The Flavour Blending Guide

It's Saturday afternoon, the game is on and you are in the zone. Fresh battery in your device with some of the purest cotton on earth and a coil made by the finest coil master in the land. All ready to break the seal & fill up that delicious international flavour blend (which was reviewed to be the best tasting thing after toasted cheese). Pop it in and it tastes like burnt oranges. That's it !!! You've had enough of overpriced blends which will eventually go down the drain & you decide NOW 'S THE TIME TO START CREATING YOUR OWN!

But where do you start? What do you buy? Should you add everything into a glass or that brass ornament with a spout? How do you measure? It's all confusing at the start. So lets break it down to basics.

PART 1

Before you start, you'll need the following:

  • Syringes without the needles, 10 ml for the concentrates & 30 ml for the bases. You can use disposable pipettes too.
  • Scale, which measures in grams (optional)
  • Glass beakers or bottles (50ml or larger)
  • Glass/ plastic bottles which can be sealed (20 or 30ml) 
  • A sterile working area
  • Rubber gloves

Bases

Some Blends are made up of 3 bases & flavouring.

  • Propylene Glycol, also called PG. Preferably USP or BP grade. 
  • Vegetable Glycerine, also called VG. Preferably USP or BP grade. 
  • Nicotine 36mg/ml (only use this if you require nicotine)

Flavouring

  • Flavouring Concentrates are used to give you that delicious taste you enjoy.

The Recipe

  • For beginners, we recommend using a recipe, start with starting simple like a fruity concoction as they can be used straight away. View our recipes section to find something which suites your taste or you can search for a recipe online.
  • We recommend getting a few recipes as we know taste is subjective & at first, some mixes might not turn out exactly like you thought they would and might need some tweaking.

Putting it all together

  • Once you've got your recipes, you're now ready to purchase your ingredients.
  • Purchase the PG, VG, Nicotine (if required) & concentrates which you will need for your recipe.
  • Take your recipe & enter it into the calculator under the calculator tab or you can visit this link.

How to use the calculator

  • Choose a name for your recipe
  • Choose the amount of ml you wish to make (10 ml recommended for recipes you making for the first time)
  • Enter your nicotine strength (if you require nicotine)
  • Choose your desired PG/ VG ratio (50/50 recommended)
  • Nicotine strength is the strength of the nicotine which you are using (36mg/ml)
  • Add your flavours & the percentages according to your recipe.
  • Move to the bottom of the page & there you'll see your recipe worked out for you.

Once you've got your recipe done, get out your concentrates that you will be using, we recommend using grams to mix your recipe as its more accurate & consistent but ml's will work just as well if you don't have a scale.

Start by mixing the flavours into a beaker as per your recipe. Example below

As per the example above, we would mix as follows:

Flavour 1: 1 gram/ 1 ml

Flavour 2: 0.5 gram/ 0.5 ml

Flavour 3: 0.3 gram/ 0.3 ml

Flavour 4: 0.05 gram/ 0.05ml

Mix the flavours together and start adding the bases into the mixture.

PG: 2.41 grams/ 2.32 mls

VG: 6.31 grams/ 5 mls

Nicotine: 0.86 grams/ 0.83 mls

Put the mixture into a bottle and cap the top, shake well for a few minutes, open the cap and leave it open for 10 minutes. Your mixture is now ready to use. If the mixture tastes somewhat chemical, shake well for a few minutes, open the cap and leave it open for another 10 minutes.

Additional Notes:

To achieve a creation which best suits your taste, mix up single concentrates in a few ml's of VG/ PG. Use this to get an idea of the taste & strength of each concentrate. 

The views expressed above are just guidelines. We take no responsibility for any harm/ liability which arises from the above. Use this information at your own risk.

 

PART 2

Additives & Secret Ingredients

AAA Magic Mask
From Italian makers Flavour Art, AAA Magic Mask (also referred to as MM) adds mouth-feel, while reducing acid perception without modifying pH. It can mellow out sharp notes. Be very careful with this, as it can easily ruin a mix. Add sparingly. This additive works partially, not by modifying taste, but by modifying your taste perception.

Acetyl Pyrazine (AP)
Acetyl Pyrazine (or AP) usually comes in a 5% solution. It imparts a nutty/baked/bready flavor. Typically used to enhance tobacco flavors or bakery mixes. Use sparingly, 0.2-1% Start by adding 1 drop per 10 ml and add to taste. Too much produces a Frito-taste. Some find this very difficult to work with, as it can become overpowering very quickly. If you have problems working with it, try putting 2 drops in a 10 ml bottle and fill it up with PG/VG, and work with that the same way.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Increases acidity, which helps some flavors to "pop". Usually used in tobacco mixes, whereas lemon juice is used in fruity mixes.
Initially, mixes with ACV appear to have better flavor, but over time tend to have more muted flavors. Some like the effect it has on flavor though, so to counter the muted flavor, you can up the percentage a bit.
Use sparingly. Start with 1 drop per 10 ml and work from there.

Bitter Wizard
Also from Italian makers Flavour Art, Bitter Wizard imparts bitterness, removes sweetness, adds dryness. Usually used in tobacco mixes, but can be useful for more. Add 1 drop per 10 ml, and slowly work upwards as desired.

Ethyl Maltol (EM)
EM is also known as Cotton Candy. Often referred to as a sweetener, though it really isn't. At low percentages, around 0.5-1% it adds body, moisture, and reduces sharp notes. It rounds off the flavors, and brings them out a bit. In other words, it reduces flavor intensity. 1.5-2.5% it significantly reduces flavor intensity. After vaping liquids with very high EM-content, many experience a distinct loss of flavor in anything else you use, for an hour or more.
Around 8-10%, it gives off a distinct burned sugar/cotton candy flavor, but without the sweetness of real cotton candy.

Vanillin
Vanillin is a sweetener too, it also adds a vanilla-note in your mixes. Like EM it is usually dissolved in VG or PG; use one part vanillin and 9 parts dillutant.
Used like EM, add 1-2 drops per 10 ml, and add more to taste. Normal range is 0.5-2%.

Koolada
Menthyl methyl lactate, also known as Koolada is usually in a 10% solution. If you like the cooling effect that menthol has, but don't want the actual flavor, Koolada adds that cooling effect of menthol but without the flavor. Use sparingly around 0.5-4%

Lemon Juice
Increases acidity. Used to enhance fruity flavors and give it "that something extra". Typical dosage: 1-2 drops per 5 ml liquid.
Initially, mixes with lemon juice appear to have better flavor, but over time tend to have more muted flavors.

Malic Acid/ Sour
Typically in a 20% solution. It adds a sour note. At 1-2 drops per 10 ml liquid, it tends to enhance (to "pop") fruity flavors.
At larger percentages it makes a "sour candy"-effect.

Malic and Citric Acid/  Tart & Sour 
Usually called "Tart & Sour", is used the same way as Malic Acid, to make fruit flavors "pop". Dosage is also similar at 1-2 drops per 10 ml liquid. Higher percentages will impart a Jolly Rancher-like effect.
I would use malic acid instead of citric acid.

Menthol
Use this ingredient in small quantities to give you that refreshing menthol effect on your throat, It's normally sold pre mixed in pg or you can buy menthol crystals & make your own menthol liquid from the crystals. The easiest way is to grind the crystals up real fine, then fill a bottle half full (or just under), and then add your PG or VG. Shake vigorously. Warm water bath may help dissolve it. If you use VG you will not be able to dissolve as much as with PG.

Saline
Saline, or saline solution, is medical grade distilled water with salt (NaCL). It's typically used in tobacco or bakery-flavors, and adds body and enhances flavors. Just like salt in foods ;) It may add a salty note to your liquid
It can be used in all flavors to enhance flavor and add moistness, test it a bit before making a big batch.
It reduces the mouth/sinus/throat-dehydration caused by VG and PG.
If you add distilled water, vodka or PGA to dillute your juice, you can try substituting it with saline. A good pointer could be that flavoring and saline should amount to 20-25% of your total volume. Though some just add 3% saline to their mixes, perhaps a bit more if you are heavy on the VG.
The medical stuff usually comes in 0.5-0.9%. Nasal cleaner for babies will do the trick also.

Smooth
Smooth mellows out harsh edges of flavors, softens the high notes and provides mouthfeel, while boosting the background notes.
This additive works partially, not by modifying taste, but by modifying your taste perception.

Sweetener
There are several types of sweeteners out there. The most common type is sucralose (like Sweetener (TPA)). There are also several types of Stevia-based sweeteners (which should be more healthy). They are mostly used in fruits, candy, and bakery flavors, and like EM a little (typically 1-2 drops per 10 ml) enhances flavors, while a bit more, like 1% and above, will add sweetness.
Marshmallow by The Perfumer's Apprentice is used like EM, for adding moistness and sweetness.
Molasses by The Perfumer's Apprentice imparts sweetness and a spicy note.
Brown Sugar Extra by The Perfumer's Apprentice adds sweetness.
Most sweeteners brightens other flavors, and it's a good idea to start small.

Flavors known to add extra throat hit:
Horchata 
Most cinnamon flavors
Ecto Cooler
Flavors that use capsaicin (the strong component of chilies).
Menthols 

Source: liquidrecipes.com, ecf forum Credit: liquidrecipes.com, ecf 

The views expressed above are just guidelines. We take no responsibility for any harm/ liability which arises from the above. Use this information at your own risk.

 

 PART 3

A simplified guide to steeping

The steeping process begins as soon as the batch is mixed. The time that the juice travels to the store and sits on the shelf is when the steeping begins. However, the flavor will greatly benefit from additional steeping time. Many of you are probably thinking, “Why do I have to do this myself!? Why can’t they just sell the juice when its ready!?” The reality is that it takes some time for PG and especially VG to properly soak up all of the flavor molecules. Plus, that extra time will greatly enhance the flavor. If you have ever made soup or chili then you know exactly what I mean. Steeping is for distinguished gentlemen (and women) that are trying to squeeze every last drop of flavor out of life. The word “steeping” has been used for years in reference to soup and especially tea. It takes patience, self control and a vision for a better tomorrow. Tea is not something you can throw together quickly and guzzle down. We are talking about a much more sophisticated way of life.

 

Steeping. This is when you place your closed mixed bottles in a cool, dark place, such as a tall cigar box, for a week or two. It is also recommended that you shake your bottles as often as possible to help expedite the process. Another way to speed up the steeping is to run the bottles under warm tap water. The heat from the water will get the molecules moving around faster.

Breathing. This is when you take the cap off and let your mixed bottle sit for a few hours. Rip recommends no more than 12 hours of breathing. Eventually the flavor and nicotine content begins to diminish during this process so don’t forget about it! (Many people overgeneralize the term steeping to include this process but the truth is that “breathing” is not the same thing.)

Streathing. This is a more advanced process to find out when his flavours hit a peak. Start by shaking your bottles and then run them under warm tap water. Take the cap off and place them in a cool, dark place for two hours. Put the cap back on and shake well. Then squeeze the excess air out of the bottle which recycles the oxygen throughout. This can only be done with a bottle that has a nipple as opposed to those that come with a dropper. This process is usually repeated a few times as it takes a lot more time, effort and precision than steeping or breathing.

Steeping time. This actually depends on the flavor. Fruity flavors tend to require the least amount of steeping time. Tobacco flavors need a little bit more time to steep and the more creamier, dessert flavors tend to take the longest time to reach their flavor peak. It is recommended that you steep for at least two weeks, but some flavors may take longer and some may be good right out of the bottle. Using warm water or some kind of heat source such as a slow cooker, some even use their computer’s fan vent will help to speed up the process. The whole point of steeping is to get maximum flavor out, so if it tastes good to you, then you are done. Some people like to steep for 2-3 weeks, while others might even go for months. It is all subjective, so you can steep for as long as you want, but just make sure you are not going past the expiration date on the bottle!

Steeping is not for everyone but it is highly recommended to achieve the best flavor. If you have been steeping a bottle for months and it still doesn’t taste right, chances are your juice just sucks.

 Source: flavour360.com Credit: Dave Kriegel

The views expressed above are just guidelines. We take no responsibility for any harm/ liability which arises from the above. Use this information at your own risk.