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

[Sedateme]

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.

THIS! 10000x this! I recently switched to a mouthwash with no alcohol... and my tastebuds went to crap and my juices all tasted the same. Stopped using the mouthwash a couple of days ago and my taste is slowly coming back. That mouthwash was full of sorbitol and saccharin. Artificial sweeteners coat the inside of my mouth and never let go...

 

[JW50]

THIS! 10000x this! I recently switched to a mouthwash with no alcohol... and my tastebuds went to crap and my juices all tasted the same. Stopped using the mouthwash a couple of days ago and my taste is slowly coming back. That mouthwash was full of sorbitol and saccharin. Artificial sweeteners coat the inside of my mouth and never let go...

Also have a no alcohol mouthwash. I don't personally note any changes in taste after using it. However, did note one of ingredients as being propylene glycol. (Labeled as Listerine Zero.)

 

[JustaGuy]

THIS! 10000x this! I recently switched to a mouthwash with no alcohol... and my tastebuds went to crap and my juices all tasted the same. Stopped using the mouthwash a couple of days ago and my taste is slowly coming back. That mouthwash was full of sorbitol and saccharin. Artificial sweeteners coat the inside of my mouth and never let go...

I rinse a long time after mouthwash, same problem. Guess I was raised on sugar. I get aftertaste from corn syrup too.

 

[JustaGuy]

Mid tounge is my best flavor.

There are lots of taste buds on the tongue, makes sense.

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.

Cheeks? I hadn't felt/thought of it. You could be right, the mind could play a part. It is for the variations I began this thread.

 

[DaveP]

I get most of the taste from the initial hit and I french inhale a little to add to the aroma. I don't inhale deeply. Most of the sensation occurs in the mouth and nasal passages for me.

An interesting fact that I read is that the particles in smoke are actually ash and tar from the products of combustion. They are small enough to enter the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs and some actually remain to irritate the tissue. This irritation can cause the development of scar tissue and the creation of a tumor over time.

Ecig juices produce a vapor that contains particles that are much, much larger than tobacco smoke particles and they don't actually enter the alveoli and are exhaled or coughed back up. This is good news. Your lungs can rid themselves of the products of vaping, making vaping a much safer activity. There are no products of combustion. Vapor is more like steam than smoke.

 

[wdave]

"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.

Very helpful. I must admit I like it most because it justifies my beliefs about vaping. That is, the velocity of the vapor is as important or more important than the quantify. More velocity makes it easier to reach the flavor center. Kind of like putting a thumb over a watering hose vs. not putting your thumb over a watering hose.

More velocity requires SMALL holes in the mouthpiece. Not the heavy, dense cloud of vapor delivered by large holes like one might think. So everyone who takes off the mouthpiece caps or uses a drip tip, listen up!

HTH,
Dave

 

[JustaGuy]

Very helpful. I must admit I like it most because it justifies my beliefs about vaping. That is, the velocity of the vapor is as important or more important than the quantify. More velocity makes it easier to reach the flavor center. Kind of like putting a thumb over a watering hose vs. not putting your thumb over a watering hose.

More velocity requires SMALL holes in the mouthpiece. Not the heavy, dense cloud of vapor delivered by large holes like one might think. So everyone who takes off the mouthpiece caps or uses a drip tip, listen up!

HTH,
Dave

Another interesting theory. Do you taste it in soft palate and/or back of throat too?

 

[JW50]

An extract from Thomas P. Connelly, D.D.S.: Mouth Health: Your Taste Buds Explained

What people may not realize, however, is that the tongue is not the only place that houses taste buds. These taste buds can not only be found on the roof of a person's mouth, but to a lesser extent, the lips, cheeks and back of the mouth. Similar to how the taste of food can be thrown off by closing off the nose, a person will notice the difference in taste without these sensory areas when one of these taste zones are accidentally burned by a piece of food that is too hot.

But there's no reason for alarm: Even on those unfortunate "burned mouth days," an average person has plenty of taste buds to spare, with a tongue potentially having eight to 10,000 sensory bumps. Those taste buds get replaced with new ones about every two weeks.

That's not to imply that our broad sense of taste lasts forever. As we get older, people lose the ability to detect tastes on the roof and sides of the mouth. The taste buds will drop to the "2,000 - 5,000" range, and will largely just remain on a person's tongue. There is some consolation, however: As the number of taste buds decrease, so does the sensitivity to certain types of foods. That means certain types of foods once considered "too strong" when a person was younger may be more palatable. It's like getting a whole new menu of foods to try (this would also likely explain an adult's tolerance of broccoli!)

Age is not the only means in which a person's taste buds can be diminished. Smoking, poor dental hygiene, lack of vitamins and certain medications can throw a person's sense of taste off. Physical and chemical changes also have an effect. Illnesses such as mouth ulcers or acid reflux can cause variations in taste, and unsafe exposure to chemicals or radiation can have long-term effects. Even gender plays a part in the number of taste buds, as females generally have more taste buds than men.

While age-related loss of taste is irreversible, external factors such as treatment of illnesses and quitting smoking can make a notable difference in restoring a person's sense of taste. In fact, many smokers who have quit report a marked increase in taste.

While the utilization of a person's sense of taste is a common everyday occurrence, it's impressive to think of the amount of cooperation between the olfactory receptors of the nose and the myriad of taste buds in the mouth, which combine to create the perfect-tasting meal for us.

While prior mention of cheeks was in jest, cheek taste buds apparently exist. Not sure I see a connection with velocity - but maybe. Part of process of vaping, for some, involves effect of nicotine. Just like smelling has effect on taste, activation of nicotine receptors, it would seem, might also have some effect. Then re-thinking velocity, greater velocity would, to me, suggest more likelihood of impact in the first stages of the vapor/mist entering the body. That is, in the mouth and oral cavity area and less for impaction in deeper respiratory areas. "Hot vapes" might also desensitize for awhile similar to the mentioned accidental burning mentioned.

 

[wdave]

Another interesting theory. Do you taste it in soft palate and/or back of throat too?

Honestly I never thought about it till now. I just thought I was weird.

 

[JustaGuy]

From Dr. Connelly:

Good news -

"a tongue potentially having eight to 10,000 sensory bumps...
many smokers who have quit report a marked increase in taste."

Bad news -

"taste buds get replaced with new ones about every two weeks (long recovery)...
As we get older, people lose the ability to detect tastes on the roof and sides of the mouth. The taste buds will drop to the "2,000 - 5,000" range"

So, taste buds are located everywhere in and around the mouth. I assume the different dispersion and concentrations for each person account for the different "sweet spots", as well as the varying vaping equipment/methods?

 

[wdave]

From Dr. Connelly:

Good news -

"a tongue potentially having eight to 10,000 sensory bumps...
many smokers who have quit report a marked increase in taste."

Bad news -

"taste buds get replaced with new ones about every two weeks (long recovery)...
As we get older, people lose the ability to detect tastes on the roof and sides of the mouth. The taste buds will drop to the "2,000 - 5,000" range"

So, taste buds are located everywhere in and around the mouth. I assume the different dispersion and concentrations for each person account for the different "sweet spots", as well as the varying vaping equipment/methods?

Hmmm.... I know what I'll be thinking about tonight when I should be paying bills

 

[JustaGuy]

Hmmm.... I know what I'll be thinking about tonight when I should be paying bills

Well, try not to lose any sleep.

This brings up another point. Smoking and vaping probably involve all senses, hand/lips holding the object, seeing the smoke and vapor, hearing the sizzle and actually smelling and tasting it. Ever try vaping with the eyes closed?

 

[DaveP]

Well, try not to lose any sleep.

This brings up another point. Smoking and vaping probably involve all senses, hand/lips holding the object, seeing the smoke and vapor, hearing the sizzle and actually smelling and tasting it. Ever try vaping with the eyes closed?

All the more reason to search for the holy grail in juices, the one that when you vape it, you know it's the one. At least we'll be able to taste it when we lose half our taste buds.

 

[JustaGuy]

All the more reason to search for the holy grail in juices, the one that when you vape it, you know it's the one. At least we'll be able to taste it when we lose half our taste buds.

Yes, sadly, those little buds' days are numbered.

Maybe the holy grail of juices resides with Sirs Percival and Galahad as well...

 

[JW50]

All the more reason to search for the holy grail in juices, the one that when you vape it, you know it's the one. At least we'll be able to taste it when we lose half our taste buds.

There was another thread that suggested that vaping is anything but plug and play. Which batt, which voltage, which type of atty, which e-liquid and all the variables change with each vape. Get that holy grail today and by afternoon one may be wonder where it went. Now we know we have the other variable of how many taste buds survived the day.

 

[JustaGuy]

There was another thread that suggested that vaping is anything but plug and play. Which batt, which voltage, which type of atty, which e-liquid and all the variables change with each vape. Get that holy grail today and by afternoon one may be wonder where it went. Now we know we have the other variable of how many taste buds survived the day.

I think the thread you saw was "Are We Asking Too Much" by Iffy. Good read!

 

[Morgythekilla]

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.

Yes, I think "head" is seemingly more involved there as well... So hahaha funny... Anyway, most of us were smokers, so our tastebuds are hardy. I think that we have the most taste buds in the mid tounge region. Don't most of you kind of kick the back of your tounge up as your inhaling?? The front of my tounge doesn't even matter for taste.

 

[wdave]

I think the thread you saw was "Are We Asking Too Much" by Iffy. Good read!

No--all the complications are just rantings of egomaniacs and addictive personality types. We INSIST on making things complicated even when they are really very simple

 

[JustaGuy]

I get most of the taste from the initial hit and I french inhale a little to add to the aroma. I don't inhale deeply. Most of the sensation occurs in the mouth and nasal passages for me.

An interesting fact that I read is that the particles in smoke are actually ash and tar from the products of combustion. They are small enough to enter the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs and some actually remain to irritate the tissue. This irritation can cause the development of scar tissue and the creation of a tumor over time.

Ecig juices produce a vapor that contains particles that are much, much larger than tobacco smoke particles and they don't actually enter the alveoli and are exhaled or coughed back up. This is good news. Your lungs can rid themselves of the products of vaping, making vaping a much safer activity. There are no products of combustion. Vapor is more like steam than smoke.

Just saw this post!?

Yes, I heard the same, smoke particles are smaller, also gets absorbed more/easier. IMO, we get very different hits from vaping.

I draw into mouth, move it around some, mostly around the back of mouth, into lungs, out through nose and sometimes French too. Don't sense much in the nose, don't really smell it, but when it's stuffed, vaping suffers, so must be something there. I think my soft palate does most the work, right where the mouth ends and throat begins.

 

[JustaGuy]

Yes, I think "head" is seemingly more involved there as well... So hahaha funny... Anyway, most of us were smokers, so our tastebuds are hardy. I think that we have the most taste buds in the mid tounge region. Don't most of you kind of kick the back of your tounge up as your inhaling?? The front of my tounge doesn't even matter for taste.

No, not much on the tip of the tongue, except words. My tongue could be shot coz most my vaping taste comes from soft palate on the roof of mouth, back part of tongue too. Strange thing, when eating, the whole mouth is involved with tastes. No, don't kick the tongue up...interesting.

edit: wait! Just caught myself flapping the tongue while exhaling through nose, been doing this unconsciously and didn't know.

No--all the complications are just rantings of egomaniacs and addictive personality types. We INSIST on making things complicated even when they are really very simple

It seems simple enough, juice to a powered atty somewhere, but I must say vaping is a lot more complicated than smoking. And not everyone is mechanically inclined or want to be. With so many options, I can see newbies getting lost.