The Science of Steeping

[jambi]

So, I shake it, let it breathe, shake it some more, let it sit for days or weeks, shake it some more, then shake it some more.

I understand all the mechanics. I understand that it gets better, some flavors a little better, others a LOT. I see the color changes, etc. Some liquid I make is unvapeable at first, then eventually turns out nice.

But I actually have no idea what is happening in the bottle. I only know how to shake the damn thing. What's the science behind steeping? Molecules bonding and such? Somebody explain, please!

 

[RonJS]

Steeping is a process in which a solid is soaked in a fluid to transfer the flavors from that solid to the liquid.

Is that what you do?

Aging is the proper term, as in aging wine.

It seem the reason "steeping" seems to be the word for letting juice ( liquid) become better over time is due to the actual origins of making e-liquid, real tobacco would be soaked ( steeped) in VG,PG, PGA or a combination of those. Once the tobacco is removed from the liquid, it then ages.

 

[FACE MEAT]

It seems to me certain flavorings react with the nicotine, as indicated by a change in color and flavor. Others don't change color but change flavor. Others do the opposite.

If Dr. Kurt happens upon this thread, I'm sure he'll explain what's actually going on.

 

[Rabbit Slayer]

Steeping is a process in which a solid is soaked in a fluid to transfer the flavors from that solid to the liquid.

Is that what you do?

Aging is the proper term, as in aging wine.

but you can heat your juice and magically age it in 2 hours....so how is "aging" any better than steeping

 

[RonJS]

but you can heat your juice and magically age it in 2 hours....so how is "aging" any better than steeping

"aging" is better than steeping? Says who?

I know little about the magic you mention. I wonder if one can heat wine and that same aging magic will occur?

 

[Whitaker2472]

Its actually harmonization or some word like that.

 

[PilotNY]

Just keep in mind that heating (to age) and steeping (to age) are 2 different animals. Take your nicotine for example. 3 things can degrade nicotine:
1) Light (why we store it in amber bottles)
2) Heat (why we store it in a cool cabinet)
3) Air (why we keep the top on the nic bottle)(and some nic mfg's seal the bottle)
So if those things can degrade, or make the nic a little more harsh, then why would you purposefully do that, unless that is what you are looking for? There is no replacement or shortcut for aging a liquid.
So I am not saying I don't ever use heat a little, but I never substitute 1 for the other. Just my humble opinion!

 

[Whitaker2472]

I used heat couple times in UC and I think ot made juice taste off. So don't do anymore

 

[aceman3330]

This is what happened as time went by, exactly same ingredients. One on the left is about 3-4 months on the right is about 2 months. Oh, and when I first got it, the color is even lighter. Both are pg/vg 40/60 with 4 mg Nic. Almond Custard flavor.

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[jambi]

So...

1) What we're doing is more accurately called "aging".
Ok, so let's call it that.
2) Heat, light and air degrade nicotine.
When I use nicotine, I mix at very low nic levels (3 or less, using 48 mg VG based nicotine solution), so I notice very little if any "degradation" in my mixes. I aim for just enough nicotine to give that little "bump" for the flavors to ride upon. If I can taste the nic over or competing with the flavors, it's too much for me. When I was vaping 12mg premixed some of the cheaper stuff I got had very pronounced "degradation, where it would change from light amber to an almost bloody reddish brown. By that point it was way too harsh and horrible tasting to vape, even if diluted with 0 nic of the same flavor. That nasty "degraded nicotine" taste just broke right through the flavors and dominated. I'd add that all this happened in sealed bottles stored in a cool dark place.

Anyway, I always referred to that as oxidation, due to the color change, but I've noticed that some of my 0 nic mixes darken too. It's obviously not the VG/PG, which means it's the flavoring changing color.

I guess my biggest question is, in a 0 nic mix, why does the flavor change, or more specifically, why does it become better? If I was mixing lemonade for example, a little shaking and stirring would get it to its best state flavor wise. From there, the aging process would degrade the flavor. So why is it the opposite with eliquid. Is it like, the flavoring needs time to propagate fully into the VG/PG? Seems that way. Unaged liquid fresh off the scale tends to have a chemical bite. I suspect there's some sort of "degassification" going on where those unwanted chemical elements either evaporate or are diluted into the carriers. How does it all work??

Cripes, now I've got visions of little flavor molecules floating around, reaching out, embracing...bonding with each other while a clock spins in the background. I really should have paid more attention in Chemistry class!

 

[Hans Wermhat]

When you mix ingredients to make juice you are mixing a bunch of things with different properties. VG, PG, Nicotine, flavorings, sometimes ethyl alcohol... You can shake them till your arm falls of and it will evenly distribute the ingredients in the solution, but only time will let them bend together into the final product. The individual molecules need time to bond and no amount of shaking will make that happen.

 

[jambi]

The individual molecules need time to bond...

That makes perfect sense.

 

[Jdurand]

I have speed steeped and slow aged juices. I don't know the scientific differences, but aging produces better results for me. I fell into the heat and UC steeping methods for awhile. I just don't do it anymore as the juice is better with time aging only.

 

[vlodato]

So, I shake it, let it breathe, shake it some more, let it sit for days or weeks, shake it some more, then shake it some more.

I understand all the mechanics. I understand that it gets better, some flavors a little better, others a LOT. I see the color changes, etc. Some liquid I make is unvapeable at first, then eventually turns out nice.

But I actually have no idea what is happening in the bottle. I only know how to shake the damn thing. What's the science behind steeping? Molecules bonding and such? Somebody explain, please!

Personally I generally mix juice to taste good without steeping. I just don't have the time to wait like that. I find my juice tastes different when I make the batches to big as well.

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[dannyv45]

You cook sauce and it is flavorful but after a few days it gets even more flavorful. Same holds true with e-juice. Heat speeds up the molecular bonding of all elements then time matures the mix. The elements will bond over time but this can take a lot longer then heat. Pretty simple

BUT

Speeding up bonding with heat may be good for some flavorings but not for all. After all you don't heat the ingredients to make ice cream.

Most flavorings are synthetic so after bonding they will mature to a constant state and stop but should not deteriorate over time due to spoilage. Some tobacco and natural flavoring will deteriorate over time so it's important to know the composition of the flavoring your working with.