A lot of people trying to make the switch from cigarettes to vaping have a sort of 'magic moment' when it clicks; they find the right device, the right juice flavor, whatever. Mine came when I found a vanilla mint juice and went from MTL to sub-ohm with it. That combination just completely outdid cigarettes in every way. I no longer cared about them, because that vape was awesome.

When I started DIY, I knew I had to create a vanilla mint cream for myself. This recipe has gone through a couple of revisions, but they are all fairly minor shifts in percentages, so I'll just post the finished one. It's simple, so this is my shout-out to /u/Vurve and the Modest Monday posts.

Vanilla Mint Cream

70 VG/30 PG, 3mg nicotine is my go-to base.

• 8% TFA Vanilla Swirl

• 3% CAP Sweet Cream

• 1.5% FA Madagascar Vanilla

• 1% TFA Spearmint

• 1% Menthol

• 1% Koolada

Vanilla Swirl + Madagascar Vanilla: Vanilla Swirl was my starting point for this recipe. In its first incarnation it was just that plus spearmint, but that was predictably boring. Vanilla Swirl does have the right pastry-cream mouth feel, without being too heavy, and Madagascar vanilla adds the right pure vanilla punch to the cream, making a nice warm base for the mint.

Sweet Cream: I don't think there's a cream, cheesecake, or custard recipe that I don't use this in. As expected, it brings some sweetness and boosts the creaminess of Vanilla Swirl to satisfying proportions. However, for folks who don't like Sweet Cream, I think a vanilla custard extract would be a fine substitution as long as it's one without too much lemony note to it. I'd try 1.5% custard and go from there. FA Fresh Cream would also be a decent substitution and I might try this recipe with it, just for experimentation's sake.

Spearmint + Menthol + Koolada: This is a nice trinity of strong flavors, but in such small amount that they blend smoothly into the big fat vanilla base. I love the flavor of Spearmint, it has the right natural, leafy note and a tiny bit of spiciness to offset the smooth cream, and it plays really well with Madagascar Vanilla. The menthol and koolada help to keep the overall flavor light and refreshing. I'm not the biggest fan of koolada as it doesn't add much to most flavors (to me), but this one really benefits from it. Leaves the mouth feeling cool and tingly rather than coated in pastry cream.

It's not exactly the same vanilla mint that swept me off my feet and away from tobacco -- that one wasn't a cream flavor, just straight vanilla and spearmint -- but it is a righteously enjoyable juice in its own right. Simple, smooth, rich, yet light enough to vape all day. A friend who mixed some for himself said it reminded him of a McD's shamrock shake, if shamrock shakes didn't suck.

Despite the cream, it's not bad as a shake 'n vape, but I find it should be steeped for at least 12 hours to let everything settle in together.