For tldr just read the bolded parts.
Hello. Haven’t been around here much ever since I basically had to stop flavouring and sweetening my juices (other than icing agents) because it was messing with my sense of taste (sweet). Sorry if this type of discussion is not allowed, or is in the wrong place, I did check the FAQ and about page and the resource page and didn’t see anything. Also searched for a rules thread and didn’t see anything but if I’m blind, my apologies.
So my nicotine was running out. Up to now it had basically included - all the nicotine juices I had accrued up until I started DIYing (back then I vaped 20mg/ml) and one 500mg nicotine concentrate 72mg/ml. I only vape 2 - 6ish mg/ml (depends on situation) and this was ordered back in 2024 and its still 1/3 full soo it sure has lasted me. It is a benzoate salt. I’ve already ordered another which has just cleared customs.
However I was talking to somebody who stocked up on nicotine concentrate back when you could buy in country and I’m sure that was much cheaper than what I’m doing.
Which got me wondering if my government keeps tightening the screws on vaping, if my source will disappear in the same way (either go out of business or maybe customs makes importing nicotine very risky), either way I was thinking of taking advantage of this source I have now, incase next time it isn’t there. So I was thinking of placing another order, a bigger one.
I could just order more benzoate salt, since I know it works for me. However I have noticed it is a little rougher at the higher concentrations than some store bought salt juices. Not a big issue really since I hardly ever use high concentrate unless I’m going somewhere vaping will be difficult and so I need the puffs I can get in to really count. But I have considering trying some different types.
Anyway so on that note I’m thinking is to pick up some base, since its nearly half the price. I’ve done 50/50 mixes with salts at low concentrations that seemed just fine before so thats all good.
When it comes to bases I’m more concerned about longevity. Should I do, fridge like I do with the salt or maybe freezer? I’m currently away from home right now as my house was hit with a big oak tree in a wind storm and there’s additional complications, I’m getting confused messaging as to when I can return, but regardless when I do or if I have to move somewhere else, it will have to spend some non-insignificant time out of the freezer during traveling as I’ve been jumping around to stay with different family members in the meantime. Would this be an issue, being put in the fridge/freezer, taken out ( potentially for… up to 12 hours), then put back in? I’ve heard with other items once its in, it should stay in until ready for use. Not sure if that applies to nicotine but thats another concern.
Also thinking of trying a different kind of salt. I was thinking Salicylate (but open to others, citrate perhaps?), as the place I’m ordering from says it goes good with menthol/ice juices which is exactly what I vape. Both actually, just nicotine, bases 50/50, menthol and ws23. Buuuuuut I have some reservations both because I remember reading a review from somebody who had a bad reaction to it (from the same site), and because somebody from a different site described it as having a chemically aftertaste.
Since I don’t have any flavour or sweetener to mask the the taste, if it is true, that would be a problem. I’m kind of a mind to just stick with what I know works. But also wondering if something else might work better. If I was smart maybe I could have added a 100mg sample of it on my last order, but I didn’t…
thoughts?