So, this will be a two-part post.
1. Nic Concentration. I ordered 500 mL containers of both PG and VG. By my math, and someone please double check, adding 32 mL of 100 mg/mL nic solution (to each) will get me an end result of 6 mg/mL.
The question is: is Wizard Labs reliable enough in their measurements of PG/VG in their containers for me to add the nic solution to the container?
2. Recipe Question. I had 2 seasonal recipes in mind, but I have never mixed before, and would like advice on approximate %'s of the flavorings. I'd like to make a pumpkin spice style vape, as well as a gingerbread vape (Plume Room's is the goal). I ordered
- Pumpkin (TFA)
- Pumpkin Spice (TFA)
- Whipped Cream (TFA)
- Gingerbread Cookie (TFA)
- Clove (TFA)
- Vanilla Bourbon (TFA)
- Cream Cheese Icing (LA)
I have other flavors, but I those are the ones I figured would be appropriate for what I'm looking to do here. I haven't even mixed my first bottle yet, and I'm a little precarious to do so. Any advice would be much appreciated.
I hate to negate nic related questions. Can try the sidebar for information on the flavors as I have nothing else to offer there.
In terms of the nic, here is the math.
Adding 32ml of 100mg/ml nic will get you 3200mg of nicotine in your solution. 3200 divided by 532ml gives you 6.01mg of nic in your juice. So yes, it's accurate enough.
The problem you will run into though, is that you are now adding PG based flavors to these PG and VG concentrations already containing nicotine.
When you do this it will lower the end result of your juice.
For example, you add 50% VG (15ml @ 6mg) and 30% PG (9ml @ 6mg) to 20% Flavor (PG @ 0mg). You now have 144mg of nic in your final 50PG/50VG juice. 144 divided by 30 gives you a final result of 4.8mg nicotine in your finished juice product.
Additionally, unless you bought a bottle of nic suspended in PG and another in VG, your PG/VG concentrations will be slightly off as well with any pre-mix that you make.
Well, shit. I didn't even think about the flavors diluting the nicotine concentration. Of all the factors I've tried to consider, that failed to dawn on me. I appreciate the advice. I was hoping for an idealistic set up of just having nicotine in the pg and vg and just working with it, but that doesn't seem to be a reality.
What is the base of the nic solution? if it's pg, you'll be adding pg to your vg when you add the nic and vice versa if your nic is in vg base.
Also, while you will end up with 6mg in both, as soon as you mix your flavorings into it you will dilute it to less than 6 mg and increase the PG content of your mix.
You should probably avoid mixing the nic into your entire supply of PG/VG. You'll just be making the math that much more complicated. Get a good eliquid calculator and mix by the batch.
I just double checked your math with eJuiceMeUp's Nic Combine tool. Adding 32 ml of 100 mg/ml nicotine to 500 ml of PG/VG would result in 532 ml of 6.02 mg/ml solution.
I do my own testing of each batch of new nicotine I receive. I use the nicotine test kit that Wizard Labs sells, so there is some room for error, but the last batch of 100 mg/ml nic that I tested came out to 101 mg/ml. If that was used to mix, your final solution would be 6.08 mg/ml. Hypothetically, if the nicotine was 105 mg/ml, the final solution would be 6.32 mg/ml. Even with a 5% margin of error, the end result would not be far enough off to cause any concern. I seriously doubt any reputable vendor would ever be that far off, but it doesn't hurt to do your own testing just to be sure.
No comment on the question about the recipes. Sorry. :(
I don't know about TFA Gingerbread Cookie, hopefully it's different, but just so you're forewarned TFA Gingerbread is crazy strong and smells/tastes like cinnamon red hots - my wife doesn't mind it too much at 0.5% in a strong vanilla custard mix, but personally I can't stand it.
Thanks for the tip. This gingerbread cookie smells a lot more mellow than what you're describing. It's about spot on what I'm looking for, and I think just a hint of the clove will take it exactly where I want it.
I ordered some TFA Cinnamon, too, but the stuff reminds me of Red Hots more than it makes me think of actual cinnamon. Do you have a suggestion for a good, genuine cinnamon stick flavor?
> This gingerbread cookie smells a lot more mellow than what you're describing
Good to hear, I'll have to get that in with my next order - after trying the non-cookie one (seriously smells like the last sensation you would experience if you fell into a vat of molten hot tamales and drowned) I was really hesitant.
> Do you have a suggestion for a good, genuine cinnamon stick flavor?
Sorry buddy, I've found jack shit so far. It could be I'm just really sensitive to the active chemical there but every remotely cinnamon-y flavor I've got and every such flavored liquid I've tried is red hot hematemesis to me. About to the point where I'd kill to get a vape that actually tastes/smells like a proper frosting-drenched cinnamon roll.
Well, maybe not kill... just, y'know, maim a little... :P