A good proportion of vapers who, having given up smoking and are using a vape device as a form of nicotine replacement therapy or (NRT). The majority of e-liquid producers are now moving away from the more traditional type of nicotine and switching to a newer form that has recently been developed. In this short piece, we will discuss both types of nicotine used in e-liquid, their history, how they are manufactured, and their relative characteristics.

The Origins of Nicotine

The tobacco plant originated in South and Central America and was brought to Europe in the 1500s; nicotine, once extracted from the host plant, is a salt and not easily absorbed into the body. To improve this, tobacco manufacturers in the United States devised a chemical process that created a form of nicotine called Freebase, which allowed the nicotine to be absorbed more easily when smoked in cigarettes. This production method uses ammonia to increase PH levels which means when burnt, the lungs quickly absorb it, but this also creates a harsh sensation as the strength of the nicotine increases. Until recently, Freebase has been the only option as the nicotine element of e-liquid, that is, until the development of a newer form called nicotine salt or salt nic.

An Improved Product?

The newer form of nicotine uses the same nicotine salts in tobacco but, unlike its older counterpart, does not use the same harsh production process. The manufacture of Salt nic uses natural acids to change its chemical makeup; instead of increasing the PH levels as Freebase does, it lowers the PH. This process creates a situation where the nicotine is absorbed at a lower temperature giving the vaper a much smoother and improved vape. Salt nic also has a further important quality in that it allows higher doses to be added to e-liquid with no increase in harshness or decrease in vapour production. These characteristics are why it is becoming the nicotine type of choice for manufacturers looking to produce high-grade e-liquids.

Mixing Your Own E-Liquid

Due to Nic salt being less harsh than Freebase, it is also the better option for the vaper that wants to mix their own e-liquid as much as 50mg of Nic salt shots can be combined with shortfill e-liquid without any decrease in vape quality. One must remember that this will also dilute the tasty flavour of the host shortfill liquid. An increase in Salt nic levels may also result in vaping less as more nicotine is absorbed in fewer puffs of vapour.

Making The Most of Nic Salt

You can vape e-liquids containing Nic salt in any device, but some are more than others; starter vape pens and Pod systems can produce a super smooth high-quality vape. It is not advised to use Salt nic e-liquids with sub-ohm machines; they are designed for large intakes of vapour, resulting in a dosage of nicotine higher than is recommended.

Now with a better understanding of how the nicotine in e-liquid works, you can confidently take your vaping journey in whatever direction you want it.