Hope I can explain my problem!

[reddragon]

You are right beetle adding water to a watery mix does sound wierd

Where do you get distiiled water from? I may try vodka as that may be easier to get hold of thanks lairey

It’s so frustrating as I was hoping to get around 10 or so flavours that I really like and rotate them, I have made about 40 now and only CLC is something that I would make again

[Perpetua]

Jan 14, 2015 18:30:27 GMT lairey said:

Maybe Perpetua has some ideas?

I don't know that I do really lairey, as like you I don't find a problem with a lack of ' depth ' in my mixes . . . although I only use VG Nic Base, undiluted plain VG & flavourings.

Other than a few basic quick & easy fruit brews, nothing I use is under 4-6months steeped either.

CCW's in the main I don't find especially intense, most of them I mix between 25-35%  . . . so perhaps you could think about upping the percentages of those reddragon.

Though as Sarah says, if you're looking for more complex flavours that have more ' notes ' to them, then you'll need to be looking at adding more layers of flavour that harmonize with each other.

As the folks have said, Vanillin & Dulce de Leche help perk up a mix, 1 or 2% of either would add an extra element.

I also think we do underestimate on occasions the work that's gone into creating some of the popular, premium eliquids and expect to be able to make something as good every time at home. Which isn't always possible without putting in the time and experimentation that the creators most likely have to achieve their end result.

[reddragon]

Thanks Perpetua I think you are right with the under estimating the work gone in. Although to be fair I didn’t find many pre mades that I love RA, Black & Blue, After Dark Mints, Posset is about it.

Although I can’t claim to have tried more than about 30 pre mades, that is why I decided to give mixing a go. Maybe I should try some more premades to get a greater idea of what I am looking for?

Talking of posset I have mixed some of that somewhere, I will have to look that out and see if that is any good

[Perpetua]

I'll vape most flavours reddragon premade or otherwise . . . there's little that I find unvapeable, other than tobacco's now. Mints/Menthols aren't really my thing, but if that's all there were available then I'd get on with it. If it's just ' ok ' I can cope with that as long as I'm not smoking.

I'm old and less selective about certain things is my excuse.

[beetle]

Used to be able to get distilled water at Boots reddragon but they don't seem to stock it anymore. Classikool sell it here
As yourself and lairey suggested, maybe try the vodka option first.

[miltiades]

Hi @reddrragon. Have a try on the following: if you recipe contains as the base ingredient a cream , after the 1st week add just one or two drops of white vinegar. And then check the intensity of the flavor and aroma.

[gel]

Jan 14, 2015 20:10:36 GMT lairey said:

Just a thought reddragon, prompted by reading beetle's post... I dilute my VG with roughly 10% vodka. Not sure if it makes a difference as I have done this since I started mixing. Maybe worth a shot?

Hi lairey, not being a Vodka drinker myself, could you advise on whether any brand of Vodka is O.K. for diluting V.G. please. I am having the same problem as reddragon since changing my V.G. supplier, current V.G. is a lot thicker. Having worked with V.G. all my life the latter thickness is the same as supplied to the food trade. I am wondering if some Vodka's have a detrimental flavour for diluting V.G., regards, Gel.

[Deleted]

I am taking my very first steps into mixing, still waiting for the first batch of CLC (although the testers were okay). I have found that a few drops of vanillin gives the vape more volume and mouth feel - even with fruits. TBH I was looking at my scrambled eggs this morning just wondering if I should add a couple of drops....!

The more I read about it the more I realise that mixing can be as complex or as simple as you want, a bit like cooking. I also suspect that are some little 'pro-level' tricks the premium mixers use.

What we need is the Mary Berry of mixing to make a cookbook.

[jmw2309]

I also wonder whether some vendors use a higher % of concentrate than they admit to. I have found I am using up to double the % to make my mixes the same as the pre made stuff.

[lairey]

Jan 15, 2015 9:28:31 GMT gel said:

Jan 14, 2015 20:10:36 GMT lairey said:

Just a thought reddragon, prompted by reading beetle's post... I dilute my VG with roughly 10% vodka. Not sure if it makes a difference as I have done this since I started mixing. Maybe worth a shot?

Hi lairey, not being a Vodka drinker myself, could you advise on whether any brand of Vodka is O.K. for diluting V.G. please. I am having the same problem as reddragon since changing my V.G. supplier, current V.G. is a lot thicker. Having worked with V.G. all my life the latter thickness is the same as supplied to the food trade. I am wondering if some Vodka's have a detrimental flavour for diluting V.G., regards, Gel.

I normally use either Green Mark or Russian Standard as that is what I tend to have in the house.  Both are 40% and I think you can buy small half bottles of either in large Tesco.  Although as I buy it by the litre, I could be mistaken about the small bottle bit 

[gel]

Jan 15, 2015 10:36:46 GMT lairey said:

Jan 15, 2015 9:28:31 GMT gel said:

Hi lairey, not being a Vodka drinker myself, could you advise on whether any brand of Vodka is O.K. for diluting V.G. please. I am having the same problem as reddragon since changing my V.G. supplier, current V.G. is a lot thicker. Having worked with V.G. all my life the latter thickness is the same as supplied to the food trade. I am wondering if some Vodka's have a detrimental flavour for diluting V.G., regards, Gel.

I normally use either Green Mark or Russian Standard as that is what I tend to have in the house.  Both are 40% and I think you can buy small half bottles of either in large Tesco.  Although as I buy it by the litre, I could be mistaken about the small bottle bit 

Thanks lairey, am putting my coat on. I had a very nice Liquorice/Anise mix going , but since changing my V.G. & P.G. supplier and buying the Liquorice & Anise in larger quantities it seems the wheels have dropped off , a bit bland. 

[jevans]

reddragon
And I thought your only problem was having red hair....
Shame you can't just add salt to your mix.
I was having a similar problems, but came across VapingBad 's method of not adding any VG.
It works a treat for me!

Jim

[Deleted]

Jan 15, 2015 10:56:55 GMT jevans said:

reddragon
Shame you can't just add salt to your mix.

Jim

That is interesting -  in Perpetua 's links she supplied in a different thread there was an entire conversation salt. Not table salt but a saline solution. I will try and find the relevant bits and post them

Nick

[miltiades]

Jan 15, 2015 9:52:09 GMT @kopiert said:

I am taking my very first steps into mixing, still waiting for the first batch of CLC (although the testers were okay). I have found that a few drops of vanillin gives the vape more volume and mouth feel - even with fruits. TBH I was looking at my scrambled eggs this morning just wondering if I should add a couple of drops....!

The more I read about it the more I realise that mixing can be as complex or as simple as you want, a bit like cooking. I also suspect that are some little 'pro-level' tricks the premium mixers use.

What we need is the Mary Berry of mixing to make a cookbook.

Hello Friend.

having completed about 200 tests , i can say that all methods circulating around are true but not in full extend.

It's very important what type of flavor you wish to enhance with vanillin , vinegar , saline , citric acid , etc... 

The same ingredient does not react the same way with all the flavors.

This require a bit of experimentation but a general rule i've found is that we are very close to cooking. If something
works as a combination in cooking it's very possible to work with flavors as well.

[miltiades]

For saline solution i use something local like this www.parimedical.co.uk/products/pari_saline_solutions.html