves or if they will work as a base flavor, mid-flavor, or a light (hi) flavor when mixing. I've gone to bed thinking about my flavors and wake up with combinations I can't wait to try, lol. You've been given some great advice already so I'll just wish you the best. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Heabob]

I believe ya when you say you're a quick learner and I think you'll be making some great e-liquid in no time. Making mistakes up front lets you learn quickly what to watch out for. I make 1ml-3ml non-nic test batches of each flavor to taste so I can see how they work. This helps me determine if I like them by themselves or if they will work as a base flavor, mid-flavor, or a light (hi) flavor when mixing. I've gone to bed thinking about my flavors and wake up with combinations I can't wait to try, lol. You've been given some great advice already so I'll just wish you the best. Let us know how you get on.

^This +1

No nic test batches are great because you can drip on your finger to taste without the bitter nic messing up yer' sensors.

If it tastes good it will vape good, usually, mostly, sometimes:

 

[crxess]

...........Tonight I got my first nasty at any % called french vanilla deluxe by TFA, though the other 2 vanilla's were fine at 5-7%. My experience was totally opposite of what I figured mixing would be. A few extra drops if the flavor seems weak or add some nic/VG if too strong! So far, DIY is a big hit and I'm not likely to buy another bottle of pre-mixed from a store again.

Little Tip on French Vanilla Deluxe or any TFA Deluxe flavors - figure 1/2 of the standard version......then 1/2 it again to be safe.
French Vanilla Deluxe is 2-4% MAX and best at lower % in a mix. Double Chocolate Clear is similar in use 1/2 regular or less.

 

[TyCreek]

Little Tip on French Vanilla Deluxe or any TFA Deluxe flavors - figure 1/2 of the standard version......then 1/2 it again to be safe.
French Vanilla Deluxe is 2-4% MAX and best at lower % in a mix. Double Chocolate Clear is similar in use 1/2 regular or less.

Great tips, thanks. I did dilute to about 3% ... I'll go lower before tossing it out. I'm just thrilled that I've actually liked so many of the various flavors tried so far!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DoMortas]

Get yourself a notebook, write down all the flavors you have, and make notes on them as you try them. You have to learn what % you like each of the flavors at, some are great around 10% others anything more than 2-3 drops will ruin the batch.

You should also look up e-juice recipes online, there are websites with hundereds of recipes you can try, or even look at to try to get an idea of how much of a flavor people use.

 

[silkakc]

Hello,

If you order from EcigExpress.com or One stop DIY.com- those two places have several company's flavorings. I use them so I can try things and save on shipping.

Lori