Nicotine Salts: What Are They & Should I Buy Them?
The year is 2016. Freebase nicotine dominates the market. Effective, but often harsh at higher strengths, especially for smokers trying to make the switch.
People keep asking: Is there a smoother way to vape higher-strength nicotine without the throat irritation?
The answer reshaped the next decade of vaping.
Nicotine salts started to go mainstream, popularised by compact closed-pod systems and bottled E-Liquids. They offered faster nicotine delivery with less harshness, while keeping things simple. While nic salts didn’t replace freebase, they removed a key friction point for many vapers, simpler devices, less setup, and fewer mistakes.
In this guide, we’ll explain what nicotine salts are, how they work, and help you decide whether you should buy them.
The Science: What Are Nicotine Salts?
Nicotine salts (nic salts) sound technical, but they’re straightforward.
They’re just a slightly different form of nicotine found naturally in tobacco leaves, blended with organic acids like benzoic acid and mixed into a base of Vegetable Glycerine and Propylene Glycol (VG/PG) to create E-Liquid. This lowers the pH, making high-strength nicotine easier to enjoy.
Are Nicotine Salts Safe?
Nic salts aren’t risk-free, but they’re designed to deliver nicotine efficiently, a much safer alternative to smoking.
A big advantage: the liquids are premixed and ready to use, so there’s no guesswork like with shortfills or DIY mixes. You know exactly what’s going into your pod or bottle, making them ideal for new vapers.
Devices & How to Use Them
Nic salts work best in low-wattage, mouth-to-lung (MTL) devices, which control nicotine delivery and keep the experience consistent.
Small, easy-to-use devices (typically 10–25W) that deliver a controlled, cigarette-like hit. They connect to refillable pods or prefilled pods and make vaping simple. Learn more about MTL vs DTL Vaping before buying nic salts.
Choosing a nicotine salt option comes down to how hands-on you want to be and how you like your flavours.
Both options remove the friction of complex setups, no coils, tanks, or complicated mixing. Just pick your pod, flavour, and enjoy.
Quick Tips for Enjoying Nic Salts:
- Experiment with prefilled and refillable pods to see which one you prefer.
- Match your strength to your smoking habits, no guessing needed.
- Swap flavours depending on your day, commute, evening out, or chill time at home.
- Step down gradually if you want to reduce nicotine.
Flavours & Strengths
One reason nic salts took off? Flavour freedom. Even at the UK’s 20mg/ml max, fruity, fizzy, and dessert-inspired blends taste bold and enjoyable.
IVG embraces variety: the PRO 12 prefilled pod range has 33 editions, from fan favourites like Blue Raspberry Ice to adventurous flavours like Fresh Menthol Fresh Mojito.
Nicotine strengths let you match your vaping to your habits:
- 10mg/ml: Moderate smokers or a step-down option — available in Intense Salts, SMART MAX, and PRO.
- 20mg/ml: Heavy smokers seeking quick satisfaction — available across IVG’s full range.
VG/PG in Nic Salts: You don’t need to understand VG and PG to enjoy nic salts, but most blends are around 50/50 or 60/40. This helps the nicotine absorb quickly and keeps flavours bright, making them ideal for low-wattage pods and prefilled devices.
Buying Safe Nicotine Salts: TPD Compliance Made Simple
Buying nic salts safely means looking for TPD-compliant products, whether bottles or prefilled pods.
Bottles
- Nicotine strength clearly labelled
- Childproof cap
- Max 10ml bottle
- Perfect for topping up refill pods, trying new flavours, or experimenting without extra devices
Prefilled pods
- Nicotine strength clearly labelled
- Max 2ml per pod (refill containers can hold up to 10ml)
- Portable and hassle-free, pop in and vape
Will Nicotine Salts Be Affected by the Vape Tax?
Yes, nicotine salts will be affected by the Vape Tax on October 1 2026, but not by nicotine strength.
The Vape Tax affects the price of a product by the amount of E-Liquid, at £0.22 per millilitre. For example, 2ml of E-Liquid = £0.44 in tax. 10ml of E-Liquid = £2.20 in tax. So, if a 10ml bottle is £3, it'll be £5.20 after tax is added.
Should You Buy Nicotine Salts?
It comes down to your nicotine preference. Do you want higher-strength nicotine with minimal throat harshness, or lower-strength, cloud-chasing freebase?
Here are the two main formats you can experiment with in nic salt form:
- 10ml Bottles (IVG Intense Salts): High-strength, ready-to-use nicotine salts available in bottles, perfect for a quick, convenient hit with bold flavours.
- Pod-Based (IVG Prefilled Pod Kits): Ready-to-use pods with nicotine salts, offering consistent strength and flavour straight out of the box, ideal for on-the-go vaping, discreet sessions, or trying a range of flavours.
FAQs
What does nicotine salt do to your body? Nic salts absorb faster than freebase nicotine, so you might notice a light headrush, mild dizziness, or dry mouth, normal as your body adjusts. Stop vaping and seek medical advice if symptoms persist.
Are nicotine salts better than freebase? “Better” depends on what you want. Nic salts are smoother, faster-acting, and perfect for compact pods. Freebase shines for bigger clouds or lower-strength liquids. Many vapers use both depending on the situation.
Can you mix nicotine salts with regular E-Liquid? No. Nic salts are specifically designed for use with prefilled pods or bottled nic salt liquids. Shortfills only work with freebase nicotine shots.
What’s the difference between E-Liquid and nicotine salts? E-Liquid is the vape juice you use. Nicotine salts are just a type of nicotine in some E-Liquids. So “nicotine salt E-Liquid” is simply juice that uses salts instead of freebase nicotine.