Weak flavor in all my liquids

[Makidigital]

I've been working on a lot of different favors lately but all of my mixes seem to have the same problem. Weak flavor. I try to add more flavoring and still the same. My liquids contain 90% VG and 10% PG. I have favors from lorann, Capella, and TFA. Is it possibly because I am using too much VG? Does VG drown out the flavor that much?

 

[Thompson]

Could maybe have Vapors Tongue?

Taste Buds and Vapers Tongue

I think if you use too much flavorings you can actually have the opposite of the desired effect, and make it bland.

 

[Makidigital]

I start light though. But by the time I'm done I'm over 20% flavor. That's when I know something is wrong. Does lemon juice help bring out the flavor?

 

[Thompson]

I feel like I've read that it does. Also the same for white vinegar oddly enough. May be worth a try. Just remember to test it with like 1mL instead of a full batch bottle, in case it goes awry.

I think I've read low percentage of ethyl maltol can round out a liquid.

 

[Shilo]

Yes VG mutes the flavor you will need more flavor and perhaps a longer steep. What percentages are you using now?

 

[Bosco]

How long are you waiting before increasing the percentage of flavoring - and what flavors are you using?

I use all VG except for flavoring. Each flavoring is different - but I find most take at least a day or 2 to fully co-mingle in the VG. I started out DIYing at 20% flavoring but have since gone down to 10% - but some flavorings require more. Lorann's watermelon, for example, is good at 15-20% . .but thier Keoke Coffee I prefer at 6-7% max. I find TPA flavors generally more potent than Lorann's so I use even less when mixing with TPA. To paraphrase another post I read here somewhere. .TPA flavors seem to have a narrow window for success - too much or too little and they don't taste right.

Also water is important, I think, when mixing all or mostly VG. The right amount enhances the flavor and vapor. I usually add 1 to 1.5 drops per ml of finished juice. Same with sweetener, which I use in all my juices. 1 drop of sucralose per ml of finished juice . .or 2% Ethyl Maltol is what I'm currently using.

Almost all my juices have been vapable . .but it took me a while to make a juice I *really* enjoyed . .so, if you haven't been at this long, be patient and give yourself some time. Every flavor, nic base, VG, PG and delivery device is slightly different . .it takes some experimenting to find the right combo.

 

[Junebug07]

I'm having the same problem, my base is 50/50 pg/vg @18mg nic, think I need to order some sweetener. I also noticed that when trying to vape the HM liq vs. store bought, that it's not hitting as hard, and the flavor just isn't as strong..??? It's a whole different experience.

 

[Sandiej02]

I've read how "less is more" many times ... and that's probably true for many people and many recipes.

However, for me, I've found I like most of my flavor percentages between 25% - 29% (crazy, huh?). My Peanut Butter recipe is BEST when steeped, and at 29% flavor. (I mix mainly 60pg/40vg).

BUT ... I like my flavors strong.

Hope that helps (it would be much easier if everyone's taste was the same).

 

[Rin13]

I use more PG in my mixtures, but from someone who uses VG only, he has to use a higher percentage of flavoring typically. He also said he likes his flavors strong so I don't know. Maybe try soaking the bottled mixture in hot water... then shake it? I do this with all of mine. (i do not use nicotine... so I am not sure if the hot water method dilutes the nicotine or whatever)

 

[Dothan]

From my experience I went too strong with flavors to begin with, and burned my taste buds out for that flavor family. This would last for 4 or 5 days. I mix 70/30 PG/VG, and was doing 20 to 25%. I've backed down to 10 to 15% based on the flavor and if I vape a single flavor too much, still will start losing any taste... right now, I'm vaping blue berry and it's the same as just plain nic liquid. I normally have 4 to 5 flavors that I jump around on, a few drags on one, then the next and so forth... everyone's different, you just need to play with your mix, set aside what your not tasting and keep trying... for me, I've been DYI'ing my juice for a little under 6 months, when I try liquids that I thought were to die for before, they are just wanting, so have no thoughts of going back... I'm having a blast playing with new flavors.

 

[ninfreak]

people always crack me up when they say how much flavor they add. there are very few flavors i even go above 5% on. people really need to get in the mindset that less is more. adding more flavor rarely makes a juice stronger in flavor(there are exceptions though, mainly menthol and mints), it does the opposite, makes it weaker. as others have stated it overloads your tastebuds. i have never heard complaints about my juices having lack of flavor, maybe a lack of a certain flavor note but not the overall juice itself.

 

[Makidigital]

How long are you waiting before increasing the percentage of flavoring - and what flavors are you using?

I use all VG except for flavoring. Each flavoring is different - but I find most take at least a day or 2 to fully co-mingle in the VG. I started out DIYing at 20% flavoring but have since gone down to 10% - but some flavorings require more. Lorann's watermelon, for example, is good at 15-20% . .but thier Keoke Coffee I prefer at 6-7% max. I find TPA flavors generally more potent than Lorann's so I use even less when mixing with TPA. To paraphrase another post I read here somewhere. .TPA flavors seem to have a narrow window for success - too much or too little and they don't taste right.

Also water is important, I think, when mixing all or mostly VG. The right amount enhances the flavor and vapor. I usually add 1 to 1.5 drops per ml of finished juice. Same with sweetener, which I use in all my juices. 1 drop of sucralose per ml of finished juice . .or 2% Ethyl Maltol is what I'm currently using.

Almost all my juices have been vapable . .but it took me a while to make a juice I *really* enjoyed . .so, if you haven't been at this long, be patient and give yourself some time. Every flavor, nic base, VG, PG and delivery device is slightly different . .it takes some experimenting to find the right combo.

Im using 90/10 VG/PG. I seem to have this problem with all flavor makers. As far as ethyl maltol, how much do you use per ml? I have not tried sweetener yet but I will try. Everything else is great though. TH is perfect as is the vapor production. Now I just need the flavor to shine. So adding sweetener strengths the flavor?

 

[Sandiej02]

people always crack me up when they say how much flavor they add. there are very few flavors i even go above 5% on. people really need to get in the mindset that less is more. adding more flavor rarely makes a juice stronger in flavor(there are exceptions though, mainly menthol and mints), it does the opposite, makes it weaker. as others have stated it overloads your tastebuds. i have never heard complaints about my juices having lack of flavor, maybe a lack of a certain flavor note but not the overall juice itself.

Everyone's different ... everyone's taste is different.

I've mixed at every flavor percentage, and ... for me ... I like higher percentages on my recipes.

That's one of the fun things about DIY, you can create your own - what you want, and the way you like it.

If I'm one of those who "cracked you up" ... I'm glad I made someone smile today. ​

 

[Sandiej02]

Oh, one more "quick note" ... and "food for thought".

When I "do" buy premade juice from my favorite vendor,

I order it with "extra flavoring" ... an available option,

which is, 25%.

 

[Rin13]

Everyone's taste buds are different. Especially after smoking as it kills them. I usually do 10% for my flavorings. Still have yet to perfect fruit vapes though... which is ironic because supposedly those are the easiest

 

[bigbells]

A side note on senses: only 19 days smoke-free, but my nose is certainly recovering. A jar which had contained spaghetti sauce but which had been cleaned still smelled strongly of the spices that were in the sauce. No way I'd have noticed any smell at all 3 weeks ago.