The vaping industry has seen its justifiable share of innovations. Like with everything else, some are flops, but most seem to possess stuck around. Sub-ohm vaping remains going strong, as is high-powered vaping. Still, it is sometimes hard to distinguish between marketing ploys and genuine innovations, as is the case with the top recent buzzwords within the vaping world. Of course, we are talking about nicotine salts.

 

Before we enter what nic salts are and what they are not (hint: they are not crystals, so do not worry), let us inspect what vapers who have used them need to say about the upsides.

 

Benefits of Using Nicotine Salts

They deliver more nicotine during a single puff, which suggests that most smokers who are using e-cigs to quit can now save a considerable amount of vape juice.

 

Smokers are continuously checking out something that's like smoking, but not accurately. Using nic salts provides a sensation almost like smoking, even with small pocket-size devices.

In regular e-liquid, as the nicotine level goes up, so does the throat hit's subjective feeling. With nic salts, that feeling is subdued, suggesting that you can now vape on higher concentrations without feeling like your throat is ablaze.

 

In the last few years, vape devices are growing in size. Vapers who wanted top performance would often choose larger and bulkier e-cigs. There is no need to do this anymore – nicotine salts work great in smaller devices, like pods, or little vape pens and even with some hookah pens.

There are undoubtedly benefits to using nicotine salts compared to regular e-liquids. 

 

What Are Nicotine Salts Exactly?

Most vapers never heard of nicotine salts before the current hype started. However, this does not imply that they have not been around for just a while. The argument is often made that nicotine salts are the sole naturally occurring nicotine out there, and it might stand up.

You see, not only can we not know tons about nicotine salts (as consumers), but we are also woefully uneducated about nicotine itself. It would come as a wonder to you, but tobacco leaves contain only nic salts and no clear, freebase nicotine.

 

In tobacco leaves, nicotine is already in two discrete kinds: diprotonated and monoprotonated. This suggests that the nicotine bonds with certain acids within the plant make a way more stable molecule. When that bonding happens, the results are a teaspoon of nicotine salt. There are different types of nicotine salts, counting on the acid involved within the whole process (citric, malic, lactic, then on).

 

However, none of those salts is present in traditional cigarettes or regular vape juice, which begs how we can get regular nicotine?

 

The Contrast Among Freebase Nicotine and Nic Salts?

Regular, or freebase nicotine, was developed by the tobacco companies back in the 1960s, and it is entirely deprotonated. Phillip Morris spearheaded the research during this area to form cigarettes stronger and more addictive. 

 

Nicotine salts, while stable and available organically, are not highly bioavailable. This suggests that they are not absorbed by the physical body as readily. Their addictive properties cannot compare with those of freebase nicotine. Today, the nicotine found in cigarette smoke is 100% freebase, stripped of all its protons, which dramatically increases its bioavailability. This sort of nicotine is more lipid-soluble, which suggests that it crosses the barrier quite easily, triggering a dopamine release more effectively than nicotine salts normally would.

 

So, while nic salts are organic and readily available in a nutshell, they were not addictive enough. Therefore the industry spent many dollars' improving' the formula to hook more unsuspecting smokers.

 

If that is the case, why are nicotine salts coming back? Do e-liquid makers know something? The study that сonducted on the contrast between nic salts and protonated nicotine in aerosol and its means can affect somebody. It is dry and academic, thanks to saying that more studies are needed.

 

Why Are Nicotine Salts Gaining Momentum Again?

Traditional vaping is analogous to smoking, but it is not precisely like lighting up a cigarette. The texture is not equivalent. More importantly, the quantity of nicotine that gets delivered also falls in need of combustible cigarettes.

 

Most regular vape juices are available in several nicotine strengths, but you will rarely find anything that goes over 24 mg. That is because freebase nicotine is acidic and thus harsh on the throat. Due to that, it might be almost impossible to vape a 50 mg nic vape juice on a vape device that delivers a precise amount of vapour.

 

Are Nicotine Salts Bad For You?

The steadfast mainstream excitement around vaping has taken its toll even on us, so it is only natural that we are all wondering what nic salts are safe now. The reality is, they are as safe as freebase nicotine (which is comparatively safe, if we do not account for its addictive properties), so, from a pure health and well-being oriented standpoint, there is no other reason for concern.

 

The Verdict

Nic salts are likely more addictive – just by upper concentration, these salts could be more addictive than regular vape juice. That is because they cause higher nicotine blood content during a shorter amount of your time, triggering neurochemical reactions faster.

Effects of carboxylic acid still under investigation – although arguably not highly toxic to humans, the carboxylic acid (used to make smooth nic salt vape juices) might even be a basis for the matter. Remarkable studies recommend that it trigger coughing, while others state that it can cause pseudo allergic reactions. We have no data on inhalation exposure, which we hope will change within the near future.

 

Noted harmfulness of nic salts – as always, the media might use this chance to pounce on vaping once more, arguing that the manufacturers are 'spiking' vape juice to make it more addictive (turns of this type are not all that unusual for our industry). With the FDA's recent announcement about reducing nicotine content in analogue cigarettes, this scenario is not unimaginable.

 

Shifting far away from vaping being possibly harmful, the FDA is now that specialize in the consequences of drug addiction and what is often done about it. Apart from carboxylic acid, there is nothing inherently more addictive about nicotine salts. We expect the new shirt from the FDA to hear more about the consequences of nicotine salts and addiction. More studies are needed, but only time will tell if the government decides a crackdown on nic salts.