General thoughts on recreating, cloning, or just trying to "get close," to a commercial
e-liquid:
-- Commercial liquid is often highly flavored (for resent ex/still-smokers to be able to taste), and highly sweetened (it is the last "flavor" to disappear from a abused palate). So... don't automatically discount higher flavor percentages; and always consider using a sweetener.
--Commercial liquids have to be profitable. Manufacturers are not going to add an ingredient unless it is absolutely necessary. They will also use the cheapest ingredient they can that will provide the desired result. So... be wary of needlessly busy recipes; and focus on core concentrate manufacturers (FW, TFA, CAP, and
maybe FA)(Exception: INW Shisha Strawberry; which is a good "artificial" strawberry useful for providing that "gooey" strawberry note.).
--Consider how long the commercial liquid has been around. A 4 year old recipe is not likely to be using concentrates that have just come to market in the last 6 months.
A couple of random thoughts on strawberry boosters:
-- INW Cactus is found useful, by many, to add juiciness. So is Pear (most brands). And, when used at lower percentages, won't try to dominate the intended strawberry profile.
-- TFA Dragon Fruit, and most Raspberry concentrates, are good for "filling out" strawberry flavors (making them more "strawberry-y"), without being particularly identifiable themselves. Again, keep percentages low; they are there to enhance the strawberry not stand out on their own.
