A Guideline About What Is Nicotine Salt E-liquid And How It Is Made
Most of the advancement in vaping technology has come in the shape of new mods and tanks, but the world of e-liquid is not static either. The release of this Juul accompanied the development of nicotine salt e-liquid, and it came with promises of a much more pleasing vaping experience. With juices available in huge strengths but still promising a smooth vape, it's easy to see why many vapers were intrigued.
However, what are nicotine salt e-liquids? How are they different from ordinary e-liquids? Are they worth trying out? And if you do try them, is there anything you will need to know?
WHAT ARE NICOTINE SALTS?
Understanding nicotine salt e-liquid is easier, just the distinction between “freebase” nicotine and “salt” nicotine. Freebase nicotine is the type used in e-liquids, pharmaceutical nicotine products as well as the type that cigarette manufacturers tried to grow the amount of in smoke. The main reason is straightforward: freebase nicotine is absorbed more readily by the body, so if you raise the sum of freebase nicotine in cigarette smoke, you found the cigarette more addictive.
This is the reason why freebase nicotine is used in the majority of e-liquids and why pharmaceutical businesses utilize them too. It is the kind that gets to the blood and brain most effectively and therefore it's the very best type of nicotine to use, on a simple level.
But in its natural form in the tobacco leaf, nicotine does not arrive from freebase form. It is found as nicotine salts, which are a blend of the smoking molecule and another organic compound which imparts additional protons. This creates a more secure form of nicotine which can stay in-tact in the leaf.
Since cigarette and nicotine product makers ordinarily use freebase nicotine, they need to process that naturally-occurring nicotine to turn it into a freebase form. They do this by including ammonia, which has the effect of removing protons and other elements from the nicotine, and also raises the pH of the smoke (i.e. makes it more alkaline).
The increased pH also gives the nicotine more of a punch on the inhale.
HOW NICOTINE SALT E-LIQUIDS ARE MADE
Now you know what nicotine salts are, you might be wondering why making e-liquid using them is a good idea. In the end, cigarette makers realized a long time past that freebase nicotine is significantly more effective at delivering nicotine to the consumer.
The large motivating factor is how the higher pH makes inhaling nicotine a harsher experience for the consumer. At a cigarette - if you are inhaling smoke filled with loads of harsh substances but also many other ingredients intended to make it smoother - it doesn't make much of a difference. But if you could earn a lower-pH form of nicotine that could nevertheless be absorbed by consumers, you could get the best of both worlds.
By combining benzoic acid, the nicotine salts were able to be vaporized at reduced temperatures, which also reduced the pH of the nicotine. This specific component also leads to chemical reactions that help the nicotine be absorbed despite the salt form. In short, nicotine salt with benzoic acid is not as harsh to inhale high strengths, may be efficiently utilized in vaping devices, and is still absorbed by the human body much like freebase nicotine.
When the initial tests of this new e-liquid showed that smoking made it into the bloodstream quicker from Salt nic vape juice, and the Juul became a success (and was fine to inhale despite a substantial 59 mg/ml nicotine strength), this method of creating nicotine salt e-juice took off across the vaping sector.
PROS AND CONS OF NICOTINE SALT E-LIQUIDS
Nicotine salt e-liquid brings advantages, but just like with any new development there are positives and negatives to think about. Here is a quick run-down of the benefits and drawbacks of nicotine salt e-juice.
Pros
Much higher nicotine strengths can be vaped.
More satisfying for heavier smokers.
Function more effectively with lower-powered devices.
Cheaper in the long run because you use less juice.
Arguably less influence on the flavor of the e-juice compared to freebase nicotine.
Cons
They aren't ideal for higher-power devices.
Less choice in e-liquid flavors currently.
Benefits limited in some regions: e.g. the EU's TPD limits nicotine strength to 20 mg/ml.
Too much nicotine for some vapers.
WHAT TYPE OF DEVICE SHOULD I USE NICOTINE SALT E-LIQUID WITH?
Nicotine salts are intended for a specific type of apparatus, and this is not necessarily the kind preferred by most vapers. The Juul is your archetypal device that nicotine salts operate well together: low-powered, discreet, and compact. Pod systems and easy vape pens don't set out much vapor and the batteries are rather small, and with ordinary e-liquids that is a massive downside. They might be more portable and easier to use, but they generally aren't as gratifying and you want to vape a lot to get the nicotine you want, draining the battery more quickly. Nicotine salt e-liquids make these devices far more workable as a long-term vaping alternative.
As you may use nicotine salt e-liquid with a normal box mod and sub-ohm tank mix, the truth is that this would likely get you way too much nicotine. Therefore, if you're going to try out a high-strength nicotine salt e-liquid, then it is best to find a pod system device or at least a low-powered, easy vape pen to use it together with.
IS NICOTINE SALT E-LIQUID RIGHT FOR YOU?
The only remaining question is if nicotine salt e-liquid is worth looking for you. This is a decision only you can make, but if you think about what's important for you in your vaping experience, you can work out if it's rewarding. The primary reasons to try nicotine salt e-juice are:
If normal e-liquid is not pleasing for you. The greater strength from nicotine salt e-juice can genuinely help.
If you want to use a discreet and portable apparatus but still need substantial amounts of nicotine.
If normal e-juice is too harsh for you to vape. Even lower-strength salt e-liquid will probably be smoother to vape than the equal in freebase nicotine e-liquid.
If you are not interested in big clouds. Cloud-chasing and nicotine sodium e-liquids don't mix too well due to the devices you'll need to use.
If you don't obey a decrease in taste choices. Many e-liquids are freebase nicotine so that you won't have as much choice with nicotine salts.
The reality is, nicotine salts are not a massive game-changing discovery, but for a few vapers and some types of devices, they do offer benefits. If these benefits match up well with everything you're looking for from the vaping experience, they are worth trying out. But if you've got a typical vape mod and get sufficient nicotine in the device, there is very little motivation to change to a salt-friendly installation.