Are vanilla extracts and vanilla the same thing?

No

No. Extract tends to have a stronger flavor since it is the vanilla bean soaked in alcohol. Flavoring may have other ingredients and will be less concentrated.

No. Vanilla soda extract will have other ingredients added to it (corn syrup, sugar/sweeteners, etc) vanilla extract generally only consists of vanilla beans, alcohol, and water.

There is a bit of a crisper flavor with pure vanilla but extract does work.

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