Nicotine Salt vs. Freebase Nicotine E-Juices - The Beginners Guide

In the world of vaping, besides freebased nicotine e-juices, nicotine salt is the growing trend. Still, many people have trouble defining the differences between the two, especially if they are at the beginning of a vaping adventure.

In the following lines, we will explain the main characteristics of nicotine salts and freebase nicotine e-juices. If this is something that confuses you, by the end of this text you will be able to understand which type of e-liquid would be the best choice for you.

What Are Nicotine Salts?

Nic salts are a part of the vaping world for a couple of years now. It all started in the United States when JUUL launched a closed vaping system filled with mighty nicotine salts-based e-liquids. Shortly after that, this type of vape juices became available across Europe, but the nicotine level was limited to 20% by the regulations that the Tobacco Products Directive set. 

The main misconception about this kind of e-liquid is that it is based around the common sodium chloride also known as table salt we use when cooking. Although there is the word “salt” in both terms, you can be sure that your vape juice will not taste salty or increase the level of sodium in your organism. 

This term comes from a chemistry process of these e-juices where salt is made of a chemical reaction containing both a positive (acid) charge and a negative (base) charge. The reason for that is because tobacco leaves nicotine which occurs in the chemical composition of salt. To be more precise, they include only nicotine in their salt state, and those salts are later modified to produce freebase nicotine. 

However, nicotine salts are not the only part of this type of e-liquids. To be able to achieve the desired effect, they are mixed with PG and VG. After making a perfect combination, nicotine-salt e-juices are ready to use, yet they need to be vaped in extremely high temperatures to become effective. 

To tell the long story short - nic salt e liquids have modified chemical structure of nicotine that allows them to be much quickly absorbed by our bodies. Thanks to that, these vape juices provide stronger throat hits at lower heating temperatures that most vapers love.

Characteristic of Freebase Nicotine E-Juices

Freebase nicotine was discovered in the 1960s when the Philip Morris International company researched to find something that will help them make a purer and more enjoyable product. This process includes changing nicotine from its “salt” form to its “purest” form - the base. 

Thanks to freebase nicotine, we can increase the potency of e-liquids without increasing the dose. It is more potent when heated, and faster absorbed by your body compared to other nicotine derivatives.  

Although this product was and still is widely used in the vaping world, the high level of freebase nicotine in e-liquids might deliver a throat hit too severe to fully enjoy. Because of that, beginner vapers can reduce the freebase nicotine content of their liquids, and that can lead to health risks. Reducing the nicotine level too fast might make them get back to smoking because it is very possible that their early intense craving will not be satisfied. 

Luckily, in the meantime the nicotine salt e-liquids were developed, so nowadays vapers have different options and can select the one that suits them best. 

What Is The Main Difference Between Nicotine Salt and Freebase Nicotine E-Juices?

The main difference between these two types of vape juices is the harshness induced by higher nicotine levels. The higher pH level in firebase nicotine e-liquids affects the alkalinity and makes it taste harsher, while salt nic ones include benzoic acid that gives a smoother throat hit and makes vaping at 50mg nicotine tolerable.

Another different thing is the way those e-juices travel through your body. The nicotine salt e-liquids are smoother but despite that, they deliver nicotine more effectively. This means that vaping salt nic e-juices will give you an instant hit, while the effect of freebase nicotine ones might be a bit prolonged.

Low Wattage vs High Wattage Devices - Which Ones To Use?

This depends on the type of e-juice you choose. If you prefer nic salt ones, you should stay away from high-powered devices. These e-liquids are created or low wattage vaporizers due to the higher amount of nicotine they contain, plus they do not have to be exposed to high temperatures to unlock their full potential.

In case you prefer freebase nicotine e-liquids, you should consider some of the high-wattage vape devices. No matter which type of e-juices you choose, you will be able to choose between open and closed system vaporizers. The open ones can be refilled manually, while the closed ones arrive pre-filled and ready for use and when they run out of vape juice you can simply throw them away. 

You can find everything you need for a perfect vaping experience in our online vape shop. Feel free to browse through our product offer and select the e-liquid and device that fits your needs and your budget perfectly.