The "Let's give Levitas a helping hand" Thread

[Levitas]

Usually, I have been posting my results via the Wizards Labs thread, because everything I have is from their stores, thus far.

I haven't tried all of the flavors I purchased as of yet, though, I am already on the search for more flavorings. And of course, I have some questions. In light of my possible venture unto different sources for flavorings, and other inquiries to advance my knowledge and skill in this hobby, I have created this thread.

1.) Chocolate - I have tried (TFA) Milk Chocolate, and (FA) Chocolate, and both... well, meh. I cannot really taste the chocolate in either. I have tried at lower and higher %'s, and yet, still no chocolate? I taste something peppery, which I can only assume is the nicotine shining through. I want to make a Chocolate (sweet, milk) and Apple (and possibly other fruit) mix. Where can a simple DIYer purchase the absolute best chocolate flavoring? Yes yes, taste is subjective... if you enjoyed these above chocolates, it might be safe to assume that we don't share similar tastes. However, if you have had similar results as myself, what else have you tried? Looking for the cream of the crop. (I should also note: I know the immediate thought to this issue is to add an additional sweetener. Well, I have thought of this as well. However, I do not believe it to be the answer to my problem. Even if it does succeed in making the blend sweeter, if I cannot taste the chocolate, what's the point?)

2.) Vegetable Glycerin & Propylene Glycol - I suppose it's no secret that my all day, every day favorite juice for over a year now has been Alien Vision's Boba's Bounty. I love me some all VG juices, but, it seems I love them primarily from Alien Visions. Other vendor's mixes, and even my own, retain this VG taste that is not necessarily a bad taste, but, it is a taste that I do not wish to share with the flavor I intended the juice to taste like.

How is it that they use all VG in their blends, and yet the flavor comes out wonderfully with no VG by-taste? Is it a different VG of higher quality? Is there a method to this madness?

In light of this, I will be purchasing some PG to mix in small %'s to try and stay the taste of the VG a bit. That is, unless someone has any pointers as to why I am getting this by-taste, and or and remedies for said issue.




I guess that's all I have for the time being. I will post in this thread from time to time with my questions, issues, successes and complaints. I appreciate any information given, so thank you in advance.

 

[James416]

Usually, I have been posting my results via the Wizards Labs thread, because everything I have is from their stores, thus far.

I haven't tried all of the flavors I purchased as of yet, though, I am already on the search for more flavorings. And of course, I have some questions. In light of my possible venture unto different sources for flavorings, and other inquiries to advance my knowledge and skill in this hobby, I have created this thread.

1.) Chocolate - I have tried (TFA) Milk Chocolate, and (FA) Chocolate, and both... well, meh. I cannot really taste the chocolate in either. I have tried at lower and higher %'s, and yet, still no chocolate? I taste something peppery, which I can only assume is the nicotine shining through. I want to make a Chocolate (sweet, milk) and Apple (and possibly other fruit) mix. Where can a simple DIYer purchase the absolute best chocolate flavoring? Yes yes, taste is subjective... if you enjoyed these above chocolates, it might be safe to assume that we don't share similar tastes. However, if you have had similar results as myself, what else have you tried? Looking for the cream of the crop. (I should also note: I know the immediate thought to this issue is to add an additional sweetener. Well, I have thought of this as well. However, I do not believe it to be the answer to my problem. Even if it does succeed in making the blend sweeter, if I cannot taste the chocolate, what's the point?)

2.) Vegetable Glycerin & Propylene Glycol - I suppose it's no secret that my all day, every day favorite juice for over a year now has been Alien Vision's Boba's Bounty. I love me some all VG juices, but, it seems I love them primarily from Alien Visions. Other vendor's mixes, and even my own, retain this VG taste that is not necessarily a bad taste, but, it is a taste that I do not wish to share with the flavor I intended the juice to taste like.

How is it that they use all VG in their blends, and yet the flavor comes out wonderfully with no VG by-taste? Is it a different VG of higher quality? Is there a method to this madness?

In light of this, I will be purchasing some PG to mix in small %'s to try and stay the taste of the VG a bit. That is, unless someone has any pointers as to why I am getting this by-taste, and or and remedies for said issue.




I guess that's all I have for the time being. I will post in this thread from time to time with my questions, issues, successes and complaints. I appreciate any information given, so thank you in advance.

Im wanting to know this as well, i just tried a 50/50 and although i like it i can taste the vg i think, it seems like the same recipe has more flav using 70/30 pg/vg,

 

[Levitas]

No suggestions, anyone?

No one here likes chocolate vapes, or, those who do love the above flavors?

No fellow Ave enthusiasts figure out the VG phenomenon?

 

[pinellaspete]

Chocolate can be a really tough flavor to formulate. (That, equals lack of response.) If you seem to be having trouble you might want to try my recipe. You really do need to add the raspberry flavor. It seems to me that the raspberry is that "something is missing" flavor.

This is for a 5ml mix:

5 drops PA Double Dark Chocolate
5 drops PA Double Clear Chocolate
2 drops PA Raspberry
4 drops Ethyl Maltol
2 drops Concentrated Lemon Juice

If you add 4 drops of PA Creme de Menthe to this mix it tastes just like a York Peppermint Patty.

Good luck!

 

[pinellaspete]

You need to isolate the flavors and make sure it is actually the VG you are tasting. Try vaping some VG plain without anything added to see if you still taste anything. VG by itself should be tasteless. (The same goes for PG and NIC.)

I buy my PG, VG and NIC from RTS Vapes and I can mix my base PG/VG/NIC and when vaped not taste anything.

 

[Levitas]

Thanks for the heads up on the chocolate flavors. I notice you're using a dark chocolate, what does the end result taste like? I am looking for a milk chocolate, if possible. There was one vendor I tried a long while ago, and man, he had an awesome chocolate. Very rich, and milky, heh.

As for the VG flavor. I recognize that it's not a definable flavor. I guess it's hard to describe. But, for the sake of science, I will mix up a batch of flavorless and see if it is indeed the VG, or not.

On that note, however, as previously mentioned, it is not only my mixes that leave that 'taste'. Nearly every vendor's all VG blends have had the same exact taste. One of the exceptions is Alien Visions. I taste none of what I am trying to describe in their juices. I just figured that others would have ran into the same issue, and have come up with a reason as to why this is so. Or, at the very least, some sort of solution.

Back at it, I go.

 

[wizard10000]

Figured I'd wade in

As mentioned earlier chocolate is a difficult flavor to get right. The few times I have messed with it I've had some success using a bit of EM to bring out the flavor and I always use a bit of Bavarian Cream as well - but I haven't put a lot of time or effort into it so I'm not sure I'd listen to me. I will say that a bit of EM can make flavors pop.

On the interesting VG taste - I work in strictly VG except for what little PG is in flavoring and haven't noticed the taste you mention in my own stuff but have noticed that at least Dekang all-VG jooses taste a bit funky. I'd echo pinellaspete's suggestion to drip a drop or two of straight VG and see if you get the same weird taste - if so, it's your glycerin and would suggest switching brands. If not, it's something you're adding *to* the glycerin.

On second thought - I am not a fan of the Humco VG you can get at most drugstores; it's relabeled as a store brand and I think it does taste a little funky. I'm a big fan of NOW glycerin I get at the health food store for about $8 for a 16oz bottle. It's not labeled USP and some people don't care for it but I like it pretty well.

Hope this helps -

 

[BakuPeg]

I have not mastered chocolate. (I've used chocolate fudge brownie from capellas but thats so good an easy its like cheating)
However, peeking into some past threads with a search can yield some wisdom.
It appears the secret is layering the chocolates or adding a secondary flavor that ties them together.
(peppermint/vanilla/raspberry/caramel)

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/263054-help-chocolates.html

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/116751-little-diy-tricks-chocolate.html

Kabonk made a nice recipe months ago.
for you DIYers out there
my chocolate goes something like this and it's pretty darn chocolatey
about 4% Flavor West : Double Dutch
about 2% Flavor West : Chocolate Tobacco Flavor
about 4% FlavourArt : Cocoa
adjust flavor ratios to taste pg/vg ratio and nic levels to preference

Some DIY you can put a single flavor in and make it taste good. Some DIY You'll have to be a mad scientist and mix things together.
I have 100+ flavors on my mixing tray right now and I don't know what to start mixing today.

 

[Levitas]

@ wizard - I do not know what brand this VG is. I purchased it from Wizards Labs. I just vaped good amount of plain ole VG, (which really, isn't all bad, hehe). There is some sort of very mild underlying flavor/feel to it, and though it's not a bad flavor, I still believe it to be there. I do not contribute this to be a lack of quality from WL's VG, not in the least. This is why I figured my solution was to retry PG again, in hopes that a mixture of the both will slightly diminish that slight off-ness I am getting from it.

However, I will continue to be a on the search for the method that Alien Visions uses. I might be crazy, but I still believe they're either using something different in their blends, or, they're using a method, uncommon to myself, that allows their VG to be completely 'Ghost-like'.

@ Baku et al. in regards to Chocolate - I read through those links, and thank you for supplying them. While I am glad to see that it's not only me and apparently chocolate is a tough flavor to tackle, I am determined to get it down myself. In those threads, I read that chocolate needs time to develop (steep, I suppose) so I continue to monitor the present blend I have created. I might also push forward an order to Capella for the Fudge Brownie, as I see it getting relatively good reviews around the forums.

Just about to add a few drops of EM to my current chocolate/apple blend, and giving it the old college try.

 

[Cookster]

Adding a little Vanilla/Sweet Cream to the Chocolate Fudge Brownie makes it more of a milk chocolate. Capellas Hot Cocoa is also more of a milky chocolate. I also love their Double Chocolate, Chocolate Coconut Almond and the Dutch Chocolate Mint. And their Chocolate Toffee is spot on. Really, I personally don't think you can go wrong with Capellas. You can also get smaller sizes to try at HighDesertVapes:

High Desert Age Test

 

[pinellaspete]

You might want to try buying your base liquids from Extreme Vaping. They have what some on these forums consider the best liquids for base mixes. The only drawback is price. They are pretty pricey.

Some of the best known vendors buy their base liquids from them including Want2Vape and Backwoods Brew.

I started out using them and thought their products were really great but just couldn't see spending the extra money. If you are really that concerned about your VG flavor you might want to buy a small bottle of their product to try out.

Here's their link: http://www.xtremevaping.com/

 

[BakuPeg]

I have heard Flavor West Double Chocolate is good. but I haven`t tried it

 

[donnah]

I haven't read the thread though and don't know if this has been suggested.. but I like the chocolate fudge brownie.. cappella. Actually, all of cappella's chocolates are good. But lately, I've been mixing my chocolate and then adding some leftover tasty vapor's tastyfinger. I use it like a "flavor" addition. I too love a good, rich chocolate vape. It's much too rich on it's own. when I run out.. I'm going to get a 4oz "doubler" and a 1oz 48mg nic and mix them to get 5oz of juice. Then I can parcel it out as needed. That much should last me a year.

While it's not 100% diy, adding a little tastyfinger does the trick for me.

 

[Cyrus Vap]

Chocolate

Send me a PM Levitas and I'll send you over some barely used chocolates from vaping zone (assuming I have a post office tomorrow that is, hurricane is coming LOL). I have Milk Chocolate and Hazelnut (which tastes like chocolate IMO) and maybe one more I can't remember.

WRT to VG, I 100% DIY and pretty much only use VG, DW and sometimes PGA. I've found that thinning VG boosts flavor, bar none. This can either be with DW, PG or PGA, though PG/PGbased flavors don't do as much as the other two.

I've only had Boba's once (a 30 ml bottle) and I found the flavor really intense, and my guess at the time was 20-30% flavoring. So perhaps AVE is using way more flavor than you are.

Another thing to consider is your VG. Which are you using?

To date I've used Humco, various unlabeled stuff from vendors, NOW and Proctor and Gamble.

The PnG, followed by the NOW as a close second, I find incredibly pure tasting. And the PnG flows better for some reason, even though its 99.7% pure. You can score PnG from ECX or Foggy's Frog, and NOW locally

EDIT: Raistlin Majere?

 

[Levitas]

Hey Cyrus

Yes, it's Raistlin Majere

As far as the chocolate flavorings: What do they taste like to you? The two I've tried so far smell really good, just like chocolate, however the taste is severely lacking. I am allowing it time to steep, trying it daily (haven't tried it yet today) before making any final assessments. I am looking for something tried and true, and while I know it's all completely subjective, this is the reason why I post my results so that those who have similar results might be able to recommend what worked for them.

Did you like those chocolates from vaping zone? What did, or didn't you like about it? Flavor comparison to say, something in a real world application? Definite no thanks on the hazelnut, however, though I appreciate the offer. I love to eat them, but vaping them... not so much

VG: I do not know for sure what it is, as I got it from Wizards Labs. I do have a bottle of Humco as well from way back when. I recently mixed a bottle of Dragon Fruit @ 15%, and it's an improvement. So, I guess I like more flavoring? Still tweaking with it all. That's the second recommendation I've seen on the NOW vg, so, I might have to check that out, just for fun.

I do not know if cutting with pg will boost the flavor of my mix, however, I do not know if diluting the vg with anything will, or will not, help relieve some of the vg'ish taste I get. More tweaking needed.

Anyways, thanks for the advice and the offer. Let me know what you think of VZ chocolate.

 

[Lastlokean]

I used to think I was allergic to PG, it was causing me bad throat feelings / tightness and coughing.

So i switched to AVE. It was wonderful, except a dry hit with VG is extra bad my opinion. It gets a very unpleasant burning type feel. Which I fear is acrolein or something. It is also thick, and I chain vape and prefer top heating coil clearos.

When I got into DIY I got a bunch of USP grade vg/pg. I found it full of strange tastes, especially HUMCO vg. I found my PG made very thin whispy vapor full of harshness.

I gave up on DIY until I scored 5 gallons of lab grade VG and PG from a friend who works at medtronic (pretty certain this is as expensive and pure as pg/vg comes.) It is what they use for the delivery system in various medical grade inhalers. They don't sell it under normal conditions sadly.

Of this stuff I can vape 100% PG with no problem. It is not the PG I am allergic to, but some contaminate it lower grade PG. The vapor it produces is still 'thinner' than VG vapor. But there is LOTS OF IT and it is SMOOTH. Still I can't do 100% vg without dry hits unless I only take one drag ever 2-3 minutes.

I no longer trust USP grade or Food grade for vaping. I recently got some pure VG and pure PG nic base from wizardlabs, I am not sure of the grade they use, but I have not had issues with them. But I do have 100mg/ml concentration, so the amount of their glycerin I am using is quit minimal by the time I dilute to my 12-24 mg/ml range.

If you are having issues with your PG / VG bases my initial advice has become, try pharmaceutical grade. Not that I think Food / USP grade is unsafe. Just that some are more sensitive to the contaminants than others.

 

[Levitas]

Another question: What do you guys think of Watkin's Flavorings? I've seen a few recipes around with them in it, and they're readily available at WalMart. I know to avoid the ones with oils used, like their all natural extracts. I look on the back of the labels for some of the flavorings and they don't look like they would be hazardous to vape?

Anyways, anyone use any of these?

 

[LucentShadow]

(RE Raistlin: Loved those books!)

I only have 4 chocolates. Here are my impressions of them:

TPA Milk Chocolate - Smells good, tastes of alcohol and a muted, somewhat chocolate-like flavor. I just don't like it.

Capellas Double Chocolate - Pretty good semi-sweet chocolate flavor, but very dark, and not very nice to atomizers.

FA Cocoa - Again, very dark, but stronger than Capellas double chocolate, and a bit less sweet. Pretty close to cocoa powder, IMO.

Tasty Puff Chompy Chocolate - Some of this brand is good, but this one tastes like Count Chocula cereal (including the vitamin taste.)

If I buy another one to try, it'll probably be this one:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/flavor-reviews/251347-tpa-double-chocolate-clear.html

Regarding the VG: Personally, I only find it to taste a bit sweet. It's PG that tastes bad to me, and I guess I'd describe it as 'musty'. I've bought VG from Walmart and MyFreedomSmokes, and have not really noticed a difference. I have no idea what you might do to remedy it.

I do have to agree with Cyrus Vap on the sentiment that thinning the VG seems to help with it's flavor infusion ability. I use somewhere around 10-15% DW in mine, and I use only VG base.

ETA - I tried one Watkins flavor (Caramel,) and it wasn't too bad, but I'm not fond of it, either. I wasn't happy with the ingredient list, but I don't remember why. I think it was caramel coloring.

 

[graffinfected]

ok, i have :

tpa- double choc. clear
tpa milk choc.
lorann choc.

i tried the tpa ones already and its true what everyone is saying.. even though i havent tried the lorann choc. i realized that there isnt really a TRUE chocolate flavor out there unless you buy it pre-mixed and/or you mix it with other flavors to get that "on-point" chocolate taste your looking for, i was told about a month ago that theres a cocoa flavor out there that is really good... but im not sure because i havent tried it.. and im not sure if its the flavorart brand or capella or any of those guys..

i find that mixing chocolate with other flavors to tweak it up a little bit helps alot.. maybe some EM, maybe some brown sugar i dont know.. play around with the flavors.. (trial and error) it works

 

[Levitas]

So, I thought while I was at it tonight, I'd post the findings of one of my mixes.

The mix was originally a French Vanilla/Black Honey tobacco at 10% & 4% respectively. This blend by itself was pretty good, and even better as a couple of days progressed. I might keep it as is. However, just a bit ago, I decided to play mad scientist and added 4 drops of raisin.

This was both a good, and bad thing. Bad because raisin is a powerful flavor. Really, it's beast. It has taken over the front notes of the juice, where as the vanilla was the previous leader. Now, I say it is good too because I believe that if I had only put 1... maybe 2 drops, it could have complemented the whole of the juice quite well.

The raisin is a sweet-ish flavor, though not candy sweet, in my opinion. I have a feeling it's a flavor that a lot of people could hate, or love. Me, I think I would be more inclined to recommend it if I didn't over power the juice. So, now that I have "doctored" this juice beyond its original form, I might add some more to it to make it a plethora of something or another, lol.

Anyways, just posting results of my mixing for reference. Enjoy.

(To note: The Vanilla and Black tobacco make an excellent combo with each other if someone has those two flavors, give it a shot.)