Nicotine Salts vs. Freebase Nicotine
Nicotine salt e-liquid has been increasingly popular over the past few years. But what is it, and why is it so different from other nicotine e-liquid?
What is Salt Nicotine?
Nicotine salt is the organic state of nicotine found in nature. When extracted and mixed into e-liquid, nicotine salt is known to produce a smooth yet satisfying throat hit, and facilitate a balanced rate of absorption into the body. Because of its mellowness, salt nicotine e-liquids are produced and can be consumed in higher concentrations of nicotine than their freebase counterparts. However, nicotine salt e-liquid can be deceiving because of its lighter throat hit, so it’s recommended that e-liquid with high concentrations only be used in low-powered, mouth to lung devices to prevent inhaling an excess of nicotine.
Benefits of Nicotine Salt
Because of their smoothness at higher concentrations, nicotine salt e-liquids have been recognized as a great option for those transitioning to vaping from other forms of nicotine. The more even absorption rate of salt nicotine e-liquid gives more long-term satisfaction with fewer puffs, making it simple to switch to vaping completely.
What is Freebase Nicotine?
Freebase nicotine is the most common form of nicotine found in e-liquid. It can be thought of as pure nicotine, producing a harsh throat hit when inhaled. Because of its purity, it also absorbs into the body rapidly, so freebase nicotine e-liquids are offered in lower, more manageable nicotine strengths.
Benefits of Freebase Nicotine
As freebase nicotine was the original form of nicotine used to produce e-liquid, it is easy to find at any vape store. Freebase nicotine e-liquids are normally more suitable for sub-ohm vaping in direct to lung devices because of their lower concentrations, although salt nic manufacturers have now begun to create low strength nicotine salt e-liquids to be used in high-powered devices. Still, freebase nicotine e-liquids are revered for their strong throat hit at lower concentrations, making them a popular option among vapers who are looking to reduce their nicotine intake while maintaining a satisfying sensation.
Staying Safe with Nicotine
When using e-liquid with high concentrations of nicotine, it’s very important to be vigilant about potential dangers so that you can keep yourself safe and avoid as much risk as possible. It is important to figure out the right nicotine strength for your vape juice.
Here are some things to keep in mind when using nicotine e-liquid.
- Keep e-liquid out of reach of children and pets. Nicotine in any form can be extremely harmful to them, and can even lead to death in some cases.
- Avoid getting any e-liquid with nicotine on your skin. If you do happen to get some on your body, wash it with warm water and soap immediately, as nicotine is an irritant.
- Only use e-liquids with high nicotine concentrations in low-powered devices to avoid nicotine overdose. Symptoms of nicotine overdose include:
- Lightheadedness
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Tremors or muscle twitches
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is recommended to stop vaping immediately and seek medical treatment.