Nicotine salts and freebase nicotine e-liquids both have benefits. This information will assist you in determining which is ideal for your vaping needs.
What are Nic Salts, exactly?
Nic salts, commonly known as nicotine salts, are a form of e-liquid that differs somewhat from standard e-liquids in composition (which are known as freebase e-liquids). If you buy a beginners vaping kit or a pre-filled pod kit, you’ll almost certainly receive freebase nicotine e-liquid, but there are other forms of e-liquid that can be beneficial to both novice and experienced vapers, such as nicotine salts.
Nicotine salts are a type of e-liquid that can release nicotine to the body faster than regular freebase e-liquids. This produces a much stronger, faster, and more intense nicotine rush than freebase nicotine e-liquids, which is one of the reasons nicotine salts are popular among new vapers and ex-smokers who used to smoke heavily. Nic salts give the impression of a stronger nicotine hit without actually having any more nicotine in the e-juice formula.
Because no e-liquids with more than 20mg/ml of nicotine (or 2% strength) may be sold in the UK due to vape product regulations, nicotine salts are a good alternative for individuals who need a stronger e-liquid.
When compared to freebase nicotine e-liquids, they also have a significantly smoother “throat hit,” which means that the ordinary vaper can usually comfortably vape higher-nicotine e-liquids in salt form rather than freebase form.
Of course, some vapers want a powerful, severe throat hit, so freebase liquids are a better alternative for them, but nicotine salts are a terrific option if you’re searching for a strong, intense nicotine rush that meets all of your desires.
The correct strength of e-liquid, especially for beginner vapers, is a critical aspect in not just enjoying vaping but also staying away from cigarettes in the long run.
Choosing the appropriate nicotine level for your e-liquid
When you first start vaping, it’s critical because it might be the difference between a joyful and enjoyable vape experience and one that’s unsustainable and doesn’t satisfy your nicotine needs enough to keep you away from cigarettes.
The effects of both freebase nicotine and nicotine salts in e-liquids on your body are absolutely unique, so what works for one person may not work for another, and that’s the joy of vaping!
Nicotine Salts: The Science
When freebase nicotine combines with an acid, nicotine salts are formed. While these e-liquids are named nicotine salts, they don’t contain any salt; the name relates to the molecular structure of the nicotine in nic salt formulae, so don’t worry about your sodium intake!
Nicotine salts are formed when the freebase nicotine (which is quite alkaline) is mixed with an acid, rather than producing salt crystals (a frequent misperception). The most prevalent is benzoic acid, while citric acid or a mixture of the two is also common.
The nicotine becomes less alkaline as a result of this chemical reaction, which not only decreases the throat hit but also means that the body can safely absorb nicotine salts far faster than freebase nicotine, giving you that strong nicotine rush.
Because nic salts have a lower pH, the temperature required to vape them is significantly lower than it would be without the acid treatment. As a result, users may vape them at relatively low temperatures, and vapers with smaller, less powerful devices can still enjoy them.
Despite the fact that freebase nicotine has been used significantly more commonly for millennia, nicotine salts are the form of nicotine that is closest to the way it occurs naturally in the tobacco plant. They are the purest type of nicotine, making them ideal for use in a powerful, intense vape.
Nicotine Salts’ Benefits
Nic salts aren’t for everyone, but they can give a delightfully smooth and strong vape without any unpleasant throat hit or discomfort for some vapers.
Nicotine salts are good for beginning vapers who are used to smoking heavily or who have been smoking for a long time since they provide the same powerful, pleasurable nicotine intake without the harshness that can be present in harsher freebase nicotine formulas.
You’ll be a lot less likely to return to smoking tobacco cigarettes in the long run if you adequately satisfy your cravings, and they’re also a good, balanced companion for individuals seeking to progressively cut down on smoking cigarettes without stopping cold turkey.
They don’t require a lot of power because they can be vaporised at low temperatures, and because they aren’t designed to produce large vapour clouds, they can be vaporised in a smaller, more compact machine, making them perfect for on-the-go users.
These devices are ideal for mouth-to-lung vaping, which is the most popular style among beginner vapers and ex-smokers, and are smaller, more portable, and easier to use on average than a huge, bulky vape mod or more powerful device.
Nic salts also offer the advantage of lasting longer per ml than many freebase nicotine e-liquids because you don’t need as much e-liquid to achieve the same level of nicotine hit!
Nicotine salts have a lower pH value than freebase recipes with the same nicotine dosage, therefore these e-liquids provide a considerably smoother experience for vapers. Freebase compositions can provide a harsh, unpleasant, and off-putting throat hit for certain users, discouraging them from continuing to vape, whereas nic salts provide the same strong, intense rush without the harsh, and occasionally painful, throat hit.
As a result, freebase vapers may have to use a lower nicotine level in their e-liquid, resulting in a less-than-satisfactory craving reduction. Vapers who don’t have the correct e-liquid are far more likely to return to smoking cigarettes since their vape experience isn’t joyful.
Frunk offers a large selection of high-quality freebase and nicotine salt e-liquids. Nicotine salt e-liquids also take longer to oxidise than freebase e-liquids, resulting in longer shelf life. Obviously, the actual time it takes for an e-liquid to expire varies by product, but nicotine salts will generally last twice as long as freebase e-juice if stored correctly in a cold, dark environment.
What Does the Term “Freebase Nicotine” Imply?
Freebase nicotine is the cleanest and most widely used source of nicotine in consumer goods today, and it’s what you’ll find in the bulk of e-liquids and traditional tobacco cigarettes. Since Marlboro began using it in their cigarettes in the 1960s, it has been the industry standard, and when e-liquids arrived, they followed suit!
Freebase nicotine removes superfluous compounds and protons from naturally existing nicotine in the tobacco plant to provide a more concentrated nicotine dose without increasing the concentration.
When compared to nicotine in its natural form, which was usual before the discovery of freebase nicotine, it was discovered that freebase nicotine provided a significantly stronger and longer-lasting nicotine rush. Since then, freebase nicotine has become the industry standard for cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapies, including e-cigarettes.
In higher concentrations, freebase nicotine is a strongly alkaline solution that can cause a powerful throat hit. This is a major draw for some vapers, while it will turn them off for others if the hit is too powerful, which is where nicotine salts can be a great alternative.
Freebase Nicotine’s Benefits
When compared to nicotine salt e-liquids, freebase nicotine e-liquids are significantly superior at handling and carrying complex flavour profiles. To acquire those classic vape flavours, such as tobacco, sweets, drinks, and desserts, a variety of complex flavour components are required, which freebase nicotine vape juice can easily manage.
A freebase recipe can be the best choice for your e-cigarette if the flavour of your vape is essential to you and you enjoy testing out the thousands of e-liquid flavours available. Nicotine salts, on the other hand, are better suited to more traditional, basic flavour profiles, making them ideal for users who value their nicotine rush and throat hit over the taste of their e-liquid.
Freebase formulations are also more adaptable than most nic salts, as they may be used for not only mouth-to-lung vaping but also direct-to-lung and sub-ohm vaping, which is a popular vaping style among more experienced vapers.
Users of direct-to-lung and sub-ohm vaping can produce the dense, puffy clouds that we all know with vaping. These vapers, often known as cloud-chasers, avoid nicotine salt e-liquids since they produce less vapour.
Finally, freebase nicotine e-liquids are less expensive per ml than nicotine salts since they require less processing and components, but nicotine salt e-liquids must undergo a chemical reaction.
Nicotine Salt vs. Nicotine Freebase
There is no one type of nicotine or e-liquid that is better or worse than the other in the world of vaping. It all comes down to personal preference and the aspects of vaping that are most important to you. Both freebase nicotine and nic salt e-liquids have advantages and disadvantages, and the best one for you may be completely different from the best one for someone else.
Frunk, on the other hand, makes choosing the appropriate e-liquid for you as simple and economical as possible, while never compromising on the safety or quality of any of our products.
Whatever your vaping preferences, Frunk has a wide selection of e-liquids to help you get the most out of your device. Take a look at our variety of nicotine salt and freebase and e-liquids to find yours, or contact our customer service team for help choosing the best e-liquids for you.