Let’s start with normal E-Liquid (Freebase)
There’s a fundamental difference between the conventional “freebase” nicotine we use in our e-liquids and the newer “salts” that have been quickly making headlines. It is this difference that, not only classifies it separately but also creates an entirely new experience.
To better understand what salts are, let’s compare them to their big brother, freebase nicotine. Without getting too technical, freebase is the purest form of nicotine and is the default “go-to” for most manufacturers. This nicotine solution is simply added to a mixture of vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG) which “carry” the nicotine with them when vaped. It’s also what we use in nicotine replacement therapies—like gums, patches, sprays, and lozenges.
Furthermore, freebase has been the norm in cigarettes for decades, thanks to Phillip Morris of Marlboro back in the 1960s. He found that “freebasing” nicotine-paired with ammonia delivered a significantly larger amount of nicotine (which did wonders for keeping customers hooked). Since we’re trying to offer an effective nicotine replacement in vape juices, it only makes sense that we use the best form available.