Why a juice may taste different to different people

[John1952]

One thing I've learned from reading ECF, is that there is no universal opinion on juices. One person's all-day vape might taste like vomit to someone else.

It occurred to me that there are several variables that affect the subjective quality of a particular liquid. For example, nicotine content. Let's say that there are 6 levels of nic content. Also, let's say that there are 10 levels of PG/VG ratio. Let's also assume three levels of steeping: none, some, and optimal. And, just for fun, let's assume that there are 5 levels of voltage that can be used.

So, 6 x 10 x 3 x 5 = 900 potentially different vaping experiences for a single juice flavor.

A person could try one of those 900 options and love it. But that same person could try another of those 900 options and absolutely hate it.

 

[zoiDman]

This is why I don't Read or put much Faith in e-Liquid Reviews.

 

[Mr.Mann]

I do think there is something to be said about a well versed reviewer. Standard likes and dislikes are one thing. However, if you can find and objective source who just tries to give his or her best flavor profile analysis then reviews can be beneficial.

That being said, it still has to do with what you like. There is just so much to choose from that it helps to have some type of consensus before forking over money. Just my take, and I definitely understand yours.

 

[O-Man]

If I see one post with a random liquid suggestion I usually ignore it. However, when you spend enough time on the forum you start seeing some come up time and time again. Once I notice a pattern I start doing my own research and usually end up buying the liquid. That's how I've found 4 really solid everyday vapes. It's such a great feeling knowing I don't NEED to keep trying new liquid. Even though I usually can't help myself. Ha

 

[cskent]

I think the biggest variable is our individual tastes. We don't all like the same foods, and we don't all like the same e-liquids. As far as the variables you listed, you can cook liver, broccoli, or whatever, any way you want to, and most people still won't like it. Same with e-liquid, run it at whatever voltage you want, at any nic level, and any PG/VG ratio, and it still won't taste good to some.

 

[iowajosh]

If you just quit smoking, you don't have as many tastebuds, yes? What people start out liking might change a lot. Also, some people gravitate to smells more while other people gravitate to flavors.

 

[jplanet]

After a year and a half of vaping, I've come to realize that individual taste is only one small part of the mystery around the different reactions to different flavors.

For one thing, whatever juice I am vaping right now will affect how I feel about the next one. For example, if I have one of my favorite cigar flavors, and go to another tobacco flavor, it could taste kind of nasty to me. But, if I have some vanilla in between, it will taste delightful.

It gets more complicated than that, even. I have one tobacco juice that gets better as I keep vaping it - like the way potato chips start to feel nice to crunch on after you've had a few, and you can't stop. But the first few puffs aren't impressive. Others start to lose their flavor after a few hours, and I have to switch to something else and then back again to fully enjoy it.

There was one juice I was vaping constantly over the summer. I got sick, and it was one of the only juices I had around at the time. If I vape it now, all I can think of is the taste in my mouth when I was sick - can't vape that juice any more! But I loved it...used to be that I would panic if I had to go a day without it - now I have 20mls sitting in my drawer unused.

So, even when a reviewer spends all day vaping something, and takes the time to review it in a thorough and methodical way, I still wonder what flavors they were acclimated to just before they had the one they're reviewing...that can totally change everything.

One thing I can say for sure, is that anyone who reviews a juice as they are trying it for the first time NEEDS to put the camcorder away, and vape that juice for a few hours, at least, if not for days, before they do a review. I laugh when I see video reviews of these guys who are telling you about their experience as they are trying it for the first time. There is not a single juice that has the same impression on me after a few days that it initially had with the first few puffs, whether good or bad. If it tastes great on teh first puff, will I get sick of it after an hour? Will it start to lose it's taste? Give me heartburn?

Of course, there are genetics - some people are "super tasters", and only enjoy very subtle flavorings - others don't know they're vaping unless it's cinnamon-infused battery acid! There was a discovery that some people love cilantro, but others have a gene that makes it taste like chemical soap to them. Differences like this must be happening in the vapiong community on a whole other level...

LOL, sorry for the long post, this happens to be something I've given some thought to recently...

 

[liveone]

Also a lot of people have just quit smoking analogs and when they are letting a juice "steep", their taste buds are changing more than the liquid.

In addition, not everyone is using a variable voltage device and I'm finding different juices at different pg/vg mixtures taste different at different wattages (ohm-voltage).

 

[Retriever]

I guess that makes sense, and why finding your individual "sweet spot" can be difficult for so many.

 

[zonezilla]

also with prefilled cartos sometimes the labels are incorrect like how smokeless image mixed up my 555 and freedom flavors that came in my sampler pack

 

[CSpencer516]

I'm a super picky eater, I have yet to find a pickier eater than me haha. My taste buds I guess are very unique, and sensitive. This gives me 2 things. The power to make excellent juice, and a hard time finding juice that I like. I only vape Tammy' (MsTs) strawberry and strawberry bubble-gum. With most PG juices I taste this after taste that I really do not like. To much VG, like 80% is a little to sweet of an after taste. I've tried plenty of juices, but for a fact MsTs strawberry is such a good juice, with no bad PG/VG after tastes. Starting to DIY today, just stalking the mail man for now, so I'll be having some fun tonight!

 

[Uncle Willie]

Taste differs from one person to another .. whether it be e-liquid or a hamburger ..

 

[Kemosabe]

some people are considered "super tasters", meaning they have more tastebuds...by a longshot. i bet this plays a role in not only liking, but also disliking a juice.

 

[Maestro]

Sometimes I wonder how much is due to preference and how much is due to physiology. I remember reading that due to the sulpher in asparagus, a strong smell is produced in the urine for some people. When it was investigated, it was found that the smell was produced in ALL of the people, but only 22% of the population has the genes to smell it. Since flavor is mostly smell, I have often wondered how much of taste preference is due to genetic variations in the ability to detect certain flavors.

 

[billherbst]

I agree with every post in this thread. The variables that affect flavor perception are endless. It's akin to being in an automobile that's stopped at a railroad crossing while a long freight train that stretches from one horizon to the other clickety-clacks it's slower-than-molasses 5-mph journey through the crossing, one box car after another after another after another, seemingly forever.

Having written long reviews of more than 70 RY4s for The Really Big RY4 Roundup thread, I feel that every juice review should come with a three-part disclaimer:

1. "Juice reviews are for entertainment purposes only.
   [*]Your mileage not only might vary, it will vary.
   [*]Regard this and all juice reviews as bogus advice not to be taken seriously."

 

[jplanet]

I agree with every post in this thread. The variables that affect flavor perception are endless. It's akin to being in an automobile that's stopped at a railroad crossing while a long freight train that stretches from one horizon to the other clickety-clacks it's slower-than-molasses 5-mph journey through the crossing, one box car after another after another after another, seemingly forever.

Having written long reviews of more than 70 RY4s for The Really Big RY4 Roundup thread, I feel that every juice review should come with a three-part disclaimer:

1. "Juice reviews are for entertainment purposes only.
   [*]Your mileage not only might vary, it will vary.
   [*]Regard this and all juice reviews as bogus advice not to be taken seriously."

Precisely!

Just about the only thing that might affect my decision to try a juice, is if I keep hearing about it again and again, AND the descriptions of it sound like something appealing to me. That being said, I would say there is still only a 2 in 10 chance that I will enjoy a flavor that meets even that criteria...

 

[Kemosabe]

i put a bit of stock into the opinions of juice reviews from reviewers that also like juices i currently vape. for example, if someone says that they vape green tea all the time and then all of a sudden says HEY this apple pear martini juice is awesome! i'll most likely skip it bc i dont like green tea so they probably dont have the same flavor profile as me.

but OTOH if someone has a nutty tobacco in their daily rotation of vapes, then all of a sudden says MMM i like this malted milkshake juice for example, id be much more likely to try.