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It seems that with every passing week, the vaping industry is constantly evolving. We are always seeing new devices, improved products, and other innovations hitting the market. One of the most recent innovations to take the vaping industry by storm is e-liquid made with nicotine salts.
Nicotine salts e-liquid, or “nic salt” vape juice, is a relatively new type of vaping product that was designed for pod vapes and other all-in-one kits. As vape pods have grown in popularity, so too have nicotine salt e-liquids. They are made using nicotine salt, a type of nicotine that naturally forms in leaf tobacco and is considered to be the more stable form of the substance.
Don’t be confused by our use of the term “salt” – in chemistry, a salt is the result of a reaction between an acid and a base. Nicotine salt is not the same (or even similar to) the type of salt you will be thinking of, the one that goes on food!
This form of “freebase” nicotine is used in virtually every e-liquid available on the market today; it has a high alkalinity (a pH level of around seven or eight) meaning that the throat hit is more severe – the higher the nicotine strength, the harsher it becomes.
By carefully infusing acids into freebase nicotine, however, nicotine salt is created. This reduces the pH level of the nicotine solution, reducing the severity of the “hit” at the same time. This means that there is less throat irritation which is ideal for newbie vapers. It also means that vapers can use higher nicotine salt strengths without having to cope with a rough throat hit.
This is generally achieved through the use of benzoic acid which reduces the pH levels of nicotine. Benzoic acid also allows nicotine salt to vapourise at a much lower temperature (making it ideal for use in low-power devices like vape pods) and causes a reaction that allows nicotine salt to be absorbed easily by the body. Thanks to benzoic acid, most vapers are able to easily handle higher nicotine strengths.
If you are looking for an extremely portable and small device that can be used on the go, vape pods used in conjunction with nicotine salt e-liquids are your best bet. Their more concentrated nature means that you can satisfy your cravings in smaller and more controlled doses, and you won’t be “that guy” blowing obnoxiously large clouds of vapour in public.
Our nicotine salts have been designed for use with our VIGGO pod system, which puts the power and ease-of-use of a Vaper Empire vaporiser in the palm of your hand. VIGGO vape pods are available in multiple flavours and multiple strengths, with each pod arriving pre-filled with 1.8 ml of Vaper Empire premium e-liquid.
Visit our online store to see our complete range of vapes.
Nicotine salts e-liquid, or “nic salt” vape juice, is a relatively new type of vaping product that was designed for pod vapes and other all-in-one kits. As vape pods have grown in popularity, so too have nicotine salt e-liquids. They are made using nicotine salt, a type of nicotine that naturally forms in leaf tobacco and is considered to be the more stable form of the substance.
What Are Nicotine Salts?
Nicotine salts are created when nicotine base is combined with an acid. This process creates a salt nicotine solution that reduces the harshness of the throat “hit” on higher-strength nicotine vape juice.Don’t be confused by our use of the term “salt” – in chemistry, a salt is the result of a reaction between an acid and a base. Nicotine salt is not the same (or even similar to) the type of salt you will be thinking of, the one that goes on food!
Freebase Nicotine vs Nicotine Salts
Regular nicotine (also called “freebase nicotine”) is directly extracted from tobacco. During the extraction process, all the impurities that exist are stripped away. This leaves you with nicotine in its purest form, and it is this type of nicotine that is used in most e-liquids.This form of “freebase” nicotine is used in virtually every e-liquid available on the market today; it has a high alkalinity (a pH level of around seven or eight) meaning that the throat hit is more severe – the higher the nicotine strength, the harsher it becomes.
By carefully infusing acids into freebase nicotine, however, nicotine salt is created. This reduces the pH level of the nicotine solution, reducing the severity of the “hit” at the same time. This means that there is less throat irritation which is ideal for newbie vapers. It also means that vapers can use higher nicotine salt strengths without having to cope with a rough throat hit.
This is generally achieved through the use of benzoic acid which reduces the pH levels of nicotine. Benzoic acid also allows nicotine salt to vapourise at a much lower temperature (making it ideal for use in low-power devices like vape pods) and causes a reaction that allows nicotine salt to be absorbed easily by the body. Thanks to benzoic acid, most vapers are able to easily handle higher nicotine strengths.
Advantages of Nicotine Salts
Nicotine salts have distinct pros and cons that you should be aware of. Some of the advantages include:Overall Satisfaction
Vapers who try conventional freebase e-liquids for the first time sometimes find that they do not get the same level of satisfaction as they would with regular cigarettes. This can potentially lead to relapsing and starting smoking again, which isn’t an ideal situation. Nicotine salts, as a result of their design, make it easier to satisfy cravings.A Smoother Hit
Conventional freebase e-liquids can be too harsh on the throat for some beginner vapers. While some cigarette companies mask this harshness via menthol or eugenol, this isn’t present in most e-liquids and so vape juices tend to be less smooth on the throat. Nicotine salt liquids are a lot smoother, however, and this can make a huge difference.No Impact on Flavour
Conventional freebase e-liquid flavours are noticeably impacted by freebase nicotine. In contrast, nicotine salt has virtually no impact on the overall flavour. This means that the vaping experience becomes much richer and more enjoyable because flavours are not being hampered.Get More Nicotine
When you vape regular e-liquid, most people wouldn’t go far above solutions with a nicotine strength above 18mg/mL because the hit would be too harsh. With nicotine salts, however, most people who can handle the “nicotine light” liquids (e.g. 3mg/mL – 9mg/mL) will be able to handle nicotine salts as high as 25mg/mL – 50mg/mL. This is great for people who struggle to satisfy their cravings through freebase nicotine e-liquids without wreaking havoc on their throats.Disadvantages of Nicotine Salts
Nicotine salts aren’t perfect, though. These are a few of the disadvantages:Fewer Options
Nicotine salt e-liquids are more limited than conventional e-liquids because users of salts will only be able to use devices such as vape pods and some lower-powered pens. Nicotine salts simply cannot be used in more powerful sub-ohm and modded vaping devices.Less of the ‘Wow’ Factor
Nicotine salts are perfect for people that want function over form and aren’t too fussed about creating large clouds of vapour. If all you need is a strong dose of nicotine and are looking for something that mimics the cigarette-like experience, nicotine salts are fine. For others, like cloud chaser, not so much.Best Devices for Nicotine Salts
We cannot stress this enough --- nicotine salts should only be used in smaller, low-wattage devices like pod system vapes. They are not suitable for use in high-powered devices, period. Do not use nicotine salts in any kind of high-powered device such as a sub-ohm or box mod device. This is because vape salts are chemically different from regular e-liquids and using them in unsuitable devices could cause damage.If you are looking for an extremely portable and small device that can be used on the go, vape pods used in conjunction with nicotine salt e-liquids are your best bet. Their more concentrated nature means that you can satisfy your cravings in smaller and more controlled doses, and you won’t be “that guy” blowing obnoxiously large clouds of vapour in public.
Want to Try Nicotine Salts?
If you think that nicotine salt e-liquid might be the right type for you, check out our range of these and related products at Vaper Empire.Our nicotine salts have been designed for use with our VIGGO pod system, which puts the power and ease-of-use of a Vaper Empire vaporiser in the palm of your hand. VIGGO vape pods are available in multiple flavours and multiple strengths, with each pod arriving pre-filled with 1.8 ml of Vaper Empire premium e-liquid.
Visit our online store to see our complete range of vapes.
16 March 2020