Headshop Knowledge

Every year we learn more about the medicinal and therapeutic potential of terpenes as a result of various studies by medical researchers. Terpenes can also add unique flavor profiles (including anything from zesty & peppery aromas to fruity dessert flavors) to a whole range of consumables — including roasts, pastries, and even cocktails.

 Considering all of the benefits associated with terpenes, as well as their increasing accessibility to the public in recent years, it's no wonder that vape-connoisseurs have started adding them into their DIY cartridges and e-liquids. Terpenes can significantly enhance your vaping experience with complementary flavors and aromas or lend to the overall entourage effect when vaping cannabis or CBD.

As of this writing, terpenes are already commonly used by DIYers to build upon the profiles of several products to mix and match terpene effects and taste, including:

• Concentrates
• Distillates
• E-Liquids
• Shatter
• Beverages
• Bud (or flower)

 So how do you go about mixing terpenes into vapes? In this post, we go over everything you need in terms of equipment and considerations — as well as some beginner-friendly methods to get you started.

Setting Up Correctly

It's worth noting that terpenes can be significantly potent, are functional flavoring agents, and aren't meant to be vaped in large proportions. In the same way that pure vanilla extract is intended for mixing rather than straight consumption, terpenes should always be mixed into a primary solution of botanical compounds, cutting agents, or carrier fluid.

Also, if you're looking to make DIY cartridges or e-liquids, be sure to do your research and buy the correct hardware. If opting for a vape pen or pod-mod instead of a tank-style vape, grab a device that doesn't use proprietary pods or cartridges. You'll also want some flexibility in terms of power and voltage ranges to give you more control over the heat settings, and therefore a wider variety of DIY liquids you could make.

Working With Oils and E-Liquids

A safe rule of thumb when infusing terpenes is to start low and ramp up as needed in subsequent solutions. As such, when working with oils or e-liquids, it's best to follow a 1-2% of net weight rule to start.

 As an example, take a 60ml bottle of CBD oil which you'd like to infuse with terpenes specifically to promote restful sleep. You would only need to infuse 0.6-1.2ml (approximately 12-24 drops) of myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, or alpha-pinene to get an appreciable change in flavor, aroma, and effect.

 If you'd like to use combinations of terpenes, you could make use of strain profiles in which the terpenes you prefer most are dominant. In the case of the restful sleep infusion example above, a good strain would be Granddaddy Purple terpenes.

 When not using unflavored e-liquids, it's a good idea to match their flavors with complementary terpenes or strain profiles — such as limonene with lemony flavors, Blue Dream with berry flavors, and so on.

Working With Cannabis or CBD Concentrates

Practically all terpenes and secondary cannabinoids are stripped out during mainstream refining processes for producing cannabis and CBD concentrates. This in turn dissipates most of their flavors and aromas, setting up a less than ideal vaping experience. For this reason, we recommend a 2-5% of the net weight rule when infusing terpenes into concentrates — starting off low, of course.

 In the case of cannabis concentrates, match your terpene profile to the strain for best results (as in Northern Lights to Northern Lights, Jack Herer to Jack Herer, etc.).

When infusing terpenes into CBD concentrates, you get more flexibility in the terpenes or strain profiles you can use. Go by desired flavor, aroma, effects, benefits, or even by price to suit your budget.

Practice (and Experimentation) Make Perfect

As you get a feel for mixing precise ratios and incorporating the use of carrier oils, medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), and odorless terpenes as diluents and cutting agents to manipulate viscosity, you'll naturally be able to progress on to more complex processes. One such example would be working with high-ratio tinctures or diluting distillates to make custom cartridges.

 All it takes is practice, which will be a fun and rewarding experience in itself.

Over the past few years, CBD usage has skyrocketed. There’s a growing demand for more CBD products that can suit any user’s tastes and preferences – whether they like getting their required CBD dose through edibles, tinctures, lotions, or vape pens.

Most recently, it’s the disposable CBD vape pens that have been getting a lot of attention, being regarded as the most convenient form of this hemp-derived product. You can easily get them virtually anywhere; just be sure to check out the vape pen reviews on Ecigclick before you buy.

But unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about disposable CBD vape pens, and we’re here to shed some more light on them. So, check out a few facts you need to know about this useful product.

1. Using CBD Vape Pens Won’t Get You High!

The first thing that needs to be made clear is that using disposable CBD vape pens won’t get you high. Although it’s extracted from the cannabis plant, CBD doesn’t contain any psychoactive properties (unlike its cousin – THC). As a matter of fact, it’s been suggested that CBD can counter the effects of THC.

2. Disposable CBD Vape Pens Are Legal on a Federal Level

Hemp was legalized as a commercial crop on a federal level with the 2018 Farm Bill. Since CBD is derived from the hemp plant, which contains less than 0.3% THC, CBD usage was also legalized. However, in some states, you might need a prescription to get your disposable CBD vape pen, and you might not be allowed to use it in public places.

3. CBD Oil and CBD Vape Juice Are Different Things

CBD comes in many shapes and forms; oils being the most common. But while most CBD oils will look virtually the same, they cannot be used in the same way.

Regular CBD oils are edible, and you can get your dosage by placing a few drops under your tongue or even by cooking with them. However, you cannot vape edible CBD oil. It will burn, damage your vaporizer, and leave a horrible taste in your mouth.

CBD vape juice found in disposable vape pens is a carefully constructed liquid that’s designed to be vaporized, so it should only be used for vaping. You shouldn’t eat it nor cook with it.

4. CBD Vape Oil Isn’t the Same as Hemp Oil

There’s also a difference between CBD vape oils and hemp vape oils. CBD is a single compound found in the hemp plant, and you can often get pure CBD isolates and vape liquids. Hemp vape oil, on the other hand, contains many other compounds and molecules, including CBD, small amounts of THC, other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.

5. Disposable CBD Vape Pens Are Convenient

The number one reason why disposable CBD vape pens became so popular is that they’re exceptionally convenient. Unlike bulky rechargeable vaporizers and box mods, they’re elegant and can fit nicely into any pocket, wallet, or purse. Once you’ve used up all the CBD vape liquid, you can simply throw them out and get a new vape pen.

6. Vaping CBD Can Bring Many Benefits

Many studies suggest that CBD can be beneficial to your mental and physical wellbeing. This simple compound is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent; it acts as a pain reliever and an anxiolytic. All these properties suggest that it could be beneficial in treating a variety of different diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and more.

7. Disposable CBD Vape Pens Can Get You the Right Dosage

Determining the right CBD dosage involves a lot of trial and error, especially when you’re testing out several different products. If you want to make the task easier for yourself, your best bet is using disposable CBD vape pens. They come pre-filled with CBD e-liquid, so you’ll know exactly how much of this beneficial compound you’re getting with each puff.

8. Using CBD Vape Pens Is Tastier

If you’ve ever tried edible CBD, you’ve likely noticed its bitter, earthy taste. The strong flavor is the most noticeable in tinctures and oral drops and can even make you feel a bit nauseous if you’re a picky eater.

You won’t have the same experience with disposable CBD vape pens. They tend to have a sweet, herbal flavor that you’ll enjoy.

9. Vaping CBD Gives Quick Effects

When you use CBD edibles, they need to pass through your digestive system before they start taking effect. This could take up to an hour.

When vaping, CBD enters into your bloodstream directly through the lungs, so you’ll feel its effects within minutes. It’s the fastest way to get CBD into your system.

10. The Effects of CBD Aren’t Always the Same!

Finally, you must know that disposable CBD vape pens can affect you differently every time you use them. It all depends on your metabolism, current health condition, mood, what you’ve eaten that day, and more. So, whenever you use CBD vape pens, take some time between draws to see how it’s affecting you.

The Bottom Line

Using disposable CBD vape pens can bring you many benefits that you’ll enjoy. CBD is generally considered safe to use and has no severe side-effects.

Of course, it’s always best to consult your doctor before you start using CBD, especially if you’re planning on self-medicating with it.

Is there a better feeling than just sitting back, relaxing, and taking a satisfying hit of your favorite vape juice? Not many things can compare to that. All of your worries about current events and daily stresses just melt away. 

Can you go a step further and improve the experience with dry herb vapes and vape juices even more? Of course!

Always use the appropriate battery for the right mod

This is the golden rule, always double check you are using the recommended battery for your mod! 

"My grinder is acting up! It seems that all it's capable of doing is grinding my material into tough, tiny balls. Is my grinder broken or something?"

Problems like that with a glass-on-glass setup (assuming that's what you have) usually suffer from one of two problems:

If you were particularly unlucky, one of your glass joints could contain a physical flaw that's causing the pieces to stick. Because an ideal glass-on-glass connection depends on the joints fitting perfectly...

Orange Chronic is ideally meant to clean glass, but it is also capable of handling metal grinders as well. As for wrecking metal grinders (I'm assuming yours was coloured), I've heard this story many times before and they all contain the same fatal flaw:  

Orange Chronic is meant for fast applications, NOT FOR SOAKING...