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What are Nic Salts?
Nicotine salt e-liquid, otherwise known as nic salt, has skyrocketed in recent times to become the most popular way for vapers to enjoy e-liquid. Nicotine salt is a type of naturally forming nicotine that is found in the tobacco leaves. To produce nic salt e-liquid, this nicotine is combined with benzoic acid to lower the alkalinity and make it easier for the body to absorb. Due to the way nic salt e-liquids are made, the nicotine is also absorbed much faster into the bloodstream than traditional (freebase) nicotine e-liquids.
The addition of the benzoic acid, which lowers the pH level, is what allows nic salts to be vaped at high strengths without the harsh throat hit. This means vapers can use 20mg nic salt and still enjoy a smooth feel as they inhale. This has made these vape juices especially popular for vapers who use a lot of nicotine but do not enjoy the harshness that other 50/50 e-liquids provide.
Designed for low powered devices such as pod kits or vape pens for mouth-to-lung vaping, nicotine salt e-liquid is also the type of e-liquid that's used in disposable vapes.
Nic Salts FAQs
The main difference between nic salts and freebase nicotine is the throat hit that each type of nicotine provides. Whereas freebase nicotine is known for its stronger throat hit at high strengths, nic salts are a lot smoother. Freebase nicotine is alkaline, but the addition of benzoic acid neutralises the pH, making the throat hit of nic salts milder. As well as this, you'll find e-liquids that contain freebase nicotine in a wider range of strengths such as 3mg, 6mg, 12mg, and 18mg, compared to nic salts, which tend to stick to 10mg or 20mg.
Freebase nicotine is the conventional form of nicotine found in cigarettes, whereas nicotine salts are a chemical compound containing nicotine as well as other organic substances found in the tobacco leaf. For many, the milder throat hit is a plus, although some vapers prefer the strong throat hit that freebase nicotine provides. Benzoic acid also helps nicotine to vaporise at a lower temperature and makes it easier for your body to absorb it.
Our blog on the differences between nic salts and freebase nicotine provides a more detailed breakdown, helping you to make the right choice.
Shortfills are nicotine-free e-liquids that come in part-filled bottles so that there's space to add a nicotine shot.
Nicotine salt e-liquids already include nicotine and deliver a fast, strong nicotine hit. They are a relatively new addition to the vaping scene and are often preferred by MTL (mouth-to-lung) vapers and former smokers because they give e-cigarettes a more authentic smoking experience.
When you're trying to quit smoking, it can help to lower your nicotine consumption over time. Transitioning from smoking to vaping nic salts is effective for ex-smokers because the high nicotine content in nicotine salts means you can achieve the blood nicotine levels that your body is used to.
When you vape salt nic e-liquids, your blood nicotine levels will be higher for longer, which can help former smokers shake off those tricky cravings easily.
Designed to give a similar nicotine rush as conventional cigarettes, the nicotine from nic salts can be absorbed into your bloodstream in as little as 6 seconds. This means that they're great for dealing with cravings immediately and effectively.
Due to TPD regulations in the EU, nicotine-containing e-liquids are subject to strict regulations that limit the maximum size of bottles to 10ml. This is because the EU's Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) regulates e-cigarettes and e-liquids as tobacco products, and sets maximum nicotine concentrations and bottle sizes for e-liquids that contain nicotine.
Nic salt e-liquids are ideal for those who have just recently quit smoking and experience strong nicotine cravings. With nic salts, you can enjoy a faster nicotine hit and a smoother vaping experience than with freebase nicotine e-liquids, which may make them a better choice for ex-smokers.
If you're transitioning from smoking, especially if you used to smoke a pack a day or more, you'll benefit from the higher 20mg nicotine strength. More moderate smokers can enjoy vaping in the 10mg range. The idea is that eventually vapers can gradually reduce the amount of nicotine they vape by moving down to lower nicotine strengths or even eventually going nicotine-free.
Nic salt e-liquids are made with a 50/50 VG/PG formulation making them ideal for use with low powered devices designed for mouth-to-lung vaping. We stock a wide range of top-of-the-range pod kits and vape pens that support MTL vaping.
Nic salt e-liquid is best vaped using a coil with a resistance of 1 ohm or higher, so it is best to stay away from sub-ohm devices when using an e-liquid of this type.
You may have come across hybrid nicotine salt e-liquids. These use a blend of freebase nicotine and nic salts, meaning that vapers get the best of both freebase and salt. For vapers who like a stronger throat hit than most nic salts offer, hybrid nic salts are a great option.
All nic salt e-liquids that we stock have been checked, regulated and are entirely safe to use. It's important to remember that nicotine salts do contain nicotine, and are most commonly available in high strengths of 20mg. Whilst this is safe, we recommend only using high strengths if you are an ex-smoker who is used to consuming large amounts of nicotine. For anyone not used to these nicotine levels, this may result in discomfort or dizziness.
Nic salt e-liquids should not be mixed with traditional e-liquids at home because they have different compositions and nicotine strengths. Mixing the two can result in unpredictable and potentially dangerous effects. We recommend sticking to one e-liquid at a time to enjoy the best flavours and the safest vaping experience.
The answer to this is very much subjective, and it largely comes down to personal preference. It can be very exciting and enjoyable to try different things, and this ability to experiment with different e-liquids flavours is what separates vaping from smoking so much.
Saying that, fruity flavours are certainly the most popular flavour of nic salts and the widest range. However, many vapers also enjoy other flavours such as menthol flavours, tobacco flavours, dessert flavours and more!