What is the difference between Salt Nicotine and Freebase 'Regular' Nicotine Juice?
Nicotine salts, otherwise known as Nic salts, salt Nic, Vape salts, and salt e-liquid, is a specific category of e-liquid. Due to the name, many Vapers wonder if Nicotine salts contain salt. However, Nicotine salt Vape juice is named for the chemistry behind its unique formulation invented by Pax labs.
Here is the short and simple breakdown of the science involved in Nic salt Vape juice. It’s a label that describes solutions that are been paired by a variety of chemicals. When a base and an acid are combined, the resulting mixture may have a PH level that lands in neutral territory on the PH scale – qualifying it as a “salt.” and NO it's not the same as table salt.
When we’re talking about Vaping, Nicotine is the base in the equation, with a PH that clocks in pretty high on the scale. However, once a little bit of acid is added to the mixture, the overall PH drops, creating a salt. The end product is the deliciously smooth Vape juices known as Nicotine salts.
So the difference between regular e-juice and Nicotine salts basically boils down to the type of Nicotine used, standard Vape juice typically incorporates pure liquid Nicotine while salt e-liquid uses Nicotine salt. This seemingly small swap has a significant impact on your Vape experience, offering plenty of perks that have made Nic salts incredibly popular.
Salt Nicotine is the newest innovation in Vaping with the idea of being a perhaps more efficient tool in aiding one to quit smoking because they are similar to conventional cigarette. It's thin with higher, faster acting Nicotine. The devices that use this form of e-juice are small mouth-to-lung devices that use non-sub-ohm coils. (1.0Ω+) or above! Salt Nicotine and their devices offer small, satisfying clouds with e-juice in high Nicotine mg (milligram) strengths of 12 – 50mg with easy cleaning and coil changing cartridges/tanks available. They include internal batteries and are specially tailored to work with salt Nicotine.
The chemistry behind Freebase Nicotine and how it works?
Nicotine’s chemical nature is a weak base and made up of negatively charged particles and have a hard time moving across organic membranes and are not easily vaporized. This is where freebasing comes in, it was discovered that if the Nicotine was de-protonated with ammonia removing its positive charge it will go back to its free state which is much easier to travel across membranes in our bodies. So essentially in its freebase form it makes a more bioavailable for our lungs and brain having a more potent effect on us. (Bioavailability refers to the amount at which a substance is absorbed by the body)
What are the Benefits of Nicotine Salts?
Salt Nic Vape juice uses a form of Nicotine that’s less acidic, which means you’ll enjoy a smoother, significantly less harsh throat hit. In addition, Nicotine salts offer to boost your overall Nicotine absorption rate. You’ll enjoy the satisfaction of a higher Nicotine percentage without having to deal with an unpleasantly harsh hit, delivering an impressively smooth Vape experience that’s incredibly similar to a traditional cigarette. This combination of factors has made Nicotine salts a popular choice for Vapers who are moving away from an old smoking habit, as well as those who prefer higher levels of Nicotine.
When To Use Freebase Nicotine?
If you have been Vaping for a while, or you do not Vape for the pure purpose of quitting smoking (i.e. you simply Vape for your own pleasure), then you may prefer to use freebase Nicotine.
Freebase Nicotine e-liquids are more suitable for higher powered, high wattage, mod or sub-ohm devices. If you are a cloud chaser looking for a powerful, more ‘advanced’ Vaping experience, then we would recommend you opt for freebase Nicotine.
This can provide a harsher throat hit and a slower Nicotine absorption than Nic salts. For many people, these factors are less important than being able to use powerful mod devices with their e-liquids. Additionally, there are often more unique flavor combinations available in freebase Nicotine e-liquids.
When Not To Use Freebase Nicotine?
Freebase Nicotine is less appropriate for those who are simply looking for an effective way to quit smoking. Nic salts may be more effective here: these can provide a faster Nicotine absorption rate, and a softer throat hit even at higher doses. This means they replicate the experience of a traditional cigarette more closely, and can provide more satisfaction to those who require more Nicotine in their system.
If you use a smaller, lower wattage device such as a Vape Pen or Pod system, then Nic salts may be more appropriate for you than freebase Nicotine. You can, of course, still use freebase nicotine's, but you should aim for a PG/VG ratio of 50/50.
PG/VG Ratio
Usually, Nic salts will have a PG/VG ratio of 50/50, but this is not always the case. Freebase Nicotine will usually have a ratio of 70/30, but again this can vary between different brands. E-liquids with a PG/VG ratio of 50/50 tend to be best for smaller, less expensive devices such as Pod systems and Vape Pens. This is because they do not require much power in order to get a good amount of flavor.
E-liquids with a PG/VG ratio of 70/30 or 80/20 tend to work best with more powerful mod devices. These e-liquids will create larger clouds, but require more power from the device in order to get a strong flavor profile.
if you are using a smaller, lower wattage device then one brand that offers a wide array of freebase Nicotine flavors with a PG/VG of 50/50 is Nasty Vape Juice. Check our best deals for Nasty Vape Juice on our site.
If you are using a more powerful device, then here are some of our favorite 0mg PG/VG 70/30 E-Liquids that you should try:
Some brands will offer ‘shortfill’ bottles, bottles larger than 10ml that contain 0mg or no Nicotine at all. This means that, if you want Nicotine in your e-liquid, you will need to add separate Nicotine shots to it.
Here is some of our lower Nicotine level E-juice that you can purchase and make sure you visit our DEALS page to view any discounts that are available.
Is there any difference in safety?
When it comes to differences between having Nic salt e-liquid and freebase Nicotine Vape juice, there is only one and it’s the added Benzoic or Citric acid. Since both naturally occur in our bodies, Nicotine salts are going to be no les safe to its freebase counterpart.
Furthermore the World Health Organization's renowned International Program on chemical safety also advises that humans consume a maximum of 5mg of theses acids per kilogram of bodyweight per day, this works out to roughly 420mg for the average 84kg UK man, or 350mg for the average UK woman. Given that 1ml of Nic salt Vape juice contains just a few milligrams of Benzoic or Citric acid, its virtually impossible anyone would be able to Vape such a dangerous amount.
Which should I choose?
If any of the following statements apply to you, then Nicotine salts would be a suitable choice:- I want to quit smoking
- I’ve tried Vaping before however unsuccessfully
- I don’t want an overly techNical or exPensive Vaping device
- I need a Nicotine level higher than freebase e-liquids can provide
Nic Salt Devices: What You Need to Know
Before you start filling your virtual cart with new Nicotine salt Vape juice, there’s something you should know: Nicotine salts aren’t designed to be paired with high-powered, sub-ohm Vape devices. While you may be used to reaching for your sub-ohm mod regularly, you’ll need to choose something else to use with salt Nic e-juice. Instead, find a lower-wattage Vape for the best Nicotine salt experience; Pod-based devices are one of the most popular options for Nic salt Vaping.
How to Find the Best Salt Nic Device for You?
If a low-wattage or Pod-style Vape pod or pen isn’t something you have on hand, buying a new device doesn’t have to be complicated. Since Nicotine salts are explicitly recommended for pairing with low-wattage and Pod Vapes, your options are already helpfully narrowed down – so you don’t have to wade through the near-endless selection of Vapes out there.
As you browse through the variety of excellent Pod-based options, take some time to get an idea of each device’s pros and cons. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all Vape, especially because every Vaper has their unique preferences and style.
Check out customer reviews, browse your favorite Vape forums, and ask your fellow Vapers for input on their favorite Pod Vapes. You’ll be able to learn more about the devices you’re considering, making it much easier to choose a Vape that sure measures up to your expectations.
