Total Flavor %

[jblack741]

I think I already know the answer to this but just raising the question anyway for opinions.

Most of the apps and recipes are base on an overall 20% flavoring for the entire mix. Yet I have noticed that regardless of the flavorings I use, when I mix them up they smell great and taste good but admittedly on the mild side in terms of flavor. Should I just continue to follow the 20% rule as general guideline or use it as a base line and build from there?

Your thoughts and wisdom is being requested! Cheers!

 

[CastleRat]

I use concentrated flavors at 1.5% to 2% for most flavors. The mix has to age/steep to develop the full flavor. Most take a week or more. My mango was really week until after full month when it was rich and good. You just have to keep checking ( a few flavors are ready right away).

 

[dannyv45]

The amount of flavoring is not a set rule it's a matter of personal taste. The amount you use is up to your taste buds. Over flavoring can cause taste to be off or non existant just like under flavoring so it's best to start low and work up. Steeping, NIC, Base concentration and ratio all play a big part in the whole process.

 

[Hoosier]

I think you are confusing a default value in a field for a rule or suggestion.
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[DingerCPA]

jblack, I'm pretty new to DIY, but in my short-lived experience, different flavor bases may not hold hard and fast to the "20% rule" Some of my LA flavors, I can get by with 10% or less; CAP flavors, maybe 10-15% This is total flavor volume, even if I'm working with multiple flavors.

I'm experimenting - I'll start low (making note of how much), and if I need to increase, I'll just do that for the next time. I'd rather have a light/mild flavor and have to add a touch more than to have an overwhelming killer. Although, adding more vs. diluting is kinda one in the same, eh?

It's all going to be what *you* like. You might like 20%, but for the exact same juice, I'm happy with 10%. Just the beauty of DIY - it's 100% customizable for YOU, not a standard formula that has to work for hundreds or thousands of people....

Don't know if that helped, but my

 

[DetraMental]

Some of my combined percentages are 20% but I've had them go up to 30% or more depending on how many flavors I'm using. I don't care to age my juices, lol, so I make em kinda strong and vape them pretty quickly. I do make sure they are mixed really really well though, that's the key for me. Once I get my flavors in the bottle, something I do first, I shake them vigorously to ensure they are mixed well. After that I add my base and nicotine and shake, shake, shake and do this for the first few days. This method works for me but as previously posted it's all about what you like and what works for you. Good Luck, happy mixing, and happy vaping!!

 

[jblack741]

I think you are confusing a default value in a field for a rule or suggestion.
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No confusion Hoosier, most mixing programs that are available to date have a stated flavor = 20% or < of the mix. When I mix within this limitation as stated originally, most of my recipes smell great and vape great in terms of vapor output but in many cases the flavor profile is muted. Like most here that DIY we add extra flavor to enhance this profile or add extra flavor shots. I guess my consensus is that this 20% window or limit should be disregarded or simply used as a baseline marker when doing an initial workup of a mix.

 

[Hoosier]

No confusion Hoosier, most mixing programs that are available to date have a stated flavor = 20% or < of the mix. When I mix within this limitation as stated originally, most of my recipes smell great and vape great in terms of vapor output but in many cases the flavor profile is muted. Like most here that DIY we add extra flavor to enhance this profile or add extra flavor shots. I guess my consensus is that this 20% window or limit should be disregarded or simply used as a baseline marker when doing an initial workup of a mix.

Yes, confusion. There is, and has never been any rule of 20%. I've been doing this for years and it is common for juice calculators to have a default value of 20% in the flavoring and it's as meaningless today as it was in 2010. It's just a default value that is easy to see, and calculate in the head, for a quick check because putting 0% in the field would cause errors.

The issues you describe are pretty classical over flavoring. Probably because you are adhering to a default value that comes in an input field in a calculator that you believe is some kind of suggestion or rule.

Look below my avatar and click that "3" just to the right of Blog Entries: Then click the one on Flavoring Levels. Look down the list and find Smells great but muted flavor.

My recipes range from 0.35% to 35% because I found the level that worked for strong flavor. Many new mixers are under the mistaken impression that more flavoring is more flavor, that's a shame. Maybe we need to start a movement for calculators to come with 0.0001% as a default in the flavoring % field?

 

[jblack741]

Point taken, thank you.

 

[Soignee]

I've been using this calculator http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/480587-new-calculator-try.html. You can input a default flavoring % when you set up the ingredient initially (and later change it as well). I will find the lowest flavoring % through the vendor and various flavoring threads and use that low value as my starting point until I find a comfortable % for me.

There is a bit of up front data entry, but I enjoy that stuff and I don't have to input new flavor percentages into new recipes once I have my comfort %.

 

[zoiDman]

Point taken, thank you.

Yeah... There Can't really be a Rule for Total Flavoring % when there is No Standard Concentration for Flavorings. It Varies from OEM to OEM. And even from Type of Flavor for a given OEM.

One can use Rule-of-Thumb Guidelines for Each OEM's Flavor Class. ie: FlavorArt Fruit Flavors may work well in the 5 ~ 15% Range for Many People.

But Using 15% Flavoring for a TFA Tobacco will be Disastrous for Most People.

 

[Nuggit]

E liquid recipe manager lets me put in 0 when "creating my palate" for a recipe. Then change it when I can look at it all and balance it out. Got a slider for pg/vg ratio. Love it.