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How much money do you spend on "premium" juice, or otherwise, since you started DIYing?
submitted over 10 years ago by 1800fullytorqued
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42 points
 
by its-a-jellyover 10 years ago

Zero

14 points
 
by SmooDiver87over 10 years ago

I spend around twice this much.

4 points
 
by KeggsNAover 10 years ago

Seconding this. I started DIY'ing about 6 months ago and haven't bought a premade juice since. I have, however, received several 'premium' juices from friends for free who have requested clones.

18 points
 
by johnstone1690over 10 years agoOne of "The Damned"

£0.00 which is equivalent to $0.00 for the ones across the water

5 points
 
by Noshferatuover 10 years ago

Yeah, but our cost of living is higher than theirs and you're not taking that into account. Their $0 is actually more like £0.60. Personally, I spend £0 on premium juice, so if I move to the US and keep all of my currency British, I'll actually be making about 60p every time I don't order premium juice. If I can not order juice about 100 times per day, I might be able to quit my job! The possibilities of DIY mixing continue to astound me.

-4 points
 
by ElvinFrishover 10 years ago

You don't say..?

16 points
 
by Butterd_Toostover 10 years ago

Zero lol I actually preferr the taste of what I make over premiums

2 points
 
by borezover 10 years ago

I'm the same, I thought I'd have a real issue getting anything remotely vapeable when I first started DIY but it turns out to be the opposite. I much prefer my own stuff over premium juice.

I guess it's because I kinda knew what I was after in the first place and it worked.

I was also receiving one of those subscription box selections every month and cancelled it after a couple of months of DIY, the so called "premium" juices I was being sent were really nothing special at all.

I do buy one juice though and that's Manabush Powwow sauce. But it's a rare buy now.

5 points
 
by thewomberchombyover 10 years agoProud Sidebar Reader!

I still buy some juice that's made by other people. The only two that I would call "premium" in price are Strawberry Astronaut from Jimmy the Juice Man and Sicker Than Most from Sicboy. I still buy Placid and Saratoga from Adirondack, and I'll never not support Kite in Cloud because they're awesome people(and Lenola Cream is the tits).

I'm not mixing my own juice simply for the cheapness of it, but because I think it's fun. Until I come up with some really mind blowing mixes, I'm probably going to continue buying others' juices once in awhile.

3 points
 
by kiswaover 10 years ago

Would you be willing to try my Placido and tell me if it's anything like Placid?

I've never had Placid, but I found a clone of it and it sounded good so I tweaked it and made that. I just wonder if it's at all similar to the original.

If not, no worries. I'm just curious.

3 points
 
by thewomberchombyover 10 years agoProud Sidebar Reader!

I'm missing a couple of ingredients, but I'm very, very interested! Gonna order those missing flavors now, and I'll report back once I mix it up!

1 points
 
by kiswaover 10 years ago

Awesome, thanks!

1 points
 
by BooksofMagicover 10 years agoMixologist

You like honeysuckle flowers to vape? I have FA and LA Honey and both taste like honeysuckle to me. Why do you like it? I'm curious as flowery turns me off a flavor fast.

1 points
 
by kiswaover 10 years ago

The TFA Honey I've had definitely does not taste like honeysuckle to me.

As for liking honeysuckle, it's not a very flowery flavor to me. It's there a little, but it reminds me more of being a kid and sucking the nectar out of a honeysuckle flower. Maybe that's why I like it.

1 points
 
by Chrononaughtover 10 years agoOne of "The Damned"

Would love to clone Strawberry Astronaught. I know it has to have Strawberry (TFA), but I'm not sure about the Apricot. I don't think it is CAP Apricot though. I need to pick up some FA, TFA, and a few other Apricots to continue this journey. Oh and some more Strawberry Astronaught.... that shit is gone within two days.

1 points
 
by whispenover 10 years ago

Well, they could be less interesting.

1 points
 
by thewomberchombyover 10 years agoProud Sidebar Reader!

I have no idea what gives it that nice tartness, but it's my favorite thing about Strawberry Astronaut. Maybe a touch of TFA pineapple or dragonfruit?

1 points
 
by Chrononaughtover 10 years agoOne of "The Damned"

Yeah it could certainly be. I've tried dragonflies with Strawberry and Apricot but as I said earlier I think I have the wrong Apricot :(

I really need to buy some more SA for some taste testing.

1 points
 
by BooksofMagicover 10 years agoMixologist

> Strawberry Astronaught

You make Astronaut sound naughty lol.

Seriously though, what other flavors are in that blend? I read the website but it's not helpful

5 points
 
by clinodevover 10 years agoVanillinist

I buy around 60ml a month from Velvet Cloud to keep the edge off my White Beard addiction, and I'm slowly trying the other non-fruit flavors. It's mostly because I like the folks who run it, though. If they were less cool, I'd try and clone it.

I do, however, end up trying a lot of juice. The shop I go to most often has decided I'm better at picking out flavor notes than their mixers, which is nice. Another won't let me sample juice anymore, lol, so my "Oh, I like that, it's TFA Strawberry Ripe, Vanilla Swirl, and Dragonfruit, right?" strategy has had mixed results, fair warning.

3 points
 
by PainPatient0over 10 years ago

How does TFA Strawberry Ripe compare to the regular TFA Strawberry? Haven't tried it and need to place an order for Strawberry soon.

3 points
 
by clinodevover 10 years agoVanillinist

> Strawberry is like strawberry candy/soda, Strawberry ripe is more like the actual fruit. There was a pretty good discussion recently here.

2 points
 
by PainPatient0over 10 years ago

Thanks, I'll give that one a read!

2 points
 
by Redhotcujoover 10 years ago

Hey! You there with the exquisite tastebuds! Please do the world a favor and expose the unicorn milk recipe!

1 points
 
by clinodevover 10 years agoVanillinist

I've never had it, sorry. Looks like a lot of people have published clone recipes, though.

2 points
 
by Redhotcujoover 10 years ago

Have tried them all and many variations otherwise... Still not the same. Also you're missing out!

4 points
 
by Botboy141over 10 years ago

I bought a bottle of shurb when it went public. Loaded it up on some fresh cotton, took two drags, and proceeded to walk over to my neighbors house to give the bottle away...

2 points
 
by VapeQueen214over 10 years ago

I was EXTREMELY disappointed in that flavor. Your version was much better :)

2 points
 
by jaydedrag0nover 10 years ago

can you link that recipe?

1 points
 
by captaincannibalover 10 years ago

Really? I don't know what it is about that stuff but it just really scratches some weird itch that I didn't know I had..

3 points
 
by 1800fullytorquedover 10 years ago

I appreciate the discourse. Some of my packages should be arriving today, and I'm excited, but still find myself thumbing through /r/electronic_cigarette looking at juices and wanting to buy them.

3 points
 
by onebitover 10 years ago

None. Pre-made juice is the printer ink of ecigs.

1 points
 
by TomHanksDiedover 10 years ago

Please explain printer ink. I still buy printer ink (sort of)...i feel out of the loop.

1 points
 
by flipwichover 10 years ago

Overpriced and considered scammy.

2 points
 
by TomHanksDiedover 10 years ago

But how do we print without printer ink carts? I have to be missing something.

3 points
 
by ChoadFarmerover 10 years ago

I get tempted every once in a while but I can't justify spending ~$22 for a 30 ml, seems so expensive to me now. Especially now that I know what each individual component actually costs.

2 points
 
by 1800fullytorquedover 10 years ago

I hear ya. I've had my eye on Standard Vape's Frankenvape, but can't justify spending that 22 dollars, so I'll be trying my luck at a clone recipe.

1 points
 
by VapeQueen214over 10 years ago

The clone recipe is better IMO. Idk if its their nicotine or that flavor but when I bout it had hella throat hit.

1 points
 
by 1800fullytorquedover 10 years ago

The recipe I found has vanillin in it. Is there any substitute for that, because I don't have it?

1 points
 
by ElvinFrishover 10 years ago

Crazy how much the e-juice manufacturers are making in profit isn't it!!

0 points
 
by CocaColaCowover 10 years agoMixologist

Then figure in overhead, employee salaries, personal time to run the business, people to help those with issues, etc. A lot more goes into it than you think ;) not to mention the time to develop the flavors!

1 points
 
by ElvinFrishover 10 years ago

Oh yes I'm very aware of the labor costs and overhead that are involved with owning an e-liquid business. But I'm talking about how much profit is made on each bottle when you compare the cost of goods sold to the gross sale amount.

Most businesses wholesale their products for twice as much as it costs to produce them, a 100% markup. That is not the case in the e-liquid industry. We're talking 500% - 800% markup on wholesale orders, and 600% - 3000% markup on retail orders.

Its a beautiful thing really. I'm happy to pay these prices for great juices. Maybe I should get into the e-liquid biz...

1 points
 
by oheysupover 10 years ago

Yeah, every single retail business has all of those things and most don't charge anywhere near that much of a markup.

3 points
 
by 6745408over 10 years ago

Rarely. But I do design some labels, and those folks send me juice as part of the payment.

2 points
 
by sthprk33over 10 years ago

That's a beautiful label, I imagine it looks fantastic in person! What kind of flavor is that?

1 points
 
by 6745408over 10 years ago

there's actually a whole gallery of them. But that one is from a juice co that hasn't launched yet -- so we'll see :)

2 points
 
by sthprk33over 10 years ago

Wow, don't know how I missed the whole gallery! Very nice looking labels, every one of them!

2 points
 
by xXxLEONIDASxXxover 10 years ago

I bought my first bottle of juice in two months last week just for reference.

2 points
 
by jakeabbottover 10 years ago

I still buy Boosted and Wastegate from Boosted because they are extremely good. I also just picked up 120ml of Lenola Cream because they deserve the support. From time to time I will go to my B&M to try other premium juices for ideas and to see if I can make a better version. There's a lot of crap out there that calls itself premium and doesn't deserve the title or price tag.

2 points
 
by flipityfloppityover 10 years ago

I still buy Lenola cream (kiteincloud), gunners gold (botboy141) and from Felix @ buyejuicedirect.com. I've saved so much from diy but I still like to splurge and support people who go above and beyond.

2 points
 
by soad2237over 10 years ago

I haven't bought any juice the last 2 years.

2 points
 
by HardstyleJaw5over 10 years ago

The only juice I buy nowadays is placid by Adirondack. I haven't figured out what's in it yet and it's so damn good

1 points
 
by KoopaTroopazover 10 years ago

I have spent $12 on premium juice in the year that I have been DIYing. It's really not hard to make tasty recipes and there are tons of already established recipes out there. No need to buy from a company.

1 points
 
by Gonzokover 10 years ago

A lot - I quickly realized the vapor chef does a much better job then I do and no longer make my own.

1 points
 
by daathover 10 years agoMixologist

I buy some vendor juices every once in a while to get inspired and to see what everyone is talking about :) If I buy more than a couple of bottles, I get really impatient to finish them, so I can mix something myself :) hehe

1 points
 
by sxeQover 10 years ago

I still buy plenty of juice, but it's all local brands that I like supporting. Sometimes I get the urge to go to a shop, and if there's nothing there I plan on buying (a new dripper, whatever) I'll usually pick up a bottle of juice that I haven't tried. My juice just isn't as good as some of the local brands, so I can't vape it constantly without getting bored.

1 points
 
by PainPatient0over 10 years ago

If Villain Vapors, Queen of Hearts counts as premium then yes. My local B+M carries it and I'll continue to buy from them as they are good people.

edit, separated another question to another post

1 points
 
by wilciwsover 10 years agoMixologist

Occasionally I'll get something, but for the most part I just vape my own stuff.
Mist of the juice I purchase is for inspiration, or just cuz its damn good. :-)

2 points
 
by 1800fullytorquedover 10 years ago

I vape your stuff too :)

1 points
 
by wilciwsover 10 years agoMixologist

Something.... something dirty. ;-)

1 points
 
by iwillnoteatgreeneggsover 10 years ago

I've been diy for three plus months. I haven't bought any juice but I've been rotating in some purchased juices to let my diy juices steep.

I may buy some premium stuff down the road, but I will be very specific and in large quantities.

1 points
 
by thewomberchombyover 10 years agoProud Sidebar Reader!

That's exactly what I did with my premiums. I picked up 120ml each of Lenola Cream, Saratoga and Placid, and vaped forward over half of the 40 or so bottles I had cluttering up my juice collection. It was a great decision.

1 points
 
by koniferusover 10 years agoMixologist

I wish to hell I could say that I like my DIY better, but it really just saves me money. I can't seem to get that fat flavor that I get from premium juices.

The closest I've come is something I called Red Custard when I made it, but after steeping it smelled like a Werther's and tasted like roasted strawberry caramel.

Even the juices that I do like aren't really 'premium.' My favorites so far being MVB's Blue Drake and /u/vapewild's Fruity Hoops. Shit's tasty for being so dirt cheap. I like their Zebra Stripe Gum as well. I've yet to try the most talked about stuff like /u/_Bombies, Cuttwood, Cosmicfog, etc. mostly due to their price vs the cheap stuff.

Edit: I went off on a tangent and forgot to answer your question. I buy 60-90ml of 6mg juice a month now that I DIY.

1 points
 
by Devlinukrover 10 years ago

Have you tried any of the clone recipes from here?

Just wondering because next month I plan to start making my own and wanted to try a few of these out.

1 points
 
by koniferusover 10 years agoMixologist

Nope but I intend to as well. Getting the stuff to do the cereal clones soon. :D

1 points
 
by VapeQueen214over 10 years ago

A lot of the vape wild juices are just single flavors, zebra stripe gum is from FW and its most likely the exact flavor and actually cheaper to make yourself. They use a lot of FW and TFA and some CA.

1 points
 
by koniferusover 10 years agoMixologist

Awesome, this helps me a lot as my mind was blown at how accurate that sweet/tart powdery flavor was. I'm going to have to pick some up for sure to play around with.

1 points
 
by VapeQueen214over 10 years ago

yeah actually if you're into candy flavors a lot of the FW flavors are spot on. I really enjoy their gummy bear and jolly rancher flavors when I am craving something sweet,

1 points
 
by prokreatover 10 years ago

I buy Coval Vapes Azeroth. Not gonna try or care to clone it, but I do love it.

1 points
 
by havensalover 10 years ago

Not a dime for myself. I might buy a bottle a month or so for my wife from our local B&M. She likes fancy flavors, I prefer simple fruit myself.

1 points
 
by CzarMesaover 10 years agoProud Sidebar Reader!

I buy a 30 ml bottle of Mayflower from Coval about once a month. I have no idea how to clone it and it's delicious.

But that's it.

1 points
 
by captain_sasquatchover 10 years ago

This many: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V3CfD8TPac

1 points
 
by kristophermichaelover 10 years agoMixologist

I pick up a bottle here and there if something excites me, but that's really only a 30ml once a month tops... maybes twice.

1 points
 
by billgarmsarmyover 10 years agoFrugivore

very very little. i think i've bought juice 4 times since going DIY 1.5 years ago

1 points
 
by vaperforlifeover 10 years agoOne of "The Damned"

A few months back I was getting bored with my DIY creations and decided to go out to all the B&M's in the area to see if I could be inspired. I took my wife, my mech mod, and a couple bottles of my own juice with me. Most of the shops use those disposable CE4's for juice testing, and after using a mech for so long all the flavors tasted.... bland. Only 2 shops have like 5ml 0mg sample bottles for testing in a dripper.

After having sampled everything in town my wife and I decided that my DIY stuff was better than anything we tried.

During Christmas, we ordered a few of our old favorites from Vapor Chef. Still very delicious and difficult to clone. I've got a pretty close Hobbes Blood and Honey Pearry but not there yet. Idk how to even begin cloning Honey Nut tobacco or Deep Thought.

2 points
 
by 1800fullytorquedover 10 years ago

I have a 10ml sample bottle of honey nut tobacco if you want it. Ya know... For science.

1 points
 
by samusxmetroidover 10 years ago

Zero! As an added bonus, my friend works for a local vape shop so he makes me all my favorite juices that they have

1 points
 
by cromag5150over 10 years ago

Zero so far. But that may change soon. I meant to put in an order with Wizard labs Monday and got a little busy this week. I'm out of a few favorite flavors but more importantly, nicotine. I may have to pay a visit to the local shop to hold me over until my DIY order arrives.

1 points
 
by ShitDickDongcopterover 10 years ago

Nothing

1 points
 
by Brother_Clovisover 10 years ago

Any good sources for flavoring? I'm about to make my first batch, but i keep getting hammered on shipping. I'm in Canada for the record.

2 points
 
by vaperforlifeover 10 years agoOne of "The Damned"

https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY_eJuice/comments/333qow/the_only_legitimate_n00b_question_canada_shipping/

1 points
 
by Brother_Clovisover 10 years ago

Wow, thank you very much. And fast!

1 points
 
by FunkMast3rover 10 years ago

ye

1 points
 
by VapeQueen214over 10 years ago

I only buy a premium if it really blows me away, or if I am running out of inspiration. I justify about a bottle a month for when I am looking to expand my flavors.

1 points
 
by dagonn3over 10 years ago

Bought some juice in a recent 75% off sale. Tried 3 bottles, gave them away. Haven't tried the others yet. So, like $25.

1 points
 
by Kekkonshikiover 10 years ago

I buy the occasional juice when trying to clone, but for the most part all my money goes to flavoring, base, and nicotine.

1 points
 
by Onlyinmuricaover 10 years ago

Every once in a while. Like every 2 months or so I might go down to my local b&m and buy my guilty pleasure of ghostberry. I use to drain thru 30mls of this stuff. Possibly the best flavor I have ever had and can't for the life of me come close to replicate it. So from time to time I end up spending like $50 and it lasts me a couple of days :/ other than that I very rarely buy anything else. Just can't afford it. Sigh....I want some delicious ghost berry now

1 points
 
by DallasTxEntover 10 years agoMixologist

havent paid for juice since my second day mixing two years ago. Now its my job and i have around 20 gallons of various flavors sitting in my office at all times

1 points
 
by Beastaclesover 10 years agoFrugivore

I have never had "premium juice", just house juice from local B&M. When their prices went up, I went DIY. BEST MOVE EVER

1 points
 
by tiggerbrenover 10 years ago

I found the quality of diy recipes to be too hit or miss and I don't have time to experiment so I've gone back completely to premium juices.

1 points
 
by HukItover 10 years ago

Zero

1 points
 
by sthprk33over 10 years ago

I haven't spent a dime since I started fairly recently, but I intend to buy another big bottle of Lenola Cream soon (I can't imagine I'd ever find a half-decent clone of it, and even if I did, I'd still just buy it). I also will likely buy a bottle here and there when something sounds too good to pass up. Other than that, I've still got so many new recipes that I still need/want to try that I don't see myself wanting for juice anytime soon!

1 points
 
by BooksofMagicover 10 years agoMixologist

The only premium juice I still buy from time to time is 'Nana Cream. I try and use it as inspiration to make juice as good as it is.

1 points
 
by justjohn77over 10 years agoMixologist

Started in January....between nude nicotine and flavor apprentice im set for 6+ months. There are some juices that I don't have the foggiest notion on how to make myself..but I suppose that's what this forum is for...research and dabble! Haven't picked up something premade since December. However im feeling the itch to subscribe to a monthly service just to expand my horizons.

1 points
 
by seanrquinnover 10 years ago

Every now and then I'll drop by a brick and mortar and ask whoever is working what they're vaping. Keeps me trying new ideas as well as boosting my supply when I'm low.

1 points
 
by meanrockSDover 10 years ago

Special occasions I'll drop $20-30- Usually for something from Vaporchef, they have several unique flavors that I have yet to see cloned.

1 points
 
by Militancyover 10 years ago

In the 2 years i've been making my own? Under a couple hundo. I had a strong addiction to that halo tropical tobacco juice and thug juice. I also bought a couple of mystery bags from Seduce, and sample packs from whoever the reddit favorite vendor of the week was. The only vendor who's juice i liked that I haven't even bothered trying my hand at is the Hitchhiker's Guide series from Vapor Chef.

1 points
 
by tranceinateover 10 years agoMixologist

About $1-1.72$ for every 30ml I create.

1 points
 
by magespooksover 10 years ago

I haven't purchased a retail bottle of juice since the day I started DIY. I have thought about picking up a bottle of whatever clone I'm making just to compare.

1 points
 
by Thumper_357over 10 years ago

I used to spend $13 on a 15ml every other day before DIY over a year ago. Since then I only purchased juice 3 times i think. Sometimes i go to B&Ms to try a couple flavors to see what i can duplicate because sometimes i need a creative bump to make something. I tried moon sugar from Mr. Good Vape and god damn i need to make a sniker doodle flavor now

1 points
 
by dgpro5000over 10 years ago

Lenola cream. only juice ive bought in 6 months. Gotta get more to replicate it. Shits good.

1 points
 
by Enyawreklawover 10 years agoMixologist

I make it a point to buy a new premium juice a week. Something I've never had, or something with a lot of hype, or something that's outta left-field. I like to see what other people are doing, where the ejuice industry is at, and if someones innovating. As of lately though I've been extremely disappointing in the innovation coming out. Now a days it seems like the packaging and stupid fucking names are the driving force behind the juice, rather than great flavors, and interesting blends. It's a shame, but the industry moves so fast I'm sure there will be another "artisan" phase soon. I just love flavor, whether it be food, drink or vapor. and the reason I love doing what I do.

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