As many of you may know, vape juice or e-liquid are infused with nicotine, an addictive natural compound found in tobacco plants. There are two kinds of nicotine commonly used in vape liquids i.e. freebase and salt-based nicotine. Freebase nicotine is the purer form of nicotine that has been used in vapes since the 60s. It is suited for direct-to-lung vaping and delivers the sensation close to smoking a traditional cigarette.
On the other hand, salt-based nicotine is a more stable nicotine content that requires higher temperatures to vaporize. It is smoother and can be vaped higher nicotine percentage in comparison to freebase nicotine. In this blog, we will cover the difference in freebase and Nic salt along with their pros and cons in detail.
What is Freebase Nicotine?
Freebase nicotine is the traditional and purest form of nicotine used to make an e-liquid. It is made after changing nicotine from its salt state using ammonia (an alkaline) into its base ‘purest’ form. This nicotine content is commonly found in regular cigarettes and has been used in e-juice since the 60s. Freebase has a 70-30 ratio of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) depending on the brand and can be quite harsh with a strong throat hit.
This nicotine content is perfect for individuals vaping for a while and is suitable for higher wattage or high powered mods and devices. Freebase has multiple unique flavor combinations available for vaping enthusiasts designed for a smooth and satisfying vaping session.
Vaping Experience and Satisfaction
The freebase has a higher potency without increasing the dose making it cost effective. This is one of the reasons freebase is popular amongst vapers. The freebase infused e-liquid mimics the sensation of smoking a cigarette and even allows vapers to explore more complex flavors due to its pure form. The freebase nicotine concentration offers denser clouds with high VG ratio e-liquids.
What is Nicotine Salt (Nic Salt)
Nicotine salt is a similar form of nicotine found in tobacco especially combined with organic salt acid to neutralize the taste of the nicotine. They are a 50-50 combination ratio of PG and VG, flavorings and are absorbed 30-40% faster into the bloodstream when inhaled. The nic salt concentration has a long shelf life and delivers smooth throat hits even at a higher dosage.
Nic salt infused e-liquid are ideal for mouth-to-lung hits and require less e-liquid for a moderate yet satisfying throat hit. Nicotine salt was introduced to the market by the pod mod company called Juul in 2016. Since then, many brands commonly use nicotine salt as one of their key ingredients in vape juice. Unlike freebase, nic salt doesn’t offer a large number of cloud production.
Vaping Experience and Satisfaction
Nic salt infused e-liquid are suitable for beginners and individuals looking for an alternative to traditional smoking. They come with a wide variety of bold and complex flavors which will satisfy your cravings. It offers the highest nicotine strengths with mild throat hits for an outstanding vaping experience.
Pros and Cons of Freebase Nicotine
The freebase delivers a strong throat hit when inhaled suitable for long-term smokers and vaping enthusiasts. They require higher wattage and power, hence, deliver more vapor than salt nicotine. The freebase formulas are more versatile and can be used for both direct-to-lung and mouth-to-lung vaping. They come with a wide range of flavor ranging from sweet, fruity, and savory notes to coffee, and other exotic flavor profiles. The freebase is cheaper and budget friendly in the long-run.
Besides this, some of freebase nicotine’s cons are its strong throat hit can be too harsh for everyone. It may not provide instant nicotine satisfaction since freebase takes a longer period of time to get absorbed. Likewise, the freebase flavor can get weakened when extra nicotine is added.
Pros and Cons of Nicotine Salt
Nicotine salt is preferred over freebase nicotine for their soft and milder throat hits which makes them suitable for higher nicotine concentrations. It takes only 15 to 20 seconds for the body to absorb and satisfy the instant nicotine cravings for longer periods of time. Nic salt is compatible with low wattage and powered vape kits or pods and provides a mouth-to-lung inhale which mimics the restricted inhale from a regular cigarette.
Nic salts are compatible with the majority of vape devices which are hassle-free and easy to use for seasoned as well as beginner vapers. It has a longer shelf life in comparison to freebase due to the slow oxidation process. Some of the cons of Nic salt are it delivers much less vapor compared to freebase which can be dissatisfying for vaping enthusiasts. It is not compatible for high wattage and higher powered devices for direct-to-lung hits. Lastly, it has few nicotine strength choices with 10 mg and 20 mg only.
Conclusion
The freebase nicotine contains zero additives and is optimal for vapers with low nicotine dependency or needs. It works best with higher powered devices for effective vaping and larger cloud production. Freebase comes with a wide flavor choice and is available in the lowest nicotine strengths as well. It is suitable for both mouth-to-lung and direct-to-lung vaping techniques and budget friendly.
Freebase nicotine is on the stronger side of the throat and hits slower absorbing nature. While on the other hand, nic salt contains benzoic r citric acid for flavor optimizing. It is fast absorbing with a mild to smooth throat hit. Nic salt is on the expensive side by volume with limited flavor twist. They work well with a low wattage device and are only suitable for mouth-to-lung vaping technique.