After testing the 11 Hangsen tobacco flavors I purchased a while back, I thought my findings might be of some use to the forum. These aren't particularly in depth tests, I just tried each at 3%. But they should be useful to give people a starting point when deciding which, if any, of Hangsen's tobacco flavors they want to try out.
I'll give my summation here at the top. Besides a few outliers, there's not much variety with this brand's tobacco flavors, at least the 11 I tried. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. It means there's really no reason to purchase the full line of flavors. And what this brand does offer are some really good, realistic cigarette tobaccos flavors, that aren't sweet, but aren't particularly complex. This is now my go to brand for base flavorings for a cigarette tobacco mix. Seven of them are very similar, and equally good, cigarette tobacco flavors. This is very different than, say, FA, where most of their tobaccos are completely different, with most of them being either love it or hate it.
Please add your thoughts, recipes etc, if you have them. Without further ado, all made at 3% flavoring with and 70% VG:
The Outliers:
BD Tobacco –
12/16/15 – 3% - A nice, pleasant “melon” tobacco flavor. This was put in an RTA after a tank of a light cigarette menthol mix, and the menthol definitely served to “brighten” up the melon notes of this flavor, making it more pronounced and a bit sweeter. After that when away, the melon mellowed out, became less pronounced, and made the flavor taste more “tobacco.” The initial “menthol coolness” detected seems to have been totally provided by the previous tank of menthol light flavor. At this percentage, this is a mild melon flavored light cigarette tobacco vape.
New Bay –
1/9/15 – 3% - this is a citrusy cigarette tobacco vape. Slight coolness with the citrus flavor. Definite, though mild, cigarette tobacco flavor on the exhale. Pleasant standalone at this percentage, if a citrusy cooling tobacco flavor is what you’re after. Not hugely exciting standalone, though seems limited on mixing options. Bringing out the citrus would kill the tobacco flavor, though emphasizing the tobacco, and upping the “cooling” factor could make for a refreshing, fruity cigarette vape.
The Conventional:
Tobacco –
12/8/15 - 3% - has a mild, slightly “papery,” slightly yellow tobacco flavor. Slight sweet note. Could be good as a base at this percentage, with some oakwood, black fire, something with a stronger tobacco flavor, it could make a good cigarette vape. Need to try at 5% next.
Hava Tobacco –
12/9/15 – 3% - slightly smoother than Tobacco at same percentage, still a cigarette tobacco flavor. Less “yellow” than Tobacco, more neutral. Would also work well as a cigarette tobacco base, but not much interest standalone at this percentage. Doesn’t seem to need an increase as much as Tobacco, just needs other flavors added to create a more complex, interesting vape.
Virginia Tobacco –
1/11/15 – 3% - light at this percentage. Not overly “grassy” or “yellow.” Pleasant, but not overly flavorful. Need to increase % in get a feel for this flavor.
Turkish Blended Tobacco –
12/13/15 – 3% - this does have a realistic “Turkish” tobacco, spicy flavor, though it is light at this percentage. Light on the inhale, with the Turkish spice flavor on the exhale. Seems like a good flavor, but need to test at a higher percentage to get the true flavor. – After vaping for a little longer, I wouldn’t say it’s too too weak at this percentage. I would try 4% next as opposed to 5%. The “tobacco” flavor isn’t as present at this percentage with TBT as it is with the other Hangsen flavors I’ve tried, but there is still a tangible cigarette “mouth feel,” no sweetness (outside of the VG poking through a bit), with a light “Turkish” cigarette flavor appearing on the exhale. Not bad at this percentage for a light cigarette flavor on its own. It’s not as “forward” at this percentage that the others, but pleasant if you’re wanting a lighter cigarette flavor that still has some “oomph” to it.
Cigar –
12/18/15 – 3% - not much of a cigar flavor at this percentage. Another cigarette flavor, nice and neutral, no sweetness except maybe the lightest maple note on the exhale. Would be useful as a cigarette base around this percentage.
Smooth –
12/12/15 – 3% - a nice, pleasant cigarette tobacco flavor at this percentage. Not complex, simple, but nice. Neutral, not sweet, but not as dry as Cuba. Would work well as a base for a cigarette flavor.
USA Mix –
12/14/15 – 3% - another useful cigarette tobacco flavor. Good at this percentage. “Tighter” cigarette flavor than these others, dry, not sweet. Simple, not complex. Definitely useful as a base for a cigarette flavor, but doesn’t stand out as being much different from the rest tested thus far.
The Ever So Slightly "Cigarish":
RY3 –
1/8/15 – 3% - more on the cigar side of the tobacco flavors. A bit wet on the inhale, a bit dry on the exhale, a nice balance on that level. A slight “yellow” grassy note adds some complexity. Strong enough standalone at this percentage, but would benefit from being added to a mix, to make for a more interesting cigar tobacco vape.
Cuba –
12/11/15 – 3% - A very nice, mostly neutral “cigar” flavor that, at least at this percentage, also references a more cigarette-like tobacco flavor. Brings to mind tightly wrapped leafs of tobacco. Definite “dryness.” Slight honey note adds a hint of sweetness. Would work very well as a base for a more “tobacco-like” cigarette, or for a cigar base. Pleasant at this percentage standalone for a simple cigar-ish cigarette flavor, dry but with a hint of sweetness for interest.
I'll give my summation here at the top. Besides a few outliers, there's not much variety with this brand's tobacco flavors, at least the 11 I tried. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. It means there's really no reason to purchase the full line of flavors. And what this brand does offer are some really good, realistic cigarette tobaccos flavors, that aren't sweet, but aren't particularly complex. This is now my go to brand for base flavorings for a cigarette tobacco mix. Seven of them are very similar, and equally good, cigarette tobacco flavors. This is very different than, say, FA, where most of their tobaccos are completely different, with most of them being either love it or hate it.
Please add your thoughts, recipes etc, if you have them. Without further ado, all made at 3% flavoring with and 70% VG:
The Outliers:
BD Tobacco –
12/16/15 – 3% - A nice, pleasant “melon” tobacco flavor. This was put in an RTA after a tank of a light cigarette menthol mix, and the menthol definitely served to “brighten” up the melon notes of this flavor, making it more pronounced and a bit sweeter. After that when away, the melon mellowed out, became less pronounced, and made the flavor taste more “tobacco.” The initial “menthol coolness” detected seems to have been totally provided by the previous tank of menthol light flavor. At this percentage, this is a mild melon flavored light cigarette tobacco vape.
New Bay –
1/9/15 – 3% - this is a citrusy cigarette tobacco vape. Slight coolness with the citrus flavor. Definite, though mild, cigarette tobacco flavor on the exhale. Pleasant standalone at this percentage, if a citrusy cooling tobacco flavor is what you’re after. Not hugely exciting standalone, though seems limited on mixing options. Bringing out the citrus would kill the tobacco flavor, though emphasizing the tobacco, and upping the “cooling” factor could make for a refreshing, fruity cigarette vape.
The Conventional:
Tobacco –
12/8/15 - 3% - has a mild, slightly “papery,” slightly yellow tobacco flavor. Slight sweet note. Could be good as a base at this percentage, with some oakwood, black fire, something with a stronger tobacco flavor, it could make a good cigarette vape. Need to try at 5% next.
Hava Tobacco –
12/9/15 – 3% - slightly smoother than Tobacco at same percentage, still a cigarette tobacco flavor. Less “yellow” than Tobacco, more neutral. Would also work well as a cigarette tobacco base, but not much interest standalone at this percentage. Doesn’t seem to need an increase as much as Tobacco, just needs other flavors added to create a more complex, interesting vape.
Virginia Tobacco –
1/11/15 – 3% - light at this percentage. Not overly “grassy” or “yellow.” Pleasant, but not overly flavorful. Need to increase % in get a feel for this flavor.
Turkish Blended Tobacco –
12/13/15 – 3% - this does have a realistic “Turkish” tobacco, spicy flavor, though it is light at this percentage. Light on the inhale, with the Turkish spice flavor on the exhale. Seems like a good flavor, but need to test at a higher percentage to get the true flavor. – After vaping for a little longer, I wouldn’t say it’s too too weak at this percentage. I would try 4% next as opposed to 5%. The “tobacco” flavor isn’t as present at this percentage with TBT as it is with the other Hangsen flavors I’ve tried, but there is still a tangible cigarette “mouth feel,” no sweetness (outside of the VG poking through a bit), with a light “Turkish” cigarette flavor appearing on the exhale. Not bad at this percentage for a light cigarette flavor on its own. It’s not as “forward” at this percentage that the others, but pleasant if you’re wanting a lighter cigarette flavor that still has some “oomph” to it.
Cigar –
12/18/15 – 3% - not much of a cigar flavor at this percentage. Another cigarette flavor, nice and neutral, no sweetness except maybe the lightest maple note on the exhale. Would be useful as a cigarette base around this percentage.
Smooth –
12/12/15 – 3% - a nice, pleasant cigarette tobacco flavor at this percentage. Not complex, simple, but nice. Neutral, not sweet, but not as dry as Cuba. Would work well as a base for a cigarette flavor.
USA Mix –
12/14/15 – 3% - another useful cigarette tobacco flavor. Good at this percentage. “Tighter” cigarette flavor than these others, dry, not sweet. Simple, not complex. Definitely useful as a base for a cigarette flavor, but doesn’t stand out as being much different from the rest tested thus far.
The Ever So Slightly "Cigarish":
RY3 –
1/8/15 – 3% - more on the cigar side of the tobacco flavors. A bit wet on the inhale, a bit dry on the exhale, a nice balance on that level. A slight “yellow” grassy note adds some complexity. Strong enough standalone at this percentage, but would benefit from being added to a mix, to make for a more interesting cigar tobacco vape.
Cuba –
12/11/15 – 3% - A very nice, mostly neutral “cigar” flavor that, at least at this percentage, also references a more cigarette-like tobacco flavor. Brings to mind tightly wrapped leafs of tobacco. Definite “dryness.” Slight honey note adds a hint of sweetness. Would work very well as a base for a more “tobacco-like” cigarette, or for a cigar base. Pleasant at this percentage standalone for a simple cigar-ish cigarette flavor, dry but with a hint of sweetness for interest.
