Mixing and steeping

[Jen]

Just found the below on Todd's website, would you guys agree? Has anyone tried this? Personally, I don't quite see how the order you mix would change the composition, but I never did pay attention in physics at school!

NEVER let your e-liquids steap with the cap off. Cap always on in a dark, room temperature place.
If
you let your e-liquids with the cap off, the oxygen will react with all
your flavorings and nicotine, resulting in a half-nikotined eliquid and
bad taste.
Always mix your liquids with this order.
Always put
your flavorings 1st and then put your liquids heaviest 1st and leave the
lighter ones for the end. In this case VG goes before the PG. This way
will change the way all these liquids mix with each other.
This rule applies for everything that involves mixing. From cocktails to cooking.
Also, NEVER shake your final mix too much because you are breaking the connections of it.
Its like shaking really hard a bottle of  wine. The taste will change forever.
Make small and gentle shakes for 30 seconds. This should be more than enough.
These are some tips from a little DIY "seminar" we had from the guy at ATMOS LABS.
Once i followed these advices i saw a huge difference not only in taste but in vapor quality too!

[OneDay]

This appeared on another thread recently and Frogster poo-pooed it

[Jen]

Oh, sorry! I'll go and have a look for that one

[Phoenixflame (Julie)]

Here's a link to frogsters steeping page www.thealchemistscupboard.co.uk/page/steeping

[ausfost]

Hi Jen, just a newbie at mixing but advice i have seen elsewhere on the forum seems to state Cap off in warm dark place, see frogsters info: www.thealchemistscupboard.co.uk/page/steeping it's worked for me with no adverse effect on flavour only seems to improve it, Nic content i cannot comment on with any confidence as not set up to measure it. somewhere on the forum there is a link about deterioration of nic content under different storage conditions, sure someone can point the way.

[Jen]

D'ya know, there's so much conflicting advice out there, it's impossible to find the definitive answer to all this. Tops on, off, cold, warm, dark, nic evaporating, humectants, absorbing air moisture... I steep everything with the lid on and it steeps just fine! I mix base > nic > water > flavour and it seems to work OK for me so far, too. I could try the above method, I guess, 5 ml of the same juice each way and find out, if I'm feeling all sciency

[andylec]

lol tried every way bar sticking up my .... , and all my tobacco still taste of hay/fresh cut grass

[OneDay]

To be honest I think us mere mortals with our shot tastebuds and high-flavour preferences wouldn't tell the difference.

[Jen]

Every baccy flavour I've ever tried, home or bought, tastes of ashtray to me! Sometimes honey drizzled ashtray, sometime cat wee and ashtray... So I'm no help there, really

[Frogster (The Alchemist)]

Well it is only my opinion, but what he says is a load of "B*ll**k*"

The only true thing that he nearly says, is the interaction between flavours can vary depending on the order of adding them.... (for example, whack in concentrated menthol straight on top of something like a delicate strawberry and it has potential to neutralize some of the strawberry flavour - mix all the other ingredients first and then add strawberry last - the menthol mixture is weaker and has less effect on the strawberry.

But the cap on, never shake, and the rest of it is utter Cr*p, in my opinion!

[Jen]

Feb 28, 2013 23:39:56 GMT Frogster (The Alchemist) said:

Well it is only my opinion, but what he says is a load of "B*ll**k*"

The only true thing that he nearly says, is the interaction between flavours can vary depending on the order of adding them.... (for example, whack in concentrated menthol straight on top of something like a delicate strawberry and it has potential to neutralize some of the strawberry flavour - mix all the other ingredients first and then add strawberry last - the menthol mixture is weaker and has less effect on the strawberry.

But the cap on, never shake, and the rest of it is utter Cr*p, in my opinion!

Hmm, interesting point with the menthol, would that apply to all stronger flavours as opposed to more delicate ones?

I've just ordered some of your delicious wares, but I have to say - I'm going to steep 'em with the caps on

[Frogster (The Alchemist)]

I am not a chemist or an expert. I cannot quote research or scientific findings.... But I do have a fair bit of knowledge and experience with mixing. I can make upwards of 10 ltrs a day.

To my mind it is not always the stronger flavours, I think the acidic flavours have more potential to change other flavourings... lime, lemon, orange, etc..... think of cooking and adding lemon juice to cream..... the curdling is chemical reaction.... I think it is the same sort of thing that applies, but maybe not as obvious in a e-liquid.

I just apply "reason & common sense" when mixing different flavours.

[Jen]

Excellent advice there, Mr Frogster

[JimmyJ]

"NEVER shake your final mix too much because you are breaking the connections of it."

Sounds too technical for me

[OneDay]

Sounds like mumbo jumbo to me