The biggest question we get asked, by a mile. Fair enough too. Get it right and your bake tastes like the good stuff from a proper shop. Get it wrong and you have made a very expensive air freshener.
The golden rule
Start low. You can always add more, you cannot take it out. Every flavour we sell is concentrated, so a little goes a long way. Mix, taste, then add a drop at a time until it is where you want it.
How much to use, by what you are making
| What you are making | Start with | Notes from behind the counter |
|---|---|---|
| Cakes and sponges | 1 tsp (5ml) per 500g of batter | Add it with the wet ingredients so it spreads evenly through the mix. |
| Buttercream and icing | Half a tsp per 250g | Butter carries flavour well. Beat it in, taste, then decide if it needs more. |
| Boiled sweets and gummies | 1 to 2ml per 500g of sugar syrup | Add near the end of cooking, off the heat, so the flavour does not cook off. |
| Fudge and chocolate | Half a tsp per 500g | Chocolate bullies lighter flavours, so fruit flavours may want a touch more. |
| Drinks, slush and milkshakes | 1 to 2ml per litre | That is a few drops per glass. Stir well and taste as you go. |
| Candles and wax melts | Test at 5ml per 100g of wax | Always test one small batch first and check your wax maker’s guidance on maximum loads. |
| Soap | Test a small batch first | Every soap base behaves differently, so trial one bar before you commit to a full run. |
What a bottle gets you
Rough guide, using the cake measure above:
| Bottle | Roughly | Enough for |
|---|---|---|
| 10ml | 2 teaspoons | About 1kg of cake batter, or 5 litres of drinks. Made for trying a flavour. |
| 30ml | 6 teaspoons | About 3kg of batter. The regular’s size. |
| 100ml | 20 teaspoons | About 10kg of batter. For the flavour you use every week. |
Strong ones and soft ones
Not all flavours shout at the same volume. Mint, aniseed and anything cola flavoured are loud, so start at half the amounts above. Vanilla, cream and the softer fruits are gentle and can take the full measure. When in doubt, less first.
Still not sure?
That is exactly why we made the Taster Packs. Five flavours in 10ml bottles for £12.99, so you can find your favourite without gambling on a big bottle. Or just ask us. We use this stuff ourselves, you will get a straight answer.