Sweetener

[Kemosabe]

Ive gotten back into DIY ... its been a few years since ive done my research. i seem to remember some folks buying crystals to dilute in PG instead of buying sweetener pre-made. im guessing this saves us money. do you guys do this? if so, which are the right crystals to buy, from where, and what is the ratio of crystal weight to PG milliliters?

i searched TFA and all i could find was Maltol crystals. they dont seem quite right for what im looking for. i thought it was ethyl maltol i was looking for. any help would be appreciated.

 

[DaveP]

It was probably ethyl maltol. I buy and use the liquid version and let someone else deal with the crystals.

Maltol is the crystals. Dissolving them in alcohol or crushing them and dissolving them in PG or VG produces what you want. Here's the thread where they talk about how to do that. Maltol crystals usually added at 10% to PG to make the solution.

Ethyl Maltol crystals question.

More about alcohol or not in the mix.
Ethyl Maltol Solutions (5-15%) - Nude Nicotine

 

[MMW]

I use TFA cotton candy for a sweetener.

 

[zoiDman]

... i seem to remember some folks buying crystals to dilute in PG instead of buying sweetener pre-made. im guessing this saves us money. do you guys do this? ...

I don't.

I like the TFA Pre-Made Sweetener which is Pure Sucralose in a PG Solution.

Sucralose is VERY Sweet. So a Little goes a Long Way. And a 30ml Bottle should last you for quite awhile.

 

[DaveP]

I added .5% ethyl maltol to a batch of 5% HS flue cured about a month ago and it's good without TA or AP after a month steeping. I like the faint sweetness that a small amount of EM adds to that flavor.

Right now I'm vaping some 2 month old HS Tobacco Blended, with 2 drops Tobacco Absolute in 50ml, and .4% AP. It's a really smooth mouth feel and a great tobacco mouth feel on exhale. There's a tiny bit of bitter flavor on the draw, probably nic and whatever else is in the flavoring, but it's a good combination. ETA: I forgot to mention that I later diluted that mix 50/50 with unflavored to tone it down to a really good tobacco vape. The combination of TA an AP in the original mix was on the heavy side.

I'll get tired of it by the time I finish the tank and go on to something else later tonight. Like most vapors I'm fickle about flavor and have to keep trying for the perfect juice. ADV means today, not every day!

 

[Kemosabe]

Thanks for the advice guys. So where do you guys buy your sweetener? I think I'm giving up on the crystals idea.

 

[zoiDman]

Thanks for the advice guys. So where do you guys buy your sweetener? I think I'm giving up on the crystals idea.

You can find TFA Sweetener just about Anyplace that sells TFA Flavors. And just about Everyone sells Ethyl Maltol as "Cotton Candy".

I shop for much of my DIY stuff at Heartland Vape. They have Very Good prices.

Wholesale Nicotine, Bulk e-Liquid, PG, VG and Supplies Heartlandvapes Wholesale

 

[DaveP]

Thanks for the advice guys. So where do you guys buy your sweetener? I think I'm giving up on the crystals idea.

www.ecigexpress.com is a good place to start. Below is a direct link to the flavor enhancer page.
Liquid Concentrate DIY e-Juice Additives - ecigExpress

Here's a good article about flavor enhancers, how they work, and how to use them.
Let's Talk About: Flavor Enhancers (DIY Ejuice Tips)

 

[bwh79]

Ethyl is the alcohol that the crystals are dissolved in. Maltol is the crystals.

Pretty sure that's not right. I thought it was always "ethyl maltol" whether it was dissolved in EtOH (ethyl alcohol/ethanol), PG (propylene glycol) or VG (glycerine/vegetable glycerin). Ethanol is ethyl alcohol (the kind you drink) but there are lots of "ethyls" (and lots of other "alcohols"), too.

 

[zoiDman]

Ethyl maltol - Wikipedia

 

[NotSoMini]

For a number of reasons I will not vape eliquids that contain surcalose. I am thinking of using erythritol or marshmallow as a sweetener when needed. Are these good alternatives? I plan to start DiY sometime next month so currently reading and researching.

 

[DaveP]

Pretty sure that's not right. I thought it was always "ethyl maltol" whether it was dissolved in EtOH (ethyl alcohol/ethanol), PG (propylene glycol) or VG (glycerine/vegetable glycerin). Ethanol is ethyl alcohol (the kind you drink) but there are lots of "ethyls" (and lots of other "alcohols"), too.

I've seen it described both ways in crystal form or in solution. I edited my post in the absence of a good explanation.

I was going by the explanation of the solution at Nude Nicotine's site. Some sellers refer to the crystal form as Maltol crystals, not Ethyl Maltol crystals, and others refer to it as Ethyl Maltol whether it's in crystal form or a solution. It's obviously a flexible nomenclature. It apparently can be dissolved in PG, VG, or Ethyl Alcohol.

Ethyl Maltol Solutions (5-15%) - Nude Nicotine

Our solution of EM is concentrated at 15% for ethyl alcohol (SUPER CONCENTRATE), 10% for PG (Industry standard), and at 5% in VG (PG-free). PG can attain a max solubility of ~100mg/mL (10% solution) of EM, while VG can only obtain ~55mg/mL. However, ethyl alcohol is suitable for very saturated solutions of ~150mg/mL and recommended for maximum EM solubility as a carrier solvent.

 

[kas122461]

For a number of reasons I will not vape eliquids that contain surcalose. I am thinking of using erythritol or marshmallow as a sweetener when needed. Are these good alternatives? I plan to start DiY sometime next month so currently reading and researching.

I have read about some people using pure Stevia in PG, which I have wanted to try, but never got around to it. I know I read about on ECF somewhere.

KAS

 

[bwh79]

Some sellers refer to the crystal form as Maltol crystals, not Ethyl Maltol crystals, and others refer to it as Ethyl Maltol whether it's in crystal form or a solution. It's obviously a flexible nomenclature.

Maltol is a different compound than ethyl maltol:

"Ethyl maltol is an organic compound that is a common flavourant in some confectioneries. It is related to the more common flavorant maltol by replacement of the methyl group by an ethyl group.[2]"

Source: Ethyl maltol - Wikipedia

 

[NotSoMini]

I have read about some people using pure Stevia in PG, which I have wanted to try, but never got around to it. I know I read about on ECF somewhere.

KAS

Thanks — never thought of Stevia.

 

[DaveP]

Maltol is a different compound than ethyl maltol:

"Ethyl maltol is an organic compound that is a common flavourant in some confectioneries. It is related to the more common flavorant maltol by replacement of the methyl group by an ethyl group.[2]"

Source: Ethyl maltol - Wikipedia

I've seen the Wikipedia article. It seems that the vaping community uses Maltol and Ethyl Maltol interchangeably. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[bwh79]

It seems that the vaping community uses Maltol and Ethyl Maltol interchangeably.

Where are you seeing "maltol" for sale? All I've ever seen is the "ethyl" variety (oh and something called "ethyl malto" from DIY Flavor Shack. I don't think that's a real thing, but it's been all over their website for years. I just cannot take a vendor seriously who can't be bothered to put the right name on their chemicals for sale.)

 

[Dougiestyle]

I ordered 50g ethyl maltol crystals and it is on the way. We'll see...

 

[NU_FTW]

I use EM in solution 10% in PG. I am also guilty of dropping the L off the end Ethyl MaltoL i like the sound of Malto better than Maltol

 

[bwh79]

i like the sound of Malto better than Maltol

I like Malt-o-Meal, does that count?