A common question among vapers is “Should I use Nic Salts or Freebase Nicotine?”
It is difficult to say which form of nicotine is better than the other. Both have their benefits and disadvantages. However, we can tell you how they are different and hopefully help you decide between Nic Salts or Freebase E-Liquid.
Freebase nicotine is probably the most widely used form of nicotine among vapers. It is the same nicotine found in tobacco and was invented when freebasing was discovered in the 1960s. This is the technique of adding ammonia to pure nicotine, which makes a more enjoyable product.
This form of nicotine has a slower absorption rate, which means the effects are likely to last longer. However, this can also lead to chain vaping as the nicotine hit isn’t intense enough.
The throat hit, however, can be very intense. Freebase Nicotine is alkaline based and, because of the higher pH level, some may find the throat hit from a high nicotine dose too severe. The problem with this is that new vapers who lower their nicotine strength too soon are more likely to start smoking again as vaping is not satisfying their cravings. On the other hand, this can be great for people attempting to quit smoking as the harsh throat hit is very similar to smoking a real cigarette.
Freebase liquid can be used in all kinds of devices. That being said, we do not recommend using anything stronger than 6 mg in a sub ohm device. Due to TPD (Tobacco Products Directive) regulations, Freebase Nicotine typically comes in the standard 10 ml bottles. To fill your e-liquid to your desired strength, you can mix a Nic Shot with a zero nicotine short fill. Although, in most cases, the highest you can mix them to is 6 mg. Adding any more might dilute the flavour.
Nicotine Salts (or Nic Salts) are a more recent development in the vaping world. They allow vapers to use higher strengths of nicotine without the harsh throat hit that sometimes comes with freebase liquid. Nicotine Salts were created in the same way as Freebase Nicotine but with the added chemicals of Benzoic or Salicylic acid to balance the pH. The balancing helps to neutralize the nicotine and create a smoother throat hit.
This is great for those who prefer high strengths of nicotine, but dislike the severe throat hit. Because of this, Nic Salts have seen a surge in popularity within the vape industry in recent years. Chain vaping is also less likely with Nic Salts as the nicotine absorbs into the bloodstream much faster than with freebase liquid. This gives a similar affect to smoking a tobacco cigarette. The lack of chain vaping can also mean the battery lasts longer between charges. Although, this depends on the vaping habits of the individual user.
If you are a vaper who enjoys short fills, but prefers Nic Salts over Freebase Nicotine, there are nicotine salt based Nic Shots for short fills. However, we still recommend only using a maximum of 6 mg in a sub ohm device. A higher strength might result in nausea due to nicotine rush.
The answer is that it is difficult to compare the two. Both provide a similar experience and have the same purpose: to help the user quit smoking. Which e-liquid you decide on depends on your own vaping preferences. And so, in lieu of telling you which one to use we would prompt you to contemplate what it is you are hoping to get out of vaping. If you are vaping simply as an alternative to smoking, nic salts could be the way to go. They might also be the right choice if you are new to vaping. Whereas, if you are an experienced vaper who enjoys a harsher throat hit and a more advanced vaping style, you might prefer Freebase Nicotine.
It is important that you get the right information from a reliable source so you can make the choice that is most suited to your needs. Make sure you buy your e-liquid from a reputable company with well-trained staff to guide you in your decision.
You can purchase both nic salts and freebase e-liquid from any of our SMKD stores or online on the SMKD website.
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