Nicotine salts (usually abbreviated to ‘nic salts’) in e-liquids hit the shelves of your local vape store a couple of years ago. They were quickly hailed as a vaping innovation and have now become a popular vaping product choice among vapers.
But what are nic salts, exactly? How do they differ from your typical (and unfortunately named) ‘freebase’ nicotine e-liquid that has been the staple of nicotine replacement products such as vapes? Keep reading to learn a bit more about nic slats and how they compare to freebase nicotine e-liquids.
The History of Freebase Nicotine
To appreciate the difference between nic salts and freebase nicotine, we have to go way back to the 1960s. While everyone else was exploring free love and bell bottoms, the Philip Morris company was experimenting with nicotine and discovered freebasing. Essentially, it involves changing nicotine from its salt state (which is naturally occurring) to a purer form with increased potency. The process also raises pH levels. Since its development, freebase nicotine has been used in cigarettes (to make them more addictive) and in nicotine replacement products like gum, patches and vape liquid.
What are Nic Salts?
Let’s be clear about one thing. Nic salts have nothing to do with the stuff you usually sprinkle on your food to make it tasty and annoy your doctor. So, nic salts don’t make your vape juice taste like sea water, and they won’t affect your body’s sodium intake.
It’s all about chemistry. See, salt results from a chemical reaction with both a positive (acid) and negative (base) charge. Yeah, we all hated chemistry in high school too, but bear with us. The nicotine in tobacco leaves only contain nicotine in a salt state. But, that type of salt has a weak base and therefore doesn’t really hit our nicotine receptors all that easily. So, some science guys came up with the idea of increasing the acidity of this natural nicotine salt. When they modified nicotine sale with Benzoic or Citric acid (both which naturally occur on the human body) they got something that is rapidly absorbed in the body, vapourizes at a lower temperature, and a resulting lower pH level makes for a smoother throat hit.
What’s the Difference Between Nic Salts & Freebase Vape E-Juice?
So, what is the big difference? Well, when you come right down to it, the only real big physical difference between the two is nic salts have the added acid. And, since both occur naturally in our bodies, that isn’t even a safety consideration.
But there are a couple differences you want to note.
Nic Salts
• Absorbs rapidly into the bloodstream
• Smooth even at higher does
• Smaller cloud production
• Lower flavour complexity
• Less liquid needed for comparable nicotine hit
• Ideal for new vapers
Freebase Nicotine E-Liquid
• Absorbs more slowly in the body
• Harsher at higher doses
• Larger cloud production
• Higher flavour complexity
• More liquid needed for comparable nicotine hit
• Suited to vapers who want lower nicotine levels
Ultimately, what you choose is dependent on a wide variety of personal preferences, ranging from whether you have vaped before, how much of a nicotine hit you want, whether you are trying to quit smoking, and more. A knowledgeable EZ-Vape staff member would be happy to help you make the choice that’s right for you. Just drop by your nearest EZ-Vape location for expert advice.
