Pre-Made E-Juice + flavors are too weak!

[t0od0pe4u]

ok. So, I purchased some pre-made e-juice at 30%PG 70%VG @ 6mg Nic

As I mix, it just tastes horrible. I had the option to start with 50/50 and go the complete DIY route, but wanted something more simple and less mixing.

As I follow percentages, and test it out, it just doesn't come out correct. The flavors are so weak.
When I dump out the test vial, double the percentage, I get the same taste.

Is it because it is PG water soluble flavoring? That the VG is at 70%, the flavors aren't strong enough?

Only one out of 18 of my standalone flavors came out great. TPA Horchata at 15%. I noticed the label read, Horchata "Base". The others say "flavors"

Tasty Puff is alcohol based. And other brands are PG water soluble.

Does alcohol based and PG have a difference when it comes to mixing, especially Pre-mixed juice?

 

[Dvx67]

Per made juice mixed as you describe should be the same thing you would end up with if you made it yourself. Are you doing any type of steeping after mixing or trying them as soon as you mix?

 

[Hoosier]

Ya' know some ding bat named Hoosier wrote a blog on mixing and the dingiest thing he said in his blog on flavoring levels is that too much flavoring can lead to less flavor.

So, who's percentages are you following?
What does your unflavored taste like?
Except for mint oils, all my flavorings are PG or alcohol based, which is water soluble. VG based flavorings are water soluble too.
Haven't used Tasty Puff, but it seems odd that a flavoring made to be put on tobacco and burned would be alcohol based, but it may work better than I think. I have alcohol based flavorings that were not made by Tasty Puff, but most of my flavorings are PG based and work great.

When you say "pre-mixed juice" do you mean what we mean? That you are buying flavored juice? Or do you mean you are buying blended PG/VG non-flavored nicotine solution?

 

[t0od0pe4u]

Pre-mixed juice meaning a blended pg/vg non-flavored nicotine solution.
When I read posts about flavor reviews from it ranges from
5% (which i tested at 3ml of my 30/70), tested 10% at 3ml, then tested 20%
All fail
no steeping.
The unflavored taste tastes like...nothing. not burnt and maybe on the draw, i can taste the flavor slightly. When I say slightly, I mean very slightly. The amount of vape is hefty.

As far as tasty puff, I assumed it was alcohol-based. Not sure how much of the truth that I've read in previous posts is to that theory.

I was thinking that the reason this is all happening is because my flavorings are PG, while my blended mix of PG is at 30%. Can the VG drown it out?

I've been testing and testing and to be quite honest, they've all been tasting the same.

Only success was TPA Horchata at 15%, which I find quite strange. I have 18 other flavors and all come out practically blank.

 

[Hoosier]

Horchata is not a flavor I like, so I looked it up at the thread on TPA/TFA flavoring levels. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/336110-flavor-apprentice-flavoring-thread-35.html#post9212243 and notice 5% is working for most people. So 15% should be pretty strong. Way stronger than a high VG could drown out. (Usually adjusting for VG is just a percent or two if it is needed at all.) Besides starting at 30/70 and adding 15% flavoring makes a 45/55 juice, so it's not far off a typical 50/50.

Now, what dripping atty are you using for tasting? It is very odd that 17 different flavorings mixed at various levels all taste the same. Honestly that has never happened to me so there has to be a reason somewhere. Would it be possible to list the manufacturer-flavoring name-and percentages tried? That may also help me figure out what in blazes is going on with your mixes.

 

[Dvx67]

They won't taste right immediately after you mix them, at least that has been my experience. So assuming your base is good and you are measuring correctly, I suspect that this is your main problem.

 

[t0od0pe4u]

-Dvx67
I've read some recipes that are instant without the need for steeping.

-Hoosier
If I add 15% to a 30/70, doesn't that make it 45/70? Could this be the problem?!
Below is my current list:
Flavor west
Yellow cake

Flavour art
Hypnotic mist

Capella
Sweet strawberry
Popcorn
Vanilla custard
Strawberries and cream

Lorann
Mango

Tfa
Peach
Sweettart
Sweet cream
Toasted marshmallow
Bavarian cream
Pineapple
Horchata

Tasty puff
Pimpy fresh peach
Watermelon
Chronic hypnotic
Jungle juice

20MG EM

Yellow Cake and toasted marshmallow are very strong and I can't vape those alone. Makes me sick.
I've tried: (all tested at 3ml total using calc)
Sweet Strawberry 11%
Vanilla Custard 9%
vaped and fail at 3ml. Also attempted to double SS and Vanilla Custard, fail. But doubling probably wouldn't have helped any.

Peach 5%
Sweet Cream 5%
Fail

tfa sweet tart 10%
it turned out ok, but i wanted to mix it with something, just don't know what.

tfa Bavarian cream 8%
tfa Pineapple 6%
tfa Mango 6%
The bavarian cream was just overwhelming. But I did taste the pineapple and Mango.

10% Capella Sweet Strawberry
5% tfa Sweet Cream
5% tfa Bavarian Cream
5% Capella Vanilla Custard
-Tasted ok, but overwhelming as well.

After all these recipes, I attempted to do standalone flavors, following all the flavor reviews.
I tried all the single digit percentages, just so i can taste the flavors alone. thats when the failing begun.
-Ive read to start low, then work your way up if you cannot taste it. Started 2 drops, then 2 drops afer that. Got to 8 drops, still couldn't taste. I stopped at that point.

Using a Cisco LR306 Atty - 3 drops each test onto the atty. Tasted all the same. Even blew out any remaining juice after the test.
or a Boge 510 cartomizer with tank. Primed the cart, and knew that it took 10 hits for the flavor to come through. Nothing

Testing the horchata came out fine. in both the cart and atty. So, i know all my parts are working.

 

[Hoosier]

Ah, I'm seeing it. Yeah, read my blog on flavoring levels, it will be a huge help to you.

Also doubling the flavor does not need anything close to doubling the flavoring. In fact most flavor can be doubled with just a few percent more flavoring.

 

[t0od0pe4u]

alright. I'll check it out later tonight (work blocks any blogs. Damn!)

I'll follow up the following day.

Thanks alot Hoosier for your advice and help. I refuse to buy any more flavors until I have this down!!

 

[Dvx67]

-Dvx67
I've read some recipes that are instant without the need for steeping.

Got it... So you assume everything you mix is instantly ready for vaping. It would be awesome if it worked that way but this hasn't been my experience.

 

[t0od0pe4u]

Got it... So you assume everything you mix is instantly ready for vaping. It would be awesome if it worked that way but this hasn't been my experience.

I don't mean to step on anyone's toes. I'm really new to this. I'm sure that you're right with the right mixture. But all i'm failing with is single flavors because I just can't get it right. Believe me, I value everyone's opinion here. I wouldn't be surprised if it was really steeping that was needed and I had a dee-de-dee moment.

 

[t0od0pe4u]

After reading the blog, I'm sitting here in front of my table with all the components laughing. I think i'm at #4.

I had made the peaches and cream last night. So maybe I will let it sit unopened for a day or two.

-Dvx67
There's my dee-de-dee moment.

 

[Hoosier]

Steeping means letting it sit while closed.

Airing out or Breathe is letting it sit while open.

(I don't know why two different things that do two different things to juice got confused into all being steep on ECF.)

So, if you're at #4 leave the cap on and let it sit for a couple of days, steep. (If it tastes like some of the volatile flavoring notes going away and/or if oxidation would help then let it breathe instead.)

If that has no effect then try adding just a tiny amount more of flavoring. If that jumps to #6 without stopping on #5 it means it needs something else besides the single flavoring. Could be as simple as some butterfly farts or unicorn tears.

I hope it was a good laugh. Glad you paused when finding 4. I have issues with myself not wanting to pause at 4...

 

[t0od0pe4u]

haha! the worst part of all of this is that I have all these supplies, but no ready made juice.
I guess I have to buy a vendor made juice while its "steeping"

Great help from hoosier and Dvx67. You guys rock!