What is Nicotine Salt? The Story Behind the New Trend

It has been one of the most discussed topics in the vaping world for months now: Nicotine salts. Vapers are excited to learn that more and more liquid producers are now using nicotine salts instead of freebase nicotine. Many brands now offer flavors with both variants of nicotine. Vapers are pleased with these recent developments, as they find nicotine salts to be more satisfying. But which one is better? What are the exact differences? When does it make sense to switch to nicotine salt?

The Differences between Freebase Nicotine and Nicotine Salt:

We won't delve too deeply into the scientific aspects here, as the process of extracting freebase nicotine is quite complex. In essence, a chemical process liberates nicotine in its purest form during combustion. This means that whenever tobacco is heated (a process invented in the 1960s and mainly used in traditional cigarettes), pure nicotine is released and subsequently inhaled. Nicotine in its pure form can more effectively pass through membranes and, as a result, has a more pronounced effect. This makes it more potent and, consequently, more addictive - exactly what the industry aimed for.

However, in its natural form within the tobacco plant, nicotine exists as a salt. Nicotine combines with certain acids in the plant to form a much more stable molecule. When this bonding occurs, it results in nicotine salt. There are various types of nicotine salts, depending on the acids involved in the process. In its natural state, nicotine salts require higher temperatures to vaporize and do not easily absorb into our bodies. Nevertheless, by introducing benzoic acid in combination with nic salt, nicotine salt can be vaporized even more efficiently. This ingredient helps nicotine salt vaporize at lower temperatures and enhances its absorbability, creating an overall more enjoyable experience.

Benefits for Vapers:

From a vaping perspective, there are two main benefits. First, e-liquids containing nicotine salts do not feel as harsh as those using freebase nicotine. The higher your nicotine level, the harsher the inhalation feels. With the use of nicotine salts, due to their lower pH level, this effect is less pronounced. This means you can use higher nicotine concentrations. The vaping experience feels smoother, and the throat hit is not as harsh as with freebase nicotine. You can comfortably go as high as 50mg of nicotine and still have an enjoyable experience - something that is challenging to achieve with freebase nicotine.

Additionally, due to the higher concentration, nicotine salts lead to higher nicotine levels in your bloodstream in a shorter amount of time, triggering neurochemical reactions faster.

In summary, the chemical composition of nicotine salt and freebase nicotine is different, affecting the way you experience the throat hit. E-liquids that use nicotine salt will feel smoother and easier to inhale, providing a more enjoyable experience, especially when used with higher nicotine doses.