What’s The Difference Between Freebase Nicotine and Nicotine Salts?

WHAT IS FREE BASE NICOTINE?

Freebase Nicotine is the most common form of nicotine used in e-liquid. Freebase Nicotine is a highly purified form of nicotine that was first developed in the 60’s by stripping the Nicotine molecule down to its fundamental structure. The process of creating Freebase Nicotine involves stripping the nicotine molecule of its protons (positive charged particles), which has the effect of increasing its bioavailability. This means that Freebase Nicotine is absorbed rapidly into the body and crosses the blood-brain barrier quite easily, which triggers that familiar dopamine release and other feelings vapers and smokers get when using nicotine products.

Because of the purity of Freebase Nicotine it is absorbed rapidly into the body and tends to be more noticeable (or harsh) on the throat when inhaled. This noticeable throat hit provides for a good range of tolerable e-liquid strengths and generally strengths above 18mg/ml are too unpleasant to vape. 

Typically people use 6mg to 18mg when using a low wattage MTL (Mouth-To-Lung) device and 3mg to 6mg when using a higher wattage DL (Direct-Lung) device.

For more information on e-liquid strengths visit: What Strength E-liquid Should I Use?

WHAT IS NICOTINE SALTS?

Nicotine Salt is a less pure version of nicotine, but it is how the nicotine molecule naturally forms in nature. For example, tobacco leaves in nature contain only nicotine salt molecules because it is the form of nicotine which is more stable in nature. The nicotine molecule combines with various acids in the plant to create a more stable molecule (nicotine salt molecule). There are numerous different types of nicotine salt molecules found in nature depending on the acid involved, such as citric and lactic variants. 

Generally speaking, naturally occurring nicotine salts do not absorb quickly into the body and they are a less effective form of nicotine to use for human consumption. However, nicotine salts for vaping has been developed with a particular acid (benzoic acid), resulting in a nicotine salt which has a much higher bioavailability than other nicotine salts.

Nicotine salts in general have a much lower pH level and this has the effect of reducing the harshness on the throat and making it much less noticeable when inhaled. Due to this characteristic nicotine salt e-liquids can be vaped at much higher concentrations than Freebase Nicotine e-liquid. So people can vape higher concentrations (40mg/ml) of nicotine, because it is smooth on the throat. Vaping high concentrations of nicotine salts can have the net effect of getting more nicotine into the bodies system than Freebase Nicotine.