Vaping Zone Concentrated DIY Flavors

[HeadInClouds]

Trying to develop some all-VG recipes, I finally tried VZ. I started at 1% and worked up/down to my preferred strength.

Mint Gum SC: Not a fan of this. I would have been happy with spearmint, peppermint, wintergreen, or any combo, but this one doesn't taste minty to me. I could be convinced it's a juicy-fruit gum flavor. Don't know what to mix it with, so it's gonna sit a while.

Lemon SC: I think it tastes a little like a cleaning product. It works well as lemon in my tea vapes, but I don't like it alone.

Blackberry SC: After a horrible experience with FlavourArt blackberry, and with so many great reviews I saw, I had high hopes. It is a vast improvement, but it tastes to me like blackberries rolled in garden soil. There's a very earthy note at the end of the exhale that I'm having a hard time covering up. Bummer.

All of the alcohol-based super-concentrates I tried were a bit disappointing in flavor and strength. I needed 2-4% on all of them, and there are many other manufactures' flavorings I use at less than that. BUT I did get one hit:

Vanilla Sponge Cake gourmet-SC: At 0.5%, I like this a lot. I like it plain, but I'm always looking for new combinations. So I tried a little lemon, but didn't knock my socks off. Blackberry wrecked it. But it's VERY good with some TFA Eggnog! I'll get good use from Vanilla Sponge Cake, and at 0.5%, this little bottle will be a lifetime supply. I'm really happy getting such strong flavor from such a tiny amount, and this one hits my sweet tooth just right. But it is a PG flavoring, which defeats my original goal.

So I'm still on a quest for a zero-PG vape. VZ cost me $31 to try 4 flavors, and I could try a heap of Nature's Flavors (alcohol-based organics) samples for that.

Before I write off VZ's non-PG flavorings, are Caramel Mocha or Cocoa Chocolate worth trying, given that I like TFA's Caramel Cappuccino and FA's Cocoa and Chocolate flavors? I wish VZ's peppermint wasn't menthol; I would love a non-PG peppermint. Is Fresh Breath a non-menthol mint?

 

[mourningshadow]

VZ's Fresh Breath is menthol so skip it. Personally my favorite mint recipe uses a combination of TFA's Spearmint (2%) and FA's Spearmint (5%) with a little vanilla something or other.

VZ's Caramel Mocha is fantastic in my opinion and if you like TFA's caramel cap I think you will like this one a lot. The Cocoa chocolate is not great in my opinion but the Gourmet Chocolate Truffle is fantastic, it's a lot like the sponge cake in that a little goes a long way and it actually tricks my brain into thinking I am eating chocolate. I mix it with a little bit of strong orange and it is really good.

 

[HeadInClouds]

Thank you, mourningshadow! You saved me adding yet another to my misnamed "mint" flavor rejects collection.
I'll take your advice and put Caramel Mocha and Truffle on my shopping list. thanks again.

 

[~Sue~Feb2012]

HeadInClouds, did you say you're trying for a zero PG e-liquid? The gourmet line are PG-based right? maybe I'm thinking of something else, (I didn't get any of those yet for that reason though.)

Edit: do you let the alcohol based ones evaporate off, or vaping right away? aging them or steeping at all? just curious, thanks

 

[HeadInClouds]

HeadInClouds, did you say you're trying for a zero PG e-liquid? The gourmet line are PG-based right? maybe I'm thinking of something else, (I didn't get any of those yet for that reason though.)
Edit: do you let the alcohol based ones evaporate off, or vaping right away? aging them or steeping at all? just curious, thanks

Yep, I'm aiming for no PG, and this 'gourmet' line is indeed PG-based. I'm not having luck finding VG flavors I like. I'm using 'gourmet' Vanilla Spongecake at one-quarter-percent now, still has good flavor. Admittedly not PG-free, but that IS very low. A couple more I like much could tide me over until I find non-PG flavorings I like. I can tolerate Nature's Flavors Kona Cream and their Honeydew, but I've been disappointed in all other non-PG flavorings I've tried so far.

I always vape right after mixing, set it aside if it's not good. I've let the alcohol-based mixes sit for a week, so they've aged/steeped. At such low percentages, there's not much alcohol to evaporate. But nope, no change in flavor. I'm not surprised they haven't changed. I rarely notice a big flavor change from aging any liquid, tobaccos and some spices excepted.

I have hundreds of pg-based flavors, and I'm still using them - but at 1-2%. I've easily adapted to light flavoring. In fact I may give up on flavorings entirely. I was surprised to discover plain VG with nic is fairly satisfying. But if I could find a non-pg, non-oil-based peppermint flavor, I'd sure be happy.

 

[~Sue~Feb2012]

Cool. I'll have to try some of the gourmet line on my next order as I see there's some new ones in the alcohol line as well. I can tolerate a drop or 2 of PG-based flavor in a 5 ml bottle of my nic base, so I'll give them a whirl

 

[Cloudlife]

Good review!

 

[Shilo]

Yep, I'm aiming for no PG, and this 'gourmet' line is indeed PG-based. I'm not having luck finding VG flavors I like. I'm using 'gourmet' Vanilla Spongecake at one-quarter-percent now, still has good flavor. Admittedly not PG-free, but that IS very low. A couple more I like much could tide me over until I find non-PG flavorings I like. I can tolerate Nature's Flavors Kona Cream and their Honeydew, but I've been disappointed in all other non-PG flavorings I've tried so far.

I always vape right after mixing, set it aside if it's not good. I've let the alcohol-based mixes sit for a week, so they've aged/steeped. At such low percentages, there's not much alcohol to evaporate. But nope, no change in flavor. I'm not surprised they haven't changed. I rarely notice a big flavor change from aging any liquid, tobaccos and some spices excepted.

I have hundreds of pg-based flavors, and I'm still using them - but at 1-2%. I've easily adapted to light flavoring. In fact I may give up on flavorings entirely. I was surprised to discover plain VG with nic is fairly satisfying. But if I could find a non-pg, non-oil-based peppermint flavor, I'd sure be happy.

That's the percentage I vape Vanilla Spogecake at myself---its very powerful stuff but I still love it. Its great to add to other mixes if they need perking up.

 

[csardaz]

A Bump I suppose.
I got these in Dunhill, Dark Plum, Rum Raisin, Cream and Pina Colada - and the raspberry gourmet which Is a seperate type really.

Dunhill was good right at 2.5% - I tried it at 4% and ended up diluting that down to about 3.33%

I mixed up the others at 2.5% and cream is great.
The Pina colada is short on pineapple, the dark plum tasted weak, the rum raisin tastes mostly artificial grape I bumped them up 50% to 3.75% and the weak tastes got better - i decided to give them time.

After 2 days the dunhill is even better and the cream and dark plum too.

The Rum raisin still tastes like artificial grape and the Pina is still mostly coconut.

How long a steep do the fruits need? I'd read fruits are typically ready to go without steeping but these with their high concentration and alchohol base aren't typical.

I mixed some TFA and LA flavors after - the fruits all have a perfume taste till I air them out a few hours and end up 10-20% flavoring which is getting more PG than I'd like. The VZ Gourmet Raspberry did need airing out - it says use 1-2% but I stopped at 3% and it is still pretty weak after 2 days - maybe 5% plus a little sweetener.

So I thought about these VZ SC flavors again and a search found this thread - but it hasn't been very active lately.

 

[NemesisBliss]

Fabulous Post Shilo!!! Very good info!!

 

[knotin1]

Placed my first order. Just one flavor. Vanilla Sponge Cake.

What percentage do you mix this? I think the site mentioned 1-4% or so? Thx!

 

[lavender1742]

I am just beginning my diy journey so I'm learning. I like VZ concentrates so far though. I tried the Cream Charlotte and just a few drops in base tasted way too buttery but it reminded me a lot of what I've tasted in many vendors Cheesecake flavor. Anywho. I'm looking for a kind of spicy tobacco. I love Ahlusion Criminal line because of the nice spiciness in the tobacco. Not trying to clone that or anything just giving a reference point to what I mean by "spicy" I really like Island Tobacco although it seems to be a love it or hate it one. I think it's great a nice mild yet complex tobacco, a lot going on in there it's good stuff! Next I want to try it mentholated

 

[The White Rabbit]

I've had issues with the Cherry super concentrate recently. I got a 120mL bottle after using it for years and all of a sudden it tastes soapy to me (and a couple customers), I told Leah, and she says nothing has changed with the concentrate and sent me another 30mL bottle to test. It's also soapy to me. Please tell me I'm not crazy or that this has been corrected, this Cherry is worthless to me now.

 

[lavender1742]

The blackberry SC is the bomb! Just a few drops will do. 1 drop per ml was too much

 

[Slots]

I have an "older" bottle of the cherry too, so I can't help you
But ... I'm definitely going to watch and see the answers you get, because I like it also, and if it's gone "downhill" I don't want to order anymore either.
Maybe they didn't rinse the bottles good enough Shoot I don't even know if they wash'm

 

[lavender1742]

Anybody mixing Virginia Flue Cured? Are you mixing it alone or with other flavors?

 

[Fstop]

Can you describe the Black & Mild in a comparative sense, ie. level of sweetness, any nutty under tones, reminiscent of any popular cigarette brands. My apologies if this sounds critical, not meant to be. I'm just trying to get an idea, reference point, as an ex-smoker 60 days out only tobacco flavors I've found satisfying have been Sahara & Congress. Loving this your review

 

[El Heisenberg]

Dang my old taste buds anyway. I'm back on the cigar flavor and I've finally got it sorted, but not with any of my original mixes. I finally mixed some at 4% with nothing else added and I'm happy again. It reminds me more of a pipe than a cigar, but, whatever, I'm really diggin' this stuff.

Anybody else a fan of the VZ SC Cigar flavor?

Just got in my batch of VZsc last week and im pretty much lovin every flavor. Like you, I'm diggin black cigar by itself @4% and 70vg 3mg nic. I also mixed it up a 20ml batch and added 2 drops of VZ blackberry and I switch back and forth from the two. Both of these are my ADV.

 

[Shilo]

I've had issues with the Cherry super concentrate recently. I got a 120mL bottle after using it for years and all of a sudden it tastes soapy to me (and a couple customers), I told Leah, and she says nothing has changed with the concentrate and sent me another 30mL bottle to test. It's also soapy to me. Please tell me I'm not crazy or that this has been corrected, this Cherry is worthless to me now.

I haven't bought the cherry in quite some time so I cannot really comment on that. ecigexpress has a comparable product if not the same.

I am just beginning my diy journey so I'm learning. I like VZ concentrates so far though. I tried the Cream Charlotte and just a few drops in base tasted way too buttery but it reminded me a lot of what I've tasted in many vendors Cheesecake flavor. Anywho. I'm looking for a kind of spicy tobacco. I love Ahlusion Criminal line because of the nice spiciness in the tobacco. Not trying to clone that or anything just giving a reference point to what I mean by "spicy" I really like Island Tobacco although it seems to be a love it or hate it one. I think it's great a nice mild yet complex tobacco, a lot going on in there it's good stuff! Next I want to try it mentholated

Spicy tobacco might be achieved with a touch of cinnamon or red hots type flavoring IMO

Can you describe the Black & Mild in a comparative sense, ie. level of sweetness, any nutty under tones, reminiscent of any popular cigarette brands. My apologies if this sounds critical, not meant to be. I'm just trying to get an idea, reference point, as an ex-smoker 60 days out only tobacco flavors I've found satisfying have been Sahara & Congress. Loving this your review

For me the flavor now called black Cigar is very plain basic cigar flavor although some claim a touch of chocolate. I use chocolate all the time so maybe I am immune...lol No nutty undertone but it has a sweet yet ashy undertone is all I detect. This is the the sort of flavor that does better jazzed up. Since I wrote this review I almost exclusively use the Gourmet Bakers Russian flavors which require even less sometimes under a half a percent!! I do still use some of the SC but haven't bought in awhile as I bought 30 ml's of my favorites on a sale.

Just got in my batch of VZsc last week and im pretty much lovin every flavor. Like you, I'm diggin black cigar by itself @4% and 70vg 3mg nic. I also mixed it up a 20ml batch and added 2 drops of VZ blackberry and I switch back and forth from the two. Both of these are my ADV.

Glad to hear its working out for you so far.

 

[Angiehere]

Based on everything I read here, I've placed an order for 10 of VZ's super concentrates and I really hope they are going to be my answer. I've tried four or five brands of well-known concentrates that I would have to pretty much vape pure if I wanted to taste them. I'm so far extremely disappointed in TFA, Capella, something that starts with H and my most recent mistake (apparently) which is the concentrates from FC. None of this stuff tastes like anything at all when mixed at 20%; mixed TFA's Blueberry Cinnamon Crumble at 30% and there is not the slightest hint of blueberry or cinnamon in the taste; pretty much tastes like air with a slight honeydew taste on the back. Thought it was just me, so had a couple friends try it and I asked them what they thought it was, without telling them anything about it beforehand. Not one of them had any idea what it was and couldn't identify any sort of taste at all, much less identify one of the tastes that this concentrate was supposed to create.
I don't use any of the tobacco tastes; I lost my taste for anything tobacco about two weeks into vaping. My interest lies in the fruity stuff for my clearomizers and in the creamier sweets for my drippers. I've managed to alter some liquids I bought from various locations by combining pre-made liquids, but want to make my own liquids now and am finding it extremely frustrating. I bought pharmaceutical grade PG and VG (both Kosher, too) and some 100/100 nicotine liquid and then hit a wall when I started trying to flavor my mix with concentrates.
Was also told that using a sonic jewelry cleaner would speed the steeping process exponentially; claims are made that 15 minutes in a heated sonic cleaner (juice in the bottle, of course) would equal two weeks of steeping. Tried that yesterday; two hours in the device returned no appreciable change in the taste of any of the eight bottles I put in there. Anyone have any experience with anything like this?