Looking for a French Vanilla recipe recommendation

[becomingx]

Hi all,

I've been experimenting with different mixes lately trying to come up with something that's at least close to my ADV, Pink Spot Vapors French Vanilla. I LOVELOVELOVE this juice, but it's just too expensive to ship up here to Canada at the rate I've been using it.

The last mix I tried was:

14% FW Vanilla Custard
3% FW Bavarian Cream
3% FW French Vanilla

40/60 PG/VG @ 12mg and steeped about 3.5 - 4 weeks

This is nice and creamy, but not quite as strong or "edge-y" as PSV's French Vanilla. I know I probably won't be able to get a perfect clone, but I want to give it the 'ol college try so I was wondering if anyone could recommend a mix they like based on the flavours I have to play around with.

Flavours I have to work with:

FW French Vanilla
FW Bavarian Cream
FW Vanilla Custard

TPA Sweet Cream
TPA Caramel Candy
TPA Brown Sugar (extra)

FA Coconut

DSV Sweetener

I'd like to stick to combos of these flavours as I just shot my budget on DIY recently, but if you can recommend other flavourings to try I'd love to hear from you as well. I really wanted to give Holy Vanilla from Flavorshack a try but last I checked they don't ship to Canada

Thanks!

 

[Leothwyn]

Sorry, I don't have any advice for the flavors that you have....

The Holy Vanilla is really good, but it's more of a straight vanilla flavor IMO. When you do have some DIY budget, then for a rich, creamy vanilla I'd recommend Capellas Vanilla Custard. Also, Capellas French Vanilla is great. There's a recipe around here that I tried recently, and really, really liked. I think it was 7.5% CAP Vanilla Custard and 3% TPA Dulce de Lece. It's supposed to be a clone of a popular juice called 'Grant's Custard'. Another person in the thread said that they preferred CAP Fr. Van. instead of the Dulce, mixed with the custard.
I think the Holy Van. would be nice mixed with the custard to bring out more vanilla, but for rich and creamy, I think you'll really like having the CAP VC around.

 

[Levitas]

I've really been enjoying One on One's French Vanilla recently. I mix it at 7.5% with 1-2% EM. It reminds me of TFA's French Vanilla, but I think the former is smoother. Then again, it's been quite some time since I've tried TFA's version, so, grain of salt should be taken and what-not.

Capella's Vanilla Custard is really good, but to me it tastes like a sugar cookie.

 

[proteckt3d]

Does anyone know if Bavarian cream should be similar with French Vanilla?

 

[becomingx]

Sorry, I don't have any advice for the flavors that you have....

The Holy Vanilla is really good, but it's more of a straight vanilla flavor IMO. When you do have some DIY budget, then for a rich, creamy vanilla I'd recommend Capellas Vanilla Custard. Also, Capellas French Vanilla is great. There's a recipe around here that I tried recently, and really, really liked. I think it was 7.5% CAP Vanilla Custard and 3% TPA Dulce de Lece. It's supposed to be a clone of a popular juice called 'Grant's Custard'. Another person in the thread said that they preferred CAP Fr. Van. instead of the Dulce, mixed with the custard.
I think the Holy Van. would be nice mixed with the custard to bring out more vanilla, but for rich and creamy, I think you'll really like having the CAP VC around.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm getting some new flavours soon and I'll be sure to try this. I'd seen people talk about Grant's custard before but never looked up a review until Sounds right up my alley.

 

[Cookster]

Does anyone know if Bavarian cream should be similar with French Vanilla?

No, not similar at all.

Flavor West flavorings tend to be on the weaker side. I suggest upping your percentages, try 15% FW French Vanilla and 5% FW Vanilla Custard. Also,TFA Vanillin is a very good, strong Vanilla additive, usually 1 drop per ml. Hope this helps...

 

[proteckt3d]

No, not similar at all.

Flavor West flavorings tend to be on the weaker side. I suggest upping your percentages, try 15% FW French Vanilla and 5% FW Vanilla Custard. Also,TFA Vanillin is a very good, strong Vanilla additive, usually 1 drop per ml. Hope this helps...

It is a bit helpful, though I have a different issue. I already placed my order and I would like to mix a Dragon tears recipe that I found here and wanted to see if what I already have might make a good replacement:

Original:
6% TFA Dragon Fruit
3% TFA Strawberry Ripe
2% FW Bavarian Cream
.5% VZ Cream
2% TFA Vanilla Swirl
1% Sucralose
.25% 10% Citric Acid in PG

Me:
VZ Dragon Fruit
FA Strawberry Ripe
CA French Vanilla
CA Vanilla Custard
EM
0% Citric Acid in PG


My order hasn't arrived yet else I would have tried it to see if it's any good and this thread seems a good place to ask about this
I don't have Vanillin yet, but considering the two vanilla CA's, would I still need it?

 

[Cookster]

Truthfully, I like yours better . The custard should give a creamier flavor, EM is less sweet (to me) than Sucralose, so play around, it's always about what YOU like...

 

[proteckt3d]

Thanks for the nice feedback Cook, that's great. I will post my opinion on it

 

[honeybadger2]

You got to love PSV French vanilla. I became concerned about custard tones and so I just took up DIY. I no longer have any PSV French Vanilla to compare but I am encouraged by my first attempt at recreating it. Made it this evening and started vaping hopefully within a week it tames down a little more.
9 mg nic
10% TFA Irish Cream
10% TFA Malted Milk
Would appreciate any feedback and any ideas on cloning FSV French Vanilla.

 

[we2rcool]

It is a bit helpful, though I have a different issue. I already placed my order and I would like to mix a Dragon tears recipe that I found here and wanted to see if what I already have might make a good replacement:

Original:
6% TFA Dragon Fruit
3% TFA Strawberry Ripe
2% FW Bavarian Cream
.5% VZ Cream
2% TFA Vanilla Swirl
1% Sucralose
.25% 10% Citric Acid in PG

Me:
VZ Dragon Fruit
FA Strawberry Ripe
CA French Vanilla
CA Vanilla Custard
EM
0% Citric Acid in PG


My order hasn't arrived yet else I would have tried it to see if it's any good and this thread seems a good place to ask about this
I don't have Vanillin yet, but considering the two vanilla CA's, would I still need it?

'Not sure what you mean about the Vanillin additive - neither of the recipes call for it (???).

In our exerience, the two Dragonfruits can NOT be used "equally" ...as flavors OR flavor percentages. The VZ is a concentrate and much 'stronger' (as in, one used much less to get the same intensity of flavor). The TFA has much more of the acrid/acid/pineapple-zing than the VZ. The VZ is much sweeter & milder (making it easier to smother/cover-up).

In this thread/recipe, http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-liquid-recipes/450444-amber-dragon.html we opted to try 6% of the TFA Dragonfruit in place of 1.5% of the VZ...and we determined that was a bit too much TFA. In retrospect, we would have used 4.5% - 5% (instead of the 6%)...and left out all the additives (citric acid & sucralose are known to temorarily enhance flavors, and after a few days, actually cause a flavor loss). If we were going to match 6% TFA Dragonfruit in 'flavor intensity', we'd go for 2% VZ Dragonfruit...but even if it's a perfect match for 'flavor strength', it'll still be different because it'll be missing a bit of the acrid/pineapple-type zing of the TFA.

BUT, the nature of your recipe is completely different than the Amber Dragon (which has no creams). All the creams have a tendency to "smother" other flavors somewhat - and in our experience the heavier (buttery/eggy) the cream, the more they smother...with CAP Vanilla Custard being THE heaviest.

In our experience, .5 VZ Cream (intense cream taste, but not very heavy/sweet) and 2% Vanilla Swirl (like soft-serve ice cream or cheap "ice milk" ice cream from the grocery store)...cannot be equaled with French Vanilla Custard and Vanilla Custard The original would be like a top quality, very creamy soft serve ice cream - with the latter being a heavy/rich/thick custard pie or creme brulee.

On the other hand, that doesn't mean it wouldn't be a terrific vape...it's just not going to have the same character as the original! And you might need more flavor to combat the smothering qualities of the French Vanilla/Custard. (Btw, with those two, you probably don't want any more "vanilla").

We'd try:

VZ Dragonfruit 2%
TFA Strawberry Ripe 3%
CA French Vanilla 2/2.5%
CA Vanilla Custard 1%
NO EM (it kills flavors, and the creams are already plenty creamy/smooth and everything else is very sweet...in fact, all of those flavors are sweeter than EM).

If you're wanting a 'strawberry/dragonfruit custard' vape, then you would go up with the Vanilla Custard. But we wouldn't up the Strawberry Ripe or Dragonfruit until after we were sure we needed/wanted it (both of those are very strong and the Strawberry Ripe can easily overwhelm a mix).

'Hope that helps you create a winner!

Edit - I was assuming you're using the VZ SC (Super Concentrate) Dragonfruit http://http://vapingzone.com/product-info.php?Dragon_Fruit_Concentrated_Flavor_-pid898.html, not the one from their DIY-Flavoring line http://vapingzone.com/product-info.php?Dragon_Fruit_Concentrated_Flavor_-pid935.html(which might be one of several different vendors - TFA is one they use, so you might actually have TFA Dragonfruit if you have the DIY-Flavoring line. You can email and ask...but they don't always answer, and sometimes when they do they won't tell :::sigh::

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

I'll let one out this once, LOL....

My Dragon's Blood:

All TFA Flavors:

10% Dragonfruit
5% Strawberry (NOT Ripe)
5% Cotton Candy
4% Bavarian Cream
2.5% Vanilla Cupcake
2% Sweet Cream
1.5% Vanilla Swirl

I always mix to 70% VG, 30% PG, so my mixes usually have between 20% and 30% flavoring, which in itself, requires some experience and effort. With the Creams, and so forth, you can mix that high and not fear the chemical tastes that are so common with high flavor mixes. As always, sweeten to your taste, but my forte is deserts. Two cents...