I've been using PG that I purchase at Tractor Supply. I'm not mooing or have had any other problems with it so I'll continue to use it. 
The Flavor Apprentice Flavoring Thread
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It's good to start learning DIY now, and you'll definitely thank yourself later! By the way, when you ordered your flavorings...did you just pick some that were flavors you know you like that are fruits, desserts, etc? Or did you find some recipes you liked and order the flavorings for those accordingly?
If you did the 1st of those 2, you'll want to be sure you have ordered some flavorings that are primary or main ones, some secondary ones, and then some of the accents, too, to make a recipe. Quite a few newbies to DIY...post here after buying some flavorings that sounded good to them, asking, "OK, I've got my flavorings. What can I make with them?" Many times they can't make hardly any mixes, because they don't have the types of flavorings it takes.
If you need more help though, there are many DIYers here who will gladly answer your questions, lead you to things to read about DIY, etc. Just don't give up on learning DIY!
I got an email from Chemnic already. They are going to issue a refund as soon as the payment settles tonight. I like what I am seeing from them so far. Not only more than willing to help but responded very quickly.
I got a pretty good variety. Primarily running towards vanillas / custards, since that's my thing, but I also included some fruit flavors, some coffee, floral, etc. I expect most of my liquids will consist of creamy / custardy type flavors, but I want to play around with different accents, as it were. At any rate, I'll have a pretty good variety of stuff to work with. I'll be keeping records of what seems to work and what doesn't.
So, question: mix by volume, or by weight? With the initial equipment, I'll only be set up to mix by volume, but I'm willing to pick up a scale of mixing by weight if it's a better route. I'm gonna try to stay away from mixing by drop, since that seems a rather inconsistent means of measurement.
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I got that deal from Essential depot a few years ago,not sure what it runs now,but i got the gallon of each shipped for $59,and i thought it was a pretty good deal.However,a few months ago,Bulk apothacary ran a deal that got me a gallon of each for $36 shipped,so i would check both places and see which you can find the better deal at.
As for storage,a cool dark place seems to be the consenus on how to store the pg/vg.The jugs will have a date on them,roughly 2 years from when you get it,some think that is an expiration date,it is not,it is simply a retest date for the manufacturer,if they still have it on that date,they retest it and add another 2 years to it.
Update on my earlier post about the Nude Armor (V2) from Nude Nicotine, and some other tips I was given about long-term Nic storage:
Just had a 48 minute phone conversation that 100% confirmed that the vaccuum process & use of the septa on the above...DOES indeed do exactly as written on their website! There is never a need for injecting air into the bottle, in order to withdraw any of the Nic Base from it. This has been tested extensively even on thick, 100% VG Nic Base, for containers up to and including the 500mL size, which is the biggest size it will work on...without possible cracking stress on the bottle.
I also discussed with him some of the conflicting info about which types of bottles to use, where/how to store them, etc. for long-term nic storage. Here's a few more tips he shared with me:
Storage in deep freezer is the best -
1. Preferrably not in a self-defrosting freezer though, as the fluctuation in temps during that process is less than ideal.
2. If it's in a chest freezer - Store it at or near the bottom of the freezer, closest to the source of where the cold temp. is generated.
3. If it's an upright freezer - Store it as far back in the freezer as possible, so it's not exposed to as much air each time the door is opened. Again, as close to the cold source as possible.
4. Storage in glass bottles is ideal - Either colored (Amber, Cobalt Blue, etc.) or Clear will work. The colored ones don't need to be in a box or other container in the freezer. If you use Clear ones...keep them in a box, black or other dark colored plastic bag, etc. to keep light out.
Leave enough head space that Nic Base can be shaken/mixed thoroughly, before removing some to use.
If only fridge-freezer space is available - Follow as close as possible the above there, too, in the freezer section. By all means, do not put it in the door shelves where it would be exposed to constant warm air every time someone opens the door. Back, bottom of the freezer with other frozen items surrounding it is best.
He also said there doesn't need to be a panic to buy and store nic now in his opinion. It should be available for up to about 24 months from now. Also said his company has no intentions whatsoever...of raising their prices on their nic to "gouge" people trying to prepare for the future.
I hope some of the above is at least alittle helpful.
Just had a 48 minute phone conversation that 100% confirmed that the vaccuum process & use of the septa on the above...DOES indeed do exactly as written on their website! There is never a need for injecting air into the bottle, in order to withdraw any of the Nic Base from it. This has been tested extensively even on thick, 100% VG Nic Base, for containers up to and including the 500mL size, which is the biggest size it will work on...without possible cracking stress on the bottle.
I also discussed with him some of the conflicting info about which types of bottles to use, where/how to store them, etc. for long-term nic storage. Here's a few more tips he shared with me:
Storage in deep freezer is the best -
1. Preferrably not in a self-defrosting freezer though, as the fluctuation in temps during that process is less than ideal.
2. If it's in a chest freezer - Store it at or near the bottom of the freezer, closest to the source of where the cold temp. is generated.
3. If it's an upright freezer - Store it as far back in the freezer as possible, so it's not exposed to as much air each time the door is opened. Again, as close to the cold source as possible.
4. Storage in glass bottles is ideal - Either colored (Amber, Cobalt Blue, etc.) or Clear will work. The colored ones don't need to be in a box or other container in the freezer. If you use Clear ones...keep them in a box, black or other dark colored plastic bag, etc. to keep light out.
Leave enough head space that Nic Base can be shaken/mixed thoroughly, before removing some to use.
If only fridge-freezer space is available - Follow as close as possible the above there, too, in the freezer section. By all means, do not put it in the door shelves where it would be exposed to constant warm air every time someone opens the door. Back, bottom of the freezer with other frozen items surrounding it is best.
He also said there doesn't need to be a panic to buy and store nic now in his opinion. It should be available for up to about 24 months from now. Also said his company has no intentions whatsoever...of raising their prices on their nic to "gouge" people trying to prepare for the future.
I hope some of the above is at least alittle helpful.
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Sounds like you got some of the primary flavorings, but you'll also need secondary ones, and some of the additives or accents. By secondary ones (or I like to think of them as "blenders")...they're usually ones like Sweet Cream, Bavarian Cream, Vanilla Swirl, Marshmallow, Whipped Cream, etc. It's pretty hard to make an eliquid of more than 1 flavoring, if you don't have at least some of those. Also, you won't have something to give sweetness, or tartness, or something to cut the possible harshness of some flavorings without some of the Accents or Additives. Those might include some...Sweetener, Cotton Candy, Smooth, Koolada, Menthol, etc.
Best idea for you to be able to understand and see why those things are necessary...would be to go look at a good number of recipes. (Can find a bunch right here on the ECF in the DIY Recipes section). You'll notice that many, if not all, take at least some of what I've mentioned above. You can go from there then, to decide which you might want to add to your order, or still get on another order, if it's too late to add them.
About mixing by weight or volume - There are good points for each method. It's really just a personal choice for each person. I personally use only the volume method, and mix right into my 50mL or 125mL bottles using syringes. But there are also people who only mix by weight using beakers and/or graduated cylinders and a scale. Just do alittle reading on both methods and see which you'd like better.
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Good advice. I've perused some recipes, and I should have what I need. I made sure to get some of the Bavarian cream, milk, and marshmallow flavors, since those seem to be great for balancing. Also threw in some sweetener if needed. I made sure to get plenty of options, since I'll most likely be trying a lot of different things.
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@Frocket - Glad you did the above! Most new to DIY don't. You should have fun playing with your "stuff" when it comes then. It's a real satisfying feeling when you make some eliquid yourself...and it's not just vapable, but many times really GOOD! And the more you do it, the more you'll learn about how to "tweak" it...that'll make it even better, too. 
Personally I really do not know a actual life expectancy, but on a positive not e I would say years, especially if away from light.
Keep the open container you are using in the fridge!
Hi JC
Thanks for sharing your conversation. It confirmed much of what I have read. Did you happen to discuss "realistic" shelf life? Every time I have purchased nicotine I have received a Handling & Storage sheet that says if stored as you described (in the freezer) it is viable for 18-24 months. (My last order from Wizard states: "Nicotine solutions may be safely used for up to 18 months with proper storage.")
All the chatter right now about "stockpiling" "years" of nic/flavor/base has got me wondering if that is really a good idea. I know nic will start to discolor and start to get peppery and begin to loose potency but remain usable. But did NN offer any idea at what rate it will actually degrade (ie. "@ two years the potency is XX%, @3 years it YY%, @ ZZ years it is unusable)? I do understand much of that is also dependent on what and how controlled the environment is/remains. Also, did they say anything about the nicotine settling out of solution during long-term storage?
I have read of DIYers saying they have product in excess of 6 years old. But just because they do; doesn't necessarily mean I should. It would be kind of nice to hear what a professional chemist thinks about it.
Hi b.m.,
Do you know what they are testing for? Is contamination, or does PG and/or VG break down over time? (Presuming proper storage)
I'm not positive exactly what they test for,i'm guessing contamination,such as water being drawn in would be a big one,as well as whatever the chemical properties are supposed to be.The only reason i even know it's a retest date is from reading it on a vg manufacturers website a while back,but it didn't specify what they were testing for.
As far as breaking down,i have never heard of it happening,i have heard it can oxidize just like nicotine will,but i am still working out of my jugs of pg and vg that i got 2 years ago,and they are just the same as when i got them.I haven't taken any special precautions in storing them,i have them in a cabinet,so they are in the dark most of the time,but by no means a really cool place,as the cabinet is in 80+ degree weather during the summer.
Here is a link to a chemist that members here at ecf have relied on for years. Classwife just made this a stickly also at the top of the DIY thread.
Long Term Nic Storage
That is a post that every person who plans any amount of nic storage should read.The fact that he has had some in storage for close to 7 years with no noticeable difference definitely shows alot of hope for deep long term storage.Here is a link to a chemist that members here at ecf have relied on for years. Classwife just made this a stickly also at the top of the DIY thread.
Long Term Nic Storage
It sure gives me hope for long term storage. I'm going to break mine down into smaller bottles and freeze it.
I still can't figure out how to extract the Dropbox recipes.
Any luck with this?
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