Who keeps the Palais Subtil notebook
Le Palais Subtil is an independent site devoted to tasting e-liquids. Its whole approach is to taste an e-liquid rather than simply vape it. Each note describes a range or a brand in the order the flavour reveals itself, in the language of tasting rather than the language of labels.
A method in three stages
First the attack, that first second on the palate which sets the tone. Then the mid-palate, when the flavour settles and shows how much depth it has. Finally the finish, whatever lingers after you exhale. To these three stages we add one question for every brand, which is how consistent it stays from one bottle to the next.
Four sections in the notebook
Heritage houses are tasted one range at a time, cult ranges are tasted again with a clear head, rising brands are tasted without preconceptions, and characterful flavours are described precisely, whether they win you over or not.
Gaspard Lenoir, taster
Every note is signed by Gaspard Lenoir. He tastes, scores and compares, then writes down what he perceives without repeating the manufacturer's pitch. When a note rests on an impression rather than an observation, it says so.
Our independence
Le Palais Subtil takes no payment from manufacturers for its tasting notes. Affiliate links may exist and never influence what we write. Sponsored content, when there is any, is clearly labelled as such.
For UK readers
Our English pages are written with the United Kingdom in mind. Products sold in the UK follow the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, which cap nicotine e-liquid strength at 20 mg/ml, refill bottles at 10 ml and tank capacity at 2 ml, so what is on sale here may differ from products sold elsewhere.
Adults only
Vaping is for adults only, and it is illegal to sell nicotine vaping products to anyone under 18 in the United Kingdom. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, and nothing we publish is medical advice.
Get in touch
A remark on a note, or a range you would like us to taste? Head for the contact page.