In This Guide
Nic salt and freebase nicotine are the two main types of nicotine used in e-liquids, and picking the wrong one for your device is one of the most common beginner mistakes in vaping. Here's the difference, in plain English.
What Is Nicotine Salt?
Nicotine salt (nic salt) is nicotine in a more naturally-occurring chemical form, similar to how nicotine exists in the tobacco leaf itself. It's smoother on the throat at higher strengths, absorbs into the bloodstream faster, and is almost universally used in the prefilled pod kits sold in the UK today — including all six kits and eight pod ranges IVG, Lost Mary, Hayati, Vaporesso, and OXVA make.
What Is Freebase Nicotine?
Freebase is the traditional form of nicotine used in e-liquids since vaping began. It delivers a stronger throat hit at higher strengths, which is why UK freebase e-liquids are capped at 20mg by TPD regulation, but are typically sold at lower strengths (3mg, 6mg, 12mg) for use in sub-ohm and higher-wattage devices.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Nic Salt | Freebase | |
|---|---|---|
| Throat hit at high mg | Smooth | Harsh |
| Absorption speed | Faster | Slower |
| Typical strength | 10mg–20mg | 3mg–20mg |
| Best device type | Pod kits (MTL) | Sub-ohm tanks (DTL) |
| Used in prefilled pods? | Almost always | Rarely |
Which Should You Use?
- Use nic salt if you're vaping on any of the pod kits sold on Ice Vape — this is what they're designed for, and it's what comes in every prefilled pod.
- Use freebase only if you're using a refillable sub-ohm tank or box mod designed for direct-lung vaping at lower nicotine strengths.
Which Is Better for Switching From Smoking?
Nic salt is generally recommended for people switching from smoking, because it delivers nicotine to the bloodstream at a similar speed to a cigarette, and the smoother throat hit at 20mg makes higher strengths comfortable to use — helpful for smokers used to a strong hit from tobacco.