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Nicotine salts, also known as nic salts, salt nicotine, or salt nic, are popular e-liquids particularly suited for new vapers transitioning from traditional cigarettes. They provide a highly satisfying throat hit at higher nicotine levels and deliver nicotine quickly to curb cravings.
Additionally, nic salt e-liquids are ideal for use with beginner-friendly vape devices, such as pod vapes and starter kits, making it easy for new vapers to start using nic salts with minimal effort.
Our comprehensive guide to nicotine salts covers all the essential information you need to help you quit smoking.
Key Takeaways
- Nic salt e-liquids are perfect for those switching from smoking to vaping.
- They deliver a smooth throat hit, and are absorbed into the bloodstream at a fast rate to quickly satisfy cravings.
- Nicotine salts are available in strengths of up to 20mg.
- They’re perfect for MTL (Mouth To Lung) vaping and are compatible with most starter kits, pod vapes and vape pens.
What are Nicotine Salts?
Nic salts are e-liquids that are mixed with highly effective nicotine formulation, made specifically with smokers in mind. Nicotine salt e-liquid boasts a higher concentration of nicotine without sacrificing the silky-smooth throat hit that it’s known for.
Plus, it’s more bioavailable than standard freebase e-liquid, so it’s absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly — taking care of your nicotine cravings faster.
Nic salts came about in response to issues that many vapers were having with regular freebase nicotine vape juice.
They weren’t satisfying their cravings fast enough and at high nicotine strengths, people were complaining about an incredibly harsh throat hit.
Nic salts have played a key role in developing vaping, the world’s most successful smoking cessation tool. Vaping is regarded as more effective than other nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches, gums, lozenges, and even medications, with an estimated success rate of 59.7% to 74%.
How does Salt Nicotine work?
Nic salt vape juice are formulated by combining the nicotine molecule with salicylic or benzoic acid, which lowers its PH.
By extracting nicotine in its purest form from the tobacco plant and combining it with benzoic acid, a chemical formula is created that allows for a smoother throat hit, as well as increased bioavailability.
As mentioned, this increased bioavailability means that nicotine salts will satisfy your cravings in seconds.
Salt Nicotine Vs. Freebase Nicotine
Freebase and nic salt e-liquids differ in a few key areas. Nic salts are favoured for their faster craving satisfaction and smoother throat hit, while freebase e-liquids offer a slower release of nicotine and a wider range of nicotine strengths.
Both types of vape juice typically contain 50% PG (propylene glycol) or more, so you can use them with the same type of vape kits.
During the early days of the vaping industry, freebase e-liquid was the only type available (which is why it’s commonly referred to as regular vape juice).
Often found in 50/50 e-liquids, freebase nicotine is derived from the tobacco leaf and offers a slower release of nicotine. This means it’ll feel like its satisfying your cravings for longer, but in turn, takes longer to kick in.
When it comes to freebase nicotine, the higher the strength that you vape, the harsher the throat hit will be.
Nic salts are the best option for those who have just quit smoking, but if you’ve already successfully quit, freebase nicotine can help you reduce your intake.
Freebase e-liquid is available in nicotine strengths of 3mg to 18mg, and some even come in a 0mg strength for those who want to stay nicotine-free.
Benefits Of Nic Salts
Faster Nicotine Satisfaction
Salt nicotine is absorbed by the body faster than freebase nicotine, reaching the bloodstream in seconds. This means that when vaping nic salts, they’ll take care of your nicotine cravings in no time.
Smoother Throat Hit
While freebase nicotine vape juice delivers a pretty harsh throat feeling at higher doses, nic salt e-liquids provide a smooth and satisfying nicotine hit regardless of what strength you go for.
Higher Nicotine Strengths
Nic salt e-liquid comes in strengths of up to 20mg (2% nicotine). Due to TPD regulation, this is the legal nicotine limit for e-liquids in the UK.
Great For MTL Starter Kits
Thanks to their high-PG concentrations (50% or above), nic salt e-liquids are perfect for MTL vaping. They can be used with most cheap starter kits, such as the majority of pod kits and vape pens.
Are Nic Salts right for me?
Nic Salts are a great choice for new vapers who require higher nicotine strengths and fast-acting satisfaction to give up smoking.
They’re also perfect for those looking to switch from disposable to refillable vapes, since disposable vapes are filled with nic salt e-liquid.
This means they allow disposable vapers to enjoy the same smooth throat hit and quick nicotine delivery in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way.
You can get a variety of disposable flavoured nicotine salt e-liquids (commonly referred to as disposable bar salts) to recreate mouth-watering flavours from leading disposable brands like Elf Bar, SKE Crystal Bar, and Lost Mary.
Those trying to reduce their nicotine intake might not benefit from vaping nicotine salts, since they don’t come in as many strengths. All nic salts are available in a 20mg strength by default, but only some come in 10mg, and even fewer offer 5mg.
What nicotine strength should I use?
The nic salt strength you go for should be guided by your previous smoking habits, although this is only a general recommendation. You may discover that you need a higher or lower nicotine strength based on your personal preferences.
Heavy Smokers
Heavy smokers who go go through more than a pack a day will want to go for the highest nicotine strength legally available in the UK, which is 20mg (2%). Nicotine salts in a 20mg strength will provide a strong and satisfying nicotine rush.
Moderate Smokers
If you’re a moderate smoker who smokes between 10-20 cigarettes a day, we recommend trying a 10mg (1%) or 20mg (2%) nicotine salt.
Light Smokers
Smokers who usually consume less than 10 cigarettes per day should go for either a 5mg (0.5%) or 10mg (1%) nicotine strength.
Is Nicotine Salt E-Liquid safe?
A nicotine salt e-liquid is neither more nor less safe than other vaping product. Here in the UK, all vape juice is subject to strict testing and approval processes before being sold. The UK enforces some of the world’s toughest regulations on vaping products, covering everything from ingredients and packaging, to how they can be marketed.
Can I consume too much Salt Nicotine?
While it’s possible to consume too much nicotine, it’s unlikely to cause any serious side-effects, and any symptoms typically subside within a few hours. Commonly known as “nic sick,” excessive nicotine intake can lead to light-headedness, headaches, and nausea.
However, this is relatively uncommon, and the nicotine level needed to cause unpleasant side-effects varies based on individual tolerance.
We have an innate ability to ‘self-titrate’ nicotine, which means we naturally stop when our bodies have had enough. Studies show that vapers self-regulate their nicotine intake; when using a low-strength vape juice, they take more puffs compared to when using a high-strength e-liquids.
If you’re trying to quit smoking, your priority should be consuming the right nicotine levels to satisfy your cravings. There’s no need to pick a lower strength nic salt out of concern for overconsumption. Your body will signal when it’s had enough.
Do Nicotine Salts have a salty taste?
We get why you might think that at first, but no, nic salts do not taste salty. This is a common misconception, as some people associate the word “salt” with foods like crisps. However, in the term “nic salt e-liquid,” “salt” refers to the chemical composition, not the flavour.
Best Nic Salt E-Liquid Brands
While the best nic salt brands come down to personal preference, our customers tend to have a particular liking for ranges that offer super-concentrated flavourings and a wide selection of flavours to choose from.
There are hundreds of e-liquid manufacturers in the UK, but some customer favourites included Bar Juice, Elfliq and Riot. This is thanks to their commitment to maximum flavour in every bottle.
Bar Juice 5000
Bar Juice 5000 hit the scene back in 2022, and is widely credited as the first brand to bring out disposable-flavoured e-liquid. They offer all the popular flavours found in top disposable vapes, such as Elf Bars and Crystal Bars.
If we had to pick a specific flavour from the range to recommend, then it’s got to be Blueberry Sour Raspberry Nic Salt E-Liquid by Bar Juice!
Elf Bar ElfLiq
Elf Bar, the world-renowned disposable vape manufacturer, have also brought out their very own range of nic salt e-liquids. ElfLiq takes your favourite flavours from the Elf Bar range, and repackages them in 10ml bottles of vape juice.
The Cola Nic Salt E-Liquid by Elf Bar Elfliq is the perfect choice for vapers who like their sugary flavours with a fizzy finish, authentically capturing the taste of a classic soda.
Riot
Riot E-Liquid, previously known as Riot Squad, is committed to helping smokers quit. They offer a unique hybrid nic salt, which combines freebase nicotine with nicotine salts to offer the best of both worlds when it comes to throat hit and nicotine delivery.
If you’re looking for an icy berry blend, then we recommend that you get your hands on the Pure Frozen Acai Hybrid Nic Salt E-Liquid by Riot Squad Black Edition.
What are the best Nic Salt flavours?
Again, this all comes down to personal preference, but there are a plethora of punchy flavours out there for you to choose from. From zesty lemon and juicy watermelon, to sugary candy and frosty menthol blends, there’s bound to be a nicotine salt vape juice to please your palate.
To make things easier, we’ve given you the option to browse e-liquids by flavour on our website. This means you can fine-tune your search to find the specific flavour you’re after.
Plus, you can also narrow your search by brand, e-liquid type and nicotine strength with our handy filter!
What are the best Vape Kits to use Nic Salts with?
When it comes to what vape kit you’ll want to pair your nic salt with, they tend to work best with low-powered MTL kits. These include; vape starter kits, pod vapes, and vape pens. Below, are some kits for you to pair with your nic salt e-liquid.
Vaporesso XROS
The Vaporesso XROS range offers a variety of beginner-friendly pod vapes that are perfect for pairing with with nicotine salt e-liquid. Fans of Vaporesso XROS kits appreciate their unmatched flavour production, vibrant colours, and sturdy designs.
If you’re after a simple pod kit, the Vaporesso XROS 4 Mini is a great choice, with no buttons or menus— just fill it, vape, and recharge as needed.
For those looking for something more compact, yet more customisable, the Vaporesso XROS 4 Nano would be a good shout.
This pocket-friendly, matchbox-style vape offers a range offers a range of handy features, such as an eye-catching display screen, and a useful lanyard to make carrying it around that bit easier.
Uwell Caliburn
The Uwell Caliburn series is the most popular pod kit ranges of all time and once you’ve had a go at using one of their kits, you’ll see why right away. Perfect for vaping nicotine salts with, there are over a dozen models of Caliburn for you to put to the test.
If you’re a beginner, we recommend going for the Uwell Caliburn G2, which keeps things simple with dual activation (button and inhale), easy top-filling pods and auto-wattage selection.
Every Caliburn model is compatible with nic salts, making them a solid choice for newbies seeking a nic salt vaping experience.
OXVA Xlim
The OXVA Xlim series offers a range of user-friendly pod vapes, all compatible with nic salts. Despite being relatively new to the scene, the OXVA Xlim range is already competing with the legendary Caliburn series.
The OXVA Xlim SE 2 strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and versatility, combining a user-friendly design with a couple of customisable features.
It’s both inhale and button activated, so you can just puff on the mouthpiece to vape, or press the button if that’s what you prefer. Plus, you can adjust both the airflow and the wattage to discover your perfect inhale.
It comes with OXVA Xlim V3 pods that feature a super easy top-filling mechanism to keep things nice and simple. They also contain built-in coils, saving you the hassle of fiddly replacements.
Can I sub-ohm Nic Salts?
We advise against vaping nicotine salts in a sub ohm vape kit. These e-liquids are not designed for Direct To Lung (DTL) vaping, as their thin consistency will burn and/or flood your sub ohm coils. Plus, the high nicotine strengths will cause an unpleasantly harsh throat hit when vaped at higher wattages.
Summary
You should now be more prepared to start looking for your new favourite nicotine salt e-liquid. If you’ve recently switched from smoking to vaping, nicotine salts provide the best chance of successfully quitting, thanks to their unique chemical formulation.
When picking a nicotine salt, the strength is key, but beyond that, the vaping world is your oyster! With hundreds of brands and flavours available, there’s plenty to excite you for years to come!
If you still need a hand in finding the best nic salt to suit your tastes, feel free to reach out via live chat, phone, or email. Our friendly team of experts is here to guide you on your vaping journey.
