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Last Updated on October 27, 2016 by
Virgin Vapor Organic eLiquid Review – A Spinfuel eLiquid Team Review
Revisiting Virgin Vapor is something we always look forward to, and lately we haven’t had to wait very long to get ahold of new, magical concoctions dreamt up by Annette, the owner and head mixologist at Virgin Vapor. Annette has been very prolific of late, coming up with some extraordinary eLiquids this time around.
Virgin Vapor is the #1 Organic flavored eLiquid vendor in the US, and probably the world. Their ingredients are the purist you can get, the flavorings in their “Absolute” line are certified organic, their nicotine is pharmaceutical grade, and no one is more dedicated to the art of flavor than Annette Rogers. Virgin Vapor customers are fiercely loyal, and many, if not most, vape Virgin Vapor exclusively.
The review today consists mostly of the Virgin Vapor Absolute Virgin line. The standard Virgin Vapor line is created using USA extracted nicotine and organic flavors in a base of organic ethyl alcohol. However, the Absolute line uses the same USA extracted nicotine found in the Virgin Vapor line but a different line of flavorings that do not contain any alcohol. The Absolute flavor line is ultra pure and highly concentrated.
Organic vs. Artificial flavoring
Many, if not most, of the reviews we’ve done over the past two years are brands that use artificial flavoring. There is nothing wrong with artificial flavoring, in fact several of us prefer it because the flavors seem a bit stronger, more intense, though many, many vapors prefer organic flavoring, and that number is growing. Both choices are valid ones, and because of that some brands use both artificial and organic flavoring, and some even use both in the same blend.
That said, if you’ve only vaped eLiquids made with artificial flavorings, your favorite flavors, i.e., vanilla, strawberry, coffee, blueberry, etc., just might taste slightly different than what you’re used to with organic flavoring or extracts. On occasion the taste differences can be slight, or, on rare occasions, even major. We mention this only because if you’ve never experienced the authenticity of organic flavors and organic flavor extracts it may take a little time to get used to the more expensive, more authentic flavor profile.
Hardware
For this review we did something a little different. We all own a few Kanger AeroTanks and several 5-packs of coils heads for them. We decided that for this review we would vape all the flavors strictly in Kanger AeroTanks, and each time we changed flavors we would use a new coil head.
The Kanger AeroTank is a fantastic tank. Holding just a bit more than 3.5ml, and having a very effective air-control dial, we were able to make adjustments to the draw like never before.
Using only variable voltage APV’s such as the ZMAX, Sigelei Zmax, iTaste SVD and MVP v2 our control over every aspect of ‘the vape’ was better than ever. Because of the results obtained in this review we’ve decided to conduct all future reviews with either the AeroTank or the Aspire Nautilus (due to its air-controller as well). We have retired the plastic tank X.Jet Spider in favor of this new, glass, air-controlled tank for reviews, not in our personal vaping. We think it made a big difference.
Spinfuel Choice Award – When all team members rate an eLiquid with a maximum of 5 Stars that eLiquid is automatically awarded the Spinfuel Choice Award for excellence. We do not know which eLiquids win until the end of the review process, when all the notes are handed in to the head writer.
The Spinfuel eLiquid Review Team review (whew!) below will, we hope, catch you up on some of the newest flavors, including an amazing Plum eLiquid, and a wicked new coffee and banana blend, along with some other surprising pairings that will work their way into the hearts and minds of vapers everywhere and will surely become a permanent part of their eLiquid rotations.
The Spinfuel eLiquid Review Team spent 72-hours exclusively with Virgin Vapors eLiquids. The following were taken from our notes and our verbal discussions.
The Virgin Vapor Review
Organic Maple French Toast – 100% VG – A Spinfuel Choice Award Winner
“Our Organic Maple French Toast brings together the bakery flavor of battered bread with hints of cinnamon and vanilla with a strong maple finish. Some of our customers even swear they can taste the butter the French Toast was cooked in! This sweet flavor is perfect for breakfast time and a long time customer favorite!” – $11.50 ½ ounce (15ML)
Julia: 5 Stars – Virgin Vapors description for Maple French Toast is totally accurate. This eLiquid is the closest you can come to the real taste French toast with maple syrup in vapor form. This is absolutely delicious and satisfying. Vapor production was excellent, the aroma of the vapor made Keira hungry for French Toast and even with 100% VG there was a nice throat hit to boot. I loved it!
Tom: 5 Stars – Naturally if you don’t like maple syrup you’re not going to like this one. The syrup is the dominant flavor that hits you on the inhale and exhale, but there is also pleasant notes of cinnamon and vanilla, though very light. This organic Maple French Toast has great vapor, a nice little throat hit, which surprised me, and was certainly a satisfying vape. I liked it a lot, but not enough to add to my collection.
Jason: 5 Stars – eLiquids like this almost have to be organically flavored. I got a real, authentic French Toast flavor from it, not just maple syrup. Though the maple syrup flavor was strong, you do get the French Toast experience in vapor form and it was completely satisfying. Excellent job, though very sweet and almost sticky.
Keira: 5 Stars – Organic Maple French Toast is now one of my favorite eLiquids. Truly delicious and authentic, with hints of cinnamon, vanilla, and a lot of maple syrup, this one is now a part of my weekly vapes. Julia vaped this one first and after about half an hour I couldn’t resist anymore, I had to load up an Kanger AeroTank and spend some quality time with this remarkable flavor. Yum!
Hummingbird Fuel – 50/50 PG/VG
This complex and adventurous flavor is a beautiful mix of floral notes and fragrant honey. If you’re a fan of our award-winning floral flavors or looking for something unique, this one’s for you! – $13.50 ½ ounce (15ml)
Julia: 4 Stars – The only part of this eLiquid holding it back from 5 Stars is the floral part. I guess I was ‘into’ a few florals some time back but now for some reason I can’t get past that ‘outside flower’ experience.
For people that like floral vapes this is a ‘must try’ eJuice. The honey notes were a nice touch, but ultimately I just couldn’t get over the flower power. Remarkable vapor for a 50/50 PG/VG blend, a good throat hit, and a full-bodied flavor.
Tom: 3.5 Stars – I just don’t understand floral vaping. Yes, there is no question that this is an expertly made eLiquid, and that for floral vapers this will be a homerun, but it’s just not for me. Good vapor, a throat hit that won’t disappoint, and with the honey component you get an added smack of sweetness. I just didn’t like it.
Jason: 4 Stars – Tom and I are not big fans of vaping flowers, and Hummingbird Fuel is all about flower vaping. Heavy floral notes, a hint of honey for an earthy sweetener, this is quite the vapor maker. But, there is just something ‘off’ about tasting something that tastes exactly like picking a flower petal off a plant and eating it.
Keira: 4.5 Stars – There are a couple of floral vapes from Virgin Vapor that I really enjoyed, though I haven’t tried them in a while. Hummingbird Fuel is a strong floral flavor, a bit too strong for me. Nevertheless, I think a lot of floral vapers will love this one because of the excellent flavor rendition and that shot of honey that infuses a kind of wild sweetness in it. I enjoyed it, but I won’t be adding it to my collection.
Hunger of Persephone – 50/50 PG/VG
This flavor is named after the Greek myth in which the goddess Persephone was tempted by the luscious seeds of the pomegranate fruit. Taste this flavor and you will understand why! A pure, luscious fruit flavor that is both nicely refreshing and lightly sweet. – $13.50 ½ ounce (15ml)
Julia: 4 Stars – I’ve had my share of trouble with pomegranate flavors in the past, but there is something about this one that makes a big difference, and that is how sweet it is. Other pomegranate vapes had a very tart edge to them, and while that edginess is still there a little, it is somewhat sweeter than other pomegranate vapes I’ve had. More vapor production than I expected, and even the throat hit was a solid thump. I actually enjoyed my first pomegranate with this one, but not quite enough to add it to my collection.
Tom: 4 Stars – The only way this pomegranate flavor scored as high as it did was because of two things; the authenticity was out of this world, and that little extra sweetness took a big edge off that tart pomegranate tang. I still don’t like pomegranate, but if you do, this is a must have eJuice. Pomegranate lovers will be blown away. Great vapor for a 50/50 PG/VG blend, and a very decent throat hit too. Way better experience than I had hoped.
Jason: 4 Stars – Ah, here we go again. Another pomegranate eLiquid. How I wish I could vape pomegranate for longer than 5 minutes, but I just can’t do it. Having said that, the flavor of pomegranate, while very tart, is very authentic here. I have to say, if you like pomegranate vapes this is one you’re going to love. You can’t beat organic flavoring with this kind of eJuice. I wonder if I could ever acquire a taste for it?
Keira: 5 Stars – I will happily admit that pomegranate is an acquired taste. But when you have acquired it you will adore a good pomegranate eLiquid and this one is as good as it gets. Not only is the flavor authentic and full-bodied, the vapor production is excellent, and the throat hit pretty amazing for a 50/50 PG/VG. If you vape pomegranate you have to try this one, it will blow you away.
Plum Crazy – 100% VG
Vaping this flavor is just like biting into a plump, ripe, juicy plum! It even gives you the layered experience of both the sweetness of the fruit and the slight tanginess of the skin. We have a hard time keeping this one in stock! – $13.50 ½ ounce (15ml)
Julia: 5 Stars – Wow, Plum Crazy is a naturally sweet, full-bodied plum flavor that won’t quit. Lots of vapor with this 100% VG blend, which is to be expected of course, but still fun. Not a lot I can add other than if you’re looking to add an almost dark fruity vape to your collection Plum Crazy will do it.
Tom: 4.25 Stars – Okay, I’m presented with another 100% VG eLiquid. The fruity flavor of Plum delivers an excellent authentic flavor, lots of vapor, and an okay throat hit. But, for myself, I’m not ready to say that this is something I would vape on a regular basis. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys organic, 100% VG eLiquids that also like sweet plums.
Jason: 4.75 Stars – Plum Crazy is the kind of fruit flavor that I like a lot. Plum is a different kind of fruit than the usual suspects. Very different flavor profile from the usual apple, grape, and strawberry flavors out there. Plum is more ‘mature’ tasting, if that’s the right word, more of adult fruit maybe. Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot, even with its 100% VG blend.
Keira: 5 Stars – Plum Crazy is crazy good! Love the deep, rich plum flavor, just sweet enough to make it a delicious anytime vape. If you like plums you’ll love this one. The vapor production is really good, though the throat hit seems to be a bit light. For an organic and authentic plum flavor this is an award-winning juice.
Peanut Butter and Banana – 100% VG –
Rich, creamy peanut butter and sweet banana create the perfect pairing in this delicious flavor! This is a bold flavor that tastes so true to life; it feels like it should be sticking to the roof of your mouth! $13.50 ½ ounce (15ml)
Julia: 3 Stars – I really wanted to like this one. I can’t begin to tell you how many peanut butter and banana sandwiches I ate as a girl in school. But this? Not even close. First, the aroma coming from the bottle was most unpleasant, like a real peanut butter and banana sandwich. The flavor was slightly peanut butter and slightly banana. Not enough of either really, and I think that would have made a huge difference in my score. At first I thought I didn’t shake it up enough, so I tried it again. Same thing. Such a disappointment.
Tom: 3.25 Stars – What a loud discussion we had over this eLiquid! 2 against 2 that kind of liked it, and neither side could understand the others problem with it.
What we have here is a great idea for an organic flavor eLiquid, but it wasn’t flavored nearly as much as it should have been. PB & banana is a 100% VG eLiquid, which means it’s going to need a higher percentage of flavorings than a 50/50 or higher PG ratio. While I could certainly taste both the peanut butter and the banana they were both very light. The only good thing I can say is that it is a vapor monster, but at 100% VG what else would you expect from an expert mixologist?
Jason: 4 Stars – Peanut butter and banana are two flavorings that are difficult to work with. I’ve had some amazing peanut butter flavors, especially last Halloween, and some recent banana flavors that were to die for. So now we have Virgin Vapor combining this blend in a 100% VG solution, and it works for the most part, but not completely.
I can understand, in a way, why Tom and Julia were so adamant about it, they both like flavors that are strong, full, and hit you hard, and this one doesn’t do that. Virgin Vapor’s Peanut Butter and Banana is a milder, lighter flavor, and I think it’s a good combination. Others may not agree.
Keira: 4.25 Stars – I think this eLiquid caused so much ruckus because of it’s 100% VG, not our usual 50/50 or even 70/30. I think I vape more 100% VG eLiquids than anybody else here, so I was ready for this one to be lighter on the flavor, but it makes up for it in vapor. PB and Banana is also a very different kind of flavor, and not everyone’s choice. Personally, I hate PB and Banana sandwiches (sorry Jules), but I enjoyed this juice. It won’t find a place in my collection just yet though. It’s still worth trying if you like PB and banana sandwiches, you’ll recognize it here in vapor form instantly.
Coffee Monkey 50/50 PG/VG – A Spinfuel Choice Award Winner
“Who knew bananas and coffee tasted so good together? You can taste a nice, strong shot of espresso softened and sweetened by plenty of banana. The final flavor has a rich, almost caramel finish to it. This flavor is a favorite with the Team Virgin Vapor staff. Yummy!” – $13.50 ½ ounce (15ml)
Julia: 5 Stars – Virgin Vapor’s coffee flavors are some of the most popular coffee eLiquids in the country. They get it so right so often that loyal customers buy any new coffee blend sight unseen. Coffee Monkey is no exception. I don’t think I’ve even had a coffee eLiquid with banana before, and though it may not sound delicious, it truly is. Exceptional vapor, strong throat hit, and a full-bodied flavor make this an award-winning blend.
Tom: 5 Stars – You know me and my coffee vapes. The stronger the better, and this one is a strong espresso coffee with just the right amount of banana flavoring. If you like strong coffee flavors in your eJuice you have to try this one with its inspiring hit of banana. You won’t be sorry. Great vapor, great throat. Wow.
Jason: 5 Stars – Man, I wound up vaping Coffee Monkey a lot longer than I thought I would. I really didn’t think I was going to like an espresso ruined by the taste of banana, but I was so wrong. This is a delicious blend of a great espresso with the perfect amount of a ripe banana flavor. Tons of vapor even with 50/50 PG/VG, and a very good throat hit too.
Keira: 5 Stars – It’s so funny that we all thought espresso and banana would make a terrible combination, and yet we all loved it. Virgin Vapor really does have a terrific espresso flavoring, as well as regular coffee too, so the base of this eJuice was in the bag already. From there it was a matter of just the amount of banana flavoring. I don’t know how long it took for them to find the right amount, but they did and I recommend it to any espresso loving vaper.
Peach Perfect 100% VG
This flavor is the perfect peach! Sweet, juicy, delicious. A pure extraction of organic peaches. $13.50 ½ ounce (15ml)
Julia: 4 Stars – I had an early problem with Peach Perfect. Forgetting that it was 100% VG I did not shake it up enough (I guess) and my first tank-full just tasted awful. I couldn’t taste any peach at all, just an unflavored base.
Not wanting to give up because it would be so unlike Virgin Vapor to miss something this much, I poured what I could back into my ‘portion’ bottle and shook it up like crazy. Then, after rinsing out the tank I started over, and there it was. A beautiful peach flavor in all its glory. I’m pretty sure that had I vaped a 50/50 blend of this it would have scored a 5 Star rating.
Tom: 4.5 Stars – Peach Perfect is one of the best all-VG peach eLiquids I’ve tried to date. I tend to like my peach flavor to hit a little ‘harder’ than it is in an all-VG blend, but Virgin Vapor compensated enough to make this a juice I could really enjoy. Tons of vapor, but a light throat hit, Peach Perfect is ideal for vapers who vape 100% VG and want a full-bodied peach vape.
Jason: 4 Stars – While I liked Peach Perfect quite a bit, and I rated it 4 Stars because I did like it, there are so many other peach eLiquids out there that the only thing that distinguished this one was the 100% VG and the organic flavoring. If that means a lot to you then this is the peach eJuice you should be vaping. More than enough vapor Peach Perfect will have you wanting to chase clouds.
Keira: 4.5 Stars – Sometimes Virgin Vapor can create an eLiquid that is so complex, so complicated, that it will take you a long time to figure out all the various nuances in the blend. Then, sometimes Virgin Vapor does the opposite and they put out a simple flavor profile that is so good you learn to appreciate the simple formulas again.
I filled a tank will this and vaped it until the tank was empty, in one very long sitting. All the while the vapor was enormous, the flavor was consistent, and the satisfaction was immense. I’m adding this one to my rotation, for Sunday afternoons when we usually lay around and watch movies. Perfect for pacify vapers.
Cherry On Top – 100% VG – A Spinfuel Choice Award Winner
This flavor will put the cherry on top of your day! A bold and delicious cherry with plenty of flavor! – $13.50 ½ ounce (15ml)
Julia: 5 Stars – A true, authentic, ripe cherry flavor that will be loved by any vaper that likes cherries. With just the right amount of sweetness, tons of vapor, and a true cherry flavor, Cherry on Top is at the top of my list. So good, and so recommended.
Tom: 5 Stars – I have to admit I don’t usually go for heavy cherry flavors, but this one is awfully good. Cherry on Top is as authentic as it gets, with tons of vapor and even a decent throat hit. This 100% VG organic cherry is going to be loved by many. Not yet in my collection, but I’m seriously thinking about it.
Jason: 5 Stars – What a great organic cherry! Not quite the same cherry taste that you get with artificial flavorings, but a solid contender for one of the best I’ve had. I would love to see more cherry flavors, and this one is so good it will the first one to go into my rotation. Vapor was awesome, throat hit was okay, but all in all, I cannot recommend it more to any vaper looking for a true cherry vape.
Keira: 5 Stars – What I love about Cherry on Top is the way the cherry flavor is rich and sweet, without that tartness that some real cherries can have when they are not quite ready to eat. Virgin Vapor doesn’t play any tricks by blending it with a vanilla or some other flavor; this is just pure cherry greatness. Lots of vapor, a good throat hit at around 4.1v using an AeroTank, I definitely think cherry lovers will snap these up as fast as Virgin Vapor can make them.
Fresh Tai Mango – 100% VG
Organic Fresh Thai Mango E-liquid is a delicious and layered flavor. It features plenty of juicy sweetness paired with a nice hint of tang. A fresh, exotic treat! – $13.50 ½ ounce (15ml)
Julia: 4 Stars – While I enjoyed this 100% VG organic blend, the first thing I tasted was a floral flavor. I didn’t expect that, I expected Mango. The mango, light and slightly sweet, showed itself on the exhale. It’s a fine flavor, an excellently blended flavor actually, but not one I am likely to buy anytime soon because of the floral taste. The mango flavoring is quite nice though, but not enough of it. Lots of vapor and a light throat hit round out this unexpected juice.
Tom: 3.75 Stars – Why do I taste a floral flavor with a mango eLiquid? I can hardly taste any mango in it at all. I can’t complain about the vapor, but other than that, this is an eJuice that will appeal to the more exotic vapers than someone like me.
Jason: 4 Stars – Once I filled my tank with this eLiquid I vaped it for a while, trying to find the sweet spot, and then gave up. I just couldn’t get much mango flavor, but there was a definite floral flavor to it. So, before switching out to another juice in the lineup I asked my girlfriend to try it. I’m not sure what this says about my girlfriend, or me but she could not get enough of it! She absolutely loved it. It is now on her rotation and it’s her favorite new eLiquid. Amazing how tastes can differ. I’m giving it 4 Stars as an average; I would have given a 3, she would have given it a 5, so it’s a 4 Star juice. I guess I cheated.
Keira: 4.5 Stars – I think what threw the team off were all the various mango flavors we’ve vaped in the past year. Now we’re presented with a new kind of mango flavor, a juice that starts with a floral taste and ends with a very light mango. You need to judge this one on its originality, without any preconceived notions about other mango juices. I liked it, on its own, as a unique blend.
Conclusion
We can all acknowledge that Virgin Vapor is an expert eLiquid vendor. Using all the right ingredients, the talent there is immense and the number of excellent eLiquids, many of which have won the Spinfuel Choice Award and we’re not even through their entire lineup yet, are many. But, like any other vendor, there will be eLiquids that we, as a team, will either dislike unanimously, or struggle with individually. That seems to be what happened in this review.
We could all easily agree with Coffee Monkey, an eLiquid we expected to not like, and the Maple French Toast, which was an eLiquid we couldn’t get enough of. But then there were some differences, in the floral flavors of Hummingbird Fuel and even the Tai Mango, but for the most part these were all flavors we knew were expertly created and our only issues with some were our personal, and subjective, taste.
We also have to be honest enough with ourselves, and our readers, that when it comes to 100% VG eLiquids, well, let me just say that we prefer 50/50 PG/VG. If you are a fan of 100% VG then you already know the subtle, and not so subtle, differences that can make in flavor.
Buying Advice
It would be unfair to other vendors we review if we did not mention that Virgin Vapor is one of the more expensive brands. Their Absolute Virgin line is a whopping $13.50 for ½ ounce, which is basically 15ml. That’s expensive, but then so are the ingredients they use in their recipes.
Organic flavors and extracts are expensive; there is no way around that, and for many, many loyal fans of Virgin Vapor that expense is very much worth it. We can understand that, and we agree, when organic flavorings makes the difference between a good eLiquid and a great one, it’s worth paying the extra couple of bucks. Having said that, when you jump to the 1-ounce (30Ml) size the price per ml drops a bit, to just $22.50. I have a feeling that most Virgin Vapor customers opt for the 1-ounce size, both for price and the fact that if you love a particular eLiquid 15ml doesn’t last a long time.
We hope you have enjoyed this look at some of Virgin Vapors newer eLiquids, and as always we’d love to read your feedback. Till next time,
Julia, Tom, Jason, and Keira
