I am getting into making my own juice for cost and “living in NJ” purposes. I think I have most of it down, except flavor percentages.
My wife and I are not hobbists, we don’t go for the big cloud mods or anything like that. We both use Ego/Aspire style tanks and coils. Currently I use the Aspire Spryte coils, at about 11 w. 60/40 mix.
My local shop can’t tell me recipies. I’m wondering what a good % (total, or single flavor) is. I have been looking at the flavor reviews here and that has been helpful, but I am wondering if the flavor % you use on the bigger rigs would be consistent for me. For example the review for Cappella Apple Snacks said it was best at about 10% as a solo flavor. Would I need to adjust that for my setup?
You're pretty much running a pod system, so higher %s would be better. Honestly, I run rather low-ish flavor %s in my pods as I like the touch of a flavor and that's it. Most the time I run a single flavor with menthol too. But most often people bump percentage up for pods to add more flavor, but sometimes more flavor doesn't mean more in the tasting.
With DIY, we suggest testing flavors on a RDA. That might be too far for you, so I'd suggest trying at recommended single flavor like you found. Look at Alltheflavors and search this sub for that flavor. Most often people test flavors on a single coil RDA (equivalent to a small sub-ohm tank) so I say it'll be safe starting with that percentage in your mod and adjust from there. Make 5ml test batches. btw, I don't trust flavor site reviewers for percentages--always seem weird.
Yeah, I was looking at flavor reviews from this sub. That’s what led me here to ask. Thanks for the info. What is an RDA?
In my opinion, most vendors and reviewers recommend percentages that are too high. I do not know if you are familiar with ATF (alltheflavors.com), a recipe and flavor database. You can look up flavors from specific vendors and it will show you the average percentage at which a flavor is used in recipes. Other than that, there are 1000s of recipes to choose from, depending on how deep you want to dive into DIY.
I find that most single flavors aren’t very satisfying in a vape, they are missing depth and complexity. An option would be to buy one shots (premixed recipes) to which you add PG, VG and nic.
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My local shop mixes custom, and there are several flavors I just do solo. Like I said, not a hobbist, I’m not getting robust flavor profiles from my setup. I have been to ATF, but like you said it’s “average use in a recipe” which doesn’t really answer my question. I’m mostly asking what % should the average total recipe be in a mix. I realize flavors vary, just trying to get an idea.
Yeah, rebuildable atomizer. Easy to test flavors as you just change cotton and try them. They get rather technical, but if you venture into them I think they pay off--rebuildables, like rebuildable tanks RTAs, in the long run.
btw, to echo others, some flavors by themselves can be tiring. Very few flavors I'd vape on their own, but others need some help. Like I just mixed up for my mouth to lung RTA (similar to a pod) of 2% FA Fuji, 1% CAP Double apple, 1% FA Lemon Sicily and 2% Koolada. It's rather light in my MTL RTA (which produces very well) so in a pod it would be lighter. But it's like a light drink I can puff on through a night out drinking. I could do FA Fuji by itself, but the other two flavors add to it and give it a little twist. Just the same you wouldn't make a pie with just apples and crust, but sugar and spices and even some salt and lemon to bring things out better. Some people go crazy, but I don't think you have to.
Generally yes, but different flavors behave differently and some don't work well at any percentage in pod devices. I would recommend you start out by mixing some existing recipes that are specifically designed for low-wattage pod devices:
https://alltheflavors.com/recipes?sort_order=rating&owner=all&name_like=pod
It might help you to do your own testing to see what tastes best to you in your set up. Taste is very subjective- you might prefer it at a different strength to somebody else or they might pick up things in a flavour that you don’t etc. Or like you said they could be using a very different set up to you so it would taste different to them in their set up.
Most flavours that aren’t that good all by them selves. I don’t know if you’ve found the ones you want to use already. But if you’re not getting the flavour you want from them that might be one of the reasons why?
Or have you seen alltheflavors.com? There’s tons of recipes on there. Some are 2-3 flavours so you wouldn’t have to buy loads of different ones plus the %s are already worked out for you. Or there’s one shots? But with both those options it’s finding something you really like.
Each concentrate is unique in that regard, but the reviews in this sub can be helpful as a starter point. I can't help you with Capella Apple Snacks as i've never had it, sorry.
With the setup you guys are using it would probably be best to stick to really big and bright flavors like FA Fuji @4~5% or FLV Pink Guava @3~4%.
Something like Cap apple snacks on a ego, I'd try a 10ml tester around 8%. If it's too dry you could add a cream. Not enough apple, add a touch of cap double apple or fa fuji. It's all experimental to your preferred taste.
Most mtl recipes have a higher star profile flavor and a couple supporting flavors to add creaminess, sweetness, or balance to the recipe.
You could even check [eliquidrecipes] (https://e-liquid-recipes.com/list?q=Mtl&missing=0&recipesonly=0&adaptedfrom=&sort=score&direction=desc) older recipes since they were tailored towards older tanks. Just scan for recipes using 9mg or higher.
Give this a look over for some easy recipes that can give you a little more than solo flavorings will.
Edit:
If mixing flavors together really isn’t of your interest you could always go with ordering some one shots. They are going to be less cost effective in the long run if that’s a concern but will give you full complex recipes and keep mixing super simple for you.
Some places you can find them are:
(I cannot link you those due to reddit guide lines but a google search will direct you)
-Bull city flavors
-liquid barn
I used to do the complex recipe and high wattage thing but now I'm lazy and just use pods or mouth-to-lung rebuildables.
Overall I haven't really found there's a major difference in percentage between high output and low output devices. BUT I do like my flavour on the lighter side most of the time (and possibly I've just adjusted to less flavouring) and I try to go for the devices that have better flavour output. FWIW I've been using the Innokin EQ, Uwell Yearn and a clone KF Lite 2019.
In saying that, taking a lot of my favourite recipes that I used in RDAs and using them in pods I've found pretty disappointing. Some have been OK, most of the time they just taste 'muddy' or one flavouring just overpowers everything else, sometimes they taste completely different.
Like others have said here, best to stick to the simple single/2/3 flavouring recipes. Single and two flavour recipes are more enjoyable in pods than RDAs IMO and are pretty much all I mix now.