Updated for 2024! Vapers everywhere have been reporting good things about nic salts, so it’s no wonder that so many e liquid brands have introduced their own nic salt juice ranges.
Nic salt is different from a standard vape juice due to its smoothness and excellent flavour.
It also allows users to inhale considerably more nicotine making nic salts a more cost-effective form of e-juice. So, which are the best nic salt brands on the market today?
Here, we tell you everything you need to know to make the right choice for you. So let’s take a look at some of the best nic salts in the UK.
Top 9 Best Nicotine Salt E-Liquids in the UK for 2024
Vsavi
- Nicotine Strength: 20 mg/ml
- Best Flavours: Coffee Latte, Smooth Tobacco, Strawberry Milk
If you read our list of the best freebase nicotine e-liquids, you’ll see that the Vsavi brand is at the top of that list as well. The reasons for Vsavi being given the top spot on our list of the best nicotine salt e-liquids are the same as they are for that list. Vsavi e-liquids are produced according to exacting quality standards. They’re vegan friendly and free of animal testing. They’re routinely checked for purity and lack of contaminants. In short, if you’ll settle for nothing less than an extremely pure e-liquid, this is definitely the brand for you. Even the flavours are all natural.
Vsavi nicotine salt e-liquid uses a 50/50 blend of vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol to provide excellent clog-free performance in the smallest vaping devices such as e-cigarettes and pod systems. Between the excellent performance in small devices and the great selection of tasty flavours, Vsavi is a great choice for anyone interested in dipping their toes into the world of nicotine salt e-liquid for the first time.
Pod Salt
- Nicotine Strength: 11 and 20 mg/ml
- Best Flavours: Mango Ice, Blackcurrant Menthol, Apple
Pod Salt’s claim to fame is that it’s one of the few nicotine salt e-liquids produced in the United Kingdom. Most of the e-liquids in this category are imported from the United States, and some are actually made as far afield as China. Pod Salt is one of the rare exceptions that’s made right here at home. Buying Pod Salt means that you’re getting an exceptionally fresh product since it’s produced close to you, and it also means that you’re supporting domestic workers being paid fair wages. Pod Salt is so popular, in fact, that’s it’s used in one of the best disposable vapes.
In addition to the fact that it’s made here in the UK, another feature of Pod Salt is that it includes an unusual additive: salicylic acid. Every nicotine salt e-liquid includes an added acid that converts the freebase nicotine to nicotine salt, and benzoic acid is the most common ingredient used for this purpose. Pod Salt is unique in its use of salicylic acid, which also happens to be a substance found naturally in tobacco. In a sense, that makes Pod Salt more like real tobacco than many other e-liquids, and people have reported that it provides an especially satisfying experience.
Elfliq
- Nicotine Strength: 10 and 20 mg/ml
- Best Flavours: Blue Razz Lemonade, Cream Tobacco, Spearmint
Speaking of the best disposable vapes, Elf Bar has been one of the leading brands of disposables in the UK for quite some time now. Disposables have a few issues, though, and one of the most significant problems is that they’re quite expensive – especially for people who use a lot of nicotine. Because of the Tobacco Products Directive, a disposable vape can contain no more than 2 ml of e-liquid – and for some people, that’s not even enough for a whole day.
It’s possible that you’re reading this article for exactly that reason; you started out with disposables and discovered that they weren’t sustainable for your level of nicotine intake, and now you’re interested in trying a refillable vape instead.
If you’re looking to switch from disposable vapes to a refillable device, you’re going to love Elfliq. It’s made by the same company that produces Elf Bar disposable vapes, and the flavours are the same ones that Elf Bar has made famous. With iconic flavours like Blue Razz Lemonade now available for refillable devices, it’s no surprise that people have been flocking to Elfliq by the thousands – and not a moment too soon. With the UK government seemingly set to ban disposable vapes in the near future, everyone will be using refillable devices before long.
Hangsen Bar Fuel
- Nicotine Strength: 10 and 20 mg/ml
- Best Flavours: Menthol Candy, Triple Mango, White Peach Razz
Based in China and boasting several manufacturing centres around the world, Hangsen is one of the oldest e-liquid brands and has been around almost as long as vaping has existed. If you’ve been vaping long enough that you can remember a time when the average vape juice brand offered about five different tobacco flavours and not much else, there’s a good chance that you’ve tried a Hangsen e-liquid.
In those days, most Chinese-made e-liquids had extremely simple flavour profiles. It took a while for those companies to adapt to the times and begin offering vape juices with sweeter and more complex flavours. Hangsen has caught up with recent trends, though, and the new Hangsen Bar Fuel range of nicotine salt e-liquids is guaranteed to please. Flavours like White Peach Razz and Triple Mango have just the right amount of sweetness to keep your palate excited all day long, but they’re still very coil friendly and are slow to begin producing the burnt flavours that are always characteristic of heavily sweetened e-liquids.
Maryliq
- Nicotine Strength: 20 mg/ml
- Best Flavours: Triple Melon, Cherry Ice, Sour Red
Did you know that the maker of the famous Elf Bar range of disposable vapes is also popular for the fast-growing Lost Mary brand? Although Elf Bar has been the most popular brand of disposables in the UK for some time now, Lost Mary is quickly rising up the ranks and may even overtake Elf Bar in popularity before long. In our opinion, the flavours of Lost Mary vapes are even more creative, exciting and unusual than the flavours offered under the Elf Bar brand.
If you’re a fan of Lost Mary vapes but are tired of paying for an expensive new device every few days, you’re going to love Maryliq nicotine salt e-liquids because they give you an opportunity to enjoy the same flavours in bottled form at a much lower price point. So, if you’re looking to save a bit of money – or you just want to switch to a refillable device and get a head start on the looming disposable vape ban – there is no question that Maryliq is one of the best nicotine salt e-liquids on the market today.
Nyx Juicy
- Nicotine Strength: 10 and 20 mg/ml
- Best Flavours: Mango Ice, Banana Ice, Sweet Strawberry Ice
In the world of e-liquid, the advent of “Ice” flavours has been one of the biggest trends over the past few years. E-liquids bearing the “Ice” moniker include menthol, but it’s such a low amount that the menthol doesn’t cover the base flavour of the e-liquid with a strong minty note as is so often the case with menthol e-liquids. Instead of getting a flavour that tastes more like peppermint than anything else, you detect just a hint of coolness under the e-liquid’s main flavour profile.
As you may have noticed, the Nyx Juicy range definitely specialises in “Ice” e-liquids. In fact, almost every e-liquid in the Nyx Juicy range has a little menthol. If you haven’t tried an “Ice” vape juice because you think that you don’t like menthol, we encourage you to give the Nyx Juicy range a try because a light menthol finish can make an e-liquid incredibly refreshing. Menthol may also help to alleviate the throat soreness that some people experience when using high-nicotine e-liquids.
IVG
- Nicotine Strength: 20 mg/ml
- Best Flavours: Sub-Zero Frozen Grape, Exotic Coco Lush, Cola Ice
With 17 options in all, it’s safe to say that the IVG Salt range has a wider selection of flavours than just about any brand of nicotine salt e-liquid on the market today – and as you may have noticed from flavour names like Exotic Coco Lush and Sub-Zero Frozen Grape, the IVG Salt range includes plenty of unique experiences that you won’t find anywhere else.
Nicotine Salt e-liquid has a more neutral pH than freebase e-liquid, which many people find helps nic salt juice to provide a smoother vaping experience compared to high-strength freebase e-liquids. Despite that fact, some people still find it difficult to use certain nicotine salt e-liquids due to the throat harshness that can sometimes be experienced with e-liquids that contain high amounts of nicotine. You won’t have to worry about that with IVG because this brand’s flavour options are specifically blended for maximum smoothness. Try it in your pod system or other small vaping device, and the experience will absolutely delight you.
Doozy Vape Co
- Nicotine Strength: 10 and 20 mg/ml
- Best Flavours: Caramel Tobacco, Apple Grape Blast, Fizzy Lemon
When you buy nicotine salt e-liquid for the first time, there’s a very good chance that you’ll be using it with a small vaping device such as a pod system or a traditional e-cigarette with a refillable cartridge. With these types of devices, it’s usually best to use the highest available nicotine strength – which is 20 mg/ml for most brands – to ensure that you’ll get enough nicotine to have a satisfying experience. With a strength of 20 mg/ml, you’ll also feel a good, strong throat hit when inhaling, which is important to ensure that you’ll feel the same satisfaction as when you smoke a cigarette.
Despite the fact that starting out with the highest available nicotine strength is usually a good idea, it’s great if your preferred e-liquid brand also has a lower strength available because it gives you the option of switching to a lower strength – perhaps because you want to reduce your nicotine intake, for instance – without losing access to your favourite flavours. That’s one of the biggest benefits of the nicotine salt e-liquids from Doozy Vape Co, which are available in strengths of 10 and 20 mg/ml. Try the Caramel Tobacco flavour for a wonderful experience that mixes a smooth tobacco base with sweet caramel to create a dessert profile that’s ideal for all-day vaping.
FAQ
What is nicotine salt?
Nicotine salt is one of the most incredible innovations to hit the world of vaping in years. People who are new to vaping usually want to use devices that are small and simple, because those are the types of devices that remind them of the cigarettes they’re giving up.
Because these types of devices produce small vapour clouds, they work best with e-liquids that have high nicotine strengths. A high-strength e-liquid provides plenty of nicotine per puff, even with a device that only offers modest vapour production.
The problem is that high-strength e-liquids using freebase nicotine – which was the only type of nicotine available for e-liquid until nic salt juice was developed – can cause throat irritation due to the alkalinity of the nicotine, and some people find them difficult to use as a result.
Nicotine salt e-liquid contains a mild food-grade acid – usually benzoic acid – that makes the pH of the vape juice more neutral. This increases the smoothness of the e-liquid and makes it easier to inhale, thus allowing users of smaller devices to get the nicotine they need without coughing and getting sore throats.
The acid also converts freebase nicotine into salt-based nicotine, which is why the resulting e-liquid is called nicotine salt e-liquid.
What types of vapes work best with nicotine salt?
Compared to freebase nicotine e-liquids, nic salt juice usually comes in higher nicotine strengths. Most nicotine salt e-liquid sold in the UK has a strength of 20 mg/ml, although a few brands also offer a lower strength of 10 mg/ml.
Even at 10 mg/ml, though, nicotine salt e-liquid is much too powerful to use in large vaping devices such as sub-ohm vape mods. You should use nicotine salt e-liquid in a small device such as a pod system, a small vape pen or a cigarette-shaped cigalike.
What are the differences between nic salt and freebase e-liquid?
These are the main differences between nicotine salt and regular e-liquid.
- Freebase nicotine e-liquid has a stronger throat hit at high nicotine strengths. Although some people enjoy the sensation, others find it irritating. Nicotine salt e-liquid is smoother and easier to inhale at higher nicotine concentrations. Because it’s easier to inhale, many people find that they’re able to use a larger volume of nicotine salt e-liquid in a shorter amount of time, so they feel satisfied sooner.
- Freebase nicotine e-liquid is available in a wide array of strengths usually ranging from 3-18 mg/ml. Nicotine salt e-liquid is usually only available in strengths of 10 mg/ml and up.
- Because nicotine salt e-liquid is intended for use in smaller vaping devices and is usually thinner than freebase e-liquid, it often produces smaller vapour clouds that don’t hang in the air for long before disappearing. For this reason, nic salt is often seen as the superior option for discreet vaping.
Is nic salt juice more addictive than normal eliquid?
Since nicotine salts usually have a much higher strength, it is only natural that vapers wonder whether they are more addictive than regular e-juices.
One reason why cigarettes are addictive is that they deliver nicotine very rapidly to the brain.
At the moment, there is little information about whether nic salts can actually deliver nicotine more speedily to the brain than freebase nicotine.
However, vapers are able to consume a lot more nicotine with every puff when vaping nic salts since they are smoother and less harsh on the throat.
Since more nicotine can be consumed, it is possible that nicotine salts could have a higher potential for dependency, although this is because of the amount consumed and not specifically because it is nicotine salt.
Is it safe?
There is only a single difference between regular e-juices and nic salt juices – the addition of a mild food-grade acid.
Therefore, it’s likely that nic salt is equally safe as freebase nicotine juices.
The WHO has advised that vapers consume no more than 5mg per kilo of their body weight of benzoic acid daily.
However, when we consider that this equals around 345mg for someone weighing 150lbs, it would be almost impossible to vape that much nicotine salt e-liquid since 1ml of nic salt juice only contains a few milligrams of benzoic acid.
What are the origins of nic salts?
The term “salts” is actually somewhat misleading in the name Nic Salts. There isn’t any actual salt contained in this type of e-juice.
The term “salt” refers to any compound which combines a base with an acid.
In the case of nic salts, the nicotine is combined with benzoic acid to create something new – salt nicotine.
In a regular e juice, the manufacturer will use freebase nicotine, and this produces the throat hit which many vapers prefer.
In a regular nicotine solution, the chemical isn’t bonded chemically to anything. Since it’s isolated, it is considered to be free from its base.
It isn’t combined with any acid or additives to reduce the acidity of the chemical.
While the nicotine solution, which is found in standard ejuices, is pure, it isn’t natural. In the tobacco plant, the nicotine interacts with several compounds.
It’s only via chemical manipulation and extraction that “pure” nicotine can be created by manufacturers.
By adding benzoic acid, the chemical can be returned to its natural form where it can combine with the other molecules to produce salt juice.
What strength should you buy?
If you’re using a vaping device that’s ideal for nicotine salt e-liquid – such as a pod system or a traditional e-cigarette – we suggest starting out with the 20 mg/ml nicotine strength unless you smoke less than half of a pack of cigarettes per day. Most people will find the 20 mg/ml strength sufficient for replacing the nicotine delivery of cigarettes and will be able to switch to vaping relatively easily.
If your chosen e-liquid brand has a lower 10 mg/ml strength available, these are the reasons why you might want to consider using it.
- You’re using a larger pod system or vape pen that produces bigger clouds, meaning that you can have a satisfying experience without using the higher strength.
- You smoke less than half a pack of cigarettes per day and don’t require a large amount of nicotine.
- You’ve tried the 20 mg/ml strength and felt like you were getting more nicotine than your body needed.