Odd experience with Halo flavors

[$andman]

I haven’t been vaping very long and, until recently, I had only vaped Smokeless Image juices. I’ve tried lots of different flavors from SI and enjoyed most of them. Wanting to branch out a bit, I bought a Halo tobacco sample pack. I had read only great things about Halo juices and was expecting them to be really good. I was very surprised when each different flavor tasted really bad to me. It wasn’t that the flavors just weren’t my thing, like watermelon, something tasted really off. Each different juice shared a particular taste and odor, like sweaty socks, which overpowered any other flavors that were present. I’d like to figure out what the cause of this unusual experience is.

I know that SI’s juices are 80% PG and 20% VG. Halo doesn’t say what their ratio is, but it felt a lot wetter than the SI juices so I’m guessing it has more VG; maybe 50%. Does VG taste like anything? Is it possible that VG is what I don’t like in Halo's flavors? I know that I could order a bunch of the same flavor at different VG %s and test this out, but that could get expensive, so I thought I check with the experts first. Thanks.

 

[KDude]

I think some Halo juices might be 80/20 as well (Tribeca kind of seems it). A lot of their juices are kind of thin (VG is heavier). And I don't think they could accomplish the throat hit they're known for with heavy VG.

As for your experience, I don't like every flavor they offer, but quite a few have grown on me. Some I love now. Not sure what to say. You like what you like. No reason to think anything's wrong... But, I'd suggest giving them more time.

Not sure what kit you have, but the only thing I know that's comparable to an SI juice is Tribeca (with Volt's RY4). Malibu might be in the range of some of SI's fruity juices. Menthol is... well, menthol. There's no comparison with their tobaccos. Halo is world's better, imho.

 

[RCXD]

Same here too. Hated the tobacco back in 2011. Tried it this year and i was blown away. I think the flavor takes time and will grow on you. Just like my buddies said.

Now i'm stuck on tribeca, prime 15 and a lil of belgian cocoa. I do agree that some do smell like socks. Lol. Maybe not now, but try it in future when you're craving for that woody, earthy, floral tobacco. Oh and i must say that their menthol line is superb as well.

Happy vaping!

 

[$andman]

Not sure what kit you have, but the only thing I know that's comparable to an SI juice is Tribeca (with Volt's RY4). Malibu might be in the range of some of SI's fruity juices. Menthol is... well, menthol. There's no comparison with their tobaccos. Halo is world's better, imho.

Tribeca was included with my samples and I didn't think it tasted like RY4, personally. I didn't really like RY4 though either. I did notice that they said that the flavors will change significantly after a while after you open them. Maybe I should try them later and see if anything is different. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[skelley]

Most of Halo's juice gives me a dry vape which reminds me of peanut oil for some reason.
Tribecca was ok, but it got old quick.
Captain Jack tasted like fall honey, the dark kind.
Smooth 8 tasted like barber shop talc.
Prime smelled like hazelnut, but didn't taste like hazelnut, I couldn't put my finger on the taste. The wife hated the smell of it, she said it smelled like moldy socks.
Midnight Apple wasn't bad.
Malibu & Tiki were just weird tasting and I forget what Torque56 tasted like.
The only one I did reorder was Tribecca, but.....Nothing ventured, nothing gained...never know unless you try'm

 

[Talonius]

I also got the sample tobacco pack and the tribeca is not bad once you give a while, the torque56 is the same as tribeca, but as for the rest of them I didn't care for them

 

[Robertogee]

I too ordered Halo's tobacco sample pack about six or seven weeks ago, after reading so many favorable comments on ECF.

Yes, their card said to let them steep at least two days for the flavors to meld. I couldn't stand any of them. They all shared a chemical undertone I just found unvapable. The Prime 15 was the worst, to me: like dead fish and disinfectant.

No choice but to throw them away or let them steep. Two weeks later? Same thing. Same awful taste.

A month later? Uh . . . lo and behold, ALL of them were vapable. I couldn't believe it. Three suited me especially: HX 3, Torque 56, and -- wait for it -- Prime 15.

I actually LIKE Prime 15. Kept reaching for that sample bottle, trying to decide whether to reorder in a larger size. Then . . . it was all vaped up.

Long story short, they shipped my larger bottle today and I'm sorry I waited because I will (presumably) have to let it steep for a month before I can vape it. To me, anyway, it's worth it. No other juice like it!

Moral? At least in Halo's case, steeping works. Open the bottles, let them breathe for 24 hours. Close them again. Shake daily or so. (I just left them in Halo's nice tin presentation case and shook THAT so I could shake them all at once.) Try them again after a couple of weeks. And again after a month.

You may, like I was, be pleasantly surprised!

Good luck!

P.S.

I peeled off the label and now have a nice round tin box I can put . . . whatever . . . in. Knick-knacks, vaping supplies, whatever.

 

[Cyberslinger]

Just had the same thing happen to me. They were wretched. Just horrible. Was a bit bummed after the rave reviews. 2 weeks later... Remarkable. I mean so amazing a turn around I just couldn't believe it. I wonder what changes it so much.

 

[$andman]

It’s good to know that I’m not the only one with these experiences with Halo. Thanks for the responses!

After vaping some more Halo flavors I’ve come up with a theory. I have some vanilla extract that my brother-in-law made by seeping vanilla beans in whiskey. The Halo juices reminded me of that strong taste. I’m pretty sure that they use alcohol-based flavors and when you let them steep, the alcohol evaporates and the juices lose that edge. Some people probably like the alcohol taste and others don’t. It would explain why they all tasted very similar to me. They might even use whiskey or rum to extract the flavors and add the characteristics of those liquors. I’m pretty sure there is amaretto in some of them, which, being an almond liqueur, is basically a weaker flavored alcohol-based nut extract.

The advice about steeping is great and I will try it. So what do I do? Just take the cap off for 24 hours, put it back on and let them sit for 2 weeks?

 

[unloaded]

I think Halo juices are in a class by themselves. They have their own very distinct flavor profile. I'm not convinced it's the steeping that makes them taste better. I kinda think their flavors are soooo different than anything else that our taste buds need time to adjust to them. The first time trying them is a shock to the whole "taste" system. Reminds me of the first time you give a kid a lemon wedge, the reaction to something they are completely unprepared for. When I first tried them I about gagged from the "chemical" taste. Thought about tossing them to tell the truth. I put them away and later decided to give them another try. Wasn't crazy about them then either but at least they were bearable. I did notice that although the taste wasn't close to being my favorite I noticed they seemed to be more satisfying in some strange way. To make a long story shorter I'll say that a few of their juices ended up being some of my favorites. Torque56 being my favorite from Halo. I'll vape it for days at a time. The reason I think steeping plays a smaller roll is because when I get it now I prefer it fresh, right out of the mail. It does change a little bit after some time, but not enough to account for drastic changes I experienced my first few times trying it. I do think Halo juices are either LoveIt or HateIt but you should give it a few times to really decide.

 

[Robertogee]

Some ECFers go through an elaborate steeping process. I'm pretty much NOT elaborate.

I took the six Halo sample bottles (plus the bonus sample), removed both cap and nozzle tip from each one, and neatly placed them around a non-elaborate paper plate in a circle with caps/tips beside each one like a mini-Stonehenge.

Let them breathe for 24 hours. Recapped them and put them back in the Halo presentation tin. Shook them in the tin every day. Sniffed them again in two weeks. Still stinky. Tried one or two again--still didn't like them. Kept shaking them. Tried them again in two MORE weeks. Suddenly they were all vapable!

That's my non-elaborate Stonehenge steeping method.

Found three Halos I liked. (The others I'm keeping for a mercy vape, should I ever need one.) The Prime 15 I reordered in a larger size.

I keep notes. My average, over nearly three years, turns out to be that I like 1-in-10 juices enough to reorder. (I now have six that I always keep on hand: one that I've vaped exclusively for two years.)

Actually, I went on a tobacco-ejuice sampling jag during the period I ordered Halo's ejuices. Ordered 32 different ejuices over six weeks (based on comments on ECF). Found 5 that I liked enough to reorder! That's 1-in-6! Either the venders are getting better or my taste buds have turned into a cheap date.

Happy steeping!

 

[LES232]

I had read only great things about Halo juices and was expecting them to be really good. I was very surprised when each different flavor tasted really bad to me. It wasn’t that the flavors just weren’t my thing, like watermelon, something tasted really off. Each different juice shared a particular taste and odor, like sweaty socks, which overpowered any other flavors that were present. I’d like to figure out what the cause of this unusual experience is.

Well I'm glad to know it isn't just me. They must lose a lot of business over the way it tastes when they first send it out. I read where a member here loved Halo, so I purchased 3 flavors, all were wretched. They all had a chemical taste that no other brand of e-juice has. I bought Prime 15, Torque 56 and Bella Valente and all were equally bad, but after vaping Bella Valente (I took about 6 hits) my chest literally hurt for 30 minutes and I couldn't believe people actually pay money for this stuff. If they know it will taste better after a month of steeping, they should steep it before selling it. The fact that they won't tell you what's in their juice makes me wonder what's really in there since it tastes so different from anything else. I'll never vape Halo again.

 

[$andman]

I do think Halo juices are either LoveIt or HateIt but you should give it a few times to really decide.

That reminds me of a Jerry Garcia quote: "Deadheads are kinda like people who like licorice. Not everybody likes licorice, but people who like licorice, *really* like licorice!"

Unloaded, I think you are right that it's a shocking taste that may or may not grow on you in time. Probably a lot like scotch or cigars. I am finding that they are already starting to grow on me. I went from thinking that I'd throw them away to vaping a bit of Halo between other flavors to mix things up. That being said, I think I'll still steep them to see what happens. Thanks for the instructions on how you did that Robertogee.

 

[bnrkwest]

Halo juices need to steep, put them away for 2 weeks or longer, then try again. I had some Halo I did not like when I first got them but after steeping loved them. My favs are Tribeca, Prime 15, Captain Jack, Belgian Cocoa, and their latest Turkish Tobacco. I always have Halo around because their juices are so unique. bnrk

 

[Cyberslinger]

Crazy. Vapeing Torque right now and really enjoying it. What a remarkable turnaround. Does anyone know why this occurs?

 

[Robertogee]

Received my 30ml of Prime 15 yesterday, shook it thoroughly, opened it to steep--presumably for a month, like with the sample.

About 12 hours later I wanted some enough to risk loading up an Ego T and trying it.

Uh, I'm vaping it right now. Tastes exactly like I expected it to after a month. It's a unique taste that I really, really like. Don't know what took my first sample so long to "develop."

Maybe Halo's caught on to hanging onto their juices for a couple of weeks to let them steep before shipping. Or maybe I just got lucky.

Whatever. Thanks, Halo!

 

[Mr.Mann]

Received my 30ml of Prime 15 yesterday, shook it thoroughly, opened it to steep--presumably for a month, like with the sample.

About 12 hours later I wanted some enough to risk loading up an Ego T and trying it.

Uh, I'm vaping it right now. Tastes exactly like I expected it to after a month. It's a unique taste that I really, really like. Don't know what took my first sample so long to "develop."

Maybe Halo's caught on to hanging onto their juices for a couple of weeks to let them steep before shipping. Or maybe I just got lucky.

Whatever. Thanks, Halo!

I think, because you have experienced and become more familiar with the flavor/scent, the initial aspects that repelled you have started to become more friendly. I believe Halo does not sell any bottles that have sat around, and they have some of the most consistent production that I have tried. I actually like the fresh edge, as opposed to the tamed down "steeped" version.

 

[unloaded]

Halo states that the flavor will change 24-48 hrs after opening a bottle. The change isn't as drastic as what everybody describes. It's the taste buds changing to accept the flavor (after the initial shock). Be warned though, a lot of juices you liked before you got turned on to Halo will be lacking something when you go back to them. I think their juices perform so well that the mind associates the flavor with the stellar performance. When we go back to a juice that doesn't perform as well, the flavor doesn't seem to be as good as we remembered. Thats just my experience with lots of different juices. I think Dr. V was onto something with his sticky essay above.