Seems i just need a whole lot more of practice and get the % spot on that works for me.
You said a lot in that one sentence.
Different hardware, different setups of that hardware (resistance, coils, wicking, airflow, power/temp, etc.), even the different
ways we vape (short duration, gentle inhales; long duration, powerful inhales; and all types in between), can all influence how any e-liquid may taste. And, that doesn't even address the idea, that we all taste things differently. One of the most repeated phrases one hears regarding DIY is: "taste is subjective."
I may like concentrate
A at 5%, while another ECF member likes it at 8%, and maybe a YouTube blogger says they like it at 3%. It doesn't mean one of us is right; and the other two are wrong. It simply means, for each of us (and all our variations, and preferences); we need to be using concentrate
A at different percentages, to get our own individual "best" vaping experience.
And, the only way I know of learning that, is by experimenting.
Remember there is a reason commercial e-liquid manufacturers can charge as much as they do. It is not because they have access to magical ingredients we can't get. And, it is not because they possess mystical skills that were handed down from on high. It is because they took the time to learn about the ingredients they use and how best to use them. Time, many vapers don't have, or aren't willing to invest. Those vapers would rather pay someone else to do it for them.
DIY only takes time, patience, reasonable expectations, and a willingness to take baby steps. Don't get frustrated from experiments that don't come out the way you hoped. Learn what you can from them. Take detailed notes; so you don't have to repeat the same experiments later.
To preserve your inventory of ingredients; keep your experiments small. I find (especially for single flavor testers (aka. "SFT"s)) for my purposes, that 5-10mL is usually plenty. I can even sometimes repurpose those SFTs; by using them to create combinations (e.g. 1 part SFT #1, to 3 parts SFT #2).
Only have a rta so mixing and testing on one device, will hopefully get a rda soon to just test, they selling the wotofo freakshow for $10 by a shop here, maybe that with a cheap mod just for testing my diy juice.
Do keep in mind, different atomizers can produce different quantity, and quality of flavor. A dripper, with large exotic coils, may make any given e-liquid taste differently, than an RTA that is using manufacturer drop-in coils.
This does not mean you can't use a dripper as a testing device (it does make tasting multiple recipes easier). It only means, what tastes great in the dripper, may require a little further tweaking to taste its best in the RTA. It could be as simple as a power/temperature adjustment. Or opening up, or closing off, the airflow. Or, it could mean minor tweaking of the recipe itself. Start with the simple changes, and only move on to the more complex adjustments if needed.
The problem with my mixing is it tasted like nothing, so going away from the bake flavors and going to try single fruits think i should get a clearer taste with it.
I have to agree with previous replies; in that I think you were likely using too much. In the early days of vaping hardware (that were using tiny coils and wicks, with low power supplies) did require higher percentages to taste their best. But, for many DIYer's palates; as hardware has improved, concentrate percentages have gone down.
Whenever I am starting to experiment with a new (to me) concentrate, I will check reference sites (like All The Flavors, Reddit, and E-liquid Recipes), to see how others are using it. Then I can determine a general range for its probable use. I will then start at (or slightly below) the low end of the range for mixing my own test batches. If it is really all over the board; I may even mix several, at various percentages. This can be especially advantageous, for flavors that have a reputation for requiring long-term aging, as they can all age simultaneously.
I am writing another novel here (sorry
); so the last thing I will mention, is maintaining reasonable expectations... especially when doing SFTs. Many concentrates, by them selves, are only concerned with creating "that" specific flavor as accurately as they can. It may
not taste complete all by itself.
Flavor notes, like "creamy," "sweet," "rich," "moist," "dense," and a bunch of other descriptors that are often prolific in recipe reviews; can often be missing in a single concentrate. This is why many (most?) recipes contain two, or more ingredients... and is what (I think?)
@zoiDman was eluding to.
TFA (the one you have the most access to), is a particularly good example of this. Look at your single flavor tests, as the first step, for finding enjoyable combinations.
As you start doing your single flavor experiments; don't do them with the expectation of finding the perfect stand-alone vape (though some can turn out that way). Instead, ask yourself "at what percentage does this taste as good as it can get?" Also, as you are making your notes; record what it might be lacking, what might be good with it, and what your general impressions of it are.
That said, there is a growing segment of the concentrate industry, that is focusing on creating complete (more complex) concentrates which are intended to be used by themselves. These are often called one-shot concentrates.
I know you mentioned getting ingredients locally is difficult for you in South Africa. And, I don't know what (if any) restrictions you may have, for buying on line. But, if you have access these newer one-shot offerings (like the OSDIYS concentrate zoiDman linked), they may be something to consider.
Okay, I said I was going to quit for now, but I can't seem to stop myself.
When you are ready to start combining individual flavors... don't use each of them at your full (preferred) strength. Each ingredient is only making up a part of the overall recipe.
In other words; if you liked TFA Caramel (original) at 5% when vaping it by itself, and you like TFA Vanilla Swirl at 4%,
Say you wanted to make a creamy caramel vape. And, after doing your SFT experiments, you learned:
-- you prefer TFA Caramel (original) at 5% when vaping it by itself
and
-- you prefer TFA Vanilla Swirl at 4% when vaped by itself.
You would not then mix 5% Caramel, and 4 % Vanilla Swirl, as it will likely be over flavored.
Instead; think how you might like the flavor to balance. Maybe you want mostly caramel with just a background note of creaminess... kind of like a good rich caramel candy. I would try (to start):
3.5-4% TFA Caramel (original) (for the main flavor profile)
and only
1-1.5% TFA Vanilla Swirl (to add the creamy accent without becoming too noticeable itself)
Or, maybe you are looking for more of a caramel flavored ice cream. In this instance the ice cream needs to be more center stage, and the caramel is only providing the interesting secondary notes. I might start with something like:
3-3.5% TFA Vanilla Swirl (to give the ice cream its base)
and only
1-1.25% TFA Caramel (original) (to give the ice cream that nice caramel secondary note)
Even though these two recipes are using the exact same ingredients; they will taste noticeably different. And, neither one is using either ingredient at full strength. In DIY; less often tastes better, than more.
Lastly (and I really do promise to quit... for the moment
), I see you also purchased TFA Sweetener; and, if you are used to commercial e-liquids, it can be quite useful. However, I would caution restraint.
Some concentrates already contain (sometimes; significant amounts) sweetener(s). And, like a lot of DIY ingredients; too much sweetener can have an adverse effect. It can mute flavors, and/or impart an unpleasant chemical
So, I always wait until I have vaped (and aged, if necessary) the recipe
without any added sweetener. Then, if something is still missing, will I consider adding additional sweetener. Sweetener itself, requires no aging. Just add it to the mix (again; less is usually more, so start in the 0.5-1% range). Shake thoroughly. And it is ready to be vaped. If it helps, but isn't quite there; add 0.25-0.5% at a time until its to your liking. Just take it slow... it is easier to add, than to take out.
