The Ultimate Guide To Nic Salt E-Liquid: Everything You Need To Know

Nic salt e-liquids are quickly becoming the most popular option for UK vapers, with more people than ever opting for their bold flavour and smooth nicotine delivery vs traditional freebase e liquids. If you are new to vaping or are simply looking to give nic salts a try instead of your usual freebase vape juice, this guide will break down everything you need to know before giving them a go.

From the science behind them to the advantages they can offer – by the end of this blog you will have learned all you need to know to decide whether vaping with nic salts is the right move for your journey.

Table of Contents

What Is A Nic Salt E-Liquid?

The term “nic salts” is simply the common name for nicotine salt e liquid, and refers to the specific type of nicotine used when blending this kind of vape juice. Asides from this unique type of nicotine, nic salt vape juice contains the same key ingredients as any other vape juice: Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerol (VG), and premium flavourings.

 Nic Salt e liquid uses a modified form of nicotine that is designed to deliver a more satisfying nicotine hit which lasts longer so as to help manage even the strongest cravings but without a harsh throat hit. Some Nic Salts occur naturally within the tobacco leaf but can also be created by adding a weak acid to a nicotine base. In science, these combined elements are described as a “salt”, hence the vaping nomenclature “Nic Salt”.

The Science Of Nic Salt E-Liquid - How Do They Work?

The main reason nicotine salts are so popular is because their unique composition allows them to deliver smoother, faster-acting craving relief than their freebase counterparts, and modern examples also pack a double-concentrated flavour punch which we will explore more later in this article.

There are many different types of salt nicotine used to create nic salt vape juice including but not limited to Nicotine Benzoate, Salicylate, Levulinate and Lactate. Certain effects can vary between them, such as muting certain flavour profiles or adding slight cooling effects, but they all share three common properties: they permeate your body’s blood brain barrier much faster, deliver a longer lasting nicotine hit to better manage cravings, and are also incredibly smooth!

The trademark smoothness they offer is specifically linked to the addition of the organic acid we mentioned earlier (brace yourself for more science jargon). Nicotine is naturally incredibly alkali in terms of pH, and it is this alkalinity that is responsible for the harsh throat hit felt when vaping traditional freebase e-liquids, especially at higher nicotine strengths like 18mg. Nic salts by comparison have a pH much more aligned with that of our own body.

By adding an extra component to freebase nicotine like Benzoic, Salicylic, or lactic acid (hence the names given above for the different nic salts) the alkali pH is neutralised, delivering an incredibly smooth, hit even at the maximum legal limit for nicotine in an e-liquid in the UK – 20mg. Even at these higher strengths, the hit is comparable to vaping a 3mg or 6mg freebase e-liquid but of course packs a whole lot more craving-busting power; hence their popularity amongst vapers, and particularly those who have recently quit smoking or want to transition from disposable vapes to refillables.

Nic Salt E-LiQuid Vs Freebase Vape Juice

The standard e-liquids like those in our Original £1 range, contain what is known as freebase nicotine. Freebase nicotine is a pure and refined form of nicotine with a naturally high, alkaline pH level. It was first developed in the 1960’s by the big cigarette corporations of the day in an attempt to meet consumer demand for a more easily accessible form of nicotine which you can read more about here.

The nicotine found in regular vape juice, is called “freebase” because concentrated nicotine is diluted into Propylene Glycol (PG) and is “freely” suspended in the “base” PG to create a mixture we can then accurately blend as part of our e-liquid recipes. One of the downfalls of freebase however, is that when vaping at high nicotine strengths it can create a harsh hit at the back of the throat due to it being so naturally alkaline.

Whether or not this is truly a downfall however is a matter of personal taste. Lots of vapers enjoy the throat hit delivered by freebase vape juice because it is closer to that of a cigarette, making it easier to transition from smoking to vaping. For others however this throat hit can be a bit much, but if you require a larger dose of nicotine to satisfy your cravings, nic salts can be a great solution minus the hit.

Different Types Of Nic Salt E-Liquid

There are two different varieties people opt for when choosing nic salt e-liquids. Bar salts are the most popular and modern example, packing a double-concentrated flavour hit designed to replicate the experience offered by disposable vapes. Traditional nic salts still carry the same smooth nicotine hit, but have less intense flavour profiles more akin to standard

What Are Bar Salts?

Bar salts are nic salt e-liquids blended to replicate the experience offered by disposable vapes. They use premium double concentrated flavourings matching the best-selling profiles of all leading disposable vape bars like SKE Crystal, Lost Mary, Elux and Elf bar. Our £2 bar salts range is paired with smooth nicotine salicylate (our chosen nic salt formula) to deliver high strength satisfaction without a harsh throat hit.

What Are Nic Salts?

Traditional Nic Salts have been around longer than modern bar salts, and while they pack the same satisfying yet smooth salt nicotine punch, they have flavour profiles with an intesity more similar to traditional freebase vape juice. This means if you find the bar salt style a bit sweet/cool or just too full-on, you have plenty of nic salt e-liquid options that offer a more subtle flavour experience.

Nic Salt E-Liquid Vs Nic Salt Shots

Nic salt e-liquids are ready-to-vape e-liquids with all the ingredients you would expect: PG, VG, salt nicotine and flavourings. They are a "finished product" that is designed to be vaped by itself.

Nic Salt Shots are a companion product not to be confused with 'complete' nic salt e-liquids. They should not be vaped by themselves and are instead designed to be added to 0mg 50-50 shortfills like our Bar Salt inspired 120ml range, to create custom nicotine strengths (learn more here). They do not contain any flavourings and are only available in 20mg as this dilutes down when added to the larger volume shortfill flavour base. 

Why Choose Nic Salt E-Liquids?

As a new vaper it is an easy pitfall to assume that all e-liquids are essentially the same, and a fair question to wonder why you should opt for nic salts over regular freebase e-liquid.

Vaping is intended to be an alternative for adult smokers looking to reduce the risks of consuming nicotine. The vast majority of current vapers are ex-smokers, and as such when leaving the cigarettes behind, their alternative of choice needs to be able to help them manage cravings effectively.

Nic salt vape juice excels in this area – there is already a wealth of data from the NHS, Action on Smoking & Health (ASH) and The UK Government that highlights the effectiveness of vaping as a cessation tool, but nicotine salt e liquid takes this effectiveness to another level by delivering unmatched craving satisfaction.

If you've already decided nic salts re for you, then check out our top 10 flavour guide for some buying inspiration!

Faster & Long-Lasting Nicotine Delivery

Thanks to the science we explained above, using nic salts mean you will satisfy your cravings faster, with that satisfaction lasting much longer.

Smooth Throat Hit

Due to the neutralised pH of the nictine salts used to make e-liquids like bar salts, the throat hit is almost non-existant and delivers a smooth inhale every time.

Bold & Diverse Flavour

While freebase and nic salts both come in a huge range of flavours, modern  “bar salts” pack a double-concentrated flavour punch that is proving to be hugely popular with UK vapers. 

Compatible With Most Vape kits

They are blended using a balanced 50-50 PG-VG ratio, which means they are compatible with the broadest range of vape kits. This means you have a lot of choice when it comes to finding a compatible refillable vape kit to pair with your new nic salt e liquid!

Are Nic Salt E-Liquids Right For You?

Nic salt e-liquids won’t be for everyone and in any instance, you should always measure the benefits against your own needs. We have listed some scenarios below that, if relevant to your journey, might mean it’s the right time to try nicotine salt vape products:

• You are trying, or possibly struggling to quit smoking, and would like to experiment with an easier transitional alternative.
• You are a first-time vaper that has just converted from smoking, particularly from a heavy habit.
• You already tried vaping but felt that the nicotine hit and craving suppression were ineffective or the flavour wasn’t strong enough.
• You already tried high strength e-liquids that satisfied your cravings but felt the throat hit was an unpleasant experience.
• You feel like you currently vape too much or too regularly because it’s not providing you with the “same” feeling or satisfaction as cigarettes (e, nicotine rush).

For more guidance on which e-liquid you should choose based on your preferences, read our blog explaining the differences.

How To Use Nic Salt Vape Juice

You can use a nic salt vape juice just as you would any other e-liquid. It needs to be added to the tank or pod of your vape kit, allowed to soak in, and then can be vaped as normal.

There are certain types of vape kit however that can be paired with nic salt e-liquids to enhance your vaping experience, which we will explain below. If you are looking to replicate the experience of a disposable vape with a refillable kit and 10ml e-liquids, check out our separate guide! 

1. Open your bottle of nic salt e-liquid

2. Fill Your vape pod or tank and wait up to ten minutes for the nic salts to soak into the coil

3. Attach the filled pod or tank to the battery and enjoy vaping your nic salt vape juice

The Best Vape Kits For Nic Salt E-Liquid

Quite simply, any standard vaping device will run both freebase and nic salt e-liquids. So long as the device and coil are suited to 50-50 blends, you will be fine. There are however certain kits that really excel when paired with nic salt vape juice such as pod kits like the Vaporesso Xros range as they have released a range called Deliciu, which is a range of nic salt vape juices optimised for use with Xros pods.

These kits often have the added benefit of using refillable pods that have built-in coils meaning you don’t need to worry too much about understanding ohms and watts as they almost all feature smart wattage which matches the power to the rating of the coil, so you will always get a pleasant experience.

If you aren’t sure about the differences between vape kits, our guide, How to Vape Properly, can help you get your head around it all and match it to your chosen e-liquid type. For some inspiration about which kit to buy next? Check out our top ten for 2024!

Most devices will give recommendations on their packaging so be sure to check these out – you should also have a look at the coil in your pod or tank, if it is rated 0.1 to 0.9ohms, this is ‘sub-ohm’ and is not recommended for nic salts as they are for high-VG juices and are far too powerful for the thinner 50-50 e-liquid.

The Best Vape Coils For Nic Salt E-Liquid

There are lots of different vape coils out there, but as a general rule you should make sure the coil you use is rated at to 1.0 – 1.8ohm.

Coils in this range will run 50-50 e-liquid safely and efficiently. If ohms are a bit confusing for you, an even easier way to tell them apart is to look at the holes in the coil – these are called wicking ports, and if they are really big it almost certainly means the coil is designed for high-VG juice. Those with smaller holes are more likely to be for 50-50 juice, and are what you should use with your nic salts.

Look out for any coils that are described as having mesh technology like Xros Pod's Corex Mesh – these are a more modern coil design that heat more efficiently and deliver far superior flavour which is perfect for getting the most from your chosen nic salt e-liquid.

To learn more about coils in general, click here.

How To Inhale A Nic Salt Vape

You may have heard the terms MTL and DTL used by vapers when describing their inhale style. There is also a newer style that has become more popular since the rise of disposable vapes called RDTL. We know this can all sound like jargon, however understandning what these initials mean can give you an edge when working out how best to enjoy your nic salt e-liquids (or any vape juice for that matter!). We also have a full guide on this subject if you would like to learn more about mastering the perfect inhale.

What Is MTL Vaping?
MTL means mouth-to-lung and is the preferred way to inhale nic salt vape juices paired with an appropriate pod device. This is where you inhale, hold the vapour in your mouth before drawing it into the lung and exhaling – similar to smoking a cigarette.

What Is RDTL Vaping?
As pod devices have become more tailored to nic salt vaping, particularly those trying to capture the open draw typical of a disposable vape (which you can learn more about here) some brands offer sub-ohm coils that are still designed for vaping with nic salts like the VooPoo Argus 0.7ohm pod. These are called RDL which stands for restricted-direct-lung. This is where you inhale as if it were a DTL vape, but with less of an impact to reduce irritation at higher strengths - think of it as a middle ground. If you are a disposable vape user looking to switch to 10ml nic salts and refillable vapes, this could be the perfect option for you!

What Is DTL Vaping?
DTL stands for direct-to-lung and is more typical of HVG vapers, so less preferable when using nic salts. This is simply the act of drawing the vapour directly into the lung and exhaling in one motion.

Nic Salt E-Liquid FAQs

Written By Oliver Norman

Our resident vaping expert with 9 years of industry experience. Ollie has worked in a massive range of roles over the years; from bottling on the shop floor to mixing e-liquid in the cleanroom, heading up Tech Ops and flavour development in the lab and beyond; Ollie has been with LiQuid for nearly a decade and now heads up our content marketing team making sure our customers get the best quality information to make informed choices on their vaping journeys.

He is a one-stop-shop of vaping knowledge from scientific technical info to current vaping trends, vape juice to vape kits and all points in-between - he's keen to share it all with you, from one vaper to another! As an avid user of nic salt e-liquids for several years, Ollie has compiled this guide to help other vapers learn everything they need to know to get the most from a nic salt vaping experience!