E-Liquid Flavour Concentrates Explained
By Jemma Wolfe
Published On: 08-09-23
E-Liquid Concentrates: Everything you need to know
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What Are E-Liquid Flavour Concentrates?
- How Do Flavour Concentrates Work?
- Can I Vape Flavour Concentrates Without Mixing?
- How to Use Flavour Concentrates: Mixing Basics
- Finding The Right Concentration
- Flavour Concentrates: Dos And Don’ts
- Best E Liquid Flavour Concentrates
- E-Liquid At myCigara
- Recommended Reads
Ever considered getting creative by mixing your own e-liquid, but worried your DIY creations won’t live up to the great taste of ready-made vape juice? Fear not. Flavour concentrates are the secret ingredient to ensure total control when creating your own e-liquid, without compromising on taste.
E liquid flavour concentrates make vape juice mixing a breeze; simply add them to your base ingredients and allow the super-concentrated formula to provide a potent blast of your desired flavour. While flavour concentrates aren’t the best starting point for beginners, they’re perfect for intermediate and advanced vape fans who are interested in mixing their own eliquid and customising their vape experience.
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at e liquid flavour concentrates; covering how they work, how to use them, and some helpful tips and tricks to ensure a fully customisable experience.
So, whether you’re on the hunt for a cost-effective DIY vape juice solution or keen to simplify your mixing routine, stay tuned as we take a deep dive into the world of flavour concentrates.
What Are E-Liquid Flavour Concentrates?
To put it simply, an e-liquid flavour concentrate is a potent and condensed flavouring ingredient that serves as the foundation for creating your own e-liquids. These concentrates are specially formulated to deliver rich, vibrant, and authentic flavours.
Unlike ready-made e-liquids, which combine various ingredients including nicotine, PG (propylene glycol), VG (vegetable glycerin), and flavours, flavour concentrates solely focus on providing the taste element.
Flavour concentrates open up a realm of possibilities for vape fans who take joy in personalising their vaping experience.
These concentrates allow you to experiment with flavours, mix different concentrates together, and fine-tune the strength of each flavour note to craft the perfect taste for your preferences.
How Do Flavour Concentrates Work?
Flavour concentrates are the heart and soul of crafting your own e-liquid. They serve as the essential ingredient that brings your homemade vape juice to life.
Whether you prefer a simple single-flavour blend or an elaborate combination of tastes, concentrates provide the foundation for your recipe.
Flavour concentrates work by incorporating the aromatic and flavour compounds present in the chosen ingredient. When you add flavour concentrates to your eliquid base, they infuse the mixture with their distinct taste, creating a vaping experience that closely resembles the chosen flavour.
It's important to note that flavour concentrates, by nature, are pretty strong, and only a small amount is needed to achieve the desired flavour intensity.
Due to their potency, vapers must carefully measure and mix flavour concentrates with other ingredients, such as propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), nicotine, and possibly additional flavours, to create a balanced and enjoyable eliquid blend.
Can I Vape Flavour Concentrates Without Mixing?
As you venture into the world of e-liquid mixing, you might be tempted to try vaping flavour concentrates straight out of the bottle.
After all, they smell incredibly enticing, and it's natural to be curious about their taste. However, we strongly recommend against trying this.
Flavour concentrates are highly concentrated, meaning they contain a much higher flavouring intensity than standard e-liquids.
Vaping them undiluted can result in an overwhelmingly strong, unpleasant taste that may even be harsh on your throat.
E-liquids typically consist of three main components: flavourings, a base (usually a mix of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin), and nicotine.
When you vape flavour concentrates on its own, you're missing these essential components. This can lead to an unbalanced vaping experience that definitely won’t provide the satisfaction you're seeking.
To put it plainly, while flavour concentrates are the backbone of crafting exceptional e-liquids, they are not intended for standalone vaping.
To enjoy their full potential, mix them carefully with the appropriate base and nicotine, following recommended recipes and guidelines.
Are E-Liquid Flavour Concentrates Safe?
In short, yes. E-liquid flavour concentrates, when used responsibly and sourced from reputable manufacturers, are considered safe for vaping.
This is because, just like all other vaping products and e-liquids, flavour concentrates undergo rigorous testing to ensure they’re safe for vaping.
While some DIY vape juice mixers prefer to use food flavourings for their concoctions, buying flavour concentrates is actually a far safer alternative. While food flavourings are crafted using food-grade ingredients, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re safe for inhalation.
Meanwhile, e-liquid flavour concentrates are specifically designed for vaping and reputable e-liquid manufacturers follow strict quality control measures and adhere to industry standards.
Of course, e-liquid flavour concentrates should always be used responsibly to ensure the safest experience possible.
As mentioned above, it’s important to dilute your flavour concentrates and avoid vaping them if they aren’t mixed with a base liquid to ensure a balanced and safe experience.
How to Use Flavour Concentrates: Mixing Basics
Mixing your own e-liquids using flavour concentrates is an exciting endeavour that offers endless possibilities for crafting unique vaping experiences.
Here, we'll guide you through the fundamental steps of mixing flavour concentrates with base liquids, ensuring you create harmonious and flavorful blends every time. If you’re already familiar with mixing e-liquid, incorporating flavour concentrates into your mix should be a breeze.
1. Gather Your Ingredients and Tools
Before you start mixing, ensure you have the following essentials:
● Flavour concentrates of your choice
● Propylene glycol (PG)
● Vegetable glycerin (VG)
● Nicotine (if desired)
● Measuring syringes, pipettes or weighing scales
● Mixing bottles
2. Calculate Mixing Percentages
Each flavour concentrate has recommended mixing percentages to achieve optimal flavour balance. These percentages vary based on the strength and type of concentrate and can usually be found on the packaging or bottle itself. Generally, it’s best to start with a low percentage and gradually increase to avoid overpowering flavours.
3. Measure The Ingredients
Using either a measuring syringe, pipette, or weighing scales, carefully measure the required amounts of flavour concentrates, PG, VG, and nicotine (if applicable) based on your desired recipe and mixing percentages.
4. Mix And Shake
Add the measured amounts of flavour concentrates, PG, VG, and nicotine into a mixing bottle. Close the bottle and shake vigorously to ensure proper blending of the ingredients.
5. Steeping
Although not essential, it’s a good idea to allow your e-liquid mixture to steep for a certain period, which helps the flavours meld and mature. The steeping time varies based on the recipe, but a common range is a few days to a couple of weeks. During steeping, be sure to shake the bottle occasionally.
6. Taste And Adjust
After steeping, test your e-liquid to determine if the flavours have developed to create the flavour you want.. If the flavour is too weak, you can add a small amount of additional concentrate. Or, if the flavour is too strong, dilute the mixture with more base liquids.
7. Record Your Recipe
If you're satisfied with the flavour outcome, be sure to note down the precise recipe, including the flavour concentrates used, mixing percentages, steeping duration, and any adjustments made. This way, you can replicate your favourite blends in the future with no hassle.
Finding The Right Concentration
One of the most common questions that beginner mixologists have when they start working with flavour concentrates is, "How much should I use?" Finding the right concentration of flavour is indeed a bit of a balancing act, but fear not—there are guidelines and methods to help you get it just right.
If you're new to mixing, the easiest way to determine the right amount of flavour concentrate is by following a well-crafted recipe. Many online communities and e-liquid calculators provide recipes with precise ingredient measurements, taking the guesswork out of the equation.
E-liquid recipes often specify the flavour concentrate as a percentage of the total e-liquid volume. For example, a recipe might recommend using 10% flavour concentrate. This means for a 10ml batch of e-liquid, you'd add 1ml (or 10%) of flavour concentrate.
But of course, taste is highly subjective. What's too strong for one person might be too weak for another.
When you're just starting, it's a good idea to mix small test batches at varying concentrations to find your sweet spot. Keep a record of your experiments to track your preferences.
Flavour Concentrates: Dos And Don’ts
Now that you’re clued up on how to add flavour concentrates to your vape juice concoctions, it’s important to keep a few dos and don'ts in mind to ensure a smooth and safe mixing experience.
Here are our top tips when using flavour concentrates:
Do:
● Start Small: When crafting a new blend, begin with small batches. This allows room for adjustments without wasting your precious concentrates.
● Shake Thoroughly: Always shake your flavour concentrates well before using them. This ensures an even distribution of flavour throughout your mix.
● Handle With Care: Concentrated flavourings can be potent, so handle them with care. Avoid contact with skin and eyes, and wash your hands after use.
● Proper Storage: Store your flavour concentrates in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. This helps preserve their flavour potency over time.
● Read The Label: Always read the labels and safety instructions on your flavour concentrate bottles. Different concentrates may have specific handling and mixing recommendations.
Don’t:
● Go Overboard: Overloading your mix with flavour concentrates can result in overpowering, unbalanced flavours. Remember, less can often be more.
● Guess The Measurements: Eyeballing measurements may lead to inconsistent and unpredictable results. Always use precise measuring tools like syringes, pipettes, or weighing scales for accuracy.
Best E Liquid Flavour Concentrates
Now that you have a good grasp of what flavour concentrates are and how to work with them, you're probably eager to start your e-liquid mixing journey. The next logical step is finding the best flavour concentrates on the market to ensure your DIY e-liquids taste doesn’t disappoint.
One of the most reliable ways to ensure quality is by choosing concentrates from reputable brands such as Dinner Lady and Vampire Vape. Their delicious award-winning blends are available in a super concentrated format to cater to budding mixologists.
So if you’re keen to give concentrates a try but not sure which brands to start with, you certainly can’t go wrong with Dinner Lady or Vampire Vape.
If you’re still looking for further info before you dive in, don’t underestimate the power of the vaping community. Online forums, social media groups, and e-liquid recipe websites are excellent resources for discovering which flavour concentrates are popular and well-regarded by experienced mixers.
Remember that the "best" flavour concentrate is highly subjective and dependent on your personal taste preferences and the recipes you plan to create. But starting with concentrates from reputable brands like Dinner Lady is an excellent way to ensure you're working with high-quality ingredients, setting you up for success in your mixing adventures.
E-Liquids at myCigara
We exist to make the UK smoke-free. We firmly believe that offering reliable and effective alternatives to smoking is the key to achieving this goal.
Over recent years, e-cigarettes have rapidly become one of the most successful tools for those looking to quit smoking for good.
Not quite sure if mixing your own e-liquid is the right choice for you? Dive into our comprehensive guide, "How To Choose An E-Liquid." Here, you'll unravel the intriguing landscape of vape juice varieties, their compatibility with various devices to help you find the perfect e-liquid tailored to your preferences.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us or visit your local myCigara store where our friendly staff are ready to help you.
