What are nicsalt and freebase nicotine?
When using vapes and e-cigarettes, you often come into contact with different types of nicotine. The two most common forms are freebase nicotine and nicotine salt (nicsalt). In this guide, we explain the difference between them and when each type is commonly used.
What is freebase nicotine?
Freebase nicotine is the most established form of nicotine and has been used in e-liquids for a long time. It is a chemically free form of nicotine that provides a distinct throat hit, especially at higher nicotine strengths.
Freebase nicotine is often used in e-liquids intended for more powerful e-cigarettes, tanks and devices with higher wattage, where nicotine levels are usually lower per milliliter.
What is nicsalt (nicotine salt)?
Nicotine salt, often called nicsalt, is a form of nicotine in which the nicotine has been stabilized with an acid to lower the pH level. This makes the nicotine smoother to inhale, even at higher nicotine strengths.
Nicsalt is primarily used in smaller e-cigarettes, pod systems and other devices designed for MTL (mouth-to-lung) use.
Why has nicsalt become popular?
One reason nicsalt has become common is that it allows for higher nicotine strengths without feeling as harsh on the throat as freebase nicotine.
This makes nicsalt particularly well suited for:
- Pod systems and smaller e-cigarettes
- MTL vaping
- Use at lower wattage
Which type of nicotine is best suited?
The choice between nicsalt and freebase nicotine mainly depends on the type of e-cigarette being used and how the device is designed.
When using more powerful devices, tanks, RDAs or RTAs, freebase nicotine in lower strengths is most common. In these cases, shortfill e-liquids with nicotine shots are often used.
Nicsalt, on the other hand, is primarily used together with pod systems and simpler e-cigarettes designed for MTL vaping and lower wattage.
Nicsalt and flavor experience
Since nicsalt is most often used in smaller devices, the flavor intensity may be experienced differently compared with larger e-cigarettes and tanks. This is due to the design of the device rather than the type of nicotine itself.
Summary
Freebase nicotine and nicsalt are two different forms of nicotine used in e-liquids for different types of e-cigarettes. Freebase is common in more powerful devices, while nicsalt is primarily used in pod systems and MTL-compatible e-cigarettes.
You can view our full range of nicsalt e-liquids here.
