The Flavor Apprentice Flavoring Thread

[JCinFLA]

Was wondering if this type of PG gives off any unwanted flavor? Have you used any of their PG in your juices?

I'm not b.m., but...I ordered a gallon of both PG and VG from Bulk Apothecary on February 14th this year. BOTH products are absolutely wonderful in color, taste, quality, and price! Their VG is even USP Kosher Grade, which many consider to be the absolute best grade.

If you have any concerns about the quality of their PG, you might want to read some of the reviews posted for it on their website. I only read them as far as the first 2 pages, and decided to buy it. Posts like numbers 3, 5, 8, and 9 on the first page, and then numbers 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, and 10 on the second page...ALL from people using it in eliquids, absolutely convinced me.

I've been using mine in both my own eliquids as well as some for 2 friends. We all love both the VG & the PG. So when BA emailed me about their Mother's Day 16% off sale on their entire website...I ordered 1 more gallon of each. I also posted about the sale on here. Cost me $26.81 for the 2 gallons of PG & VG + $12.59 for S/H, from Ohio to me here in FL. It's supposed to be delivered today!

I'll keep buying it as long as they have it available, which should be forever, since it's used in so many things that BA deals with and sells supplies for.

 

[JCinFLA]

Sorry! Removed this double post. Kept getting a 404 Error on all of ECF very early this AM.

 

[JCinFLA]

(Sorry this is so long, but thought the following was odd, and in the longrun might save people some $$.)

I just discovered something about the PG & VG from BA. I went and looked at the labels on the 2 gallons I have already. They're both Nature's Oil products, even though the pics on the BA website show a BA label on them (hard to see, but obviously different than the green Nature's Oil label). The PG label says 100% Pure Propylene Glycol. The VG label says 100% Pure (USP Grade-Kosher) Vegetable Glycerin.

So, I went to Natures-oil.com to look them up. I noticed at the left bottom of their home page, 2 brands...Nature's Oil and...Bulk Apothecary. Then, looking at the types of products they have...their's looks nearly identical to what BA sells, too. Many same product pics, and descriptions are very similar...sometimes identical. Even the HTML coding used on a lot on both websites is nearly the same in some cases.

I looked up the Nature's Oil brand PG, and the same 1 gallon quantity of it on BA's website with SKU: chem-25 for the regular price of $18.52/gallon...is also the same pic, same pricing table format, and also SKU: chem-25, but is $27.78/gallon on the Nature's Oil website! They have a more detailed, more crafting oriented description of it than BA does, but no Reviews have been posted for it.

What's even more odd though, is the SKU on my BA receipt shows my Nature's Oil PG as SKU: chem-27...which neither website shows for it! Huh?

Curiosity got the better of me, so I also looked up the VG, too, on both websites: Same pic is used with BA label on it, same pricing table format, SKU: chem-31 on BA, with price for a gallon at $13.40. SKU: chem-30 on Nature's Oil, with price for a gallon at $20.10!

I'm thinking they're owned by the same corporation. BA handling/selling to the larger quantity craft related retailers, and Nature's Oil catering specifically to the crafters themselves. But geez...the price differences are pretty large, especially since anyone can buy from BA, not just wholesalers! I'm definitely sticking with BA, and feel sorry for anyone buying the exact same stuff from the Nature's Oil website...for a lot more $$. I hope nobody here has been doing that!

 

[hittman]

I have yet to take the gallon plunge but probably will soon. I've been working out of the same 500ml bottle of vg for six months and still have quite a bit left. I had been working with 36mg nic so wasn't needing as much vg to dilute with but since I'm getting a liter of 100mg then I should probably go ahead and get a gallon of vg at least but I'm not sure on the pg. There are a couple mixes I like at 60/40 to 50/50 but don't know that I need a whole gallon of pg.

 

[englishmick]

A while ago I got some TFA Crème De Menthe flavoring. I settled on 6%, with 2% each of Vanilla (various types), Graham Cracker, Sweet Cream, and sometimes Honey. I just can't seem to come up with a CDM mix I don't love.

My other favorite, for quite a while now, is Banana Nut Bread. I make that with the same secondary flavors, except I don't use Honey.

Those 2 are all I vape regularly any more. For me they don't need any improvement.

I'm still working on Ginger Ale. It feels like I'm close to making it really good but something isn't quite there yet. Can't figure out what it needs. I've tried many times with Earl Grey Tea. I like those 2 but I'm stuck a little bit short of the finish line with them. I got Rhubarb from INW. That's about my favorite food. But I can't make it taste good as a vape. It just tastes harsh, but I'll keep on trying. Love to hear any suggestions, especially for the Ginger Ale.

I did have a minor revelation the other day. I had 3 tanks filled with CDM, BNB, and Ginger Ale. For some reason I started taking a drag on all three one after the other quickly. It made all the flavors come through more clearly. If I did Ginger Ale last of the three it tasted great.

From reading here it seems like some people eventually find a few perfect juices and stick with them. Other people go on using a large variety and keep trying new recipes. I think I'm about to become a boring vaper.

 

[DebiK]

I sent an email to VapersTek asking them if they were going to restock the TH nic. Theor response...

"Good day. Not at this time. But if you are needing some we can special make it for you. The cost will be $50.00 per liter. If you would like to order some, you can just let me know how many liters that you would like to purchase. At that time we can get an invoice for you to pay."

Thank you for checking on this! I have been watching the page to see if it would go back in stock.

 

[JCinFLA]

I got Rhubarb from INW. That's about my favorite food. But I can't make it taste good as a vape. It just tastes harsh, but I'll keep on trying. Love to hear any suggestions, especially for the Ginger Ale.

Have you tried a few drops of TFA Smooth in it? That's worked great getting rid of some harshness in a couple of my liquids I've made.

 

[hittman]

A while ago I got some TFA Crème De Menthe flavoring. I settled on 6%, with 2% each of Vanilla (various types), Graham Cracker, Sweet Cream, and sometimes Honey. I just can't seem to come up with a CDM mix I don't love.

My other favorite, for quite a while now, is Banana Nut Bread. I make that with the same secondary flavors, except I don't use Honey.

Those 2 are all I vape regularly any more. For me they don't need any improvement.

I'm still working on Ginger Ale. It feels like I'm close to making it really good but something isn't quite there yet. Can't figure out what it needs. I've tried many times with Earl Grey Tea. I like those 2 but I'm stuck a little bit short of the finish line with them. I got Rhubarb from INW. That's about my favorite food. But I can't make it taste good as a vape. It just tastes harsh, but I'll keep on trying. Love to hear any suggestions, especially for the Ginger Ale.

I did have a minor revelation the other day. I had 3 tanks filled with CDM, BNB, and Ginger Ale. For some reason I started taking a drag on all three one after the other quickly. It made all the flavors come through more clearly. If I did Ginger Ale last of the three it tasted great.

From reading here it seems like some people eventually find a few perfect juices and stick with them. Other people go on using a large variety and keep trying new recipes. I think I'm about to become a boring vaper.

I'm a boring vaper too. I've been with the same three recipes for months now. I would be interested in seeing your BNB recipe. I briefly tried it and didn't come up with an immediate winner.

 

[b.m.]

I'm a boring vaper too. I've been with the same three recipes for months now.

Pretty much the same here.I'll find usually 2,sometimes 3 that i really like,and i will vape them for months and months until i get to the point that i can't bring myself to take even one more draw of that flavor then i'll move on to new ones haha.Currently i have 1 juice that has been my adv for at least 4 months now,i've gone through probably 1000ml of it,and i am just starting to get those signs that here very soon,i won't be able to even think about vaping any more of it,but for now,i'm happy to be a boring vaper with my 1 juice haha.

 

[IDJoel]

All TPA
7% peanut butter (dx)
7% RY4 dbl
3.5% cotton candy (or sweet flavor)
1% AP

Thanks Craig! Added to my recipe box.

 

[Steelgirl]

Here is a link to the Dr Siegel interview yesterday. Very informative.

I learned so much. Thanks for posting this interview !

 

[IDJoel]

I don't know if this is "old" news to everyone else but I hadn't heard it before. And, since it is pertinent to several of TPA/TFA's DX and diacetyl-free flavoring offerings, I thought I would share it here.
According to the linked article below; the compound "Butyric Acid" that TFA (and other flavor mfg. ?) have begun using to get those custard-y, buttery notes that were previously created by using various forms of diketones such as diacetyl, acetion, acetyl propionyl, etc. can actually be causing more harm if it is mixed with other flavors that do contain diketones.
I have been trying to switch over to the diacetyl free alternatives when able to; as I figured I was eliminating one possible harmful component. But I haven't been absolute about it, as taste or availability dictates, and would willingly use those flavors that did contain diacetyl, or similar, when it suited my particular recipe. Reasoning that it still couldn't be as bad as analog cigarettes (and I still feel that way). But I personally am going to re-think using both butyric acid-containing flavors in the same recipe as diacetyl-containing flavors.
I understand that each of us has a different opinion of what we do and don't want in our e-juice. So read and decide for yourself.

GC/MS Critical Info: Butyric Acid Modulates Diketone Toxicity

https://www.nudenicotine.com/gcms-critical-info-butyric-acid-modulates-diketone-toxicity/

 

[englishmick]

Have you tried a few drops of TFA Smooth in it? That's worked great getting rid of some harshness in a couple of my liquids I've made.

Cool. I added approx 2% Smooth to my bottle of Rhubarb, plus a little more Sweet Cream. It still has the rhubarb taste but it's a lot less aggressive. Quite pleasant actually. I got a bottle of Smooth a while ago because it saw it in a lot of recipes, but never used it. What is Smooth? How does it have that effect?

I also mixed a little in a tank with around equal parts banana nut bread. That was quite good.

I'll go on experimenting. I might try reducing the %, and mixing it with other flavors.

 

[Capt.shay]

Yes, I also would like to know just what Smooth is?

 

[Uncletattoowhat]

From TFA website Perfumers Apprentice - Smooth Flavor

Smooth Flavor
Water Soluble.

A flavor smoothener that is useful to use in concert with other flavors- "Smooth" will round out any harsh edges and provide a thick, satisfying mouthfeel. It will soften the high notes of your blend while boosting your background notes.

*** Note: Some, but not all customers report that the smell has a fruity aspect.

Ingredients: Artificial flavor, Propylene Glycol, Triacetin.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

nm

 

[hittman]

I haven't done any long term nic storage before and was wondering if it's necessary to wash the glass bottles I got from specialty bottle before filling them?

 

[kas122461]

I haven't done any long term nic storage before and was wondering if it's necessary to wash the glass bottles I got from specialty bottle before filling them?

It was a bit of a pain for me because I bought a bunch of them, but I did it any way. I just rinsed them out with hot tap water, someone recommended boiling them, but boiling 100 bottles is a bit to difficult.

KAS

 

[Simply Red]

I haven't done any long term nic storage before and was wondering if it's necessary to wash the glass bottles I got from specialty bottle before filling them?

Imo, yes. I go with the theory, "Would you buy a set of glasses from "X" store, bring them home, take them out of their packaging and pour a glass of sweet tea without washing them first?" If it doesn't say "sterile" on the packaging, I would. Again, just my opinion.

 

[baseballmom]

I'd wash them in so a p and hot water, rinse well, Air dry