r/financialindependence • u/fidgit86 • 9d ago

What do you do that you earn six figures?

It seems like a lot of people make a lot of money and it seems like I’m missing out on something. So those of you that do, whats your occupation that pays so well?

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u/Pizzamann_ 9d ago

Nah. Wouldn't sell. Contrary to what you might think, you dont actually like true-to-banana taste. At least the market doesn't. Many many authentic banana flavors have been developed, but they always get beat in the market by isoamyl acetate runts :)

I feel your pain.

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u/Maeberry2007 9d ago

I like that you knew I was talking about Runts and not Laffy Taffy or something haha

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u/YouAreAPyrate 9d ago

Runts taste like learning to makeout in a movie theater to me, and will always hold a special place in my...tasebuds. But fuck, they don't taste anything like what I want a banana to taste like.

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u/ProtegeAA 9d ago

I for one totally prefer fake banana flavor

Sorry everyone

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u/YouAreAPyrate 9d ago

Give me that fake-ass Laffy Taffy banana flavor until my tongue is numb, idgaf.

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u/Pizzamann_ 9d ago

See, this is why we can't have nice things

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u/geographical_data 9d ago

I synthesized isoamyl acetate for my organics final, no value there just thought it was cool that's the first time I've seen the compound mentioned in 2 years

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u/greybeard_arr 9d ago

I instinctively downvoted you because I was irritated to read that. But, I changed it when I stopped to realize you’re just the messenger.

Mind if I ask what a day in the life of a flavor chemist is like?

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u/Pizzamann_ 9d ago

It's basically project specific flavor design. Customer wants a new flavor for their beverage line. I make one, taste, tweak, and repeat until it is good. Lots of sensory science and analytical chemistry sprinkled in along the way.

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u/TheOftenNakedJason 9d ago

I read somewhere that banana flavored candy actually tastes more like the cultivar of banana prior to the Cavendish (gross Michael or something?), But that style suffered from the fungal outbreak in the 50s and caused banana growers to switch to a different kind of banana, which tastes different.

I don't know if it's true or not, just my internet fact about banana flavors that I perpetuate without much thought or fact checking.

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u/Pizzamann_ 9d ago

It is true! However, the flavor also was developed at a time when analytical chemistry wasn't as sophisticated, and flavor chemicals weren't as widely available. Isoamyl acetate is the characterizing component of that cultivar, but there are hundreds of other components that contribute to the flavor.

Isoamyl acetate was easy to synthesize, cheap, and people liked it in the confections it was used in. So it stuck.

It's the same reason why fake cherry flavors all taste like cough syrup. Benzaldehyde is in that class of "old fashioned" flavor components that were used before more advanced flavor development tools were used.

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u/TheOftenNakedJason 9d ago

So interesting! Thank you for responding. It's funny how we like what we like because we liked it before, even if we should like something new more, sometimes the familiar wins out.

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u/Pizzamann_ 9d ago

Bingo! It's often the bane of my existence. I've developed hundreds of punch profiles, but if it doesn't taste like Hawaiian punch, the customer doesn't want it...

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u/TheOftenNakedJason 9d ago

Maybe with everyone losing their sense of taste and smell they'll have a fresh palette for your creations ;)

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u/Pizzamann_ 9d ago

God I hope so. Guava blackberry punch coming to a store near you!!!

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u/I_no_know 9d ago

There are some Asian bananas that are absolutely incredible (the short ones that have to be black), and similar to the old bananas, from what I understand.

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u/KPayAudio 9d ago

How does Bang create such a wide variety of flavors without sugar?

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u/pustabusta 9d ago

There are certain chemicals like maltol that naturally impart a sweet smell so retro nasally you perceive sweet

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u/KPayAudio 9d ago

Fascinating thank you

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u/Pizzamann_ 9d ago

Bang uses a ton of high-impact artificial sweeteners. Sucralose is their sweetener of choice, I believe.

The flavors are just any old beverage flavors. Although in my opinion they are overly flavored and overly sweet.

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u/KPayAudio 9d ago

Some them are sure, like that cotton candy one. But I am just impressed at the range of flavors, artificial sweeteners would probably do it. Thanks!

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u/sully9088 9d ago

I thought the banana flavor we get is actually based on a certain type of banana that most people can't get in grocery stores. No?

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u/Pizzamann_ 9d ago

Yup, see my response in the other comment!

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u/zen_nudist [34, 70% SR] 9d ago

Tell us more!

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u/I_no_know 9d ago

What’s your favorite chemical?

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u/Pizzamann_ 9d ago

I like smokey, vanilla, bourbon like chemicals. And stinky ones. Guaiacol, Syringol, and Diallyl Disulfide are some of my favorite

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u/ca_exhibition 9d ago

Damn, I'd like to learn more details about what you do.

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u/spacegirl3 9d ago

I fucking love isoamyl acetate flavor, and if I had a time machine, my first stop would be to get some old school bananas.

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u/bardiche-like-thing 9d ago

Hi, why does green candy always taste like grass?