I appreciate you offering assistance!
The commercial e-liquid was a B&M house creation. They were the only shop in town that sold DIY supplies; and they only offered TFA, and a small selection of LA. I think these were also the only flavor manufacturers they used making their house blends. It has been 6(ish) years since I had any so I am not sure my memory can do it justice. But, I'll give it a shot.
The overall profile was mostly kinda sorta (wishy-washy enough for ya yet?
) like a mild wintergreen Certs or Lifesaver. Mostly wintergreen and cooling with a light sweet note. Mouthfeel was not heavy; but I would not describe it as thin (or dying) either. I always wished for a bit bolder flavor. However, I liked it well enough, that is was my only e-liquid for nearly two years.-- The dominant flavor was wintergreen (TFA (water soluble), and LA on the sales rack). I did find a small amount of peppermint, could help to bolster the always seemingly weak wintergreen, without contributing an overt/identifiable flavor of its own.
-- There was also a fair amount of cooling, but it did not have much (if any) menthol to it. They did sell Koolada at the time, and I suspect it was that, with maybe a backup note of menthol. Though, now that I have WS-23 in my arsenal, I would consider that too.
The rest is the mystery that I can't figure out. I experimented with various ratios of wintergreen (both of them; separately, and combined), mixed with both koolada, and menthol (again; separately, and combined). And even a few variations including a bit of sweetener (TFA Sweetener, as well as TFA Cotton Candy/EM). These efforts could get me in the general vicinity... but, not in even the ball park.
I tried a touch of a couple of vanillas, and that seemed to move the needle in the right direction; but I couldn't find a concentrate or percentage, that it didn't become too prevalent. I tried a couple of different creams, and those either did nothing, or sent the overall profile in the wrong direction (it was during these trials that I learned I loath TFA Bavarian Cream).
The sweet was problematic for me too. It had an odd, almost "artificial" sweetness to it; that wasn't syrupy, or outright candy-like. Instead, it mimicked the "dentist-friendly" artificial sweetener of the day... like an almost (not quite) chalky quality. Just like a Certs/Lifesaver.
It seems like it should be a simple recipe. But, apparently, it's not... or I am not letting it be.
I know cloning is a bear, and it is often easier to aim for "similar." Truthfully; an authentic, bold, wintergreen Certs, is probably all I am looking for at this point.
