Looking for some help with DIY e-liquid

[Kiaya611]

I have been vaping for almost 2 years now and over the last couple of months, I have gotten into making my own e-liquid. I am using Kosher USP PG and VG and Medical grade nicotine (100mg/ml). I bought my flavors from The Perfumers Apprentice/ Flavor Apprentice. I have also bought both liquid Sucralose and Ethyl Maltol as sweeteners.

I prefer mostly sweet menthol, peppermint and cinnamon/"Red Hots" flavors.

I bought a Cisco LR306 Atomizer, Drip Tip and sleeve to test small quantities which has work perfectly. I also steep my e-liquid using an ultrasonic cleaner in warm water. I also use the ecigvape.com or e Juice Me Up calculators.

The flavors in my test batches come out very good, but when I adjust the quantity in the calculators to a larger amount the flavor becomes very bland and looses a lot of the sweetness. Here are 2 30ml examples using a 70/30 mix of PG/VG. One, a menthol based e-liquid and the other, a cinnamon/Red Hots version.

Menthol Version (12% nicotine):

Menthol 1.5%
Peppermint 1.5%
Ethyl Maltol 0.5%

Cinnamon Version (12% nicotine):

Red Hots 14%
Sucralose 7%
Peppermint 2%

I really hope that this makes sense. I have been trying to figure out a way to convey this in an understandable way because I am at a complete loss.

I am using a Volcano Lavatube with an Aspire Nautilus Tank and 1.6ohm coils.

I appreciate any help you can provide.

Thank you,

Steven

I am guessing it has at least something to do with not steeping long enough and the other thing that comes to mind and I don't know if this is true or not, but I am wondering if by increasing the levels of the ingredients, one or more of them are effectively canceling out another flavor (but that is just a guess).

 

[Kent B Marshall]

Are these recipes the same as your test mix ?

 

[cobalt327]

In my experience the larger the amount of juice, the longer the steep time is all else being equal. Also the more VG, the longer the steep time.

When I mix larger recipe amounts, I will use a container that will be about 1/2 filled when the juice is added to it. This gives a large head space of air that I find is necessary for complete mixing of the ingredients by shaking. If the bottle is filled nearly all the way, it would take an hour of shaking to get the mixing I get in a couple minutes.

Good luck!

 

[AmandaD]

I never find the need to use a sweetener. It's possible that the high amount of flavoring is muting the end result - sending your tastebuds into overload! Try lower percentages perhaps!

 

[Kiaya611]

Are these recipes the same as your test mix ?

Yes, they are the exact same recipes, but when I make test batches, I only make 5lm batches, then when I have got the flavor I want, I change the amount of the batch to usually 30lm and the calculator adjusts everything to match the larger volume being made.

 

[Kiaya611]

In my experience the larger the amount of juice, the longer the steep time is all else being equal. Also the more VG, the longer the steep time.

When I mix larger recipe amounts, I will use a container that will be about 1/2 filled when the juice is added to it. This gives a large head space of air that I find is necessary for complete mixing of the ingredients by shaking. If the bottle is filled nearly all the way, it would take an hour of shaking to get the mixing I get in a couple minutes.

Good luck!

Thanks Cobalt. I will try making the larger amounts in smaller Mason jars to allow for a lot of surface space.

 

[Kiaya611]

Does anyone know if menthol and cinnamon type flavors require more steeping that other flavors? I ask because it seems like the cinnamon based mixes take longer to "mature" than the menthol/peppermint flavors.

Thanks,
Steven

 

[Kent B Marshall]

Does anyone know if menthol and cinnamon type flavors require more steeping that other flavors? I ask because it seems like the cinnamon based mixes take longer to "mature" than the menthol/peppermint flavors.

Thanks,
Steven

IMO, menthol and mint take only 1 to 2 days for my taste. Flavor is so subjective.
I agree with AmandaD . My experience with flavoring percentage, to much can mute the flavor. I'm a slow learner, this took some time to sink in.
Less is more in flavoring.
Steeping is an important part. I recommend you let sit for a week and try you mix again.

 

[Kiaya611]

IMO, menthol and mint take only 1 to 2 days for my taste. Flavor is so subjective.
I agree with AmandaD . My experience with flavoring percentage, to much can mute the flavor. I'm a slow learner, this took some time to sink in.
Less is more in flavoring.
Steeping is an important part. I recommend you let sit for a week and try you mix again.

Hi Kent,

I was sort of starting to think the same thing...that "less is more". It is sort of counter-intuitive, but with the experiences I have been having, I have been lowering the percentages little by little. I will also make up a batch of each version in a small Mason jar and then let them for a week and try...if the flavor has improved, but still not quite right, I will let it sit for another week.

Thank you,

Steven

 

[cobalt327]

Many juices will like at least a daily shaking.

 

[AmandaD]

No need to steep those simple ingredients. Quite frankly they should be ready pretty much right away. I'd make up small 5ml test batches and adjust until the taste is right. 14% is extremely high if you're using TFA cinnamon redhots, so it may be that you're overloading on flavor. It might also be a good idea to leave out both the EM and the sucralose until you get the flavor level you like!

 

[BumbaCLot]

Put your flavorings in first. Then your pg. Then VG. You will see the VG mix the flavors on the way down.
Ignore all the "steeping" hype.
You just want consistency between molecules. You are basically mixing oil and oil (or water). You just need to get your 5-20% to be 100%.

 

[Time]

Yes, they are the exact same recipes, but when I make test batches, I only make 5lm batches, then when I have got the flavor I want, I change the amount of the batch to usually 30lm and the calculator adjusts everything to match the larger volume being made.

I'm thinking @cobalt327 is probably on the right track. You are doing it right as far as scale. If 5ml tastes good then the only thing in the equation that changes is the total volume. 30ml requires more stirring/shaking/steep time than 5ml.