Nicotine Salts 101 - The New E-Liquid Craze Explained

Whether you’re interested in creating your own e-liquids or you’re simply curious about the ingredients in the vaping supplies from your favorite manufacturer, you may have heard the terms “nicotine salts” or “freebase nicotine” and wondered how they work and how the they compare.

In fact, nicotine salts have become one of the hottest subjects of discussion among vaping enthusiasts, but not everyone quite understands what they are since they're so new.

In this post we'll be diving deep into Nicotine Salts, Free Base Nicotine, and what the differences are. So let's get into it.

What Are Nicotine Salts?

E-juice consists of a mixture of VG (vegetable glycerin) and/or PG (propylene glycol) solutions, flavorings, and nicotine. Chemically speaking, the odorless VG and PG solutions are technically alcohols, with VG sweeter tasting, thicker, and more viscous than PG. Almost all e-liquids contain a VG/PG mixture with different ratios.

The crystallized form of nicotine known as nicotine salts dissolves in these VG/PG solutions. In nicotine salt, you’ll find a more complete nicotine molecule; this means it’s still bound to other organic compounds naturally found in tobacco leaves, forming a substance with greater stability than freebase nicotine.

Transforming nicotine salts into inhalable vapors requires using more heat than freebase nicotine. Salts produce a smooth vapor with an equally smooth impact on the throat, giving them a consumption advantage over freebase nicotine. The human body technically absorbs nicotine salts less efficiently than it does freebase nicotine, but salts are a more concentrated form of nicotine, so it’s a small trade-off.

What Is Freebase Nicotine?

Don’t let the term “freebase” give you a negative perception of freebase nicotine. It simply means that the substance is very pure. Freebase nicotine is produced by using ammonia to separate nicotine from nicotine salts. From there, it’s possible to use steam extraction to isolate the nicotine.

E-liquid manufacturers typically use freebase nicotine in their products because it absorbs into the body well and its effects build in the system to yield a lasting impact on nicotine cravings. Its bioavailability enables it to concentrate at and bind to nicotine receptors readily, potentially creating a greater addictive effect than nicotine salts produce.

Nicotine Salt Advantages

You’re probably more interested in real world reasons to compare nicotine salts and freebase nicotine as opposed to the science jargon behind them, so let's get to it. 

What are the benefits of nicotine salts over their freebase counterpart?

You’ll enjoy speedy delivery: Nicotine salts produced using the correct acids and vaped in the proper type of device deliver nicotine into the bloodstream more quickly than freebase nicotine can manage.

You can consume less e-juice: E-liquids made with nicotine salts contain a higher concentration of nicotine than those that use freebase nicotine. As a result, you don’t need as much of the solution to get the effects you want.

You’ll be able to store e-liquids for longer periods: The stability of nicotine salts means that the vital ingredients in e-juice retain their potency for longer than solutions made with freebase nicotine can.

You can skip the 150-watt box mod: Properly prepared, nicotine salts deliver nicotine efficiently, meaning that you can use a small, simple device and still receive satisfying results.

How to Vape Nicotine Salt

Don’t treat nicotine salts like regular e-liquids... unless you want to take a giant, uncomfortable nicotine hit. A box mod, or modified vaporizer, paired with a sub ohm tank that produces high-power results, will overpower you if you use it with nicotine salts. Be aware, you can find nicotine salt e-juice formulated in low-dose dripping forms, which offer a similar but different experience compared with regular freebase nicotine e-liquids.

Instead of trying to overpower nicotine salts, look for a lower power device such as the Bo, which is compact in form and modest in power output, similar to a high-quality cigalike, or electronic cigarette. Look to pod devices for optimal use with nicotine salts, in addition to refillable, conventional gear. You’ll get ample power from using the right vaping pen paired with an e-juice blend that includes higher levels of nicotine salts.

Newer vapers will enjoy the efficiency with which salts deliver nicotine absorption. Because nicotine salts work effectively with basic gear, dabblers and experimenters can get the results they want without making a big investment in equipment just to try vaping. 

Of course, if you’ve already invested in a higher-power device, you can opt for e-liquids with lower levels of nicotine salts, which can provide better results than using freebase nicotine mixtures. These lower-nicotine preparations sometimes miss one of the primary advantages of nicotine salts, namely their ability to produce comfortable vaping even at higher nicotine levels. But some brands are doing a great job with them, which we'll talk about below.

Which E-Juices Use Nicotine Salt?

We carry some great nicotine salt based vape juices. Check out our line of Mr Salt-E e-liquids, which is one of the top leading brands in the space. We have over a dozen different flavors available, so you're sure to find one you'll like.

Click here to check out Mr Salt-E's Vape Juices

Will I Like Nicotine Salt?

The answer’s “yes” for some vapers and “no” for others, a classic case of “it depends.” Ask yourself a few questions to determine whether nicotine salts will work well for you.

Do you like giant clouds of vapor? If so, you’re better off with mainstream freebase-nicotine e-liquids.

Have you picked up vaping recently as a substitute for cigarettes? You’ll find nicotine salts easy on your throat and satisfying to use, providing a quick and easy-to-use product that gives you discreet results.

Do you want an e-liquid you can find virtually everywhere? Nicotine salts haven’t yet gained the widespread acceptance that would make them a “buy-anywhere” product, and vape shops that do stock them are often sold out due to their popularity and novelty.

Fortunately there are nicotine salt based vape juces available, like Mr Salt-E mentioned above, so you can still enjoy the differences of nicotine salts as opposed to your average vape juice.

As nicotine salts continue to gain in popularity, you’ll hear and see more coverage of these products.

Have you experimented with them yet? If so, did they convince you to switch or confirm that you still prefer freebase nicotine? Share your thoughts in the comments!