What Is Salt Nicotine? E-Liquid 101 for Beginners

The introduction of the latest pod vaping systems represents a major transformation for vapers worldwide, particularly for beginners attempting to quit cigarettes permanently. These systems are unique because they have developed in tandem with nicotine salt e-liquids, crafted to provide optimal performance with nicotine salt.

But what does this really mean? If you’re a novice vaper, you have likely browsed through various vaping blogs seeking guidance. It’s probable you’ve come across recommendations suggesting that new vapers should opt for nic salt – so what is salt nicotine exactly? Why is nicotine salt vape juice regarded as the preferable option for smokers transitioning to vaping?

In this article, you’ll find clear answers to these inquiries. Let’s delve into Vaping 101 and explore the concept of nicotine salt.

 

What Is Salt Nicotine?

Within the tobacco plant, nicotine naturally exists as a protonated salt. This means that the nicotine molecule possesses an additional proton, linking it to a salt. In its salt form, nicotine is not particularly volatile, which complicates the extraction process and limits high yields. As a result, tobacco processors aiming to isolate nicotine—for the production of e-liquids and nicotine replacement therapies, for example—typically employ solvents.to enhance the yields of the extraction.

Among the various solvents employed in nicotine extraction, ammonia is arguably the most widely used. However, several high-pH solvents can also facilitate this procedure. When tobacco is treated with an alkaline solvent, the bond between nicotine and the salt is disrupted, yielding a more volatile form of nicotine, known as freebase nicotine.

Freebase nicotine represents the predominant form of extracted nicotine. It serves as the foundational component for all e-liquids; in fact, even nicotine salt e-liquids originate from freebase nicotine. Most over-the-counter nicotine replacement products also utilize freebase nicotine. On the other hand, nicotine salt e-liquids simply modify freebase nicotine vape juice in a minor way – nothing too complex, right?

However, the sensations associated with using freebase nicotine compared to nicotine salt can vary significantly. Let’s delve deeper into the advantages and disadvantages of freebase nicotine first. Following that, we will explore what nicotine salt e-liquid is and highlight its distinct benefits.

 

The Pros and Cons of Freebase Nicotine

In the initial years of vaping’s introduction, freebase nicotine e-liquids were the exclusive choice available, and the majority of vapers were quite content with that option. However, some individuals struggled to fully transition from smoking to vaping. For these individuals, nicotine salt presents a solution – nevertheless, freebase nicotine e-liquid remains a favorable option for everyone else. Below are some benefits and drawbacks of using freebase nicotine vape juice.

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More Bioavailable Than Nicotine Salt: Freebase Nicotine

When comparing freebase nicotine with nicotine salt, the former is indeed the more bioavailable option. This higher bioavailability arises from the volatility of freebase nicotine, making it more inclined to transition into vapor when heated. Between a freebase nicotine e-liquid and a nicotine salt e-liquid—both containing the same nicotine strength – the freebase e-liquid provides a more gratifying experience.

High Nicotine Strengths Offer Strong Throat Hit with Freebase Nicotine

One prominent characteristic of freebase nicotine is its alkaline nature, which translates to a robust throat hit in e-liquids featuring high nicotine strengths. The throat hit from freebase nicotine e-liquid represents both an advantage and a disadvantage. At elevated nicotine strengths, users experience a pronounced, scratchy throat hit reminiscent of smoking cigarettes. However, this intense throat hit can be off-putting for some, which is a factor contributing to the existence of nicotine salt e-liquids. More on that shortly.

Bold Flavors at Low Nicotine Strengths with Freebase Nicotine

While freebase nicotine e-liquid provides a powerful throat hit at high nicotine levels, it excels at lower strengths, especially in a sub-ohm vaping configuration. The advanced vape tanks available today can generate massive vapor clouds. In fact, the vapor production is so significant that users typically reserve these devices for the lowest-nicotine e-liquids on the market.

Currently, 3 mg/ml is the most frequently used nicotine strength with modern sub-ohm vape tanks, and at this level, freebase nicotine e-liquid showcases its strengths. It produces bold, clean flavors while delivering minimal throat hit, yet remains fully satisfying due to the nicotine’s high bioavailability.

 

What Does Nicotine Salt E-Liquid Entail?

In this article thus far, you have learned that nearly all nicotine extraction occurs with an alkaline solvent. By increasing the nicotine’s pH, the proton bond is disrupted, allowing the nicotine molecule to separate from the salt and emerge as a free base. Moreover, it’s been established that freebase nicotine underpins all vape juices—including nicotine salt e-liquids. The question then arises: how do e-liquid manufacturers revert freebase nicotine back to salt? The answer is surprisingly straightforward: they introduce an acid to lower the nicotine’s pH.

Essentially, nicotine salt e-liquid mirrors standard freebase nicotine e-liquid, with the exception that it contains a gentle food-grade acid like benzoic acid. A minimal amount of acid is all that’s necessary
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To revert the chemical transformation and convert nicotine back into a salt.

 

What Are the Advantages of Salt Nicotine Vape Juice?

This article has already highlighted one of the main advantages of freebase nicotine: its higher bioavailability, resulting in a more satisfying experience at a specific nicotine strength compared to nicotine salt. Additionally, we’ve mentioned a significant drawback of freebase nicotine e-liquid, namely, that many users find its intense throat hit at high strengths to be overwhelming and unpleasant.

The limitations of freebase nicotine e-liquid are particularly noticeable with smaller vaping devices. For instance, to achieve a nicotine intake similar to that of smoking a cigarette using a very compact e-cigarette, an e-liquid with about 50 mg/ml nicotine strength would be necessary. However, with freebase nicotine, reaching such high strengths is nearly impossible due to the extreme throat hit. As a result, most users can typically tolerate freebase e-liquid strengths up to around 18 mg/ml.

The irritation associated with using freebase nicotine at high strengths is attributed to its alkaline nature, an issue which nicotine salt e-liquid effectively addresses. Nicotine salt, possessing a more neutral pH, does not induce the same throat irritation that accompanies high-strength freebase nicotine e-liquid. Hence, it becomes feasible to have vape juice with a nicotine strength of 50 mg/ml or more – comparable to the nicotine delivery of a cigarette – while remaining smooth and enjoyable for consumption.

For most novice vapers, nicotine salt e-liquid provides an excellent vaping experience akin to smoking a cigarette, facilitating the transition from smoking to vaping. In regions that do not impose restrictions on e-liquid nicotine strengths, nicotine salt vape juice is offered in extremely high concentrations that freebase nicotine cannot compete with.

While freebase nicotine is more bioavailable than nicotine salt, the availability of higher strengths in nicotine salt e-liquid helps to bridge that gap. No matter the type of nicotine, an e-liquid with a higher strength will always deliver greater satisfaction compared to one with lower strength.

 

Identifying the Best Vapes for Nicotine Salt

Considering nicotine salt e-liquid? Then, having an appropriate vaping device is essential. Luckily, here at Innokin, we’ve created an entire article focused on the best salt nic vapes – be sure to check it out for valuable insights.

With a vast array of vaping devices available today, finding the right one for nicotine salt is crucial, especially given the high nicotine strengths commonly found in salt nic vape juice. A robust sub-ohm vape mod isn’t suitable for e-liquids with 50 mg/ml nicotine strength, as it can lead to excessive nicotine absorption. This would not only detract from your vaping experience but might also make you feel unwell.

For those keen on exploring a high-strength nicotine salt e-liquid, it’s vital to select a vaping device specifically made for the mouth-to-lung (MTL) inhaling style. MTL vapes produce relatively small vapor clouds, which is ideal when using e-liquids high in nicotine.

At Innokin, we distinctly highlight the intended inhaling styles of our devices to eliminate any uncertainty. If you’re uncertain whether a particular Innokin device suits nicotine salt, simply consult the product description. Typically, mouth-to-lung devices feature a narrow mouthpiece and small airflow vents. Conversely, devices equipped with a wide mouthpiece and large airflow vents are generally unsuitable for high-strength nicotine salt e-liquids.