The Flavor Apprentice Flavoring Thread

[Kenna]

I don't even rinse. Why introduce water to a recipe unless deliberately? I wipe the outside of the needle off with a clean napkin so I don't get it in the next one then continue. I'm really careful when I measure flavorings and almost never need to eject any from the syringe. My theory is those flavors are in the recipe already, what does it matter if there's a micro drop more or less that was stuck to the plunger?

I will however switch to a different syringe for a different recipe. Some things don't translate well, like menthol in my cream juice or mango in my Danish. And my VG syringe and nic syringe are purists just because I use them constantly and don't want any contamination. When I'm all finished, everybody gets scrubbed under hot tap water.

I just blow out any remaining water.

 

[faeriekitsune]

I just blow out any remaining water.

I guess I'm just weird like that. Even if you eject a syringe forcefully a couple times, let it sit a few minutes and do it again. I usually can get more liquid out of it, even a little. I'd rather that "extra" be flavoring, not water.

Course, if you take the time to dry it out properly, that's a nonissue. But, I'm normally mixing in a hurry. My "math lab kitchen from Hades" irritates the SO so I get it done and put away as quickly as possible. Hence, one syringe for all flavors in each recipe and wash them all when done. A few syringes drying in the dish rack aren't as big of a deal.

 

[FranC]

I use one syringe for all flavors too. Hubs tobaccos get their own syringe.

 

[scotdc]

I use

At first, when I only had the small 8mL vials of flavorings...I stored them all in 1 of the 48-place test tube racks I had. Then later, as I bought more in vials, then 1oz and 4oz bottles...I obviously had to get something else. So I found a couple of those plastic, storage cases with handles with the movable dividers inside, on sale at Tractor Supply. They're 17" long x 13" wide x 4" deep with a clear plastic attached lid. Am only currently needing to use 1 of them so far. I have room for the vials, the 1 oz. bottles, some pipettes, syringes, blunt needle tips, a few small plastic bottles, a 60mL bottle of both VG and PG, a small bottle of Nic Base, a pair of gloves, etc. in it!

The ones the size I got were reg. $16.99 each, but on sale for $9.99. A slightly smaller one (just an inch smaller in each dimension) was reg. $13.99, but on sale for $7.99. You might want to see if 1 of those would work for you, too.

Oh, I also used a paint marker and put a number on the caps of each vial and bottle of flavorings. Made a list of the numbers and flavors. Taped it to the inside of the lid, so when I opened it, and left it up...I can easily see it. Helps a great deal in finding exactly the flavoring I'm needing during mixing.

I use these:

I have six or seven of these, two of them side by side fit perfectly on my shelf. I have four shelves of flavorings and use 10ml plastic bottles for each. I just group flavors together like one stand for tobaccos, one for caramels and butterscotch, one for fruits and so on. Everything is easy to find and accessible.

They are not in a closet but they are not in direct sunlight. But then again I don't have to worry about anyone getting into them who's not supposed to.

 

[scotdc]

I use one syringe for all flavors too. Hubs tobaccos get their own syringe.

I got so tired of cleaning out syringes I switched to plastic (10ml of the harder and clear plastic) dropper bottles. I mix by weight so it's much easier for me to just add the drops I need and put the bottle back on the shelf.

Same with PG, VG and Nic. For those I have 8oz plastic bottles that I can just squeeze what I need into the mixing bottle.

I'm really lazy....

 

[mommabird62]

I don't even rinse. Why introduce water to a recipe unless deliberately? I wipe the outside of the needle off with a clean napkin so I don't get it in the next one then continue. I'm really careful when I measure flavorings and almost never need to eject any from the syringe. My theory is those flavors are in the recipe already, what does it matter if there's a micro drop more or less that was stuck to the plunger?

I will however switch to a different syringe for a different recipe. Some things don't translate well, like menthol in my cream juice or mango in my Danish. And my VG syringe and nic syringe are purists just because I use them constantly and don't want any contamination. When I'm all finished, everybody gets scrubbed under hot tap water.

This is exactly how I do it. And a separate syringe for adding nic to the recipes. Works like a charm for me. I have a container of pg/vg premixed ready to use. I mix the flavors and nic first in a measured beaker. Then I just pour the pg/pg premix in to bring it up to the amount that I am making.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk with my paws

Rachel

 

[Simply Red]

Does no one else spread them out on the floor?

Seriously - I have a large tray, grab my bottles, paper towel, wet washcloth, beakers/syringes/pipettes (all of these are in a plastic container) and get on the floor (carpet) and spread out all my flavors (somewhere north of 180 now) and mix right there. It's much more comfortable for me than standing over the counter.

Lol. I sit at my desk with my feet propped up! All my flavors are sorted into ziplocks by category. About 70 flavors now. Need to place an order...[emoji33]

I do! I gather each flavor and put it with the labeled bottle it's going in to. I have a cup of water to clean out the syringe and the recipes are beside me.

I keep all my "bulk supplies" in this...

Top drawer for extra needles and syringes
2nd drawer for 10 and 15ml bottles
3rd drawer for 30's
4th drawer for 50's and 100's
5th drawer for my 4oz. bulk flavors. (P-touch on the caps and alphabetized.) holds around 30 bottles.

This holds my bottles I draw from when mixing...

The fronts are labeled as are the lids so I know what's where

This holds my PG, VG, nic (120 bottle) and all my "mixing ware"

Grab the tackle box and the file box out of the cool dark closet, a cookie pan with sides in case of spillage, a bowl of water for rinsing and a few paper towels and off to the dining room table I go.

With the number of different mixes I do at a sitting, I use the syringe to blow the excess water out of the needle, wipe and go on to the next recipe. I use my iPad with DIY E-Liquid Calculator Ten Flavors Plus PG/VG Adjusting opened up.

 

[LynnNC]

I keep all my "bulk supplies" in this...

Top drawer for extra needles and syringes
2nd drawer for 10 and 15ml bottles
3rd drawer for 30's
4th drawer for 50's and 100's
5th drawer for my 4oz. bulk flavors. (P-touch on the caps and alphabetized.) holds around 30 bottles.

This holds my bottles I draw from when mixing...

The fronts are labeled as are the lids so I know what's where

This holds my PG, VG, nic (120 bottle) and all my "mixing ware"

Grab the tackle box and the file box out of the cool dark closet, a cookie pan with sides in case of spillage, a bowl of water for rinsing and a few paper towels and off to the dining room table I go.

With the number of different mixes I do at a sitting, I use the syringe to blow the excess water out of the needle, wipe and go on to the next recipe. I use my iPad with DIY E-Liquid Calculator Ten Flavors Plus PG/VG Adjusting opened up.

Great ideas!! Thanks!

 

[kas122461]

About a year ago all my flavors were stored in various plastic containers, and I needed to organize them some how, because I was spending to much time searching for flavors I needed for a recipe. I know my solution is not something everyone can do but I thought I would share my solution anyway. I made 2 of these, the 2nd one was slightly lower than the 1st one but basically the same design.



And loaded up.





I am still using them to this day, I think there are a few added flavors sense this pic, but you get the point. If I get more flavors I will need to make a few more of them, but it was fun to make them.

KAS

 

[Kenna]

About a year ago all my flavors were stored in various plastic containers, and I needed to organize them some how, because I was spending to much time searching for flavors I needed for a recipe. I know my solution is not something everyone can do but I thought I would share my solution anyway. I made 2 of these, the 2nd one was slightly lower than the 1st one but basically the same design.



And loaded up.





I am still using them to this day, I think there are a few added flavors sense this pic, but you get the point. If I get more flavors I will need to make a few more of them, but it was fun to make them.

KAS

I remember seeing these posted awhile back. Excellent!

 

[kas122461]

I remember seeing these posted awhile back. Excellent!

Thanks, people were talking about storage, so it seemed like it was a good time to post them.

KAS

 

[SLM]

Nice work! Those look great!

 

[atroph]

Fawk and I thought I was hard core with my stanley tool box full of mixing supplies.

Also FWIW I usually mix small 15mL batches to find something that is large scale worthy.

Nic is first drawn from 100 mL bottle with 1mL syringe. Plungered in bottle(s) and then rinsed in the sink for a sec or two. I choose nic first to avoid any mishaps.

Then DW (I usually do 10%) and a squirt of VG (about half full of the bottle) to mix with the water.

Cap with finger and a slight shake. This reduces the chance of cloudiness when the flavorings are added IMO.

I tried the needle rinse flavor change method, but have changed my ways due to risk of flavor contamination.

Now I remove the luer needle tip and have just a 1mL syringe bare in hands with no plunger and no needle.

I cap the bottom of the syringe with my thumb. Drop the flavorings in the top until I hit the mark. Cap the top with my other index finger. Remove thumb from bottom. Move syringe over the bottle and release my index from the top and the flavor pours right out. Blow slightly in the top to get most of the flavoring out, and dab the bottom on a paper towel to capture any residual drop. Recap with thumb and drop another flavor in. Worst case you do a rinse between mixes, but IMO a drop or two or an incorrect flavor (unless a major clash like key lime and banana) is no big deal. I can usually mix 5 15mL bottles that will last me a week + in no time at all.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Fawk and I thought I was hard core with my stanley tool box full of mixing supplies.

Also FWIW I usually mix small 15mL batches to find something that is large scale worthy.

Nic is first drawn from 100 mL bottle with 1mL syringe. Plungered in bottle(s) and then rinsed in the sink for a sec or two. I choose nic first to avoid any mishaps.

Then DW (I usually do 10%) and a squirt of VG (about half full of the bottle) to mix with the water.

Cap with finger and a slight shake. This reduces the chance of cloudiness when the flavorings are added IMO.

I tried the needle rinse flavor change method, but have changed my ways due to risk of flavor contamination.

Now I remove the luer needle tip and have just a 1mL syringe bare in hands with no plunger and no needle.

I cap the bottom of the syringe with my thumb. Drop the flavorings in the top until I hit the mark. Cap the top with my other index finger. Remove thumb from bottom. Move syringe over the bottle and release my index from the top and the flavor pours right out. Blow slightly in the top to get most of the flavoring out, and dab the bottom on a paper towel to capture any residual drop. Recap with thumb and drop another flavor in. Worst case you do a rinse between mixes, but IMO a drop or two or an incorrect flavor (unless a major clash like key lime and banana) is no big deal. I can usually mix 5 15mL bottles that will last me a week + in no time at all.

I pretty much do the same with the syringes except I use the luer lock caps to stop the flow of liquid. All of my bottles are capped with luer lock caps and stoppers. That way I can mix right in the bottles that hold the finished product. I have all sizes of syringes from 1ml up to 60 ml that are all the luer lock caps and the caps stoppers (just like the bottom of the syringes they are all the same standard size). The smaller 15ml bottles are still luer lock(same stopper cap) but the cap over all size is smaller to fit the bottle.

 

[LynnNC]

How do you mix up a base that ends up being 50/50 after the addition of nic and flavorings?

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

How do you mix up a base that ends up being 50/50 after the addition of nic and flavorings?

There are a couple of different ways, some of the members above have premixes(keep a mixture of nic, pg, and vg). I just figure that the flavors and nic I use are part of the pg part of the equation. ie. If I have a recipe that calls for 10% flavors, I subtract that amount from the amt of pg I would add. Mixing up a 30 ml bottle= 50/50 pg/vg 12%nic = (15ml) of vg,+ (1.2ml)nic + (3ml) flavors + (10.8ml) of pg. Or If a mix calls for more vg than pg, then I mixed up a bottle of 50/50 pg/vg without the nic and end up with more of a 60/40 vg/pg mix.
So to answer your question, e.g. if you make more ejuices with a 10% of flavors(mostly those would probably be a single flavor or blend of flavors) then mix up a bottle of 60/40 vg/pg/nic . Then when you add flavoring it would bring the mix back to 50/50. Following that logic, if your flavors are less you have the option of adding more pg/vg(your choice) to bring the mix back to 50/50


eta: I went back to re-read thread and realized you were prolly not talking to me but since I already posted I decided to leave it in case it can help new members to diy

 

[Simply Red]

How do you mix up a base that ends up being 50/50 after the addition of nic and flavorings?

Myself, out of the 16+ eliquids I mix and sell (privately as I am NOT a vendor), I mix each bottle individually as folks want different PG/VG ratios and different nic strengths. So, nothing is pre-mixed. All hand crafted from the start. Aside from that, I just don't have the room to store the various "pre-mixed" bases.

 

[atroph]

I do max VG which is about 70/30 or 60/40 VG PG/DW. I don't add any PG as it makes my vapes harsh to me. All the thinning is done with pg flavors and DW. Top the rest off with VG. That's how I do. As long as it is thin enough for a tank is good for me.

Sent from my 0PJA2 using Tapatalk

 

[ShamrockPat]

.... Also, while you prefer the TFA ripe strawberry, I prefer the sweet strawberry flavor from TFA. So, definitely a taste preference issue. I don't think, though, that the TFA strawberry, ripe or otherwise, compares very well with the inawera.

Bill, in your opinion, is it a simple swap to Inawera ..... same percentages as TFA's sweet or ripe?

 

[LynnNC]

There are a couple of different ways, some of the members above have premixes(keep a mixture of nic, pg, and vg). I just figure that the flavors and nic I use are part of the pg part of the equation. ie. If I have a recipe that calls for 10% flavors, I subtract that amount from the amt of pg I would add. Mixing up a 30 ml bottle= 50/50 pg/vg 12%nic = (15ml) of vg,+ (1.2ml)nic + (3ml) flavors + (10.8ml) of pg. Or If a mix calls for more vg than pg, then I mixed up a bottle of 50/50 pg/vg without the nic and end up with more of a 60/40 vg/pg mix.
So to answer your question, e.g. if you make more ejuices with a 10% of flavors(mostly those would probably be a single flavor or blend of flavors) then mix up a bottle of 60/40 vg/pg/nic . Then when you add flavoring it would bring the mix back to 50/50. Following that logic, if your flavors are less you have the option of adding more pg/vg(your choice) to bring the mix back to 50/50


eta: I went back to re-read thread and realized you were prolly not talking to me but since I already posted I decided to leave it in case it can help new members to diy

I just posted a general question that anyone could answer. Thanks for yours!!