Lately I’ve been thinking about the past of eJuice and flavors. Its evolutionary history comes in milestones and continues from there. This post might clarify our current standing and hopefully gives some inspiration for the present moment and the future.
##Milestone One - Basic eJuice
>It all started here. What would our fancy 200Watt hardware be without a liquid medium to vaporize? This is your standard VG PG blend with some nicotine solution. Gotta start somewhere!
##Milestone Two - Single Flavored eJuice
>Woah, slow down! Did you say flavored? This is amazing! Vaping isn't just nicotine delivery, it's a gourmet experience now too! This is a huge step! Tasty strawberry right in my mouth and lungs!
##Milestone Three - Enhanced Single Flavored eJuice
>Generic Strawberry is pretty ok I guess, but with some added INW Cactus, it's just juicier and fresher. Enhancer take your single flavors to the next level and makes the taste even better.
##Milestone Four - Multi Flavored eJuice
>Ah shucks, there is no strawberry pie flavor. You can see where this is going, right? Add some Pie Crust, Graham Cracker and Cheesecake flavor and you got yourself a neat strawberry pie. This is getting harder and harder to pull off, but it will make up for the effort. Yum. This is also the current state of the eJuice game.
##Milestone Five - ???
I've been brainstorming some options for this one and it takes some creativity for sure. There is no right or wrong here, only guessing. There are multiple things I could think of; if you got additions let me know in the comments and I'll update this:
> Flavor chunks in eJuice - On the contrary to well-steeped eJuice, there are flavor chunks. Getting some pie crust in one puff, and full-on strawberry in the next. This will shake things up and will grow palates by a giant amount.
> 'Gigacomplex' eJuice - I've got my hands on a small bottling of Tobermory Isle of Mull Single Malt Whisky, aged for 19 years and 46% alcohol (92 proof for you 'mericans). This beverage is quite the shocker, I couldn't even start to comprehend the adventure my taste buds went through. Now think of a fantastic, constant taste-pleasure of eJuice. Taste new flavor combos or just enjoy the whole thing.
> 'Lifestyle' eJuice - themed eJuices, kinda like perfume or shampoo. Vaping this will be similar to cologne ads, it will portray an image of the person. Exhaling giant amounts of lavender-y honey and berry creams. Vapor will now linger as a nice, pleasant odor.
##Now, what does all of this mean for eJuice?
Right now, you and me can only stay at the 4th milestone and keep on trying to get new combinations. Share flavor notes and bases. Eventually, companies will pick up some of these bases and make it easier for newbies so they don't have to start at square One. The same newbies will get faster into DIY, get experienced and do their fair share of bases and notes. Eventually.
Well, maybe we (or the flavor companies) are staying too meta because of different reasons, but I for myself would love to see expansions into new waters. A growing, learning community putting their efforts together to create new and amazing eJuice. And that's why I am here.
What do you think? What will we be vaping in the future? What will change?
edit: 2016 04 25 - added Lifestyle eJuice
That 'flavor chunks' idea is something I've been messing around with in my own recipes. I've stumbled on it accidentally and it's an enjoyable concept, I like the shifting but consistent flavor where individual notes sort of roll around each other through the inhale and exhale. Tropical-fruit blends seem to benefit the most from this concept as it keeps the mixture from becoming too boring or numbing the palate.
This is something I've been thinking about lately as well. Where else is there to go? I think maybe using some other ingredients other than the flavorings we buy might start to really become more apparent lately. More complex tobaccos and NET's. I'm not sure, but I can't wait to see someone do something groundbreaking.
Mega-complex? Like this? Already doin' it bruh...
I am not sure as I don't have the flavors to mix it right up - either it classifies as Milestone Five or it's just an enhanced multi flavor juice.
The difference would lie in the strength. I am imagining a very potent flavor blend, which is dynamic. Like flavor chunks, but with a bigger boom.