Nic salts are a type of e-liquid that offers some big benefits, like a smoother throat hit and great flavour payoff. Made from nicotine salts, which are a natural form of nicotine extracted from tobacco leaves, these popular e-liquids also offer fast nicotine delivery in a huge range of strengths and flavours.
With so much going for them, it’s hardly a surprise that nic salts have been taking the vaping world by storm in recent years. Get to grips with everything you need to know about nic salts, from their evolution to the best way to use them, in our comprehensive guide.
How are nic salts different to freebase nicotine?
Traditional e-liquids use freebase nicotine to add nicotine to their composition. Freebase nicotine is formulated by using nicotine extracted from the tobacco leaf using an alkaline based method before being finished in a lab. As well as being used in a wide range of e-liquids, manufacturers also add freebase nicotine into cigarettes and smoking tobacco in addition to the naturally formed nicotine.
Nic salts e-liquids contain nicotine salts rather than freebase nicotine. Nicotine salts are extracted from the tobacco leaf using an organic compound base. This compound is one that occurs naturally in several plants and is commonly used as a preservative in everything from carbonated drinks to pickled vegetables.
The origin of nicotine salts and the method by which they’re extracted from the tobacco leaf means that they’re often referred to as a more organic or authentic form of nicotine. They are also characterised by the smoother throat feel they produce when used in nic salt e-liquids.
For a deeper dive into the differences, be sure to check out our guide to nic salts vs freebase nicotine.
The benefits of nic salts
One of the biggest benefits of nic salts is the way they can offer a smoother throat hit, even at higher nicotine levels. They are also absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly than freebase nicotine, meaning they can help satisfy cravings more quickly.
Nic salts e-liquids can also be made with low levels of nicotine and they have a longer shelf life than vape juices made with freebase nicotine, making them a flexible choice for vapers.
Nic salts offer a slightly more muted flavour than some traditional e-liquids, which might not suit those who’re looking for a punchier experience. However, the introduction of bar salts has been a game changer in this area.
Bar salts: the evolution of nic salts
Bar salts are a modified form of nic salts e-liquids and offer all the benefits you enjoy with nic salts alongside strong, smooth flavours that are typically associated with disposables.
Bar salts also use nicotine salts as a base and have been developed to enhance features such as distinctive flavours, with many offering a higher amount of flavour concentrate than standard e-liquids. Learn more about the big flavours associated with bar salts and the continued evolution of nic salts in our nic salts vs bar salts guide.
How to use nic salts
Nic salts are easy to use and can be treated the same way as other, more traditional e-liquids. That said, there are a few different factors that could help you get the most from your nic salt experience, such as using the right kind of vape device and choosing the most suitable ohm resistance. Here are some smart ways to maximise the flavour and performance of your nic salts.
Which kinds of vapes are suitable for nic salts?
Nic salt e-liquids can be used in pretty much any vape kit but for the best experience, you do need to make sure that the formula is right for your chosen kit.
If you are using a small vape kit like a starter kit or refillable pod system, you will want to pair it with a 50/50 or high PG e-liquid. The thin consistency of these e-liquids is easy for the coil inside these devices to absorb and remain saturated. Nic salts are available in both 50/50 and high PG formulas, in a 10ml bottle with a choice of different nicotine strengths.
On the other hand, if you’re using if you are using a sub-ohm or advanced vape kit you will need to use a high VG vape juice. These most commonly come in short fill bottles, which are bottles of e-liquid larger than 10ml that come without any nicotine included. You can then add nic salts to these short fills using nicotine shots, creating a nic salt experience suitable for your vape.
What ohm level is best for vaping nic salts?
Nic salts are best vaped in the MTL (mouth-to-lung) style, and typically work most efficiently with a higher resistance coil.
This is because coils with a resistance level of under ohm 1.0 heat up faster than higher resistance coils – and require less wattage to do so. What’s more, nic salt e-liquids need less power to create vapour clouds than vape juices using freebase nicotine, so higher resistance coils ensure you’re less likely to burn your e-liquid.
Who should consider nic salts?
If you’re wondering whether nic salts might be the right fit for you, there are a few top things to think about.
Do you prefer a smooth inhale or a throat hit?
The type of inhale you are looking for is a big factor in determining which nicotine type will best suit your needs.
If you prefer a smooth feeling inhale with minimal throat hit, then giving nic salt vape juice a try might be the perfect idea. It offers a satisfying inhale without feeling too harsh on your throat, even at higher nicotine levels.
If you are looking for an e-liquid that gives you a stronger throat hit that’s more similar to the feel of smoking, then a freebase nicotine vape juice might suit you better.
Are you quitting smoking?
If you are making a stop smoking attempt using an e-cigarette, then you may find that nic salt e-liquids are a good fit.
Ex-smokers would agree that nicotine salts offer good flavours alongside a throat hit that doesn't feel too overpowering but still delivers the experience they’re looking for.
Also, nic salts are available in a wide range of different strengths, allowing you to find the strength that best matches your nicotine intake from smoking to effectively manage cravings and support users to stay away from tobacco.
What are your vaping habits like?
If you prefer to take shorter vaping breaks, or just have a few puffs here or there, nic salts are a fantastic option. With nic salt, the nicotine is absorbed within seconds, so your cravings can be satisfied quickly.
On the other hand, if you find that you are quite a heavy vaper who enjoys longer sessions, you may want to consider using a freebase nicotine e-liquid. These are absorbed more slowly and are less likely to leave you overwhelmed.
If you are a heavy or frequent vaper but find freebase nicotine is not for you, you might want to consider dropping down your nicotine strength and using nic salts, as this will allow you to enjoy your preferred e-liquid formula without introducing too much nicotine too quickly.
Which nicotine strength are you using?
Heavy smokers who transition to vaping may find they need a high nicotine strength in order to effectively manage cravings and avoid withdrawal symptoms. If that’s the case for you, nicotine salts may be a good place to start. They are available in strengths up to 20 mg/ml, which may feel quite harsh on your throat in a freebase e-liquid, but will feel much smoother and more comfortable in a nicotine salt.
However, if you are using a lower nicotine strength the freebase throat hit will not be as intense, so you might want to try both e-liquid types to see which one you prefer. It’s easy to see why nic salts and, more recently, bar salts, have become so popular in recent years. Offering a wide range of flavours and arrange of great benefits, such as smoother throat hits and fast nicotine absorption, nic salts are available from a huge range of popular brands. If you’re ready to start exploring, be sure to browse our full range of nic salts.
