If you are curious about the content of e-liquids, you’re not alone. Most vaping newbies have wondered the same, and for good reasons, too. Different juices taste and hit differently, so what’s in them and which is best for you? What type of e-liquid should you order? And what do the different choices (50/50, 70/30, 40/60, and others) mean when ordering e-liquids?
Let’s start by explaining the basic contents of e-liquids. Electronic liquids (or e-liquid, for short) are the juice in electronic cigarettes or vapes. The ingredients that combine to form these vaping liquids are nicotine, vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), and flavoring. Regardless of whether you vape Nic salt juice or a regular e-juice, they all contain these compounds mixed in varying amounts to produce different vaping experiences.
Comparing Nic Salt vs Juice
Nicotine salt (or Nic salt) contains the same nicotine concentration in tobacco. However, benzoic acid is used to lower pH levels in Nic salt e-liquids. This process increases the nicotine concentration, making the vape juice less harsh and also making it travel faster in your bloodstream. Vaping nicotine salt juice at low temperatures is possible because of the reduction in alkalinity.
Salt-based e-juices are available in nicotine levels, usually at 25mg to 30mg, and 50mg. The consistency of this e-juice (usually an equal ratio of VG to PG) makes it an excellent choice for people looking to get stronger nicotine hits.
Freebase e-liquid, which is the conventional e-juice, contains pure nicotine content with a higher pH and higher vegetable glycerin. The nicotine content in freebase e-juice is more potent when heated and is quickly absorbed in your body.
Usually, freebase e-juices come with a range of nicotine levels starting at 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, and 12mg. Due to the higher VG ratio, the juice is rather too thick for POD devices. These vape e-juices are best for those who want to chase large amounts of vapor.
In a nutshell, there are two major differences between Nic salt vs juice. These are:
- Conventional e-juice or freebase juice tastes harsher because of the higher pH level in the nicotine. Conversely, the lower pH level of salt nicotine delivers a smoother throat hit.
- Salt nicotine is more effective than freebase nicotine because of the added benzoic acid. Nic salt travels faster throughout your bloodstream, making it produce a similar sensation as a traditional cigarette.
VG/PG Ratio
Reaching your vaping sweet spot will require some adjustments to e-liquid ingredients to suit your preference. Usually, this means tweaking the VG/PG ratio. Regardless of how slightly you change these components, it can have a significant impact on your vaping experience, which is why it is important to understand how these ratios affect your overall experience.
E-juice needs to have the correct consistency to ensure that it vaporizes properly, and not just burn when heated or become too thick to vape. And that’s where VG and PG come in. Vegetable glycerin is a thick ingredient that prevents vape juices from becoming too watery and burning off too fast. It produces thicker clouds or vapors.
On the other side of the vape juice coin is propylene glycol with a thinner consistency. It balances out VG, ensuring that the juice is not too thick. PG doesn’t alter e-liquid flavors because it is an odorless and tasteless substance. It also gives stronger throat hits. However, because it is thin, it also thins out vape clouds.
Vaping an e-juice with a 50/50 VG/PG ratio means you are getting a perfect balance between throat hit, cloud production, and flavor. Most salt-based nicotine e-juices have this ratio. Adjusting either of VG or PG tilts the balance higher or lower. For example, an 80/20 VG/PG mix (higher vegetable glycerin) produces massive plumes, while the reverse is obviously the case with a higher propylene glycol ratio.
If you are unsure about where to begin, we recommend going with a 50/50 VG to PG ratio in your e-liquid, and make adjustments from there. For example, if you enjoy massive clouds of vapor, perhaps you can tweak your next order to 70/30 VG to PG mix. Or if you didn’t get the throat hits you were hoping for, you could adjust your order to 30/70 VG to PG mix.
Choosing Considerations
Deciding what e-liquid is right for you comes down to the following considerations:
- What’s your device type? A high powered device works best for freebase juice, while a low wattage device is most suitable for Nic salt.
- How much nicotine can you handle? Nic slat, such as Reds Apple or Eclipse, is your best bet if you prefer more throat hits similar to the combustible sensation of tobacco. On the other hand, go for the conventional freebase e-juice if you prefer something with fewer throat hits and thick clouds of vapor.
- Do you prefer flavor or thick and sweet vapor? Regular e-juices are sweeter and tend to overshadow the juice flavor because of their high VG ratio. The PG level in Nic salt e-liquids ensures that the flavor remains intact.
Conclusion
Comparing Nic salt vs. juice is not necessarily about which e-liquid is better, but which one suits your need. Each has its place depending on your preferences and vaping device. It is important to mention that nicotine salt is the new craze for a couple of reasons.
First, if you are trying to give up smoking a traditional cigarette, Nic salt could be the way to go. If you want to give vaping a trial but don’t know where to start, or if you’ve previously tried vaping and it didn’t work out well, you could begin again, but this time give Nic salt a shot. And while you are at it, consider vaping nicotine salt in any of these excellent new pods available.
However, the thick clouds of conventional e-juice coupled with its sweet taste works well for others. In most cases, you are probably vaping an e-liquid with a VG/PG ratio of some sort. But if you prefer vaping a higher ratio of either ingredient, you can always customize your options. You can even opt for 100% VG e-juice or any high Nic salt e-liquid of your choice.