With companies such as JUUL and Element having made nicotine salts popular, it’s not surprising to think they have a grip on that market. The reality of the nicotine salt situation is actually a little more complex than that, yet is a lot more simple than you might think. This might seem like a contradiction, but the specificities of the nicotine salt ingredients and needs, actually means that overall, it is simpler than you might think. There are plenty of benefits to nicotine salts, many of which will suit some vape users and not others. If you’re thinking about trying a nicotine salt vape juice but can’t afford a nicotine salt specific device from our Ealing vape shop, then you might be in luck. Below is everything you need to know about nicotine salts, and the best way to use them.
What is nicotine salt?
Most e juices are created through a process called freebasing. Freebasing was introduced in the 50’s by tobacco companies to give their nicotine more of a hit, using ammonia salts to give the nicotine more of a kick when inhaled. This process was also used on the nicotine molecules in e juices. Nicotine salts take away the throat hit by replacing the freebasing process. Instead, nicotine salts use benzoic acid to smooth out the nicotine hit, making larger concentrations easier to inhale. This makes them the perfect vape juice to use for the ex heavy smoker, which might require more nicotine than your average vape juice.
What devices can you use them with?
Because some companies have created nicotine salt pods for their e juices, people often assume that these are the only devices with which you can use this new type of device. Nicotine salts can in fact be used on many different devices, it just means redistributing the levels, especially if you are mixing your own e liquid using nicotine salt solutions. Because there is usually a higher concentration in nicotine salt vape juices, the user just has to reconfigure their mixes, so that there is more e liquid in the nicotine mix. There are many calculators online to help you mix your vape juices, and using nicotine salts just means a slight change in the balance.
Companies such as Element mix vape nicotine salt juices with higher concentrations, but if you were to mix your own and wanted a lower concentration, you’d have to remember that benzoic acid mixed nicotine will have a higher molecular weight, and thus needs to be mixed differently. Nicotine is mixed with benzoic acid on a 1:1 ratio, and so a milligram rating of 50 mg of nicotine in nicotine salt solution is actually a little more than half of that in terms of nicotine content, all because of the accompanying salt.
What this means is that nicotine salts are not just for the nicotine hardy, but can have their concentration redistributed for the lower nicotine users. This is great, because nicotine salts don’t just satisfy those with strong cravings, but those who like their vape inhales throat hit free, regardless of nicotine needs.
