Nic Salts vs Juice (Freebase E-Liquids)
In this blog we will dive into the differences between Nic Salt E-Liquids and traditional vape juice (freebase e-liquids), by the end of this blog you should have a greater understanding of the two and be able to make a more informed decision at which is best for you.
When we talk about Nic Salts and Freebase the main difference is the type of nicotine and both of them have different benefits.
What is Freebase Nicotine?
Freebase e-liquids were more common in the earlier days in vaping, they're created using freebase nicotine which is nicotine in its purest form. This Increases its strength without using a higher dose of nicotine, the problem with this is it can create a strong throat hit which some users find off putting.
However this can also be a benefit for new vapers as it can simulate the throat hit from a traditional cigarette, if you feel your e-liquid is lacking throat hit then maybe freebase is the way to go.
Freebase nicotine can be used in 50/50 10ml bottles in mouth-to-lung kits or in nicotine shots for shortfill e-liquids.
What Are Nicotine Salts?
Nicotine Salts have become the more popular go to in the vaping industry, the breakthrough here is by taking freebase nicotine and adding Benzoic or Citric Acid.
Once you add these Acids into the freebase nicotine it balances out the pH levels providing you with a smoother hit with little to no throat hit, this allows users to have a higher nicotine strength without the nasty throat hit.
What is the difference between Nic Salts and E-Juice (Freebase)?
There are a lot of differences between Nic Salt and Freebase, below we have created a simple table to outline these differences.
| NICOTINE SALT | FREEBASE NICOTINE |
| Faster Absorption Rate | Slower Absorption Rate |
|
Normally used in MTL kits (less clouds) |
Normally used in sub ohm kits (Bigger clouds) |
| Smooth throat hit | Can be harsh at higher nicotine strengths |
| Ideal for beginners | Available in lower Nic strengths such as 3mg |
| More regularly available in 50PG/50VG | More regularly available in 70VG/30PG |
Are Nic Salts Better?
This is a common question that is asked but really it comes down to the kit you're using and what strength of nicotine you require. If you have a pod kit and you use 20mg e-liquids then Nic Salts would certainly be the winner however if you use sub ohm devices at a low nicotine strength then freebase nicotine would be more suitable.
However you can use Nic salt shots in your larger bottles of e-liquid if you prefer a very smooth sub ohm vape.
Conclusion
Ultimately there are pros and cons to both versions of nicotine and the choice is yours to decide on which works better for you. This blog is not to battle Nic Salts Vs liquid (freebase) but to give you a better understanding of the two.