I'm a noob so take this with a grain of salt. If the e-juice was made with a flavor that contains alcohol then taking the lid off the juice and letting the bottle sit for a while will allow the alcohol to evaporate, leaving you with the flavor you paid for.
I'm sitting here at the computer enjoying my first DIY e-juice. I mixed the flavoring, PG and VG together in a Pyrex beaker. I then set the beaker on a hotplate to evaporate the alcohol (rapid steeping?). After it cooled to ambient temperature, I added the nicotine and loaded up my vaporizer. It tastes pretty good and cost me about a penny for a milliliter of juice.
There are all kinds of claims out there about steeping but alcohol evaporation is the only one that makes logical sense to me.
You've more experience than your post count might suggest, yes? OK fine and WELCOME. There are really two (or more) different subjects here:
You note - "There are all kinds of claims out there about steeping...". This may be true in part - but incorrect in the other.
"Steeping" is simply a process in which fresh juice is NOT immediately USED, but rather allowed to 'sit' for a few days or weeks to allow the flavour to dissipate throughout the juice; some even claim months is best.
Veterans of the 'DIY' process seem to agree most all 'flavors' benefit - either by becoming more or less pronounced and TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL LIKING when allowed to "steep" ......aka: "allow the ingredients to mix". You may have read and if not you will that we all MAY differ in how we perceive the 'taste' (and 'smell') of any given mixture.
'STEEP' HOW? ---Also where individual preferences may differ - yet essentially the end-result is the same. Producers and 'DIY' veterans alike may have the same OR different suggestions as to HOW LONG to allow 'juice' to 'steep'; hours, days, weeks and even months. The same applies to the METHOD utilized. Some suggest and prefer the CAP ON method which may allow the 'ingredient mixing' while not allowing much evaporation of ingredients. The obvious alternative - the OR CAP OFF method allows any ingredients one may WANT TO evaporate to do so more quickly and speed the flavor mixing process. The goal of each process? To allow the flavour to dissipate throughout the juice.
You also note: "I .....set the beaker on a hotplate (sic) to evaporate the alcohol (rapid steeping?)"; and additionally as noted say, "There are all kinds of claims out there about steeping but alcohol evaporation is the only one that makes logical sense to me."
"The "alcohol evaporation" expedited by 'heat' which you suspect is the "...only one that makes logical sense..." (to you) - while allowing the unwanted alcohol to 'evaporate' does not appear to enhance the MIXING OF FLAVORS which is the ultimate goal. Time allows the ingredients to mix naturally - some taking less or more time than others. Certainly heat removes the unwanted alcohol - although some folks like the presence of alcohol so it may be vaporized upon taking a "hit".
I am definitely NOT an expert nor am I a 'veteran' when it comes to 'DIY' or 'pre-made juices'. What i have done is 'research' / 'read' - both here on ECF as well as on the many sites of those who commercially produce 'juices'. Opinions vary - the process varies - yet in virtually all cases if the recommendation is to let a 'juice' sit with cap on OR off the end result is a positive one. I have not seen a recommendation from any vendor that the 'juice' would require 'heating' to allow any ingredient to evaporate / dissipate.
Much of my personal and limited 'DIY' has been to make a 'batch' and divide it in to four bottles. I chose to allow them to sit with the caps OFF rather than 'ON' ( a personal decision so each would be evaluated following the same method). One sits for a week, one for two weeks, one for three weeks and the last for four weeks. I take care to evaluate MY perceived 'taste' of each and I make a note when a given bottle is completely gone. Sampling over different times has given me a good indication as to how long I need to let MY 'juice' sit and 'mix'. I have found that for MY 'taste' likes - it is far better than mixing, shaking and shaking and shaking then immediately 'using'; MY 'taster' says, "time does make it better".
A lot of words I know .... I ramble (did ya notice?) on and on ......... but as an old goat I can't change now! A final thought: I DO believe, "The 'heat' can actually degrade taste AND add little, if anything, to MY - 'allow the ingredients to mix OVER TIME' philosophy. Those little bottles are inexpensive and lord only knows WHAT may happen when they are subjected to even a low degree of heat WITH JUICE INSIDE. ** Obviously - opinions will vary; opinions are like that, huh?
Good luck no matter which method you decide is best for YOU. Recommendations are great - personal experiences tell us what works.
Senile Old Man Don
*** The 'up side' ......... I won't be rambling on again for a few hours! ECF will be safe!
In LESS THAN 65 lines too!
Well ......... perhaps! Time will tell!
