DIYing basic recipe, step by step

[Shado]

I think it is more the fact that the menthol will be strong enough that it will not be muted by the VG...

[liveaboard]

OK - I just asked because I like my menthol STRONG - I mix mine a LOT more concentrated than the OP and didn't know if there was some issue with menthol thinning VG that I didn't know about

[Shado]

I like my menthol strong also...in fact mine is probably 2-3-4 and maybe 5 times as strong as Artic Blast....it WILL clear nasal passages...

[NateMD]

One of the things you may try is to add some peppermint, spearmint, or a combination of both, in addition to the menthol. Most menthol analogs and ejuice typically use this approach, since the mint tends to intensify/complement the menthol, thereby allowing you to use less.

I was also using 5% of LorAnn's Creme de Menthe in this mix to address exactly that. I had made the Creme de Menthe juice for him before, and he said it didn't have that "menthol kick", which is what prompted this new DIY experiment.

If your concerns are about the amount of PGA, then you can cut that in half simply by the method you described or by mixing your menthol concentrate double strength, and cut the amount used in half.

So you can mix menthol crystals and PGA 2:3? Any idea how concentrated it can be before you are saturated with menthol and no more will dissolve?

Thanks for your help!

[liveaboard]

Any idea how concentrated it can be before you are saturated with menthol and no more will dissolve?

I packed a 15 ml glass bottle with crushed/powdered menthol crystals and filled the "gaps" with just PG and it dissolved just fine.

[davej]

I use less PGA for thinning my VG when there is a substantial amount of menthol solution being added, for example in the Arctic Blast and Cool Blast flavors.

And yes, with that much menthol in the mix, VG is not really going to 'mute' that kind of intensity to any significant degree.

Technically, Menthol can be mixed up to the saturation point, ie, to the point when crystals will no longer dissolve. The reason this is not normally done/recommended is because the resulting concentrate can be difficult to work with, since even one drop can make a dramatic difference. The other problem with using it this strong is that it is quite easy to put so much menthol into a mix that you can kill your atomizer. (Don't ask me how I know this! )

But if you know that you like a high menthol content, there is certainly no reason not to start out with a much more concentrated menthol solution.

I use my menthol concentrate and mint concentrate exactly the same way I use my EM and sweeteners, in two dilution levels. By using a full strength and 1/3 strength solution, I am able to obtain a much finer level of flavor adjustment than would be possible using only a single strength solution.