Nic (Nicotine) salt was originally created by PAX also known as Juul back in 2015 for the Juul pods.
Many companies have created their own lines of e-liquids containing Nic Salts (Nicotine salts) like dinner lady and element.
Here Is How Good Nic Salt Is
Nic Salt has been designed mainly for beginners with a higher percentage of nicotine in e-liquids, yet a smoother delivery similar to that of cigarettes. Nic Salt liquids can be found in many different strengths from 5mg to 50mg and a variety of flavors. Nic salts can be found in many products from E-liquids for vape mods and starter kits, Nic Shots for larger eliquid bottles and Disposable vapes.
What Is Nic Salt?
Nic Salts starts as the natural purified stage of Nicotine that is then combined with vegetable glycerin (Vg) and propelyne Glycol (Pg) creating a base that can be used used for e-liquids and vaping products like disposables.
Nic Salts has a better absorption rate into the bloodstream making it more efficient and quicker as satisfying nicotine cravings, unlike traditional Freebase Nicotine. This is due to the Benzoic acid being added to the natural Nicotine to lower the Ph level and reduce the alkaline level in the liquid to make it more along the line of our natural body’s ph levels as well as allowing it to be used at a lower power setting and temperatures.
Nic salts were originally created by PAX Labs now known as Juul in 2015 for their liquids in their disposable replaceable pods but soon was adopted by many other brands and E-liquid manufacturers around the world.
Is Nic Salt E-liquid Safe?
E-liquid and nicotine are largely produced and made in clean rooms, This is a dust-free and clean environment making sure that there is no chance of contaminants and contamination while mixing and manufacturing is taking place.
While salt nicotine and E-liquids have the same processes and are done in batches to adhere to a level of standards, with the Eu being governed by the TPD a level of quality is expected and must be met for the product to be available to enter the market. They will typically undergo emissions testing and toxicity testing to verify the ingredients are safe for use. The USA has the PMTA and follows a simpler process before liquids and as well as devices.
Are There Any Alternatives To Nic Salt?
Regular nicotine has been the main ingredient in liquids and Vapes for many years before nicotine salts came along. It can be seen as the primary alternative to Nic salts.
One of the benefits of freebase nicotine, is that it can be used for sub ohm vaping as well as mouth to lung vaping because of the low strengths it comes in.
There are not many alternatives for salt nic but with traditional freebase nicotine, you can certainly find something that will work for you. CBD is also another alternative.
Nic Salt E-liquid vs Regular Nicotine (Freebase) E-liquid
A good alternative for example with a 20mg will be a 6mg or 10mg in a free base, even though it is essentially weaker in strength the throat hit is comparable and offers users more flavours to be chosen from and strength ranges.
Adding nicotine can come in variations of strengths from 15mg shots, 18mg shots which are more common and also salt nic shots that more commonly come in 20mg.
The typical mixes you can find in e-liquid is:
Nic salt – 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 50mg
Freebase (Regular Nicotine) – 3mg, 6mg, 12mg, 18mg, 24mg, 50mg
The mg of nicotine refers to the amount of nicotine per ml of eliquid. A typical cigarette averages 8-10mg of nicotine, which means 1ml of 10mg vaped would be the equivalent to 1 cigarette.
More nicotine can be added by adding 1 or 2 nicotine shots then mixing together the pouring the combined liquid out into the now empty nic shot bottles to create the gap again, this is now where the user can add another course of nicotine to then increase the nicotine strength from a 3mg to a 6.
Some countries have a restriction on the bottle size, most namely Europe and the UK, where larger bottles will come with only 0mg of nicotine, meaning they have no nicotine in them. Therefore you will need to pour nicotine shots inside the bottle, to make the desired strength.
Different Strengths Of Nic Salt E-liquid
Nic Salt comes in the following strengths: 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 50mg.
While salt nicotine has not been around for as long as traditional freebase nicotine many e-liquid manufacturing companies have taken to offering their products in salt nicotine options.
The main reason behind this can be due to the beginner market and having these options as a choice is a great starting point for beginners wanting to quit smoking. It allows to find the desired strength level to start vaping and many will slowly ween down to lower levels, and can eventually quit all together.
Brands like Dinner lady, Nasty Juice and Element e-liquids are just some of the most well known for offering salt nicotine e-liquids.
Nicotine Strengths can vary from country to country due to regulations but in the USA you can find 50mg salt Nic e-liquid in a variety of brands and flavours pre-mixed and also in disposable vapes and pods.
In the EU and UK the maximum strength you can find is 20mg due to regulation of the TPD.
How To Use Nic Salt E-liquid
Nicotine salts are designed for mouth to lung use due to the high level of nicotine. This is where you replicate the action of smoking, you will draw the vapor into your mouth and then inhale it, i.e Mouth-to-lung. You may find that mouth to lung devices like the Uwell Caliburn G is very suitable device to use with higher levels of nicotine.
The reason why salt nicotine is more suited for mouth to lungs is with the higher nicotine they can become harsh on the back of the users thought and leave an unpleasant feeling meaning it is not advised to use salt nic in a Sub-Ohm Direct to lung device.
Should I Buy Nic Salt E-liquid?
There are many benefits of using salt nicotine e-liquids compared to freebase nicotine e-liquids, one of the most notable is it is an easier switch from smoking cigarettes as combined with a suitable device.
Having a higher dosage of nicotine and being a more efficient delivery will fix the nicotine cravings quicker than freebase liquids while not giving much of a throat hit.
Where Can You Buy Nic Salt E-liquid?
With the popularity of salt nicotine, many brands have taken on salt nicotine and offered their own flavours and products to the market. Disposables being just one type of product that uses salt nicotine liquids to deliver the vaping experience.
Brands like Elf bar, Geek Bar, Becco and many more all offer salt nicotine in their disposable vapour products.
While brands like Wick Liquor, Pacha Mama and One Hit Wonder started with a Free base nicotine option but with the popularity of nic salts, they have produced their originally lines into salt nicotine options.
You can easily find salt nicotine e-liquids, disposables and nicotine shots in many locations like superstores, vape shops, convenience stores and gas stations. If you’re looking to buy you can check out one a wide range here
What Are The Best Devices For Nic Salt E-liquid?
There are many devices and products that can use salt nicotine liquids.
Here are just some of the best we found;
The Juul device is a small pen-style device with a very sleek design, it uses pre-filled replaceable and non-refillable pods but has a limited amount of flavours and nicotine strengths.
However, the Juul is easily and readily available in most gas stations, convenience stores and supermarkets and even some vape shops. The Jull kit can be purchased from $20 – $30
The Uwell Caliburn series of devices is very similar to the Juul and also share a similar style and draw to activate system but is what is called an open style system meaning you can refill with your personal choice of liquids and strengths. You can find this device from $30 – $50
With disposables like Geek Bars and puff bars, they make it a very easy option to use as there is no refill, charging or replacing pods you simply use it and once it is done just dispose of it.
With disposables however you may find that flavour options are often similar from brand to brand and that options for lower nicotine strength are not available.
MTL (Mouth To Lung) Tanks
These options make it very easy to switch from salt nicotine liquids to freebase and vice versa as well as having better options of e-liquids, strengths and flavours.
The Aspire Nautilus 3 tank is a great choice for a beginner as aspire over the years has continued to improve about the base of this tank and the replaceable coils are readily available in most vape shops as well as online retailers.
With options for tighter airflow from the coils and the option for self-adjusting, the airflow from the airflow control ring attached to the tank makes it more customizable for your personal preference combined with an easy to refill top-fill method make this tank a great option. Typically this tank can be purchased from $30.
The Hell vape MD tank is a rebuildable option and is more aimed at more advanced users but this is not to say it is not for beginners. The MD is a small MTL / restricted lung rebuildable tank meaning that a separate coil that can either be hand-wound or purchased pre-made is to be installed.
Rebuildables can offer a significant amount more flavour depending on the type of coils installed but it is worth keeping in mind that with salt nicotine liquids will like to be used at lower temperatures and power levels. You can check out our article here on rebuildable Kayfuns.
What Do Reviews Say About Nic Salt E-liquids?
There are many different types of products containing nicotine salts with many people personal opinions on what they are good for and flavour options. We looked at youtube and Planetofthevape.co.uk.
However, let’s see what the professionals have to say.
From Planet of the vape a well-known source for all things vape related from reviews to news and advocacy, we found a review for Large Juice an e-liquid brand made in the uk.
The review is for Large Juice nic salts range of flavours and goes to say in the conclusion: 8 out of 10 flavours were a personal favourite which the reviewers say is a surprise they rarely have such a high success when sent a full range.
From a youtube review by Matt from SSM for a Stig Mini review of a disposable nic salt device.
Final Thoughts
Salt nicotine is a great option for beginners for the smoothness and high strength options available to the market. It is always worth knowing however that free base is also a great option if you wanted a bit more of thought hit.
With many brands and products having salt nicotine options it make a great starting point for the vaping experience.
Are Nic Salts Worth It?
Most certainly, salt nicotine elquids are often inexpensive however disposable products can add up in cost and a great alternative is a mouth to lung kit or tank which can open up doors to many other flavours, nicotine strengths and liquid capacitys
Resources
https://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/reviews/e-liquids/large-juice-nic-salts-from-vape-club.html
