Very Discouraged.

[Jdurand]

Bottom Line to the OP: We all went through it and found it was worth the time to learn. Just keep going.

 

[Johntodd]

Lately, I've taken to treating percentages as ratios. This allows me to convert the ratios to drops, since drops are all I can do. (Scale won't measure parts of a gram.)

So if I decide I need a maximum of X drops in a certain size batch, then I do the math to convert the ratios to the exact number of drops for each ingredient. Then revise the # of drops based on experience as some flavors really carry through more than others and may need to be revised down.

I've made some very tasty vapes adapting other peoples' recipes in this fashion, including the most complex tobacco vape I've ever made. It needs a month steep, but I can barely resist vaping it after only one week!

Hope this helps!
-Johntodd

 

[jambi]

LB Belgian Waffle at 8% with Baker's Touch also at 8% produced a result that I could taste fresh off the scale, especially the waffle element. After steeping for 48 hours, it's better. I think it would have been even better with BW at only 5%. I'd say give it a week or so, but I honestly don't think you need a 35% flavor ratio. The Belgian is pretty heavy on the ethyl alcohol, that might be what's screwing up the flavor of your batch. Just give it time and let it air out a bit.

 

[AndriaD]

I also tried, at first, using other peoples' recipes... but the main problem I found with that is they often a) use flavors I don't have, and b) use flavors that contain diketones, which I won't use. So I had to create my own recipe for strawberry & cream, which I wanted to be rich, and sweet, and very strong-flavored, but not have any diketones.

Basically I just looked at probably a hundred recipes, saw things people were using in them, and tried to create a good ratio of the cream flavors, and applying the '50% main, 50% supporting' ratio. When I first mixed it, I found that I needed to decrease the DX Bavarian a little, because it *does* have a little of that unpleasant butyric acid taste -- @Bill's Magic Vapor recommends using no more than 6% of that flavor, and I'd go along with that -- but once I got the creams ratio worked out... that strawberry & cream is the best juice I've ever vaped; it's been my ADV for over a year now, and appears likely to continue in that starring role for some indefinite time into the future.

Andria

 

[Ablonz]

I did that because when I tried it in a dripper it didn't have a lot of favor.

Hi Bonnie, Here is a little snip it from a good DIYer here that may help out right away.
"Disclaimer: Hoosier's DIY blogs are to only be read and understood by folks who have read all the sticky's in DIY E-Liquid and are based off of my experience with mixing my own juice for over a year.

Hoosier's levels of flavoring from too little to too much:

1. Nothing (Did I forget to add the flavoring?)
2. Something Odd (This does not taste like the flavor I put in there.)
3. I Can Taste Something Kinda' Like It (I can detect the higher or spice notes, but not the actual taste)
4. Hooo, It's There, but Real Light (Getting close now, let it steep before adding any more)
5. Bingo (Duh, we have a juice)
6. Hmmmm, That Is Close, But Has A "Je Ne Sais Pas" of Oddness (Dang didn't let it steep and I overshot)
7. Kinda' Close, but the Perfumey/Chemically Kills It (Going into the too much realm here and may be due to ignoring the steep part of #4.)
8. Whoo, Did I Forget to Put the Flavoring In? (Too much flavoring can actually make things impossible to taste.)

Note that the first tier and last tier are much alike, the only difference is the way the unvaped juice smells. If it smells fairly close, but has no flavor then it is usually too much. (Usually, not always as there are exceptions.)"
Also here are some blogs to read up on with A LOT of Information. Hoosier Hoosier's blog | E-Cigarette Forum Danny45 dannyv45's blog | E-Cigarette Forum and also Str8 DIY tips from Str8 | E-Cigarette Forum Hope this helps and welcome to the wonderful world of DIYing!!!! What flavors do you have by the way?

 

[herb]

Lately, I've taken to treating percentages as ratios. This allows me to convert the ratios to drops, since drops are all I can do. (Scale won't measure parts of a gram.)

So if I decide I need a maximum of X drops in a certain size batch, then I do the math to convert the ratios to the exact number of drops for each ingredient. Then revise the # of drops based on experience as some flavors really carry through more than others and may need to be revised down.

I've made some very tasty vapes adapting other peoples' recipes in this fashion, including the most complex tobacco vape I've ever made. It needs a month steep, but I can barely resist vaping it after only one week!

Hope this helps!
-Johntodd

Ejuice me up shows you how many drops to add when you put in percentages .

 

[Johntodd]

I use ejuice me up for some things, but since I use VapingZone SC flavors, EJMUp doesn't work too well. Some of my best turds came from that program.

I shouldn't be so harsh ... that's actually a very nice program. As a computer guy, I can appreciate a good piece of software even though it isn't for me in particular.

For example, some recipes would call for 12 drops of Caramel Cream Puff in a 2 ounce batch. But I know from experience that 4 drops of CCP in 2 ozs., is plenty. In that case I have to revise down, as I mentioned in an earlier post.

But if you use regular flavors, then EJMUp will work wonders for formulating recipes and also documenting them. Don't forget to write EVERYTHING down, including your turds. No sense in "re-inventing the turd", eh?

 

[Bonskibon]

I appreciate all advice given, thank you. I tried my ejuice today and still not tasting so good so I probably did add to much flavor, or more steeping not really sure. If anyone could give me a simple recipe to make with the flavors I have I would be very grateful. That way at least I will know it can be done. This is what I have at the moment.

1: Strawberry Cheesecake
2: Tobacco
3: Snickerdoodle
4: Green Apple
5: Fresh Cream
6: Bakers Touch
7: Baked Cinnamon Roll
8: Belgian Waffle
9: Strawberry
10: Chocolate Roll

All these are from Liquid Barn. Willing to make anything with 6mg nicotine (have 48mg VG base) 10ml. batch size.

 

[AndriaD]

I use ejuice me up for some things, but since I use VapingZone SC flavors, EJMUp doesn't work too well. Some of my best turds came from that program.

I shouldn't be so harsh ... that's actually a very nice program. As a computer guy, I can appreciate a good piece of software even though it isn't for me in particular.

For example, some recipes would call for 12 drops of Caramel Cream Puff in a 2 ounce batch. But I know from experience that 4 drops of CCP in 2 ozs., is plenty. In that case I have to revise down, as I mentioned in an earlier post.

But if you use regular flavors, then EJMUp will work wonders for formulating recipes and also documenting them. Don't forget to write EVERYTHING down, including your turds. No sense in "re-inventing the turd", eh?

I use DIY E-Liquid Calculator Ten Flavors With Nicotine Plus PG/VG Adjusting, mainly because when I first started, I was just mixing pre-made juices, and also needed a way to add WTA at a given percentage but maintain careful control over the PG/VG ratio (since WTA is 100% VG). Still using a little WTA, but doing full-on DIY now, and I still like that calculator the best.

Andria

 

[zoiDman]

I appreciate all advice given, thank you. I tried my ejuice today and still not tasting so good so I probably did add to much flavor, or more steeping not really sure. If anyone could give me a simple recipe to make with the flavors I have I would be very grateful. That way at least I will know it can be done. This is what I have at the moment.

1: Strawberry Cheesecake
2: Tobacco
3: Snickerdoodle
4: Green Apple
5: Fresh Cream
6: Bakers Touch
7: Baked Cinnamon Roll
8: Belgian Waffle
9: Strawberry
10: Chocolate Roll

All these are from Liquid Barn. Willing to make anything with 6mg nicotine (have 48mg VG base) 10ml. batch size.

Fresh Cream and Chocolate Roll would probably work Well together. Not knowing the Strength of either, I would go with 1 Part Fresh Cream and 2 Parts Chocolate Roll. With a Total Flavoring of 12%.

 

[Ablonz]

@Bonnie C I personally, with what I know about DIYing from the fine people here would probably make one with 3% green apple 1% Cinnamon Roll, .5% Fresh Cream and .25% Bakers Touch. I have a very sensitive pallet. With that Taste is subjective.... The best part about the lower percentages, it is easier to add flavor than it is to take out. I would also suggest you get Blue Raspberry flavor as it is used as a flavor enhancer for apple flavor and vise versa. Say, you have 3% green apple in a mix, add .25 - .5 %of blue raspberry to help the apple flavor pop. and the same if making a blue raspberry, just switch the percentages with the flavor. With that in mind, you wouldn't taste the enhancer flavor at all. Once you zone in on your mixing...the options are endless. My current stock is about 93 different flavors. I get mine from Wizard Labs as you can buy 8 ml bottles and try them out before buying a larger quantity. Oh, and btw, I make mine in 30 ml bottles as it is easier to measure out .15%- 1% flavors. Hope this helps.