Are nicotine salts for me? The complete guide to nic salts
by Melissa Greenlaw on Apr 14, 2020
Nicotine salt e-liquids have dominated the vaping market over the last couple of years, with a whole variety of companies releasing their own ranges with a huge number of flavours to choose from. But what is it about nicotine salts that have made them so popular? Brands like SALT and Drifter Bar Salts truly take the crown on best nicotine salts.
In simple terms, nicotine salt creates a completely different experience for users compared to freebase nicotine, the nicotine that has been widely used in TPD 10mls and nicotine shots.
Freebase nicotine or 'traditional' nicotine is a pure form of nicotine that is added to flavourings, VG (vegetable glycerin) and PG (propylene glycol) to create the e-liquids that you vape every day. Its also used in other smoking aid products like nicotine gum and patches. Compared to nicotine salt, freebase nicotine has a higher pH level that causes a harsher throat hit, which is why we'd only recommend high strength nicotine e-liquids, such as the V4 10mls, to those who are making the switch to vaping from heavier smoking.
Salt nicotine is made from the same nicotine found within the tobacco plant leaf but requires a different manufacturing process to freebase nicotine to make it effective to vape. The original nicotine is mixed with an acid to lower the pH level, creating a smoother throat hit compared to traditional freebase. This means that users can vape nicotine salts at higher strengths without experiencing an uncomfortable harsh throat hit. Most manufacturers use either benzoic or salicylic acid within their nicotine salts to lower the pH level.
The biggest pros of using nicotine salts whilst vaping are how smooth they are compared to freebase nicotine. Many will tell you that vaping a 20mg strength nicotine salt feels exactly the same as vaping 3mg freebase nicotine.
Secondly, nicotine salt is absorbed into the bloodstream a lot quicker, so users can experience a punchier nicotine hit. The satisfaction users feel from using nicotine salts is why they have become known as the best e-liquids to use when you're quitting smoking, as they eliminate cravings a lot better than conventional e-liquids.
Despite the great advantages of vaping nicotine salts, they aren't for everyone. The high nicotine strength can be too overwhelming for a lot of vapers, especially those who are vaping around 3mg or 6mg strengths.
Most nicotine salts are available in a maximum ratio of 60VG/40PG, so you are limited to the devices and tanks that you use them in. Sub-ohm tanks and devices vape at a much higher wattage than pod systems, and require thicker juices (70PG/30PG and above) to work, so vaping anything higher than 6mg in these tanks would be a huge no-no!
Pod systems such as the Aspire Favostix, Eleaf IORE Lite and similar are the best kits to use nicotine salts, as they vape at a higher resistance so can handle the VG/PG ratio and high nicotine strength found in salts. They are also very discreet as they do not produce huge clouds of vapour like sub-ohm devices do. You can take a look at all of our available pod systems here.
It all boils down to whether nicotine salts are the best e-liquid for you, so we've summed it all up here:
- Are you currently smoking and would like to make the switch to vaping?
- Are you a heavy smoker (around 20 or more a day)?
- Are you looking for an e-liquid to vape that will offer a similar experience to smoking?
- Would you like an e-liquid that you can use in a discreet device that will satisfy your cravings?
- Are you on a specific budget?
If so, nicotine salts are a great choice for you, and you're in the right place to get stocked up! We have a wide variety of nicotine salts to choose from, so take a look around here and see what takes your fancy. 😊
Don't worry if you have any questions, our team are always on hand to help you out. You can give us a call on 01522 244880 or email hello@888vapour.com for more assistance.
