Has anyone noticed that the 100% VG juices bought from suppliers are way better than homemade VG mixes? I love the juices from Vapure, which are 100% VG with good flavor, nice smooth TH (not too harsh) and tons of vapor. On the other hand, the VG batches I've made myself have a weird aftertaste and, strangely, a very harsh burning TH (totally unvapeable). I've just been using Humco VG with various amounts of distilled water added, from 5% to 15%, all of which are bad- added to a 50/50 nic juice @ 48 mg. Luckily, the base I have is a perfect mix and strength to make 80/20, which comes out very nice (I make 24 mg strength). As far as VG is concerned, I'd like to blame the Humco brand, but that pharmacist who posted about it says all VG is the same, so what gives?
Premade VG vs. DIY VG
- Thread starter JenBruin
- Start date
- th_trl_thread_readers 0
- Status
Thats odd. From what I've read, it's the PG in juices that gives most of the TH. I wouldn't think that the VG would give a harsh, burning TH. However I am still new and don't know much. I'd go to my nearest pharmacy, grab some glycerin, and try it. That would help you determine whether it's the brand of VG your using or not..?
I've seen posts on this site say that some VG that you buy on the store shelf taste different and one noted was nasty tasting. If you search this forum you may find it.
Oh, I forgot to mention, this Humco VG vapes fine alone (just mixed with a little water). Only when it's added to flavor and base does it become nasty and harsh. It's very very strange. I know it's not the base or the flavors because the exact same stuff works fine when cut with PG. Something about this stuff just doesn't play well with others. Of course the base I'm using is 50% VG so maybe they just don't like each other for some strange reason. Since I have no problem with premade 100% VG I know it's not 'too much' VG, in principle, anyway. I did find another brand of VG at my health food store but didn't buy it because the price was outrageous and it still said USP. Like the pharmacist who posted about VG previously, I find it impossible to believe that 2 brands both labeled USP can have any difference whatsoever. The standard is so strict, they have to be the same thing, in my opinion. Now, food grade is another matter, but I have yet to find VG labeled food grade anywhere local and I don't want to pay for shipping for it because I may hate it. Plus, I hate shipping, LOL.
I've had differing results with VG depending on the source. The last batch was great, the previous batch from a different vendor.... kinda excess TH and a little mouth/lip irritation. Now, with the new stuff, no issues.
I'll say that this most recent no-issues batch was DIY supplies from OneStopDIYShop. Good VG/PG and stuff. The other vendor, I'm hesitant to name due to the fact it could always have been me (PV/Atty issues, bad flavor mix, etc.). It was inexpensive, and a well known supplier, but it may be a case of "you get what you pay for".
I'd suggest trying another source for your VG.
Also, just a thought, try reducing the nic a little, and make very sure it is well mixed. VG is hard to mix. Nicotine is "peppery".
Other than that, IDK "what gives?" .... but I suspect that 99.5 % pure VG is still 0.5% other stuff. So shop around!
I'll say that this most recent no-issues batch was DIY supplies from OneStopDIYShop. Good VG/PG and stuff. The other vendor, I'm hesitant to name due to the fact it could always have been me (PV/Atty issues, bad flavor mix, etc.). It was inexpensive, and a well known supplier, but it may be a case of "you get what you pay for".
I'd suggest trying another source for your VG.
Also, just a thought, try reducing the nic a little, and make very sure it is well mixed. VG is hard to mix. Nicotine is "peppery".
Other than that, IDK "what gives?" .... but I suspect that 99.5 % pure VG is still 0.5% other stuff. So shop around!
Last edited:
I use the Humco VG and haven't had the problems you mention. But, big difference is that I haven't used it for 100% VG, yet.
I've got high octane nic in a PG base and use the VG to cut it with, along with flavorings. Some of my mixes have been up to 60% Humco VG though.
Since I don't have any VG based nic juice on hand, I can't try mixing 100% VG.
I've got high octane nic in a PG base and use the VG to cut it with, along with flavorings. Some of my mixes have been up to 60% Humco VG though.
Since I don't have any VG based nic juice on hand, I can't try mixing 100% VG.
The mouth/lip irritation is exactly the problem! Plus, that same irritation in the TH. I'm glad to see I'm not just crazy >.< I'll have to try the stuff from one stop, which is where I got my 50/50 from anyway. As for the nic, I like the 24, but I can dial it down and see what happens. Is there anything special to mixing VG, other than shaking and letting it sit? I basically just shake it until the consistency is uniform and then just let it sit so the flavor diffuses completely.
Thanks for the info
I buy both PG and VG from One Stop DIY and have had great results. I mix at 80pg/20vg and have not tried vg alone. I am willing to bet the flavor difference you notice is that the Supplier bought juices are most likely adding a sweetner. Do yours taste sort of flat, dry and lacking a "pop"? The sweetners work wonders on the taste buds and I can immediatley pick up the differnce in a juice without it. Try adding 1 drop of sweetner per 3ml of juice (OSDIY - cotton candy is Ethyl Malto or their sweetner is Sucralose both Flavor Apprrentice made) it does wonders. Hope this helps
The humco vg is the culprit, try using just about any other brand and you'll have much better results
It seems that most glycerin ("VG") originates as a byproduct of biodiesel production. While it's been refined to meet USP requirements it probably contains a certain amount of "allowable" contaminants.
NOW Foods - Vegetable Glycerine - 4 fl oz
"The vegetable glycerine contained in this product is considered food grade."
NOW Foods - Cosmetics FAQ's
What is the source of NOW® Vegetable Glycerine, and can it be used as a sweetener?
NOW® Vegetable Glycerine is a natural by-product of the cosmetic industry. It is derived from palm oil and is 100% pure. Vegetable Glycerine is safe to use as a natural sweetener, and actually metabolizes slower than regular table sugar.
The Humco product tastes like the bottle it comes in...try a glycerine used for baking. It usually comes in a different type of plastic bottle that doesn't have a chemical smell.
I'm using some VG USP from CVS right now, 0 PG DIY, caramel capp that I'm vaping now is pretty clean. No PGA in NY, I do 5% of 160 vodka.
Oh, I'll have to try that. I bought a little vial of ethyl maltol powder, figuring it would come in handy but not quite knowing what to do with it. Now I just have to get some Everclear
Unless you just really want to mix the EM with everclear.... You can use 1/4 teaspoon of EM in 10 mL of PG. Shake it under hot water to get it to mix properly.
some vitamin shops carry organic food grade vg...the end result is totally different than using the walmart glycerin
I got the idea to try organic vg from vaperite as there vapes always made more vapor than my own pure vg did just by itself.
I got the idea to try organic vg from vaperite as there vapes always made more vapor than my own pure vg did just by itself.
Well, 2 drops of EM in 5 mL of liquid fixed it completely I did dilute it with Everclear because I'm running low on PG and there is a slight alcohol taste, but it works with the chocolate hazelnut flavor. Next time I'll use PG. Thanks so much for the advice! Also, I got a small bottle of baking glycerin and right out of the bottle it tastes better than the Humco. I never bothered to taste it directly before, but the Humco brand has this icky tongue-coating taste to it.
I did dilute it with Everclear because I'm running low on PG and there is a slight alcohol taste, but it works with the chocolate hazelnut flavor. Next time I'll use PG. Thanks so much for the advice! Also, I got a small bottle of baking glycerin and right out of the bottle it tastes better than the Humco. I never bothered to taste it directly before, but the Humco brand has this icky tongue-coating taste to it.
Well, 2 drops of EM in 5 mL of liquid fixed it completely
Glad it worked for you. Order the stuff I suggested in my earlier post. You may find you like the sucralose better in fruity flavors and the Malto in heavier (chocolate, coffee, tobacco). They are premixed so you don't have to mess around trying to disolve powder and with the coupon code they are $1.40 a bottle. Happy Holidays
Last edited:
Is there anything special to mixing VG, other than shaking and letting it sit? I basically just shake it until the consistency is uniform and then just let it sit so the flavor diffuses completely.
Thanks for the info
Anytime I mix up a batch of DIY flavor I give the bottle a hot water Bath. I started a link about it that you can find HERE
- Status
