I have the Popcorn coming. This Butter Rum smells like ALL rum to me! I just hope it’s top shelf, lol. I don’t usually buy (LA) and the only other one I’ve used is Banana Cream.
3 Likes
Butter Rum LA is excellent! (and is a fine example of you can’t always go by the sniff test lol)
It vapes great though!
Flavors are a funny thing.
Sometimes they don’t smell like they vape (smells bad from the bottle, but vapes great) .
Other times, they don’t vape like they smell (read as: smells great from the bottle, but doesn’t deliver).
9 Likes
Whew Thank you for chiming in. My angst is a bit relieved. I have heard you’re explanation before but am stuck on the old adage that the “nose always knows”. Plus, there seems to be a few flavors that I have trouble with finding the right balance. For example, I like coconut but it acts like a phantom for me. I usually have to add far more than the average mixer recommends. On the other hand, caramel and butterscotch come through like freight trains but if I lower the percentage I lose it altogether. It has alluded me for a long time. I long gave up on my search for Werther’s. Oh, and Happy New Year !!!
5 Likes
Off topic a bit. I just saw your notes for Caramel (FLV) saying that they recommend 2-5%. Ya don’t say? I’m so tempted to add another 1% but am scared outta my wits. I put 1% in my custard mix a few days ago. I can sort of get some caramel coming through and just want to cut loose with more. Should I? Or should I wait?
2 Likes
that’s what they said I haven’t pushed it that high myself, but if it works for you then heck yeah I would do it. I thought that 3% of flv Watermelon was going to be too high but when paired with double apple it worked like a charm … so yeah @muth whatever works for your taste buds
3 Likes
Okay. I’m going to give it one more day and then decide. Thx Michelle.
ETA: Just how high have you pushed it?
3 Likes
I kept it at 1% … but I also ordered caramel candy today to push it further so your idea may work great 
3 Likes
Thank you. IIRC, Caramel Candy didn’t work for me but that was way back when. But that’s another complex factor…our taste buds change with time. I remember when cilantro tasted like soap to me. Now I like it. Oh, this game of flavors is bewitching!
5 Likes
I used to use nothing but FA Caramel so I understand completely.
2 Likes
I’m very suspicious of that, too, although I have great respect for FA flavors. I think I have a caramel defect, lol. Anyway, I’ll let you know how it all turns out. Thx again for the help 
3 Likes
Not the first time I’ve heard about someone having trouble with coconut…
Do you have/or have you tried Inawera’s coconut?
If memory serves, it’s one of a few that ‘solved the issue’ for some. (Double check the forum search here though if you haven’t already) 
As for usage: sometimes you just have to say “to hell with the averages” or what someone else does, and do what works best for you!
While tips/hints/suggestions from helpful folks are well intentioned and well meant, the bottom line is still that you are mixing for you. You’re not going to offend anyone if you don’t do it their way, or find (through trial and error) that their way doesn’t work for you.
My apologies if I read too much into the “I usually have to add far more than the average mixer recommends.” comment. 
All the best!
As for the Werther’s, there’s a few flavors I’d suggest playing with (to find your starting point):
FW Butterscotch Natural
MF butterscotch
FLV butterscotch
FA butterscotch
The first two give the primary body and base taste of BS. The latter two will take things into varying directions. You may end up liking a combination of all four. Who knows! 
All the best!
9 Likes
Yeah… That’s a popular one.
It didn’t work for me either though. Lol
5 Likes
Thank you and sometimes we need permission. My hesitation about exceeding recommended usage has to do more with hearing about how it might change the entire flavor. I don’t mind a strong flavor but if a banana is going to turn into a pumpkin…well, there ain’t nothing I can do to fix such a thing! 
Blowing kisses for the Werther’s suggestion. I have all those flavors so can do.
7 Likes
Oh yes, I do have and tried INA (I remembered correctly) Coconut. It’s good, about on par with FA (for me, anyway). I can double up on those coconuts and not have any side effects.
6 Likes
Well, that’s a definite possibility with some flavors (regardless of brand).
That’s why some of us so highly recommend SFT’s (single flavor tests). If you know where the ceiling is on any given flavor, then you kind of automatically have a better idea of how to approach things when it comes time to balance a mix.
EG: if you know your upper limit is 3% for Cap Caramel… And your already at 3% in a mix with it, and it’s still not coming through, then you know you should probably attempt to tone down some of the other notes in the mix before increasing it further.
Now, that’s NOT to say that you will never use it higher than 3%… Sometimes you have to push it.
But always try lowering the others first IME.
6 Likes
I agree with Rob… while all that might work… the way I find my spots… works for all companies.
You just can not go wrong with starting low and working up…
You can catch an attitude and a dislike for how someone else mixes…
or you can stumble around… I like stumbling myself… but if it is a professional mix for one of my clients…
dang sure I am going to start low, work up and find everything I can about a profile I am aiming for.
Yes it takes time… but I know me, I am worth it and so is someone else paying for the profile.
In the end… no there is no wrong way to mix, @muth… its the end goals that do come out almost the same… for what style of mixing you are doing.
6 Likes
Thank you. I’ll remember that (and I’ll bookmark this post).
6 Likes
Thank you Smoky 
5 Likes
Anything to help out Muth… because I do mix low and show it still tastes good… you might do a search for caramel in my recipes and see the ways I toy with it… just a thought… 
since you are messing with flv 
4 Likes
Don’t think I haven’t considered that. Your percentages are so low I swear you have a bionic tongue. And don’t let your imagination get away with yourself 
6 Likes