For those that single test their flavors, do you have a 'rule' as to how many days you steep before testing? I typically wait at least 7 days on just about anything but, I wondering if that makes any real difference with single flavors as there's no other flavors to blend with.... Unless, you're testing with nicotine. I typically test with nicotine because I want to know how the flavor reacts with the nicotine as that's how I'll use it. What are your thoughts about testing with or without nicotine and why?
You should be testing as soon as you mix it as well as multiple points along the way. You should also be testing various percentages. Experiencing what it tastes like at different times and different strengths is the whole point of SFT. You're not supposed to be choosing an optimal steep time before you test it.
Depends cuz some can end up being a shake and vape
So then.... your 'rule' is to test all flavors immediately?
You should test flavors immediately, again after 2-3 days, and again after 6-7 days, etc. The flavor will change over time - sometimes getting better, sometimes getting weaker. The whole idea of single flavor testing is getting to know the flavor. That includes how it changes over time.
This ! Also there is common rules, like biscuits, vanilla, cake, cream and pastry flavour take a little bit more time to steep and develop their aroma fully, so usually I let them 1 or 2 weeks. Fruits needs 2 to 7 days. Minty and fresh stuff are usually 2 to 5 days.
Load of bollocks. Just shake n vape everything.
LOL I am British mate. I don’t make a small amount of a single flavour and softly toke on it after 2months steeping to become accustomed to the nuances of the flavour in order to apply that to other flavours in a mix.
I go onto all the flavours website, click the highest rated ones, make 350ml of it, shake it n vape it for months at 12mg salts lol then do it again.
Just like when im cooking i dont create a sauce that i taste in the process - i just dump it in there and boil it up then eat like a proper man.
I always sft my flavors with nicotine, for the simple reason that my juices are going to have nicotine in them, so when I test them, I want to taste how they are really going to taste. Nicotine changes how juice tastes. To test them without nicotine wouldn't be helpful to me at all.
I have long believed that people put too much weight on steeping liquids for extended periods and that frequent and vigorous agitation over 2 days is far more superior. Fresh fruit tends to need a bit more agitation than does super sweet candied fruit varieties but not by much as they all more or less fall into the category of shake and vape.
Adding ethyl maltol to fruit profiles always requires further agitation. Fruits such as the capella sweet line that contain ethyl maltol can expect to yield similar results when mixed with others. inw and flv fruits seem to take a bit longer requiring 2 or 3 days of vigorous agitation.
Kactus seems similar to ethyl maltol in that it sort of blends fruits that would have previously been layered and requires a similar agitation period. And for the love of god keep total flavor under 12%; 2:1 fruit:cream is about as much as i would ever pair avoiding higher concentrations of ethyl maltol in higher % cream blends.
Cereal/Bakery/Cream dominant flavors tend to be on the tail end and require close to 3 days of frequent agitation. Black for pipe and various tobaccos by inw and flv that i have tried are also finished around a 3 day period with this treatment.
>To quantify the concept of frequent agitation lets say shaken well 4 times daily for a maximum of 3 days as sufficient for mostly all profiles to reach full maturity. I usually shake from clear until saturated with air bubbles and then left until clear again.
Well, I can see the opinions are all over the place. I tend to agree with those mixers that have been in the game awhile and totally disagree with some of the others. The more experienced mixers that have responded have confirmed what I already knew but honestly, have been too lazy to do... either way, thanks to all that have taken the time to share their opinions and experiences.
I have no idea what half these people are on about. The comments don't have shit to do with single flavor testing.
> I have no idea what half these people are on ~~about~~.
FTFY. HTH, HAND.
Yeah I don't judge that kinda shit as I'm currently enjoying a cocktail of scotch and painkillers. However I have no fucking clue what half those letters are supposed to mean. English please for those of us who didn't get their language lessons from Twitter.
I make a SFT and test it right away and then from there I make several batches of different strength based on what I get from the immediate test. Then I test each once a week for 2 months. Very rarely do I find a juice I like after more than 2 months that I didn't previously although there are a couple recipes that need all the way up to 6 months to get where I want it.
Concrete River is the person you're looking for. I follow this guide religiously: https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY_eJuice/comments/86od1l/faq_friday_single_flavor_testing_part_1/
I don't mix single flavors etc..I usually get concentrates..but I test them after a few hours after a few good shakes and a warm bath.
If I don't like a flavor right after it's mixed.. there is a near 0% chance I will like it after a week or month of steeping.
There are also flavors that start to taste worse after a long steep.
Steeping is finicky AF. And from what I understand most fruity stuff is ready to vape immediately. Deserts are the ones that need a steep
But honestly never ever have I mixed something. Disliked it or hated it and a month later after tasting it again suddenly loved it.
If it tastes like shit it will likely keep tasting like shit