Introduction
This is a qualitative review of the e-liquids and e-cigarettes I sampled in my quest for "The Right Liquid." I created this for myself, but was asked by a "vet' to post as it might be useful to others engaged in similar searches, so here it is.
Background
I am an ex-Marlboro smoker searching for a tobacco-flavored e-liquid that my body finds appealing. I quit cold turkey 6 weeks ago because after 40 years I decided it was past time. Nevertheless, I truly did enjoy smoking cigarettes and I miss them. I would welcome a satisfactory and healthy replacement.
Like most tobacco smokers. I was adamant about smoking only one particular brand of cigarette. This is not just due to taste, but also the pure satisfaction of feeling one's body react to what's being inhaled. It simply "felt good" -- and was therefore regarded with strong anticipation. However, the "feel good" experience is much harder to achieve with e-liquids.
(digression) It's worth noting that most people expect cigarettes to taste a certain way. If you bum a Marlboro from someone, you know exactly how it will taste and feel before you light up. Disposable e-cigarette companies (Blu, Njoy, Logic, etc) are emulating this reasoning by "branding" their flavors. They invested time and money in taste-testing before settling on the recipes found in stores. Presumably this is based on the Marketing Department's knowledge of basic human nature. How successful their strategy will be remains to be seen, but considering current prices, few people will be handing out disposable e-cigarettes on request anytime soon.
Methodology
First, please understand: I do not expect people to share my views and tastes. However, as an ex-smoker and an engineer, trial and error was the only method open to me that allowed pragmatic assessment of the full vaping experience. Every liquid was assessed in exactly the same way. I always used empty cartomizers (clear variety, long wicks) freshly cleaned with Everclear and dried. I used a 1300 mAh variable-voltage (3.3v to 4.8v) and 600 mAh fixed voltage batteries. I rinsed my mouth and waited 2-4 hours before trying each liquid. I included some disposables because I had tried them, no other reason.
I am an old stick-in-the-mud, so I set two simple goals: (1) I want good tobacco flavor (I'll pass on "Banana Raspberry Peppermint Creamsicle" and such). (2) The tobacco-vapor "experience" must equal or surpass that of a cigarette. Turns out that's asking a lot.
There are numerous factors to consider, analogous to sampling wine. Whereas a given liquid may "taste good," it can also make you feel "funny." It may have an unpleasant aroma. It may have a satisfying flavor, but leave an unpleasant aftertaste. It may have a good throat hit but produce insufficient vapor. Additionally, there is a pleasure component causing us to "look forward" to a particular sensation in context; i.e. there are certain activities enhanced by smoking (after a meal, watching television, driving, etc). Cigarettes did that very well. It was one of the reasons they were so hard for me to quit. However, experience suggests that vaping can potentially be just as pleasurable as cigarettes. The trick is to find "The Right Liquid."
Vendors make it challenging. Personal vaping is an evolving market, still in its infancy. Although some e-liquid vendors have their acts together. many vendors publish little (if any) information describing the liquids they offer. Often you merely find flavor names in a pulldown menu and nothing more (you're "just supposed to know"). On the other hand, coming up with the right words to describe taste and the resulting sensations can be challenging (try describing the experience of eating butter-broiled fresh scallops to someone). It's also worth noting that voltage can have a pronounced effect on flavor. Higher voltages sometimes produced better results. It's a dilemma.
Results
For myself, this was a worthwhile exercise. I did indeed find "The Right Liquid" (I actually found 3 favorites), plus a few others I can reorder with confidence. The winners cost more than I would have liked, but I know what I like and I'm spending less than a buck a day, so no complaints here. Bottom line: I can finally enjoy vaping going forward without wasting time trying things I don't want.
Here's my review for what it's worth, listed in the order I tried them.
(I'm sure most people will disagree. Probably no two people anywhere would agree with this.)
| Source | Origin | Flavor or Brand | Base Mix | Nicotine | Size (ml) | Price per ml | Remarks | Rating 1-10 |
| Blu | USA | "Classic" (disposable) | 100VG | 2.0mg | 1.5 | $6.63 | Pervasive tobacco flavor with strong sweetness, very much unlike an actual cigarette. Vapor is realistic, almost like real smoke. Lasted 4 hours. Acceptable experience but low rating due to high price. Excellent waste of money. | 3.0 |
| Njoy | USA | "Traditional" (disposable) | Not stated | 4.5mg | 1.5 | $5.33 | Strong throat hit, close to a real cigarette (100% PG?). Tastes "funny," reminds me of "generic" cigarettes formerly sold in grocery stores. Lasted 2 hours. Low rating due to high price. People will buy them anyway. | 3.3 |
| Logic | USA | "Black Label" (disposable) | Not stated | 2.4mg | 1.5 | $5.33 | About halfway between Blu and Njoy, main difference being that it only lasted 1/2 hour (weak battery?). Absurdly high price in view of results, but they'll sell nonetheless. Low rating due to high price & short life. | 2.5 |
| Fasttech | China | "555" | 50PG 50VG | 2.4mg | 10 | $0.19 | It's "Ok" but expected better, dark color, slightly bitter, may improve after steeping, less flavor and vapor than other 555's, ridiculously low cost. | 6.7 |
| Fasttech | China | "Camel" | 50PG 50VG | 2.4mg | 10 | $0.19 | Strong "musky" flavor, reminiscent of Camel cigarettes & Turkish tobacco. dark color, powerful feel, less vapor than others. It'll do for a spare. | 5.9 |
| Fasttech | China | "Marlboro" | 50PG 50VG | 2.4mg | 10 | $0.19 | Strong tobacco flavor, good throat hit at 4.8 volts. Color got darker after it had warmed up. Doesn't taste like Marlboro, might do in a pinch. | 7.1 |
| Fasttech | China | "Virginia" | 50PG 50VG | 2.4mg | 10 | $0.19 | Bleeah!!! Strong "metallic" flavor, thoroughly unappealing. dark color, low vapor, bad aftertaste like a wet cigarette. Give this one away. | 2.0 |
| Fasttech | China | "Tobacco" | 50PG 50VG | 2.4mg | 10 | $0.19 | Big surprise! Expected "generic" but it's the best of the Fasttech group. Dark color but decent taste and aroma, solid throat hit, plentiful vapor. More "Marlboro-like" than the Fasttech "Marlboro" liquid. | 7.9 |
| Nhaler | USA | "555" | 75PG 25VG | 2.4mg | 30 | $0.60 | Well done! Light color, sweet nutty tobacco taste, "just right" throat hit, goes with everything. Great at 3.3v, superb at 4.8v. My body really likes this mix, I find myself looking forward to it. Girls say vapor aroma is "like perfume." | 9.4 |
| Nhaler | USA | "USA Mix" | 75PG 25VG | 2.4mg | 30 | $0.60 | Excellent cigarette substitute. Distinctive flavor (closest "Marlboro" flavor so far). Solid throat hit at all voltages, nice after a meal, exercise or while working. Clean and very satisfying. | 9.2 |
| Nhaler | USA | "Virginia" | 75PG 25VG | 1.2mg | 30 | $0.60 | Fresh flavor, lots of vapor, but throat hit is too light for me, I prefer a stronger, distinctive taste. Great "starter" juice. Save as a gift for some lucky recipient. | 6.9 |
| EC Blend | USA | "555" | 70PG 30VG | 2.4mg | 15 | $0.42 | (freshly mixed, steeped 10 days) Not bad. Light pinkish color, warm nutty tobacco flavor plus something unidentifiable, good throat hit, flavor a little weak, may improve with age. Better at higher voltages. Good with coffee/tea. | 7.5 |
| EC Blend | USA | "Chocolate Hazelnut Tobacco" | 70PG 30VG | 2.4mg | 15 | $0.42 | (freshly mixed, steeped 10 days) This was purely a lark, I like chocolate so thought Id try it. Surprisingly good, perhaps because it mixes well with tobacco. Darker liquid, clean mixture, all flavors present, could be sweeter, excellent throat hit, nice aftertaste. Inhaling chocolate is a bit weird but it makes me smile! | 8.0 |
| EC Blend | USA | "Coffee Your Way" ("Hazelnut Coffee" | 70PG 30VG | 2.4mg | 15 | $0.42 | (freshly mixed, steeped 10 days) Just an experiment. My first (and only) attempt at a custom e-liquid. It's OK but that's all. The flavors (Coffee, Hazelnut, sweetener) are all there, but inhaling coffee is far less satisfying than drinking it. Was worth a try. Makes me appreciate what flavor mixers must go through to come up with good products. | 4.9 |
| EC Blend | USA | "7 Leaf Tobacco" | 70PG 30VG | 2.4mg | 15 | $0.42 | (freshly mixed, steeped 10 days) Close to a winner. Very light liquid, rock-solid tobacco flavor, excellent taste reminiscent of a light cigarette. Good throat hit, lots of vapor, clean aftertaste, nice aroma. Satisfying and pleasant. | 8.7 |
| EC Blend | USA | "Lumberjack" | 70PG 30VG | 2.4mg | 15 | $0.42 | (freshly mixed, steeped 10 days) Website says "Earthy and strong, long-lasting tobacco flavor balance. Sweet and Rough." I agree. Big throat hit, has a "punch" reminiscent of Canadian cigarettes. Good with coffee/tea. | 8.2 |
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