Where Exactly Do We Taste (Not) Vapor and Smoke?

[JustaGuy]

"Can't taste my favorite juice!" is a common cry from fellow vapers. So many of us go numb after a while and out goes the joy of it. Some say it's the taste buds, others sinus/smell malfunctioning. Home remedies abound but basically it takes time to recover.

Maybe if we knew exactly what is missing, we can find a quicker cure, if there is one. FYI, taste buds are located on surface of tongue, soft palate and esophagus. The image below does not show it, but the curvy area to the right of the palate is the "soft palate".

I noticed in the most enjoyable, flavorful vaping (and smoking) I had, the flavor sweet spot, not TH but best flavor sensation, was the back of the throat, almost at the pharynx while inhaling. I can taste the juice on my tongue, but once that "pleasure" center is down, vaping suffers.

Is it the same for you and where exact do you get the best flavor?

Image courtesy of Wiki.

 

[JD1]

I think I get the most from around my tongue area. I often lift my tongue to get the buds under there involved, and I also sniff the vapor to get the nose involved. I also like the upper lung sensation and I'm very much keyed on that, even if there not much th or wallop at the back of the throat.

My biggest problem seems to be aftertaste, mostly experienced in the front palate and tongue. I'm not sure where it's coming from but I think it might be the nic in the juice. I get it from several different flavors and the aftertaste is usually the same, so I'm thinking it has to be something in common. I deal with it by keeping something to drink and vaping, sipping, vaping, sipping lol.

 

[JustaGuy]

I think I get the most from around my tongue area. I often lift my tongue to get the buds under there involved, and I also sniff the vapor to get the nose involved. I also like the upper lung sensation and I'm very much keyed on that, even if there not much th or wallop at the back of the throat.

My biggest problem seems to be aftertaste, mostly experienced in the front palate and tongue. I'm not sure where it's coming from but I think it might be the nic in the juice. I get it from several different flavors and the aftertaste is usually the same, so I'm thinking it has to be something in common. I deal with it by keeping something to drink and vaping, sipping, vaping, sipping lol.

I'm no fan of TH, mostly after flavor. I wonder, do you vape sweet juices? That aftertaste could be sucralose or some artificial sweetener. I get aftertaste galore from drinking diet soda, don't like it at all.

 

[Iffy]

I often lift my tongue to get the buds under there involved.

OMG... I'm not the only one! Back when I first started vaping I posted a 'hint' about lifting the tongue to savor a flavor that may have waned.

 

[JustaGuy]

OMG... I'm not the only one! Back when I first started vaping I posted a 'hint' about lifting the tongue to savor a flavor that may have waned.

I saw that tip somewhere, might have been yours, didn't "find" anything under there though, no extra flavor anyway.

 

[JD1]

I'm no fan of TH, mostly after flavor. I wonder, do you vape sweet juices? That aftertaste could be sucralose or some artificial sweetener. I get aftertaste galore from drinking diet soda, don't like it at all.

You may be on to something there. My main vapes are dekang ry4, 555, and turkish, and I'm guessing there is a little sweetener in all of those. I also have several flavors from coffee to berry to apple pie and they probably have even more.

 

[JD1]

I saw that tip somewhere, might have been yours, didn't "find" anything under there though, no extra flavor anyway.

For me it's more like a cool sensation-like I've put a drop of menthol or something.

 

[JustaGuy]

You may be on to something there. My main vapes are dekang ry4, 555, and turkish, and I'm guessing there is a little sweetener in all of those. I also have several flavors from coffee to berry to apple pie and they probably have even more.

I vape Dekang USA Mix and DK-TAB, also somewhat sweet but not nearly as sweet as other vendors. I haven't tried their RY4, but I know that's a sweet flavor, caramel like? Here's their ingredients list, I assume for USA Mix:

"Propylene Glycol 74%, Vanilla Extract 11%, Malic acid 3%, 3-Methylcyclopentane-1, 2-dione 2.5% ,Piperonal 1.5%, Damascenone 0.2% ,Acetylpyrazine 1%,Rose oil 1.5% ,Rhodinol 0.3% ,Eleutheroside E1 5%"

I haven't researched what all these are. My juice is at least 50% VG and I kind of like the the flavor of VG. Artificial flavors can also leave an aftertaste.

 

[JW50]

I vape Dekang USA Mix and DK-TAB, also somewhat sweet but not nearly as sweet as other vendors. I haven't tried their RY4, but I know that's a sweet flavor, caramel like? Here's their ingredients list, I assume for USA Mix:

"Propylene Glycol 74%, Vanilla Extract 11%, Malic acid 3%, 3-Methylcyclopentane-1, 2-dione 2.5% ,Piperonal 1.5%, Damascenone 0.2% ,Acetylpyrazine 1%,Rose oil 1.5% ,Rhodinol 0.3% ,Eleutheroside E1 5%"

I haven't researched what all these are. My juice is at least 50% VG and I kind of like the the flavor of VG. Artificial flavors can also leave an aftertaste.

Your comments leave me confused. The mix you show which you say is USA Mix has no VG yet you say you vape USA mix at 50% VG. That USA mix is not "your mix" maybe? Maybe not important. My guess is everyone will differ here. To me, VG is muting or numbing like. I find it to distract from flavor. Vapor appearances may be better with VG but flavorwise - IMO - muting. I say "appearances" intentionally as my suspicion is that the volume of what is served up with the vape does not differ much between the two. And, I think part of that "flavor" is the believing that that that flavor provides the nicotine necessary to avoid the temptation to that Marlboro (or whatever) we might have used before.

 

[JustaGuy]

Your comments leave me confused. The mix you show which you say is USA Mix has no VG yet you say you vape USA mix at 50% VG. That USA mix is not "your mix" maybe? Maybe not important. My guess is everyone will differ here. To me, VG is muting or numbing like. I find it to distract from flavor. Vapor appearances may be better with VG but flavorwise - IMO - muting. I say "appearances" intentionally as my suspicion is that the volume of what is served up with the vape does not differ much between the two. And, I think part of that "flavor" is the believing that that that flavor provides the nicotine necessary to avoid the temptation to that Marlboro (or whatever) we might have used before.

Sorry for the confusion, let me clarify. I do vape 100% VG and 50/50 VG/PG USA Mix, both. Obviously, neither is 75% PG. Dekang offers their juice in a number of PG/VG mixes, though most vendors only carry PG variety. I purchased directly from Dekang.

The ingredients list is what Dekang has on their website E Liquid FAQ - Dekang Biotechnoly Co., Ltd, possibly for a typical PG product. They did not specify for which flavor was the list and since USA Mix is popular, I assumed that is what it was, but could be wrong. I offered the ingredients list to JD1 for clues as to the aftertaste he was getting. Theoretically, the ingredients are shared among their products.

Yes, VG is commonly known for more vapor and less flavor than PG. And yes, juice with either base at same level of nicotine should have the same nic.

 

[JD1]

.........."Propylene Glycol 74%, Vanilla Extract 11%, Malic acid 3%, 3-Methylcyclopentane-1, 2-dione 2.5% ,Piperonal 1.5%, Damascenone 0.2% ,Acetylpyrazine 1%,Rose oil 1.5% ,Rhodinol 0.3% ,Eleutheroside E1 5%".....

I could be wrong, but I think this list from dekang is some of the ingredients they use but not necessarily all in any flavor. Here's what little I could find from google:

Malic acid -- active ingredient in many sour or tart foods.

Methylcyclopentane-1 Synonyms: Maple Lactone; Cyclotene;3-,2-dione Wonderful nut aroma, sweet

Damascenone Odor: fruity, floral, fresh, green, woody, rose like odor

Acetylpyrazine Odor: popcorn; nutty, bread crust Flavor: nutty

Rose oil. A small amount of rose oil can make up the man-made flavor of the compound essence and add to its sense of nature. The rose oil has been authorized, as a kind of flavoring essence, to be used in food additive under the China’s regulation of food sanitation.

Rhodinol : A rose, floral note

Eleutheroside E1 pungent. I'm having trouble finding the taste/odor of this one. I did hit a lot of links with ginseng in them though, and one had the word pungent.

No wonder my attempts at diy were a disaster lol. I didn't have any rhodinol to add to it.

 

[JW50]

Yesterday I was walking down the street thinking what was missing. Something was short. Vaped every now and then as I walked - but still - don't know what - something short. So asked the first smoker I came across where the nearest smoke shop was. He pointed a direction and I said thank you and I said - could I bum a cig from you because my vape is leaving me short. He said - these things don't grow on trees - what is so short. I said - I don't know - just something short. He said - your problem is - you lack a floral note. Here - here is some rhodinol - try it with your vape and please don't ask me for a cig. Cigs will kill kill you don't you know - rhodinol will make you a rose. So after trying that rhodinol I was feeling rosey but just didn't know why - till now.

 

[Iffy]

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[JustaGuy]

I could be wrong, but I think this list from dekang is some of the ingredients they use but not necessarily all in any flavor. Here's what little I could find from google:

Eleutheroside E1 pungent. I'm having trouble finding the taste/odor of this one. I did hit a lot of links with ginseng in them though, and one had the word pungent.

Thanks, JD1, that list does sound like flavorings in various flavors. I do find a pungent taste in Dekang tobacco flavors, pretty heavy in DK-TAB. I call it tobacco stink in a good way.

 

[JustaGuy]

I hear cries of "I can't taste anything" again...still a mystery.

 

[JW50]

I hear cries of "I can't taste anything" again...still a mystery.

Need to discount those cries. We know its the Eleutheroside E4. Not pungent but pale, faint and unassuming. Not floral yet a hint of rose from the distance with a sprinkle of rain in a thunderstorm. Closing ones eyes helps in the detection of these subtle flavors.

 

[JustaGuy]

Need to discount those cries. We know its the Eleutheroside E4. Not pungent but pale, faint and unassuming. Not floral yet a hint of rose from the distance with a sprinkle of rain in a thunderstorm. Closing ones eyes helps in the detection of these subtle flavors.

Sounds pleasant, rose again? And where in the mouth and throat do you taste Eleutheroside E4, with the eyes closed?

 

[JW50]

Sounds pleasant, rose again? And where in the mouth and throat do you taste Eleutheroside E4, with the eyes closed?

With eyes closed, tongue to cheek either left or right - just at tip of tongue.

 

[Morgythekilla]

Mid tounge is my best flavor.

 

[JW50]

Mid tounge is my best flavor.

Considerable variation from person to person when it comes to taste. More "head" involved there it seems. But for me, for this particular taste, cheek and tongue are both important.