Mixing your own e-liquid can be incredibly rewarding, but when the end result doesn't taste right, it’s understandably frustrating. If you're experiencing a harsh throat hit, a weak or flat flavour or a confusing mix where no note stands out, the root causes are sometimes straightforward and usually easy to fix. At Make My Vape, we help DIY mixers at all levels understand how flavour chemistry, ratios, steeping and ingredient quality all contribute to the end result.
In this months Guide and Info Blog, we explore the most common DIY flavour issues and go through the steps to improve your flavour mix and hopefully not waste your ingredients or hard earned money! Lets dive in.
One of the most common complaints among DIY mixers is that their e-liquid feels too strong or harsh on the throat. This often presents as a sharp throat hit or an unpleasant burn on the inhale. The most frequent cause of this is an overly high nicotine amount in your mix, especially when using freebase nicotine, which has a more noticeable throat hit than using Nicotine Salts. If your mix feels harsh, consider lowering the nicotine strength or switching to Nic Salts. Nicotine Salts are known for delivering a smoother inhale, particularly at higher strengths. If you want more information on choosing the right nicotine strength, check out or blog which explains all, click here!
Another factor is the PG/VG ratio. Propylene Glycol (PG) carries flavour well but also enhances throat hit, Vegetable Glycerine (VG) is smoother but can sometimes mute flavour if used excessively. A base mix with too much PG (70PG/30VG) can sometimes create that harsh uncomfortable feeling, especially when paired with E-liquid flavourings like citrus or menthol. Creating a more balanced 50PG/50VG or 60VG/40PG mix is often ideal for beginners looking to avoid harshness while maintaining the flavour.
Lastly, some flavours require time to Steep. For example, tobacco and custard flavours are sometimes quite sharp when freshly mixed. In these cases, steeping is essential. A 1–3 week steeping period allows flavours to blend and soften naturally and for you to experience the full flavour potential of your mix. Dependant on the flavour concentrates used, you will also notice the colour of your e-liquid change, due to steeping and the e-liquid settling.
Click here to understand E-liquid steeping
A common problem most of us have probably faced is lack of flavour. This is one of the most common issues faced by DIY mixers, especially when working with High VG blends. While VG is smooth and thick, it doesn’t carry flavour as effectively as PG. If your e-liquid tastes muted, the issue may come from either an unbalanced VG/PG ratio or not enough flavour concentrate. Beginners sometimes do not use enough e-liquid flavour concentrate out of caution, but this can lead to a flat, underwhelming vape.
Most flavour concentrates perform well between 10–15% of the total mix. Some single-flavour recipes , depending on the strength and brand, may require closer to 20%.
At Make My Vape, we provide detailed usage recommendations on each product page to help you get the best results. You can also explore our DIY e-liquid recipes for tried-and tested blends to get started with.
It’s worth noting that if you’re mixing flavours from different brands, percentage strength can vary. Some are naturally more concentrated, so trial and error is a normal part of the DIY process. Always test small batches first and adjust gradually until you find the balance that suits your preference.
Also don’t forget,steeping is essential! Even fruity blends that seem ready straight away will need a few days rest, while desserts, creams and bakery style flavours often require one to three weeks to reach their full potential. Patience really does pay off when it comes to mixing your own e-liquid.
If you’ve allowed enough steeping time and your mix still tastes dull, you might consider using a flavour enhancer like Ethyl Maltol or a sweetener, just be sure to use these sparingly (around 0.25–0.5%) to avoid oversweetening or gunking up your coils.
Sometimes an e-liquid doesn’t taste bad, it just doesn’t taste quite right. The individual flavours may be solid on their own, but together they fail to blend smoothly, resulting in a confusing or frustrating vape. This muddled effect often happens when too many flavours are added to a single recipe. While it’s tempting to get creative, using more than four or five concentrates without a clear plan can easily lead to imbalance.
Effective flavour design follows a top, middle and base structure. For example, a fruit recipe might include a bright top note like lemon, a fuller middle note such as strawberry and a creamy vanilla base for depth. Without this structure, flavours can compete instead of complementing each other.
If your mix feels muddled, try simplifying. Reduce the recipe to two or three key flavours and focus on creating balance. Alternatively, you can use a flavour base or One Shot E-liquid Concentrate. These pre formulated blends are designed to deliver a complete flavour profile with minimal effort. They’re ideal for achieving complexity without the risk of flavour conflict.
You can browse our full range of One Shot E-liquid Flavour Concentrates
Mastering DIY e-liquid isn’t about luck, it’s about being consistent, being patient and understanding the art of trial. Here are a few practices that will help you avoid these common issues altogether:
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Start small: Mix in 10ml test batches before scaling up.
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Use a calculator: Tools like our online E-Liquid Mixing Calculator ensure precise ratios.
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Keep notes: Track every recipe with steeping times and flavour percentages.
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Label every bottle: Include date mixed, ingredients and strength.
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Evaluate in stages: Taste test your mix immediately, then again after 3, 7, and 14 days.
These habits will not only improve your results — they’ll also save time and ingredients.
Every DIY e-liquid mix is an opportunity to learn. Whether the problem is harshness, flat flavour or muddiness, identifying the cause and applying a targeted fix is a skill that grows with practice. With the right base, high quality flavour concentrates provided from Make My Vape and a methodical approach, you can achieve professional level results from the comfort of your own workspace.
Visit makemyvape.co.uk for everything DIY. Your trusted source for DIY e-liquid supplies and advice.
