Steep Question/Advice - Liquid from Bluemist

[Katatonik]

So I got 120 mL of assorted juices from BlueMist today (3 30's and 3 10's).
All of them have a chemicalish taste to them. It's a familiar taste, but I can't quite put my finger on what it reminds me of. Regardless, it's not a flavor I want in my juice. So my only recourse is steeping.

So, I would like some advice on steeping:
I've already steeped liquids before, but small quantities and at room temperature.

Is it better to steep at room temperature, or is it better in a cooler environment (e.g. refrigerator)?
Or even warmer temperatures?--my only method would be leaving on a window sill where the sun would hit it
I've heard that adding some PGA (everclear) can help the process. What is the recommended amount of PGA per mL?
What other ways can I improve the taste?

If it matters, I'm using an eGo 3.7 v with LR 510 cartomizers and I haven't encountered this off-taste with other liquids before.

 

[metapuff]

i got a sample pack from bluemist today and can confirm what you are saying. chemical taste abounds with all flavors.

 

[deusXmchna]

any possibility the "chemical taste" could be alcohol? were your samples 100% VG? I was just scanning their site, and noticed that all of their nicotine in VG base contained ethyl alcohol (likely to thin it).

or is it more of a solvent taste... paint thinner? toluene? lighter fluid?

 

[vapi]

I have the same chemical taste. I ordered mine with extra flavor and it's 20% vg. It tastes perfumi to me, not alcohol. I just got mine a couple days ago, maybe even artificial taste? I can taste the flavor but this chemical taste is overpowering.

 

[dspin]

Sounds like a problem w/Bluemist folks. I'd shoot them an e-mail right away

 

[vapi]

I just shot them a message.

Let's compare what we ordered, I ordered Strawberry (extra flavor) orange (extra flavor) and smooth. They also sent me a blueberry sample. I have only tried the strawberry and orange, both have this funky taste. The blueberry smells like the funky taste, orange and strawberry even have a scent of this taste to it too.

 

[Scottitude]

I always steep or age with the caps and tips off in a cool, dark place for about 24 hours. Cool meaning room (closet/cupboard) temperature, not a refrigerator.

I replace the tips & caps, shake the bottles vigorously, and leave them in a cool, dark place for about a week. Then I remove the caps & tips for a couple of hours, replace them and store them for about another week.

I never doctor my liquids so I can't comment on that.

We all have different taste buds and my favorite liquid may taste like soap to someone else. I bought a pile of Blue Mist samplers and most tasted a little "off" right out of the box but improved after about two weeks and most now taste more like the flavors they are supposed to be. Some are still a little odd-tasting but maybe that's just my 'buds.

Hope this helps.

 

[deusXmchna]

If they tasted funky... then after sitting with their caps/tips off for while, tasted better....

volatile solvent contamination?
Some of the chlorinated solvents have a sweet smell (DCM, Chloroform, etc). Dunno what they'd be doing in ejuice.
.... well, they can be used in solvent extractions of nicotine, at least on a small scale. I can't imagine that would be what's going on here.

I wanna smell 'em!

If you find out whats going on, please post. I do love a good mystery.

Let us know if you get a definite answer.

 

[vapi]

I wanna smell 'em!

If you find out whats going on, please post. I do love a good mystery.

Let us know if you get a definite answer.

I will send you the sample blueberry they gave me if you pm me your address.

 

[Adrena]

I always steep or age with the caps and tips off in a cool, dark place for about 24 hours. Cool meaning room (closet/cupboard) temperature, not a refrigerator.

I replace the tips & caps, shake the bottles vigorously, and leave them in a cool, dark place for about a week. Then I remove the caps & tips for a couple of hours, replace them and store them for about another week.

I never doctor my liquids so I can't comment on that.

+1 to this, my steeping technique as well.....

 

[vapi]

Here is the response from Bluemist. I've just never ordered anything that needed steeping and the note has valid points.

I would typically recommend shaking them vigorously and allowing them to steep for a couple of days. With the current cold weather up here in the north, the bottles may not have had a chance to fully mature in the mail, and the natural flavors may have even separated a bit (and tend to float to the top a bit since they're less dense than vg and pg)
During the summer months this is less of an issue since warm mail trucks are great incubators for the liquid, but since we make up fresh to your order, I could see them needing a little time.

You also stated that the two problem flavors are the strawberry and orange, which you ordered in Extra Flavor. It is possible that level is simply a bit too strong for your sense of taste and you're being overwhelmed a bit. That can cause flavors to taste "perfumey" or waxy. Steeping will also help to mellow that out, but in the end you may also find it beneficial to dilute the liquid some, with either VG or PG, to bring it down to a more enjoyable level.

I already did mix my orange since that's a usual go to flavor for me and it's fine now.

 

[Katatonik]

Here is the response from Bluemist. I've just never ordered anything that needed steeping and the note has valid points.




I already did mix my orange since that's a usual go to flavor for me and it's fine now.

The top part of that e-mail is word for word what he sent me.

I got 30's of
Banana nut bread 100 VG 32 mg
Vanilla Cream 80/20 32 mg
Root Beer float 80/20 32
10's of
Blueberry 30/20
Cinnabun 30/20
Buttercream cupcake 30/20
sample of
Cherry Vanilla swirl

Glad I'm not the only one.
I was curious because he said cold temperature if warmer temperature might help them? And I'm wondering about taking caps off?
I've been periodically shaking them for the past 2 days, and the chemical smell is diminishing but still present.

 

[Katatonik]

I sent him this

Would you recommend steeping them with caps off?
Also, should I put them somewhere a little warmer?

He replied with this:

Steeping with caps off seems a bit excessive if you're shaken air into the liquid, but your mileage may vary.
I do suggest keeping them in a place of at least "room temp". In the spring/summer/fall I try to find a warm windowsill, or on the corner of my desk near the window, but that's with the caps on so they can't be spilled or allow dust to get into them. If you're going caps-off, a closet or cabinet might be better.

~Rob

 

[KeithB]

Hmm, I just placed my second order with BlueMist. I'm hoping to have them by Wednesday. My first order was pretty great when I got it; I'm hoping for a repeat performance. I got 4 different 30ml bottles, all 24mg, all regular strength flavor, all 100% VG.

I'll weigh in again when I receive my juice. Wish me luck.

FWIW, I know they had planned to move into a storefront, packed everything up and then had to push back the move to a later date. Maybe there was some kind of snafu in the packing/unpacking?

 

[Katatonik]

I was curious about that, as I wasn't expecting them to ship anything until the 1st but mine shipped like the 26th or 27th.

 

[Katatonik]

A week later, and they've improved very little. The banana nut (probably because it's 100vg) and cinnabun (because it's so cinnamon-y) have improved the most, and the rootbeer float has improved the least, it smells stale.

I've been doing a lot of things (that probably aren't good for the liquid) the past week.
I've soaked the bottles in warm water (as hot as the tap would go) for as long as the water is warm.
I've left them over night with as much air as possible removed from the bottles.
I've left them caps off for 24 hours.
I've refrigerated them (both without air and with air).
And I've sat there for 30 minutes, shaking them, and then opening them up and making small squeezes on the bottles to help circulate air into them so that they're not steeping in the same chemical infused air.

Like I said, probably not the best way to do it. Probably not a good way to do it. But at the moment I'm trying everything to get that awful chemical taste out of it. I was counting on these liquids to last me for months, and right now they're unvapable.

 

[Toulouse]

I received a sampler pack from them earlier this week (all tobacco flavors, 80PG/20VG) and I've run into the same problem.

I don't even want to think about getting that taste in my mouth again.

 

[cags]

I too am having the problem. I ordered a 5 bottle sampler feb 9:
smooth, english toffee,lime, robacco menthol, french vanilla. the only one I have been able to vape is the lime, mixed with a menthol I like. the others are as you are describing. they have been sitting, but I am slow to try again because that taste lasted in my mouth all day. yuk.
but I also have the same problem with 3 flavors I ordered from juicy vapor around the same time. butter rum, irish cream, creme brulee. I have about decided it was just me so I am glad to know I am not the only one. all of them are 80pg/20vg. the menthol I like (get from liberty-flights) is 100% pg. I am also very new and inexperienced!

some of us locally are having a meet soon and I am hoping someone there can help with these somehow

 

[Scottitude]

I know it's tough but give them some more time. It sometimes takes ~two weeks for e-liquids to steep so that the flavors and other ingredients mature.

The best advice I can give anyone is always start with samplers or smaller bottles. I always buy the smallest bottle available when trying new suppliers or flavors.

Sure, sometimes I vape it all up and wish I'd ordered more but I've never felt like I got bad juice or a bad deal, only a relatively inexpensive lesson and a few ml I don't vape.

I'd rather run out once and then stock up 60ml - 120ml at a time than buy a huge bottle of something I haven't tasted myself.

 

[Katatonik]

I have little doubt that these liquids will be good some day. I was just irritated because I was counting on these to be good by now, and they're not. I have about 5 mL left of other assorted liquids at the moment. So I ordered more of my favs from FSUSA two days ago, and hoping they'll arrive very soon. I'm starting to ration myself and I don't enjoy it.