Hey r/DIY_eJuice! I'm fairly new to the sub, but a pretty experienced mixer (about 2 years). I happened across LiquidLabs.us, and they offer a 30ml sample of their VaporBase premixed unflavored base in 0, 1.5, 3, and 6mg nicotine levels. The liquid is plant-based glycol and glycerol, PG free. This interested me, as I mix for some friends with PG sensitivity and I hate mixing max VG in the winter (no tank I know can handle max VG once the temperature goes below about 50F). My sample arrived today, and I figured I'd introduce myself with a review of their VB06 (VaporBase 6mg).
The sample arrived in a padded mailer, which scares me a little given the fact the bottle is glass. It arrived intact and clean though. The shipping wasn't exactly fast; it took a week to get here, but I don't really mind. It's about 45 degrees out today, fairly cold. The viscosity is what I would expect from a 65%PG base, even at that temperature. Major thumbs up.
I put 3ml unflavored into my Cuboid Mini (my daily driver) with a fresh NotchCoil , and it self-primed nicely due to the aforementioned low viscosity. Time to vape. Inhale is clean. Super clean actually. I taste nearly nothing. In the interest of full disclosure, I ate a bowl of chicken soup with a ton of black pepper about two hours ago, but there is no perceivable peppery taste to the nicotine. The nicotine comes from NicSelect and is in VG prior to being mixed in VB. I get a slightly wet exhale, with a very slight taste of fog, even a tiny hint of petrichor.
I mixed up a 5ml batch of TFA Double Chocolate Clear at 4%, which is my go-to shake and vape. It is significantly less sweet than my normal 50/50, and if you mix max VG, you might even want to consider a sweetener. I don't, because I don't like particularly sweet mixes. It turned what I normally consider to be close to Hershey's chocolate syrup into a smooth 35% cocoa chocolate bar. The chocolate dried the foggy exhale up a bit, but it never got chalky. It actually mellowed out the top end of the flavor, similar to if I were to leave a liquid to breathe open air for a day or two. I'm curious to see how it deals with a week of steeping. Regardless, this is a new standard for me in single flavor mixes, especially for shake and vape.
Vapor production is also on par for a 65%PG base. Definitely not a cumulus liquid, but not a stealth liquid either. The vapor does dissipate interestingly quickly though, fast enough to be of note. The unflavored vapor has no scent at all.
Verdict: I give this base a solid 9/10. The only con I can think of is a slight top end muting, which may or may not be a bad thing. I will report back with more as I have just ordered 1L of it ($16.25 for 6mg) to play with some more complex mixes and steep times.
Hope you all have a wonderful day, and I'm excited to share with and learn from you all! Vape on!
So VG and 1,3 PDO, or Zemea. I've never tried it, but I think /u/abdada was into it for a while.
Yep. I'm enjoying the heck out it. I'd suggest picking up the sample. The shipping was two bucks and change, well worth it to see if it works for you, imo. I'm guessing you're fairly active around here, any suggestions on my review? I really love doing them, but I want to make sure they're what this community wants...
Decent review, but if you want a serious critique, a) Too long! Cut about 50% without losing any of the info; editing is the secret to good writing and b) Mention what's in it so I don't have to go hunt it down and find out myself. :P
Thanks for the feedback! I didn't really see this sub as being so much into the chemistry aspect - it feels more like a subjective community - which is honestly why I've stayed on the fringe of it for so long. I very much am, and will take that into account as I continue.
It does have quite a bit of muting with longer steeps. Rounds out sharp flavor on a S&V though. Here is a link to where a bunch of us were testing it, and the results. Very long thread, but very useful info. One warning....please test the nic in it, there were problems with consistency! Supposedly fixed now?
http://forum.e-liquid-recipes.com/t/liquid-labs/67470
That was a good read! I only went about 50 posts in the first time I saw it, but this time I finished. I, for one, was/am very interested in 1,3 PDO, and VB seems to be a very accessible product. At the end of the day, I'm getting passed the point of wanting to control every last detail of my mixes, just the flavors.
When I buy high level nic, I would only ever buy it in VG, not a premix. It's only to round the final mix back up to 6mg. It doesn't make sense to spend the extra money to have your 100 be VG/PDO. I haven't nic tested since the very beginning when I was very cautious (which I should still be), but I will be sure to do that, but when I'm buying 6mg, close (+/-0.2) is close enough for me.
I appreciated reading your input on that thread.