Menthol - its been said a million times .....

[lesh]

Hi
I just cannot get this right. I have wasted my first 5gr Menthol crystals and have 25gr on order - I am determined to get this right.

I have tried a lot of the suggestions on the forum:

Try 1: I tried with a small amount of crystals in a 10ml bottle (used eliquid bottle) , topped up with PG. When I say small amount, I mean about half teaspoon or so. Shook it lots - failed to dissolve after couple of hours - following hints from forum, microwaved for a few seconds - melted bottle into weird shape.

Try 2: As try 1 above, but this time, tried warming in hot water - dissolved OK, but, after few hours, went almost solid - recrystallized. It would still dissolve again in hot water, but would always recrystallize again.

Try 3: Tried this time with VG/PG 50/50 or so, but still had the recrystallization problem.

Try 4: Tried dissolving in a small amount of water and then added to PG (approx 10% water to 90% PG) - same recrystallisation problem.

Try 5: Retried using water only. This seems to work, but still signs of recrystallization.

OK, so I am new to the mixing lark, but even so, I can't seem to get this simple task done correctly. What am I doing wrong? It seems from other forum posts that it should be as simple as 1/2 fill a 10ml bottle with crystals top up with PG, warm in microwave/water, job done - well, not for me.

Any other hints?

BTW: these crystals are from local chemist and are just labelled "Care +, Menthol 5g, safe for aromatherapy" with a few instructions on using for inhalation.

Am I chasing a ghost here - can I end up with a highly concentrated liquid that I can drip into my mix without this recrystallization issue?

 

[nikki from mars]

If it recrytalizes but dissolves again on adding to warm water wouldnt that work as you will be adding just a few drops to a larger quantity of liquid which should then prevent it as more dilute? Dont use menthol so not entirely sure but would think 1 small sample would be worth a try...

 

[johnr7]

I put a full 5g in a 30ml bottle, fill with PG (MUST be PG) , 25ml, hot water bath, shake and it stays Ok.

I have had issue in the past - VG is horrendous for crystalisation, stronger mixes also.

Try this and see how you go - easy to replicate also.

 

[lesh]

Hi
Thanks for your reply.
I think that one of my trials was similar, only using a 10ml bottle, but very much less amount of the crystals.
Once I get fresh stock of menthol, I will give it another try as per your recipe.

 

[johnr7]

Make sure bottle is super clean & dry.

 

[lesh]

If it recrytalizes but dissolves again on adding to warm water wouldnt that work as you will be adding just a few drops to a larger quantity of liquid which should then prevent it as more dilute? Dont use menthol so not entirely sure but would think 1 small sample would be worth a try...

Hi
Thanks for your reply.
Yes, I had thought of that. When warmed with hot water, it does become pure liquid again. I held off from adding to mix until I clear up this recrystallization business first.

 

[lesh]

Make sure bottle is super clean & dry.

Hi
Thanks for reply.
Well, you may have a point as the bottle(s) I tried with were empty ejuice bottles and would have had some residue. As I was in 'experimental mode', I wasn't too worried about them not being particularly clean - maybe that was an error on my part - though any residue would have been small amounts of (say) PG/VG flavoured with (say) mint for example.
I do have some new bottles on the way, will try that when they arrive.