Variables that affect the quality of the vape?

[OGNDY]

Yesterday I got a new e-juice flavor in the mail, Electrum Bluing, blueberry & marshmallow. I put in my Nautilus Mini with great hopes. Disappointment was to follow. Strong chemical taste and an unpleasant "rasp" to the throat. Then I pick it up again today and it's absolutely heavenly; smooth, full flavor, almost like eating fresh-baked blueberry pie.

I've had this experience with a variety of juices in a variety of tanks. Something that was bad in the morning, is just great in the afternoon. Conversely, something that was good yesterday rips my throat today.

I'm not really expecting any "solutions" to my "problem", just making a still-newbie observation that the vaping learning curve extends beyond hardware.

Oh yeah, and I just grabbed the wrong bottle when topping off my tank and now I have a blueberry/cinnamon bun mix going. Quite tasty, actually.

 

[Micky Finn]

Largely Tooting DIY Juice and find a marked improvement even after 24 hours steeping (Aging) Temperature can also make a difference as can battery charge.

Partner and I both toot Nautilus Mini Clearomisers,, Mine on an I Taste VTR, Lynley's on an Aspire VW. - The flavour is different one to the other.

Your Right. There certainly are some variables.

 

[sparkky1]

Make sure the bottle is closed tightly and then shake vigorously. By shaking the bottle, you are blending the heavier particles that have settled to the bottom.
Find a cool, dark place away from natural sunlight that is clean and dry. Make sure this is an undisturbed spot that is out of reach of children and pets! Next, uncap the bottle of e-liquid and allow it to breathe with the cap off for 12-24 hours.
When the breathing process is complete, recap your e-liquid and allow it to rest. You are now steeping your e-liquid. This process can last anywhere from 1-7 days, depending on the flavor. Fruit flavors are usually good to go after a day of steeping while some flavors like caramel, vanilla, or cream benefit from a longer steeping time. During the remainder of the steeping period, shake your liquid vigorously once per day and allow to breathe for 5-15 minutes. Recap and put away.

 

[OGNDY]

Make sure the bottle is closed tightly and then shake vigorously. By shaking the bottle, you are blending the heavier particles that have settled to the bottom.
Find a cool, dark place away from natural sunlight that is clean and dry. Make sure this is an undisturbed spot that is out of reach of children and pets! Next, uncap the bottle of e-liquid and allow it to breathe with the cap off for 12-24 hours.
When the breathing process is complete, recap your e-liquid and allow it to rest. You are now steeping your e-liquid. This process can last anywhere from 1-7 days, depending on the flavor. Fruit flavors are usually good to go after a day of steeping while some flavors like caramel, vanilla, or cream benefit from a longer steeping time. During the remainder of the steeping period, shake your liquid vigorously once per day and allow to breathe for 5-15 minutes. Recap and put away.

I had no idea there was that much to it. Thanks for the tips, I'll make sure to try them out.

 

[AndriaD]

There's also a GREAT deal of difference from one atty or type of atty to another. The blueberry muffin that I love, at first in my Kayfun, it was horrible, really sharp. In a cartotank, not sharp, but sweet and you can taste the "muffin" part of the flavor. Over time I was able to learn to appreciate the flavor in a kayfun, but not always; sometimes it's still a really sharp taste in that tank, all blueberry, no muffin.

Andria

 

[crxess]

Yesterday I got a new e-juice flavor in the mail, Electrum Bluing, blueberry & marshmallow. I put in my Nautilus Mini with great hopes. Disappointment was to follow. Strong chemical taste and an unpleasant "rasp" to the throat. Then I pick it up again today and it's absolutely heavenly; smooth, full flavor, almost like eating fresh-baked blueberry pie.

I've had this experience with a variety of juices in a variety of tanks. Something that was bad in the morning, is just great in the afternoon. Conversely, something that was good yesterday rips my throat today.

I'm not really expecting any "solutions" to my "problem", just making a still-newbie observation that the vaping learning curve extends beyond hardware.

Oh yeah, and I just grabbed the wrong bottle when topping off my tank and now I have a blueberry/cinnamon bun mix going. Quite tasty, actually.

What you are describing sounds like the liquid needing to Air off. Not uncommon on Fresh High Flavor e-liquids. Once they have had the proper time for everything to meld they become pour and vape.
I have several DIY recipes that need time - Shortened be warm Ultrasonic cleaner baths. 3-4 hours can take off over a weeks wait.

 

[HecticEnergy]

Since steeping/breathing was covered lets talk about the actual vapor production.

Tight draw with a small chamber atty seems to give awesome flavor and a warm vape.
How the air hits your coil is another variable - coming from underneath seems to produce great flavor (most tanks, magma/N22/Kennedy drippers)
I think this is why kayfuns are largely regarded as flavor kings.
Coil style has A LOT to do with it. vertical micro coils with bottom airflow seem to give the best flavor IMO - it wicks from the outside of the coil, and leaves the inside to create the vapor from. How fast it heats, how much it heats and what temperature it is when pulling air across it obviously makes a difference.
I've heard some rumblings that "pre cooked" juice can negatively effect the flavor. I havent experienced this, but basically if you have juice sitting in the reservoir of your dripper it will taste worse then when freshly applied to the wick. It seems like if this were the case no one would use tanks except for convenience as the heat from the atomization chamber will almost certainly pre head the juice in the tank that surrounds the chamber/chimney.
Flavor or clouds, its all about balance - chamber size, air flow, coil position, coil style.

As far as your specific tastes go OP? I think it may be a combination of steeping/breathing and just your taste changing Some juices taste better with certain foods/beverages, others taste horrible. Make sure you practice good oral hygiene and drink lots of water

 

[Ryedan]

There's also a GREAT deal of difference from one atty or type of atty to another. The blueberry muffin that I love, at first in my Kayfun, it was horrible, really sharp. In a cartotank, not sharp, but sweet and you can taste the "muffin" part of the flavor. Over time I was able to learn to appreciate the flavor in a kayfun, but not always; sometimes it's still a really sharp taste in that tank, all blueberry, no muffin.

This is so true. And the flavor changes according to the wick used too. Switch between cotton, rayon, SS mesh and silica in the same atty and they will all taste different.

Also, our sense of taste/smell changes too. If I vape a bit more than usual for a few hours my taste/smell become muted. Vape less for a while and it comes back. Take it too far and you get vaper's tongue. Don't vape for a day and wow, the next vape becomes really flavorful.

Add in wire gauge, air flow, rate of draw, power level and juice recipe and it gets really interesting

ETA: HecticEnergy, had I read your post before I posted this I wouldn't have bothered. You had it all covered already, LOL.

 

[OGNDY]

Some of your comments and advice are a bit ahead of my current status as I'm still only dealing with tanks/clearomizers that use factory made coils, but it's still all greatly appreciated and I'll keep it in mind for down the road, for sure. (I actually made my first attempt at building a coil for an RDA just a few hours ago and it was a complete disaster, but that's a story for another time and I'll bug you with it later if I have to.)

What you are describing sounds like the liquid needing to Air off. Not uncommon on Fresh High Flavor e-liquids. Once they have had the proper time for everything to meld they become pour and vape.
I have several DIY recipes that need time - Shortened be warm Ultrasonic cleaner baths. 3-4 hours can take off over a weeks wait.

Now that sounds like advice I can use!

Since steeping/breathing was covered lets talk about the actual vapor production.

Tight draw with a small chamber atty seems to give awesome flavor and a warm vape.
How the air hits your coil is another variable - coming from underneath seems to produce great flavor (most tanks, magma/N22/Kennedy drippers)
I think this is why kayfuns are largely regarded as flavor kings.
Coil style has A LOT to do with it. vertical micro coils with bottom airflow seem to give the best flavor IMO - it wicks from the outside of the coil, and leaves the inside to create the vapor from. How fast it heats, how much it heats and what temperature it is when pulling air across it obviously makes a difference.
I've heard some rumblings that "pre cooked" juice can negatively effect the flavor. I havent experienced this, but basically if you have juice sitting in the reservoir of your dripper it will taste worse then when freshly applied to the wick. It seems like if this were the case no one would use tanks except for convenience as the heat from the atomization chamber will almost certainly pre head the juice in the tank that surrounds the chamber/chimney.
Flavor or clouds, its all about balance - chamber size, air flow, coil position, coil style.

As far as your specific tastes go OP? I think it may be a combination of steeping/breathing and just your taste changing Some juices taste better with certain foods/beverages, others taste horrible. Make sure you practice good oral hygiene and drink lots of water

I'm partial to sweetness; butterscotch, caramel, apple pie, amaretto etc., though I'm still feeling my way around. I have noticed that the same juice in the same setup sometimes tastes different after different kinds of food as if your taste buds have been affected. If that makes sense.

This is so true. And the flavor changes according to the wick used too. Switch between cotton, rayon, SS mesh and silica in the same atty and they will all taste different.

Also, our sense of taste/smell changes too. If I vape a bit more than usual for a few hours my taste/smell become muted. Vape less for a while and it comes back. Take it too far and you get vaper's tongue. Don't vape for a day and wow, the next vape becomes really flavorful.

Add in wire gauge, air flow, rate of draw, power level and juice recipe and it gets really interesting

ETA: HecticEnergy, had I read your post before I posted this I wouldn't have bothered. You had it all covered already, LOL.

This I have noticed for sure.