Trying to clone HHV Gandalf

[Sigaro]

I'm very new to DIY and I'm probably asking for trouble trying to clone the elusive Heather's Heavenly Vapes Gandalf, but I'm going to try to get close since it was my solo vape for many months before jumping into to DIY.

To me, Gandalf tastes like graham crackers and pipe tobacco. So that's where my recipes have started. Here's what I've tried:

1% FA - Perique Black
1% FA - Maxx-Blend
12% TFA - Graham Cracker
Base was 18mg 70/30
​

It's good and close, but not quite there. Any tips?

 

[Rlafontaine1971]

I could be wrong but i'm almost positive that HHV uses Hangsen concentrates. I can't recall which one seemed so close to Gandalf (either Turkish or Pipe) but definately got some serious de ja vu a few months back when I first tried the Hangsen flavors. I think perique would be way off.

 

[Levitas]

The only time I tried Gandalf, I also picked up some Oompa. There were elements about both I didn't like, and I couldn't quite figure it out. I loved the smell, but the taste was awful to me.

I think it's got some, but possibly not all of the following flavors:

-Chocolate
-Marshmallow
-Malt
-7 leaves

It may only have one of the above, or more. But, I think I've narrowed it down to one of these flavors, due to my experience with tasting other mixtures that were identical (in that flavor I dislike so much) but were similar to HHV Gandalf and Oompa. Though, I could be completely off in my assessment, and, I have no idea what company these flavors could have derived from.

 

[Mr.Mann]

While all of these are way off (I know some of the actual tobaccos in Gandy, and you'd be HARD pressed to find them), you probably could get close to what it tastes like without using the tobaccos themselves. Also, it may be better, though don't tell anyone I sad so. hahaha! Happy hunting, even if it is in the dark!

 

[Mr.Mann]

I could be wrong but i'm almost positive that HHV uses Hangsen concentrates. I can't recall which one seemed so close to Gandalf (either Turkish or Pipe) but definately got some serious de ja vu a few months back when I first tried the Hangsen flavors. I think perique would be way off.

No Hangsen whatsoever, though flavor profiles can always be close with disparate sources. The cool thing about trying to recreate this juice without access to some of those really exotic tobaccos that they use is that you can shoot for what it feels like and maybe end up getting something closer to what works for the maker.

 

[gthompson]

This is funny. Gandalf is a straight tobacco extract, there are no flavorings. Good luck from me too.

 

[Levitas]

"Haha! Good luck, suckers! I know what's in it, and I'll never tell..."

Thanks, guys. I forgot what it was like to be in High School again.

At any rate, if it is indeed just a straight tobacco, then there is something similar in flavoring with the above said ingredients. It may not be the same, but they taste similar. That I am certain of, thus my reasoning.

 

[gthompson]

Oh, I don't know what's in it, other than some exotic strains of tobacco, and like Mann said above, there's nothing that says you couldn't come close with flavorings. But you aren't going to "clone" it using flavorings.

 

[Mr.Mann]

"Haha! Good luck, suckers! I know what's in it, and I'll never tell..."

Thanks, guys. I forgot what it was like to be in High School again.

At any rate, if it is indeed just a straight tobacco, then there is something similar in flavoring with the above said ingredients. It may not be the same, but they taste similar. That I am certain of, thus my reasoning.

If that is directed at me, you got what I said wrong. What you said, "At any rate, if it is indeed just a straight tobacco, then there is something similar in flavoring with the above said ingredients. It may not be the same, but they taste similar. That I am certain of, thus my reasoning" is, however, just like what I was saying.

 

[echofinder]

Mmmmm just tried that stuff at a meet; keep me posted if you get any closer to replicating it.

 

[glassmanoak]

The website says that Gandalf is an "extracted pipe tobacco". I would assume an extract from a tobacco would necessarily contain nicotine, yet Gandalf is offered in zero nic and 100% VG. It must be extracted in something other than PG.
Wierd!

 

[echofinder]

I thought tobaccos were typically extracted using alcohol...?

 

[glassmanoak]

I thought tobaccos were typically extracted using alcohol...?

Usually but not necessarily, to my knowledge (very limited)

 

[gthompson]

I thought tobaccos were typically extracted using alcohol...?

Not all of them. Gandalf is though.

 

[DizGrizz]

From what I understand, the nic content in flavor extracted from real tobacco is pretty low...and nicotine can be removed. Of course, nicotine extracted from tobacco is another process.

 

[glassmanoak]

Of the scores of tobacco flavorings available commercially, surely a person can find a combination of 2 or 3 of them which they find satisfying without obsessing about cloning one particular companies ejuice. I stopped trying to replicate anything in particular long ago and I am satisfied with finding mixtures of flavors, Tobacco and otherwise, that are satisfying to ME.
Besides discovering the exact formula for any flavoring is almost impossible. Ask Pepsi-Cola

 

[Rlafontaine1971]

Oh, I don't know what's in it, other than some exotic strains of tobacco, and like Mann said above, there's nothing that says you couldn't come close with flavorings. But you aren't going to "clone" it using flavorings.

Exotic strains???

lmao!!!!!

 

[Mr.Mann]

Exotic strains???

lmao!!!!!

What is funny about that?

 

[Mr.Mann]

The website says that Gandalf is an "extracted pipe tobacco". I would assume an extract from a tobacco would necessarily contain nicotine, yet Gandalf is offered in zero nic and 100% VG. It must be extracted in something other than PG.
Wierd!

Extracted tobaccos generally have a negligible amount of nic even at zero. Taken from W2V (who is generally recognized as the gold standard in extracts): "Natural tobacco extracts contain some nictotine {sic} from the extraction process. As a result, our juices that use natural tobacco extracts will contain 1-3mg/ml more than the stated nicotine strength. This is the case with all juice that uses natural tobacco extracts, we're just letting you know about it. That includes the zero nic strength, which in these cases will actually be 1-3mg/ml."

 

[Mr.Mann]

I'm very new to DIY and I'm probably asking for trouble trying to clone the elusive Heather's Heavenly Vapes Gandalf, but I'm going to try to get close since it was my solo vape for many months before jumping into to DIY.

To me, Gandalf tastes like graham crackers and pipe tobacco. So that's where my recipes have started. Here's what I've tried:

1% FA - Perique Black
1% FA - Maxx-Blend
12% TFA - Graham Cracker
Base was 18mg 70/30
​

It's good and close, but not quite there. Any tips?

I would use a base mixture (even if FA) of a Virginia, or just add it to what you have going on so far. You could also toy around with a touch some fruits like peach (I would say cherry, but artificial cherry flavors are horrid) and maybe add a little cocoa and even less of a coffee flavoring. It could get muddy, but I guess those things will happen when trying to recreate.