With a few notable exceptions, it seems like meaningful participation in the Flavor of the Week threads has waned considerably of late. With the exception of giving OdieDoodah a place to put his awesome Flavor Facts links (and torment you all with the titles), it barely seems worth taking the time to post the darned things anymore. This is sad.
For example, here’s a Grape FOTW from two years ago that has 82 comments, vs. Grape FOTW from last month with 36 comments.
As is stated at the top of every FOTW, the purpose is “to gather the community to explore a category of flavor and its many uses.” But what does this mean? It means if you have any experience with any flavor that fits the FOTW, share it! If you have any questions about any flavor that fits the FOTW, ask them! You never know who you might help, or who might help you.
Each week's post also lays out other ways to participate and make it a fun and interactive place to talk about the FOTW.
Post recipes containing each weeks’ FOTW, as the star or in a supporting role with or without development notes.
> This is a great opportunity to get your own recipes some more “airtime." They’ve already been posted in the monthly thread or maybe even on the front page, but maybe someone missed them, or as is more often the case with me personally, saw them and thought “I should try that!” but later forgot because their brain is slipping into senility. Here’s another opportunity to remind anyone who might be listening, and immortalize your recipe in the FOTW wiki for future generations of mixers who might go there looking for ideas on how to use a particular flavor. Also, your recipe might get literal airtime. The Noted show on YouTube is where I, along with my two co-hosts Emily (mlNikon) and Steven (CheebaSteeba), and a revolving door of guests, give a brief rundown of our thoughts on as many renditions of the FOTW as we can get our greedy little flavor-hoarding hands on. These videos typically have an active live audience of around 100, give or take, but eventually have views into the 1000s. Sometimes, when there aren’t enough flavors to fill an hour, we focus more on recipes that have used the flavors. As we’ve already covered so many FOTWs, we’re pushing now to narrow the categories and focus more on recipes. YOUR recipes. But the comments on the FOTW post is what brings your recipes to our attention.
###Talk about other people's recipes that use it. > If you’ve ever tried a recipe that used a relevant flavor, you’ve got something to say in the FOTW comments section. So, say it! There’s no reason not to basically turn FOTW into a mini-Recipe of the Year contest, except instead of Recipe of the Year, it can be a profile-specific Recipe of All Time contest. But, you don’t have to just post recipes you enjoyed. Let everyone know what you didn’t fancy, as well. It’s best to give constructive criticism to other mixers rather than just tear each other down, so if you can do that, do it. But even if it’s just to say “I didn’t like this recipe that uses the FOTW because...” you’re also doing a valuable service to the community, offering a warning.
###Compare and contrast different manufacturers' versions of the FOTW. >This is where I really need your help. This is what I do on Noted so, you might say by asking for help I’m being lazy and asking you do my “job” for me. And maybe I am on both counts. But look, I’m not always certain I’m giving these flavors a fair shake by trying so many of them each week. If you have experience with a flavor, your experience matters, and I want to be able to consider it thoughtfully and pass it along. Also, we’re always looking for fresh-faced new guests to come on Noted. Having a popular recipe that uses the FOTW is one way to “audition” for that. This is another. But even if you don’t give a crap about my stupid cringey weekly flavor rodeo at all, this is your time to share what you know about which manufactuers make the best versions of the FOTW and help future mixers not waste their money on trash flavors. If someone ever did that for you, here you can pay that back to the community. So, which version of the FOTW is YOUR flavorite?
###Ask for help using that flavor in general or to achieve something specific. >The FOTWs are by request. If you’re the individual who requested it, you at least ought to have either experiences to share or questions to ask. Otherwise, why ask for it to be FOTW? All of us can put ourselves in that person’s shoes. Imagine you requested this week’s FOTW and have never tried a flavor that fit the profile. What questions might you have, then? Ask them.
###Offer advice. > We all love giving advice, right? We do that on this sub 24/7/365. Give some advice on the FOTW for future reference. Hell, give ME some advice on the FOTW. I’m fairly sure I’m not always giving these flavors a fair shake by trying so many of them every week. Maybe I’m using the wrong concentrations, like the flavor has a sweet spot and I’m missing it. Or there’s a special pairing that makes it work. Help me get it right so I’m putting better information out there for everyone.
###Brainstorm Ideas. >You don’t even have to have tried a recipe to post it. FOTW is the best place to post something you’re only thinking of mixing and ask others whether they think it’s a good idea at all or how they might proceed a little differently. That sort of thing doesn’t belong in the monthly recipe thread and some will see it as a bit of a shitpost on the front page, but if it involves the Flavor of the Week, the FOTW thread welcomes it.
###Consider substitutions. >People get irked about substitutions and rarely is one flavor exactly the same as another, but if you think one flavor might work in place of another or want to know whether others think that, this is great place to point that out or ask that question. Last week we were talking about Oranges. I thought after trying them both that 2% VT Bergamot (a kind of orange flavor) or 0.5% FA Bergamot would be fine substitutes for each other. I came up with that thought on my own. But I’m sure others of you have such thoughts about other flavors, and I’m sure everyone who doesn’t want to have to buy two flavors when one will do would love to hear them. Share them with your brothers and sisters! Don’t be shy!
###Suggest pairings. >Many times someone has insisted that X flavor and X flavor taste amazing together and should be used together as part of more complex recipes. When put to the test, I usually find them to be right on. Single flavor testing and general mixing experience can only get us so far. Sometimes it takes someone randomly or semi-randomly sticking two things together and seeing what happens. If you’ve done this with a flavor that fits the FOTW, please let us know.
###... really anything at all as long as it's on topic. >I love when people share trivia about the FOTW. It’s just fun to know that stuff. And I’m sure I’ve left off some way of making FOTW something that helps you and in the process is more useful for everyone. If you can think of it, right now is a great time to point it out.
###And it’s also to have fun! > Always the second line of every posted FOTW. And why not? What’s the use of doing anything if it’s not at least a little fun. Are you a sadist? Then this is a great time to suggest a title for the upcoming weeks’ FOTW post that could inflict more punny pain than I can inflict alone. When a call goes out for volunteers, are you the type to shove someone else’s hand up? Maybe suggest someone I might have overlooked when trying to find a good guest for an upcoming Noted episode. Share a photo that might work as a thumbnail for next weeks’ FOTW. Whatever. Let your hair down and have a little fun for once, you old stick in the mud.
##Finally,
AMA about FOTW or NOTED Ask me anything about these separate-but-linked small parts of our little corner of the vaping world. Or consider this post a suggestion box and/or complaint department for either, or both, though every FOTW post is that as well.
Thanks, Ya’ll.
I quite like the idea of possibly finding flavor themes for future weeks. Those threads could really highlight recipes from users in the community. IE, Beverage Week, Floral Week, Cereal Week, Candy Week, Creamy Week, etc. Just my .02 though, for whatever it is worth, I think that would be a great way for the newer mixers to find newer recipes, or try out some newer flavors. Hell, we could even do a community recipe week (have one person post a flavor profile of some sort and community builds the rest? Idk).
Edit: Would also like to thank you for all your work on this Dave (& the whole team), it is greatly appreciated, and noticed!
Thank you and everyone else on the Noted team! What you all do every week is insane, expensive, something that no sane person would put themselves through, but we love you for it.
My question is what has been the most difficult FOTW to get through and what has been your favorite?
Savory was the hardest, easily. So nasty. And cooling, but I did that to myself. Tobacco would have been difficult as for me as I feel pretty dumb trying to describe those, but we had great guests with better bacco vocabularies so they were easy and fun.
My favorites from the standpoint of flavor profiles have been the ones where we had far fewer flavors and more time to explore recipes and ideas. Apricot, Boysenberry, Guava, Grapefruit, to name a few.
Thanks for the rebuke, and I mean that with all sincerity. I think my trepidation in contributing is derived from intimidation. I’ve only been mixing for about a year and a half and I talk myself out of it in the presence of all the experienced and more knowledgeable mixers. This is not an acceptable excuse. I promise to become more involved and stop taking more than I give. Forgive me in advance for any missteps I might make along the way. Love what you guys do and I listen to Noted as soon as it downloads. As a matter of fact, my newest order includes many of the “Of the year” favorites. I’m especially excited about VT Lemon Meringue Tart after all the praise u/CheebaSteeba heaped on it.
I definitely meant it more as a “call to arms” than as a general rebuke, but you’re welcome!
And don’t forget, FOTW is a place to ask questions as much as it is a place to share experiences, so don’t hesitate to do that as well!
C'mon, lad, grow a pair. (Memo to self, create recipe called "Grow a Pear")
I haven't been mixing that much longer than you (a year more, maybe?) But... You've got experience, you've doubtless mixed things no one else has and know odd interactions others don't. You know what works for you, and those things you find to be an abomination. Stand up for your experience.
“Grow a Pear,” eh? In my mind, it should taste like the whole tree. Maybe FR Honeydew for the grass it grows in and FA Zen Garden for some tree bark notes...TFA Western for the leathery work gloves used to plant it. Or you could just make something not horrible. Either way, I’ll be waiting on this recipe.
I'm thinking pear-centric. TFA Honeysuckle, maybe? Or maybe just CAP hibiscus and some cooling to make iit a slushie? Or maybe Cactus and Rose to get that whole 'growing' part taken care of... But definitely Pear would be the star. I might just do a remix of a famous old recipe, taking out the custard...
Personally, I feel like you guys are doing an invaluable service to the DIY vaping community. To me, FOTW and Noted are the gold standard when it comes to reference, especially since the videos are time-stamped.
Having said this, there are a couple of issues.
Myself, I'm pretty new to vaping, having started a year ago almost on the day, and it's been a steep learning curve and a sometimes very frustrating hobby.
Being new to an industry in full swing means to me, that you guys have an enormous head start, so personally I feel I can't contribute a lot if anything.
I do enjoy Noted a lot, but there's issues. The production value is lacking in some respects. Visually it's just not that interesting. It's a bunch of guys and a girl sitting infront of a webcam talking while live streaming. The podcast fixes that to an extent, but sometimes the conversations seriously suffer from lag.
Then, if I'm not really into the flavour profile, there's little motivation to watch the show or partake in the discussion here on Reddit. The production value isn't there or sometimes the guests aren't that entertaining to be frank.
Next, I feel there's a lack of focus or I'm not really part of the targeted audience? It's great to reference the show for flavours, but then what? As I learned just simply mixing the best ingredients doesn't result in a yummy vape juice.
Lastly, Reddit turned crap IMHO so it's not anymore the place I loved to hang out like it was 10 years ago. I especially reregistered for posting this.
Having said all that Noted and FOTW are of invaluable service to me and no doubt many others, and all of you guys are a bunch of really nice helpful and open guys and I'd hate to see this vanish because I wouldn't know where to look else.
My concrete ideas:
More focus on useable flavours. Not necessarily "the best". Just a quick mentioning which flavours haven't made the cut, without much explanation. It's your show, you don't have to justify your opinions all the time.
Showcase simple recipes and educate people why and how they work with the most useable flavours. Give a good starting point what is achievable with the flavours.
Try to up the production value. Idk if your streaming setup supports a green screen, but for the three regulars it might be worth a try? Also the audio is sometimes subpar, so maybe you can look into that as well?
Having said all that I'm happy to repeat: you guys are my number one source for info and DIY has kept me happily off the cigarettes without ever looking back. I doubt I would have managed with the commercial juices, because very single one of the ones I tried was disgusting.
My bad. I've been mixing for about a year and managed to create an ADV, and that's about it. I kind of re-started in earnest in December. I joined this sub and read (almost) every post, especially the FOTW. I guess I thought I didn't have anything to contribute: I just haven't used that many flavors. But I am learning and every order includes a new flavor or a different brand.
Therefore, rather than just being a non-statistical lurking, I'll start asking more questions.
Thank you.
p.s. Also thanks for Noted. I have been working my way through the episodes on You Tube. Note to self: comment on each episode watched so these wonderful people will at least know I watched it.
Thanks Tim! I’m looking forward to your contributions, even if they’re just questions about the FOTW or notes on one flavor that fits the topic that week. Every little bit counts.
And thanks for the reminder that I need to check those YT comments every once in awhile, too.
Hey, considering cherry is coming up soon, you know I'll have something. Maybe I'll even do a prerelease of a recipe or two that I plan to officially release in Feb. Ok, I decided it will actually be three recipes. Two versions of the first, plus a second distinctly 'different' one. And maybe even a alpha release of one I'm kicking around as a concept now... Maraschino Peary.
I sincerely appreciate all the work the regulars put in. I’ve been a silent lurker for four years and couldn’t have made it this far without each of you. While I could name a few who’s recipes have really stood out for me and helped me along the way, frankly they’ve enabled me too and it wouldn’t seem fair either. Enabled me to be lazy and not hone ANY mixing skills of my own. In four years I’ve probably made a handful of recipes I could saw are my own and they’re no where good enough to share. Point being, I am grateful for this community and would have been domed if not for it. I’ll try to participate more from here on out.
One suggestion I’d like to make, take it for what it’s worth: there are a lot of new vendors and flavors that have come on to the scene lately and it seems like the ‘originals’ are being forgotten. That’s really disappointing for someone like me. I have plenty of stock of over 300 flavors of these first comers. Having so many existing flavors and stock makes it difficult for me to stay interested as everyone is now using all the newer flavors by the new vendors. I can’t justify buying more when I have so much already. Can we get a weekly thread dedicated to these older flavors?
Like one week just for oldies but goodies??
I've read through FOTW ALOT these last few years, nearly every time I make an order
I even have it bookmarked
I would hate to see it go, I join in every now and then when or IF i see it
Maybe that's the problem?
With the surge the new mixers and new threads being created it gets drowned and lost which is my biggest problem with reddit being a disoragniZed free for all.
If it was easier to access or had more visibility (links on other forums perhaps?)
it might bring those numbers up.
I wanna say thanks for your hard work. I wish i could pitch in but i just started DYI-ing last week, so i don’t have a lot of experience as of yet. Also, i hate asking GIYF kind of questions so i just lurk about for now.
When i do get some more experience and can give my 2 cents about some kind of flavor i will.
As a new mixer I highly appreciate reading through the FOTW posts and gaining knowledge on many flavors I've never tried. My initial flavor order was based off of highly rated recipes and the notes from veteran mixers. There is soo much insight to be learned through this thread. I sure hope it continues. Thank you for taking the time to post FOTW.
I think it would be kinda neat to include a poll in the FOTW thread where people can vote on their favorite brand of the flavor. For example, RF Strawberry would get my vote for a Strawberry FOTW if it still existed.
I think that's an excellent idea. There are a bunch of sites that offer a free poll creator and creating polls and putting links to them in the FOTW is certainly a thing we can do. Have you ever used one? Does anyone have a recommendation for a good one to use?
Damn. Considering practically every survey I've seen online used the same one... I can't be sure if I remember the name right... Surveymonkey?
Well let me just say as a new mixer I appreciate how thorough and well organized you’ve presented all this info. It’s going to take me sometime to be able to contribute like many of the experienced folks here. So I’ll just say thank you for all the efforts and great job! Keep up the great work!
I appreciate the info, but have nothing useful to add to the conversation as I snatch recipes and build an inventory and try different flavors. I may have something useful to add one day, but for now I'm barely able to mix a few clones up just to have adv.
You can always participate. Ask pointed questions, like "which version of this flavor is best for [$SPECIFIC_APPLICATION]?" or "is there one example of this flavor that should be used in almost every attempt, like FA Fuji is for apple vapes?" Or whatever information would be most helpful to you that others might have. Hell, it might be something everyone assumes is common knowledge but it hasn't been mentioned in so long that n3wbs don't know it.
I promise to make an effort to be more involved. As of yet, I admit i've mostly been lurking in the background. I love your guys noted show, it's one of the most awesome resources for DIY. Thanks and cheers.
I generally mix recipes created by all of you fine people with a few successful things I've done on my own. I find the FOTW posts extremely helpful in furthering my knowledge.
Very much appreciate the effort that goes into producing them.
Cheers.