DIY E Juice flavor fail no matter what technique I use

[MC Vape]

Ok, so I've been vaping for about 2 moths now. Thanks to that I stopped smoking.
I started making my own ejuice let say more than a month ago. I invested so much money in DIY things like PG, VG, Nicotine, Empty Vials, Aromas...
My disappointment is getting bigger day by day and Im afraid Im gonna get back on cigarettes at some point if I dont find a solution and I really dont want to smoke again.
So before you send me a link of some thread I want to say I was reading all the forums I could in past month or so, doing research and watching youtube videos. So I did my best with the educational part.

So lets start with details of what I was trying and doing.
My PG is USP Kosher bought from myfreedomsmokes
My VG is USP grade NOW and Heritage Store both bought from Whole Foods
Nicotine base is 25 PG/ 75 VG 24mg bought from myfreedomsmokes
Aromas are Capella, TFA, INA, FA, LorAnn bought from myfreedomsmokes and Wizardlabs

So first I made ejuice of Capella Vanilla Custard. It was 70PG/30VG 15% aroma
I mixted it,shake good, let it breathe over night.
After 2 days tried it. Flavor almost none. I left it and forgot it for 3 weeks. After that the flavor was there but kind of muted. Something was missing.

All my other tried were mostly 40PG/60VG but I've tried 50-50, 30-70 and got back to 70PG/30VG again.
Aroma % start was around 10%. BAD! Jumped to 15% still bad. Went to 25% still barely feel flavor. Then drop down to 5% because I was thinking maybe I am overdoing aroma but at 5% there was no flavor at all.

I've tried Pear LA, Vanilla Custard CAP, Raspberry CAP, Sweet Watermelon CAP, 3 Five INA, Kentucky Bourbon TFA, Virginia FA, Strawberry Ripe TFA, Mocha TFA, Cantaloupe TFA, Hazelnut CAP.
I was adding Ethyl Maltol TFA, Sweetener TFA, Marshmallow CAP in hope Im gonna boost my flavor but still nothing. It was definitely better with sweetener but still muted and kind of hidden.

My last hope was adding lemon juice and/or Vinegar. Still no success!

So I've tried all the techniques and approaches that I could find online and nothing seems to work.
I am still wondering do those ejuice companies use some additives to make their juices sooo delicious and of course they keep that as a secret?!

I even changed the coil as soon as I try my new ejuice and I was drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and nothing helped. Buuuttt, as soon as I start vaping the juice I bought from the store bamm the flavor is there, rich and full even if I can say their juice is 40PG/60VG or even 35PG/65VG.
How the hell they do it?!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention my steeping methods. First I tried the simple method. Mix it, shake it good and let it sit. No good.
Then I tried mix, shake, warm water cup, shake, let is sit for couple of days. No good!
Mix, shake, microwave for 3-5 sec, shake, let it sit. Not good
I even let my bottles in warm car and still nothing.
Tried with cap on and cap off, tried breathing, tried everything and nothing seems to work!!!

I've been vaping with 20W mod and Nautilus Mini Atomizer. The juices I've used and they are really good are from Avail Vapor store. You can smell their juice even without opening the bottle. They are strong on flavor and rich when you vape them. HOW, HOW, HOW???!!!

Please help but please read all I've wrote because I tried
all I suppose to so its not the process. All of the people do the same and they are happy with their juices, not me!

Am I gonna be happy vaping again or Im am going back to be unhappy smoker again?

THANK YOU GUYS!!!

 

[retired1]

Moved to DIY E-Liquid

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

hi @MC Vape . My sink drain knows a lot of my creations. Though you don't like links you might want to look at these percentage charts :

google search "Dampfaromen-Prozente" spread sheets google doc

http://www.v-ecigs.com/tfa-flavor-percentage-recommendations/

Sometimes too much flavoring is less flavor. It's difficult to explain but its like there is a magic number or flavor combo you have to hit. You might also try some tried and true recipes. I looked at the Capella V custard in a chart and it says the magic number is 12% (plus custards need to steep). I speed steep my juices using an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. I do 15 8 minute cycles for 2 hours followed by an over night breathe. (you can get a UC with larger timers so you don't have to reset it as often) Then my juice is usually good to vape. Custards and creams take a good 10 days to two weeks to develop. Tobacco's generally take a month.

I would advise by starting with a clone recipe.
http://www.reddit.com/r/DIY_eJuice/comments/350kul/solid_list_of_diy_clones/ <--Clones
http://www.lediypourlesnuls.com/ <--great French site in English (Clones)
http://www.kritikalmass.net/products.asp?cat=Clone+Recipes
"e-liquid-recipes" <--google for the website

These two blogs have a lot of info, and the first one has a ton of links.
Dannyv45 - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/dannyv45.130984/
Hoosier - https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/hoosier.28401/

Your gear is good, I've had a few of the Nautilus.

Good luck in your journey.

 

[AndriaD]

How do you feel about strawberry?

Inawera Shisha Strawberry 16%
TFA DX Bavarian Cream 6%
TFA Vanilla Swirl 4.5%
CAP Sweet Cream 2%
TFA Sweetener 2% - 2.5%

No steeping required, or no more than 24 hrs. That's why I use so much flavoring. You could try other brands than those listed, but I can't guarantee results. I do know that NO other strawberry flavor even comes close to the shisha strawberry for true, authentic strawberry flavor. As far as I'm able to determine, this mix is diketone-free... and is absolutely delicious; it's been my ADV for about 10 months now. I've never tasted a single juice, DIY or pre-made, as good as this one.

Andria

 

[dannyv45]

Thats a tuff one. You seem to have done your research and doing everything right and have tried just about everything in the book. So I don't think it's anything your doing wrong. I stopped using TFA flavors because there so hard to get right. There seems to be a very small sweet spot as far as getting percentages right with those. Not enough flavoring and theres no taste. To much flavoring results in the same thing. Capp and FA flavors seem to be pretty decent when first mixed but fade to quickly. I've narrowed my flavorings to Inawera for everything other then tobaccos and Hangsen for tobaccos. I find that there pretty consistent at between 2 - 3% for inawera and 5 - 7% for hangsen across the entire flavor line and there pretty forgiving as far as under or over flavoring. So my suggestion is to try those 2 manufactures. Sorry I can't give you more help then that but you seem to have everything else down. A good place to get those are http://www.bullcityvapor.com/

I have a pretty extensive blog that may give you some finer details on DIY including some tricks and tips you have not herd of before such as how to tame that harsh base and getting that base ready for flavoring as well as flavoring tips and many other DIY topics so have a look.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/dannyv45.130984/

 

[MC Vape]

Thanks for your help guys! I am still kind of lost.
I was even thinking to take things to another level and buy a crock pot or even ultrasonic cleaner but after I make and steep my juice naturally for 3 weeks and still after that something is missing I said to myself nooo I dont want to waste money on USC because that is not gonna make my juice any better.
I am thinking of buying different mod and tank but still afraid nothing gonna change since all the people say my small mod and my tank are good enough. Itaste MVP 3.0 Pro and Kanger Subtank Mini are on my mind but Im still afraid my juices not gonna taste good. Maybe its the brand of aromas I use like dannyv45 says Idk.
Anyways HOW I just dont know HOW those juices that I buy from Avail Vapor smell and taste soo good and their flavor last so long even if the bottle sits for couple of weeks or a month? It never fades!
My DIY juice somehow dont smell strong enough (even if aroma itself is strong af) and they taste different, kind of bitter, sweet, cloudy and their juices taste clean like I want my DIY to taste. There is nothing in between, sweet enough, clean vape taste, all you feel is that flavor inside of the juice, no bitterness nothing chemically even if they are 40PG/60VG or even 35PG/65VG!
I am sure that I am doing everything properly from what I've leaned online because vaping became my hobby and my obsession and I like to be exact in everything including making my own juice but no no and no far away from what I was expecting.
Honestly I already have cigarettes on my mind even if I dont want to go back to smoking.
Buying 15ml bottle from Avail Vapor for $11.99 plus shipping is wayyy to expensive even if their juice taste very good!

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

A very simple recipe is named Mustard Milk (at e-liquid-recipes) 6% Strawberry, 8% Vanilla bean Ice cream. You might give it a try it's pretty fail proof. Doesn't matter if you use TFA or Capellas in this one, though he used TFA in the original.

Also you didn't say if you were using a juice calculator... so here's a couple links :
http://ejuice.breaktru.com/ <--download I use
http://ecigvape.com/pgvg_calculator.php <---online

 

[AndriaD]

Or this one from ecigvape... It's my favorite because it's so configurable.

DIY E-Liquid Calculator Ten Flavors With Nicotine Plus PG/VG Adjusting

Andria

 

[sketchness]

I think the mod and tank might not be a bad idea. My juices taste great in a dripper which is pretty much all I use but are still muted in a tank significantly.

The other thing you might try is a different nicotine. Or at least test your base. High quality nicotine makes it easier as it doesn't mute your flavors. You can try a sample from nude nicotine for $2 for 15mls.

Finally. I use tfa flavors but only as accents. My main flavor is generally something else. You also might try Andrias mix or one of Bills mixes over in the tfa thread.

I hope you stay off the smokes and find something you like.

 

[MC Vape]

Yeah I've been using EJuice mu up calculator.
Now all flavors I have in my arsenal are:
Strawberry Ripe TFA
Pear LA
Mocha TFA
Vanilla Custard CAP
Virginia FA
Cantaloupe TFA
Strawberry and Cream TFA
Apricot CAP
Raspberry CAP
Sweet Watermelon CAP
Kentucky Bourbon TFA
Hazelnut CAP
Red Type Blend TFA
Am4A INA
3 Five INA
Marshmallow CAP
Ethyl Maltol TFA
Sweetener TFA

Here's the recipe I used to make Vanilla Custard Mocha Ejuice
It was made on 10/17/15
After 14 full days of steeping I am vaping it right now. It doesnt taste good at all. TH is ok, vape production is ok as always but like every time flavor is muted and missing.

 

[AndriaD]

Yeah I've been using EJuice mu up calculator.
Now all flavors I have in my arsenal are:
Strawberry Ripe TFA
Pear LA
Mocha TFA
Vanilla Custard CAP
Virginia FA
Cantaloupe TFA
Strawberry and Cream TFA
Apricot CAP
Raspberry CAP
Sweet Watermelon CAP
Kentucky Bourbon TFA
Hazelnut CAP
Red Type Blend TFA
Am4A INA
3 Five INA
Marshmallow CAP
Ethyl Maltol TFA
Sweetener TFA

Here's the recipe I used to make Vanilla Custard Mocha Ejuice
It was made on 10/17/15
After 14 full days of steeping I am vaping it right now. It doesnt taste good at all. TH is ok, vape production is ok as always but like every time flavor is muted and missing.

I think you should try an inexpensive single-coil RDA; the Magma is a good choice -- clone, of course. Not a great option for taking out and about, because they often leak, but for great flavor, they're hard to beat, and very easy to build. That way you could ascertain if the problem is really the ejuice.

Andria

 

[sketchness]

You are missing the supporting creams and vanillas that most of us use. Also acetyl pyrazine is missing for your tobaccos.

What I can say is at 2 months most of my mixes were pretty terrible.

And if I were trying to mix that flavor profile mine would look something like:

Cap vc v1 12%
cap sweet cream 2%
Tfa vanilla swirl 2%
Cap cappuccino 4%. (Never tried tfa mocha)

 

[JD1]

...............................

Am I gonna be happy vaping again or Im am going back to be unhappy smoker again?

THANK YOU GUYS!!!

At the risk of sounding mean, let me be blunt. Shouldn't your question be 'Am I gonna be a happy diy'er or am I going to be unhappy buying that high priced vendor juice'??? Because surely the vendor juice is still less expensive than ciggies, plus ciggies don't taste all that great anymore either, what with all the junk that's added to them. All I'm saying is, don't scuttle yourself too quickly here. Sometimes things take a fair amount of time to accomplish.

Anyways, I'd recommend giving this a try for at least 3 weeks or so.
1. Mix some unflavored at a slightly higher percent nic for your morning vape and for the first couple of hours don't vape anything else. tip: a couple drops of Koolada per 5ml is great for a "mostly unflavored" vape.
2. Next up would be one of your own mixes. Re-read Danny's post above about the different flavor companies. Some good info there imo.
3. Reward time. Get two or three of your favorite vendor juices for the evening. Hey, it's still cheaper than ciggies, right?

Don't be surprised when you start turning on your vendor juices. You'll probably start liking your own mixes better.

Anyways, best of luck to you.

 

[Robert Cromwell]

I would be no help here. I mix CAP Vanilla Custard at 1.5 ml/30 ml of 50/50. And like it.
I vape at 7-8 watts in a Kanger T3S.

 

[wheelie]

I have never mixed a bottle I never vaped. Most I liked and ones that not so good I vaped till it was finished and never mixed another one. I now have seven or eight really good ones and still test new ones that I come across in 30ml samples to see if I want to mix another. When I can vape the same for an entire week I know I am on to something. CHEERS!

 

[MC Vape]

Thanks sketchness for all of your advice's!
Honestly I was trying to make 1 flavor ejuice before I step up and start mixing more flavors but even with just single flavor they still suck!
Is acetyl pyrazine bad to inhale?
And yes maybe my nicotine is killing the flavor. Somehow just after mixing ejuice smells strong almost like the aroma itself but day by day its weaker and weaker.
I just dont understand how those juices from Avail Vapor smell so delicious and strong and they are good when you vape them too? My DIY is not even close.

 

[MC Vape]

And I really like Vanilla Custard flavor. Avail Vapor just made Ejuice named Capstone and it was Vanilla. After I made my first juice just Vanilla Custard itself and I let it breathe close to my bed I could feel it and I said to myself nice this one smells exactly like Capstone! Tried it tomorrow felt that same taste just a little and I was like Im on a good way let me just let it steep. After 3 weeks changed the color to dark yellow taste was better but far away from the Capstone. So I was like maybe it was to much of flavor. Let me try 10% instead of 15%. On 10% flavor was weaker. I got disappointed.

 

[wheelie]

I have French Vanilla and/or Bavarian Crème and/or Vanilla Custard in 90% of my mixes. Yes your list does not have very many mixers. Vanilla Swirl, Carmel. Sweet Crème, Graham Cracker, Marshmallow are all mixers. Most of mine have 3,4,5 mixers and then a flavor or two. I always stay under 20% flavoring. But I aim for 10% to 15% flavoring. Good luck to you.

Out of your list that you already have I would try:
Vanilla Custard 10%
Mocha 5%
Hazelnut 2%
Marshmellow 3%

CHEERS!

 

[MC Vape]

Thanks JD1!
What Im gonna do right now Im gonna mix just 40PG/60VG mix no flavor and around 15mg of nic. Usually I vape between 8-10mg of nic.
I was always wondering does maybe my nic or even my VG bought from Whole Foods is killing my DIY Juice flavor?

 

[MC Vape]

I have French Vanilla and/or Bavarian Crème and/or Vanilla Custard in 90% of my mixes. Yes your list does not have very many mixers. Vanilla Swirl, Carmel. Sweet Crème, Graham Cracker, Marshmallow are all mixers. Most of mine have 3,4,5 mixers and then a flavor or two. I always stay under 20% flavoring. But I aim for 10% to 15% flavoring. Good luck to you.

Out of your list that you already have I would try:
Vanilla Custard 10%
Mocha 5%
Hazelnut 2%
Marshmellow 3%

CHEERS!

Thanks brotha!
So I guess all those mixers are kind of the base and all others are just added to the base. Am I right? If I am can you please list me all of the mixers? Also its kind of weird that I can make single fruit flavor juice that taste good. That should be easy right?

This is one of the recipes that I found for 555 tobacco flavor. Its steeped for 11 days now and its kind of interesting. Still something is missing but its addictive.
It tastes like Davidoff cigarettes ejuice or to me something like tobacco flavor with hazelnut when you exhale but again its not that full something is missing, the flavor is kind of behind the vapor thats how I describe it , muted, hidden, on a weak side like covered the same as you would eat pizza and mostly taste flour and feel a littlebit of cheese and pizza sauce as aftertaste. No they should be the main taste not aftertaste.