Nicotine salts versus freebase, without the marketing
The same molecule, buffered differently. What that actually changes, and which one belongs in your device.
Nicotine salt is not a different nicotine. It is the same molecule with benzoic acid added, which lowers the pH of the solution. That single change has three consequences worth understanding, and a lot of consequences that marketing departments have invented.
What actually changes
- Throat harshness drops sharply. 20mg salt is comfortable; 20mg freebase in the same device is not.
- Absorption is faster, so it satisfies a craving more like a cigarette does.
- Vapour production is lower at the same strength, because salts are used in higher-resistance, lower-power devices.
Which to use
Salts belong in pod systems and MTL kits at 10mg or 20mg. Freebase belongs in sub-ohm tanks at 3mg or 6mg. Putting 20mg salt in a 0.15Ω mesh coil at 70W is genuinely unpleasant and, at that power, delivers an unreasonable amount of nicotine per draw. Putting 3mg freebase in a tight pod will leave you unsatisfied.
That is essentially the whole decision. Device power determines nicotine type, not the other way round.
What does not change
Salts are not smoother because they are 'natural', are not gentler on your lungs, and do not contain less nicotine per milligram. A 20mg salt and a 20mg freebase contain identical nicotine by weight. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling something.
Nothing in this article is medical advice. It is what our team has observed across thousands of customer conversations. If you are trying to stop smoking and want clinical support, your GP or a local stop-smoking service can help free of charge.