questions on steeping

[phorbin]

I have some questions about steeping and, like a lot of other questions i asked i'm sure i'll get multiple opinions, but thats ok. I'm just curious what some of the vets here have to say about it.

1) Does the PG/VG ratio have an affect on how long something needs to steep? Here's why i asked. When I started out i ordered a (rediculously) large number of bottles of juice. Several different flavors, different nic strengths, different PG/VG mixes, from 100%PG to 80%VG. I did this intentionally hoping to find that "sweet spot" i've read so much about. When i first got the 80% VG juice I checked out a couple of the flavors and thought they all tasted the same. Waited a couple days, same thing. I decided I must be tasting mainly the VG so I put those bottles aside and waited a couple weeks. Went back to them recently and I can tell they are getting better but I think they still have a way to go. In case it matters, the 80% VG stuff came from VaporBomb which I have read many good things about. I don't include this info to bring them down, I suspect I'll order from them again but with more PG than VG as that seems to be the preference I developed. Anyway, the 100 PG i got (johnson creek) seemed pretty tasty right out of the mailbox, and the 80%PG i got tasted pretty good right away too, although i've noticed improvement in it as well.

2) Caps on or caps off? Apparently some people think leaving the bottles caps off speeds up the steeping process.

3) Fridge or no fridge? I've heard both. But i'm only putting mine in the fridge if you agree the caps should be on! LOL

 

[Kent C]

I've never heard of the idea of 'steeping' with regards to ejuice. It isn't something like a tea bag. If you're DIYing - you put the flavor in and shake well. Oxidation is not good for ejuice so keep the caps on and both PG and VG need a cool, dark, dry place for best storage - no fridge needed - although there are some people that do it. The main thing on temperature is that it isn't changed greatly - differences in temps cause moisture which is not good for the ejuice so a constant cool temperature is best until ready for use.

 

[rolygate]

Well, there are multiple opinions on this, for sure.

1. Some people say that flavors improve after 2 weeks, so they 'steep' them - meaning they just leave them alone for a week or two.

2. But all my DIY flavors, made with 100% VG base, are good to go straightaway, and in fact some of them are dying off after 2 months so if there is any left I throw it and start again.

So maybe it depends on if it's PG/VG or VG-only. I'd say leave the caps on because many of the ingredients oxidise, that is, they deteriorate with air, light and warmth. I wouldn't put them in the fridge either as it's the only known certain way to ruin some flavors, at least if not stored optimally. Cool, dark storage or the freezer is reckoned to be the best. Use glass bottles if you're keeping refill liquids, not plastic.

As an in-cart mixer I'm a believer that flavors hit straight off - if I've got a tobacco flavor on the go and add some caramel, then I get caramel tobacco instantly. If I've got toffee in the cart and I add some coffee, then I get coffee toffee right there. Seems to work like that for all my DIY stuff.

But it's reported that some flavors from some suppliers take a few days to normalise, so maybe you just need to trial them and see.