Browse our e-liquids and you will see two kinds of nicotine e-liquid: nic salts and freebase. Both are sold in 10ml bottles in the UK and both come in a choice of strengths, but they are made differently and suit different devices. Here is what sets them apart and how to choose.
What is freebase e-liquid?
Freebase nicotine is the form used in e-liquids since the earliest devices. Freebase e-liquids are usually sold in strengths from 3mg to 18mg. At higher strengths, freebase gives a noticeably stronger throat hit, which is why people using freebase in higher-powered kits tend to choose lower strengths.
What are nic salts?
Nicotine salts, or nic salts, combine nicotine with a mild acid. The result feels smoother on the throat at higher strengths than freebase at the same strength. Nic salts are commonly sold at 10mg and 20mg (20mg/ml is the UK maximum) and are designed for low-powered mouth-to-lung pod kits.
Both types contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance.
Nic salts and freebase side by side
| Nic salts | Freebase | |
|---|---|---|
| Common strengths | 10mg and 20mg | 3mg to 18mg |
| Throat hit at higher strengths | Smoother | Stronger |
| Best suited to | Low-powered MTL pod kits | MTL and DTL tank kits |
| Typical PG/VG ratio | 50/50 | 50/50 up to high VG |
| UK bottle size | 10ml | 10ml |
Which devices suit each one?
Pod kits and MTL devices
Low-powered pod kits with coils of around 0.8Ω or higher are what nic salts are made for. A 50/50 freebase e-liquid also works well in these kits if you prefer a lower strength or a stronger throat hit.
Sub-ohm kits
Avoid high-strength nic salts in sub-ohm, direct-to-lung kits. These kits produce much more vapour per puff, so a high nicotine strength will feel too harsh. Use 3mg or 6mg freebase instead, or a high-VG shortfill with a nic shot.
A quick word on PG and VG
PG (propylene glycol) carries flavour and adds to the throat hit. VG (vegetable glycerin) is thicker and produces more vapour. A 50/50 mix suits most pod kits, while 70% VG and above suits sub-ohm coils. Very thick, high-VG liquids may not soak into the small coils of a pod kit quickly enough, which can cause dry hits.
How to choose
- Using a small pod kit? Try 10mg or 20mg nic salts, or a 50/50 freebase.
- Using a sub-ohm tank? Choose 3mg or 6mg freebase or a shortfill.
- Finding the throat hit too harsh? Try nic salts at the same or a lower strength, or a lower freebase strength.
You can browse the full ranges of nic salts and 10ml e-liquids, and our beginner’s guide to vape kits explains how to match an e-liquid to your device.
