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Nic Salts Explained - Common FAQs Blog Banner

Nic Salt E-Liquid FAQs: Common Questions Answered

Nic salt e-liquids are quickly becoming the go-to option for UK vapers. Particularly those who discovered vaping through disposable vapes.

With the smoother nicotine delivery, even at higher nicotine levels, and bold flavour profiles, more and more vapers are considering giving them this alternate vaping experience a try.

In this blog post, we explore nicotine salts, looking at what they are, what are the benefits and more.

Introduction To Nic Salt FAQ's

Welcome to our breakdown of the most common FAQs new and current vapers have about nic salt vape liquids. In this blog we will explore as many different questions as possible. Which should give you the information you need to try them with confidence, or possibly decide that they aren't the right vape juice for you!

If you are a disposable vape user, you may not even be aware that the e-liquid inside the single-use kits you enjoy is actually a different format to traditional freebase e-liquids, which have been around a lot longer than nic salts. If you are looking for an alternative to disposables, then opting for nic salt vape juice like our EDGE Bar Salts, paired with a refillable vape kit could well be the best option for your journey. Especially in light of the upcoming UK disposable vape ban.

Whether or not you have tried them before, it is likely that you will have one or two questions about what they are, how they work, and how they can benefit you. Explore the FAQs below to troubleshoot and discover the information you need, directly from vaping industry.

What Are Nic Salt E-Liquids?

Nic salts are a unique type of e-liquid that utilise a modified form of nicotine to deliver enhanced user benefits. Including smoother delivery at higher nicotine strengths, longer lasting craving satisfaction and a faster acting hit to help manage cravings.

Nic salts is simply a shorthand name for nicotine salt e-liquid. Referring to the special type of nicotine mentioned above. They have not been around as long as traditional 'freebase' nicotine vape juice, but have gained incredible popularity over the years. Particularly since the rise of disposable vaping culture, with single-use vapes exclusively being filled with nic salt flavours.

Earlier examples of nic salt vape juice followed a very similar format to other 50-50 vape liquids. However the most modern and popular style, known as 'bar salts', have carved out a unique foothold in the industry. Utilising double-concentrated flavourings, to deliver particularly rich and bold profiles. They are often accompanied by a cooling sensation ranging from low to icy-cold. This adds balance to the overall flavour profile.

E-liquids contained salt based nicotine are typically available in a slightly smaller range of strengths (5mg, 10mg or 20mg) vs the traditional freebase range of (3, 6, 12 and 18mg). The reason they are called nic "salts" is because while some nicotine salts occur naturally within the tobacco leaf, they can also be created by adding a weak acid to a nicotine base; in science, these combined elements are described as a “salt”.

What Is The Science Behind Nic Salts?

The nicotine used when making e-liquids comes in two varieties - freebase and salt. Freebase nicotine is the type we use for 'traditional' vape juice like our core range. It is named as such because the nicotine molecules are freely suspended in a base like propylene glycol (PG). This creates a specific dilution. We can then accurately blend our salt formula as a part of our e-liquid recipes, to create the different strengths available.

Nicotine salts are also suspended in a base material for mixing purposes. The nicotine molecules are modified with the addition of an acid. The most common acids used for vaping are benzoic, salicylic, levulinic and lactic. These acids create nicotine benzoate, salicylate, levulinate and lactate. There are many different varieties of salt nicotine out there, and while some have unique effects such as cooling or even muting certain flavour profiles, they all have three things in common: incredible smoothness even at high concentrations, fast-acting craving suppression, and longer-lasting effectiveness.

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The trademark smoothness is achieved because in its natural state, nicotine is particularly alkali in pH. This is why freebase delivers a throat hit. By adding the acid molecule, this pH is neutralised and brought much closer to that of the human body. Which not only means it has little to no throat hit, but can also enter your bloodstream faster than freebase nicotine. Transferring over the blood-brain barrier, delivering a much faster nicotine rush. Leaving your cravings satisfied for longer.

What Is The Difference Between Freebase and Nic Salt E-Liquid?

Ultimately both nic salt and freebase e-liquids work in the same way. They are most commonly mixed to a 50-50 PG-VG ratio. Both pair with the same kinds of refillable vape kits, and often come in the same types of flavour. The key difference is how the two different forms of nicotine compare, providing user experiences that can suit different preferences. Depending on what you are looking for on your journey.

Where salts, like our Bar Salt range, are very smooth at all available strengths, freebase juices like our Elite range deliver a throat hit which increases in intensity with each strength. From the mild 3mg and 6mg, up to the more powerful 12mg and 18mg options. Some vapers enjoy the throat hit, as it brings the experience closer to that of smoking a cigarette. Which can make the switch from smoking a little easier. For others however, the smoothness of nic salts can make vaping easier to practice day-to-day. Particularly if the user was a previous smoker who enjoyed the reduced harshness offered by menthol cigarettes, or simply find that vaping makes them cough. 

Where nic salt vape juice stands out vs freebase however, is in the rapid and long-lasting craving satisfaction it can provide. While many vapers are perfectly happy with traditional e-liquids, others feel that the satisfying nicotine hit offered by nic salts helps them manage cravings more easily. Reducing the amount a person needs to vape.

Whether or not these differences are a benefit or a drawback is entirely down to personal needs. New vapers should consider what experience is best suited to them before purchasing, to ensure their journey is as successful as possible.

What Are The Benefits Of Nic Salt E-Liquid?

When new to vaping it can easily be assumed that all e-liquids are the same. Nicotine salt e-liquids however are unique, and offer a range of benefits that might make them the perfect choice for your vaping journey: 

Faster, Smoother & Long-Lasting Nicotine Delivery

Thanks to the science behind nic salts explained in the FAQs above, these unique e-liquids have the potential to be one of the most powerful tools to help you quit smoking. Vaping is of course intended to be a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. Ensuring nicotine is delivered effectively, is vital in achieving that.

The nicotine in salts is neutralised to reduce throat hit to almost unnoticeable levels, creating a smooth vaping experience. Making them extremely smooth even at the highest legally permitted strength in the UK (20mg). This means they can deliver an amazing amount of craving suppression without impacting taste, or triggering unwanted coughing. They also deliver the nicotine faster, and supress cravings for longer, meaning you don't have to vape as regularly as freebase to meet your needs.

More Intense Flavour

Aside form the nicotine it delivers, the biggest influencing factor when choosing to vape is often the range of flavours available to try. Nic salts are available in just as many profiles as freebase vape juice. However, modern examples such as our Bar Salt range utilise double-concentrated flavourings, to deliver a more intense flavour experience. The reason for this, is to more closely replicate the experience offered by disposable vape brands like Elux, Lost Mary and Elf Bar. Which are largely responsible for the sudden surge in demand for nic salt vape liquids. Especially in light of the UK ban on single-use vapes, more vapers than ever are looking for a like-for-like experience. Which can only be offered by 10ml bottled bar salt style e-liquids.

Nic Salts

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Is Nic Salt Vape Juice The Right Choice For Me?

To decide whether or not vape liquids that use nic salt formula are the right choice for your journey, it's important to understand your needs and goals. If any of the following examples apply to you, then vaping nic salts could be a good option:

1. You are a first-time vaper that has just converted from a heavier smoking habit, requiring more powerful nicotine delivery to manage cravings.

2. You tried vaping but felt that the nicotine hit was ineffective or the flavour wasn’t strong enough.

3. You already tried high strength freebase e-liquids that satisfied your cravings but felt the throat hit was too intense.

4. You are having to vape more frequently than you would like in order to manage cravings.

What Is The Best Nic Salt E-Liquid Strength For Me?

To ensure you are getting the most from your vaping journey, choosing the right nicotine strength is vital. Nic salt e-liquids come in a slightly different range than traditional freebase nicotine examples. So even if you are already familiar with 3, 6, 12 and 18mg options, you should take note of a the differences when opting for nic salts. Don't forget that nic salts absorb faster and lasts longer than freebase. Meaning you may not need to opt for a higher strength to get the same level of satisfaction. It's better to start lower and work your way up until you find a level that suits your needs from the list below:

5-10mg

These options are the two lower strengths available in our bar salts range, which you can browse here. 5mg is great for lower to medium intensity smokers looking for smooth satisfaction. If a lower strength nic salt like 5mg doesn't quite manage cravings, then 10mg is a good option. Freebase users who previously found 12-18mg satisfactory will likely be able to use 10mg, as the more efficient nicotine delivery will be more effective than you might expect. This is a bonus as you will be able to beat cravings with a lower strength than you used previously in freebase nicotine e-liquid.

15-20mg

These are the two higher strength options available in our range. There are not many brands out there offering a 15mg option, but consumer feedback has guided us with many people telling us that they would like a middle-ground to help manage cravings better than 10mg. Which had left some vaping more often then they intended but without wanting to go as high as 20mg. Which is best reserved for extremely strong cravings or disposable vape users looking to switch to refillable kits. 

What Vape Kits Work Best With 10ml Nic Salt E-Liquid?

Any typical vape kit set up to pair with 50-50 style vape liquids will work just fine with nic salts. Such as those in the collection shown below. Pod kits however like the OXVA and Vaporesso Xros series of devices perform particularly well. They have coils that can really make the most of the bold flavours nic salts offer.

Many of the pod kits we offer at EDGE come with the added benefit of built-in coils. Meaning the maintenance only requires one extra step than using a disposable vape, whilst still being rechargeable. Making the convenience comparable if you are looking to move away from single-use vapes. Being a more cost effective option in the long term also helps!

Vape Kits

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Most devices will give recommendations on their packaging so be sure to check them. You should also have a look at the coil in your pod or tank. If it is rated 0.1 to 0.9ohms, this is ‘sub-ohm’ and is not recommended for nic salts as they are for high-VG juices and are far too powerful for the thinner 50-50 e-liquid.

There are some exceptions to this rule however with some pods offering what is called an RDL experience. This is very similar to a disposable in that a slightly sub-ohm coil is combined with open airflow to deliver a bigger cloud while still being designed for 50-50 blends. You can learn more about different devices in our guide:How To vape In 2024.

What Vape Coils Work Best With Nic Salt E-Liquid?

The best coils for vaping with nic salt e-liquids are undoubtedly those with mesh technology. Mesh vape coils heat more evenly and efficiently and as a result deliver the best flavour depth - a huge selling point when considering how bold the flavour profiles of modern nic salts can be; you'll want to make the most of them! Thankfully most modern vape kits use mesh as a standard, meaning you have plenty of options.

As a general rule, any coil rated 1.0ohm or above will handle nic salts well, with the exception of specifically designed RDL coils. Which are sub-ohm (rated 0.9ohm or below) but still intended for use with thinner 50-50 vape juice blends. If you are a disposable vape user looking to switch to a refillable kit, then these RDL coils will offer a more like-for-like experience and make the transition feel more seamless.

If you are unsure if a kit is suitable, check out the product description before buying. If you already have one in your hands and are wondering if it will handle nic salts, check the coil/pod itself; they almost always have their ohm rating written on them, so make sure it corresponds with the recommended ratings above and you will be fine.

How To Inhale A Nic Salt Vape For The Best Vaping Experience?

There are two main inhaling techniques that are best suited for vaping with nic salt e-liquids, by using either of these options you should find your experience is smooth an enjoyable:

MTL

MTL stands for mouth-to-lung and is the go-to vaping technique for both beginners and those who already vape any 50-50 style vape liquids. It is a similar action to that of inhaling with a cigarette in that you inhale the vapour and hold it in the mouth before drawing it into your lungs and then exhaling. This technique is a good option for higher strength juices as it helps to reduce coughing by not overwhelming your lungs.

RDL

RDL stands for restricted-direct-lung and is a middle-ground between MTL vaping and DTL (direct-to-lung) vaping. The latter being reserved for seasoned vapers using high VG juice and sub-ohm kits. RDL coils restrict the amount of vapour produced. Allowing you to smoothly inhale straight into your lungs and exhale in one action, with a more open feeling airflow, akin to that offered by disposable vapes.

What Are Bar Salts?

Bar salts, or bar juice, are the names given to a modern variety of nic salt e-liquid designed to replicate the big and bold flavours popularised by disposable vape devices like Elf bar, Elux and SKE Crystal. Ranges like ours, feature all the best-selling and most popular flavours offered by almost all single-use vape brands. The intention is to offer vapers a like-for-like experience when switching from disposables to refillable vapes. They are blended to a 50-50 (VG-PG) ratio, pair best with mesh coil pod kits, and come in a range of tapered strengths including 5, 10, 15 and 20mg. 

Bar Salts

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Bar salts are the best alternative for those looking to move away from disposable vapes. Not only do they mean you won't be adding to the growing environmental issues surrounding disposable vapes (which you can learn more about here), they also offer incredible value for money long term. Rather than buying a disposable unit for circa £6, containing only 2ml of nic salt vape liquid, you can get 10ml of even better quality vape liquid for around half the price. If you want to learn even more about bar salts, check out this blog.
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