tried DIY, not much luck so far, general guidance needed...

[oldhippydude]

I suspect that chemical tastes that improve with breathing is a sighn you have used too much flavour.

You could work out the best percentage flavour for single flavours by mixing several strengths then when you have worked out the single flavours start making blends you think might work with them. This is easier if you have a dripper.
Once you have a two flavour blend that works then work out a recipe for it then see if you can improve it with a third or fourth flavour.

My method is find something you can vape then gradually improve it with each mix, you end up with something you like rather than making something someone else likes.

 

[transcendentalaccidentalism]

I use boots own vg... It's called bp on the bottle but it's actually vg and for around £1.35 for 200ml it's cheap

Someone mentioned in another thread they emailed boots to found out if it was animal or vegetable and they was told it 100% vegetable glycerin.

I've been using it a while now and never had any problems.

right on. so far I haven't found anything that's labeled "animal" - and for what we are doing and where we are shopping I wouldn't expect to.

I have also been told that the UK has more superior products for diy all around.
I think I might be looking into international shipping!

 

[mcvaping]

right on. so far I haven't found anything that's labeled "animal" - and for what we are doing and where we are shopping I wouldn't expect to.

I have also been told that the UK has more superior products for diy all around.
I think I might be looking into international shipping!

Which country you in pal??? The stuff I use boots vg as it were is on the shelf next to the cough medicines. You could find your local pharmacy and ask.

 

[jjde]

I suspect that chemical tastes that improve with breathing is a sighn you have used too much flavour.

You could work out the best percentage flavour for single flavours by mixing several strengths then when you have worked out the single flavours start making blends you think might work with them. This is easier if you have a dripper.
Once you have a two flavour blend that works then work out a recipe for it then see if you can improve it with a third or fourth flavour.

My method is find something you can vape then gradually improve it with each mix, you end up with something you like rather than making something someone else likes.

This is really good advice. I too suspect over-flavouring.

The way of building a recipe is also pretty spot on.

This stuff takes time. I have 3 all day vapes that I'm 100% happy with (many more are still in progress). I've been mixing for 3 years.

 

[bigbluenose]

A couple of pointers for you to consider.
With regards to flavour brands everyone has their own preference which like everything else DIY is down to your own taste. For example I rate Flavour Arts Starwberry but someone else will prefer Capellas sweet Starwberry in a mix. Some rate Inawera flavourings more than say the flavour Apprentice flavours. It all comes down to preference really so I wouldn't get too hung up on that. Sadly this is where DIY becomes costly in the beginning as we hunt down our own favourite flavour. Most have a very eclectic mix of various companies flavours and generally we are pointed in the right direction by everyone's else's trials and errors.
My own advice is to find a recipe that appeals to you and buy your flavourings needed for that recipe. Now say it is a custard based liquid that uses CAP V1 custard but you find that it doesn't really taste good to you even after trying various percentages? Then you would get FA custard which when mixed lacks something to you again so you combine the CAP and FA custards and find that it hits the spot!
This is how it can go with nearly every recipe we mix. Until we hit upon our preferred one.
In the meantime your flavour collection expands! Lol
Some great advice given here regarding steeping and every mix requires steepening, whether that is a day or 2 months! Again it is down to you when testing what suits you?
Generally creams and custards need at least 3 weeks steep for my tastes but someone else with the same mix might prefer it after 1 week?
The bottom line is that everything you buy and mix and steep is down to your own tastes so have fun, mix up shit loads of recipes, experiment and have fun!
We all suffered the same trials you will go through but in the long run you will save money and get a an ADV that no company can offer at the price you can!

 

[conanthewarrior]

What percentage of flavouring are you using? As i find with certain flavours, you only need very little-an example being melon. Use a small amount, it tastes lovely, but mixed at 10% it doesn't taste like anything you would ever want to vape.

As for brand preferences, I don't actually have a favourite brand. There are some I like from one company more than others, each different flavours.

I find that fruit flavours generally can be used straight away, and I do myself use them straight away. I actually prefer them fresh vs Steeped.

Some flavours need steeping though-one such flavour is Solub Aromes Cola, which when first made, I can't even describe, but after around a month it really does taste like Cola.

You will very soon get what you like, it does take a little trial and error I find for the amount needed for you to personally like it, but soon enough you will have it down, and have flavours that taste fantastic, and you will wonder how you afforded to vape before DIY .

 

[Jugg1es]

best suggestion I can come up with after reading the above is.....

Ditch the capella vanilla custard v2 and reach it with the v1.
The v2 is rank in comparison.

 

[bullgog]

I know you have bought some concentrates but maybe stick the one shots to start with, chefs, t juice, vampire vape etc. You then can't do much wrong, you'll either like or not, least then you have a benchmark, something to aim for with the ones you do.

 

[stewbacca]

Don't worry, BP in this case has nothing to do with petrochemicals, it#s an abbreviation for British Pharmacopeia, national standard list of quality licences used by pharmacists (check your aspirin, paracetamol etc they'll all say BP).

This man speaks sense. The British Pharmacopeia states that for something to be pure it must have x properties, such as melting point etc etc.

 

[bolter2]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I think some of it was too much flavour, but even when I reduced them so much that the flavour was pants, there was still a twang of chemical. It did improve from airing, but still not great. I've now orders some more flavours from a few different suppliers. I must say, already golden pineapple, juicy peach and raspberry from Cappella all smell amazing and no chemical smell, unlike the equivalent from TFA which has a smell of chemical. So I'm hopeful!