What Is the Difference Between Nicotine Salt and Nicotine?

Unknowingly, the e-cigarette scene has returned to the small device trend, just like the fashion cycle that repeats every ten years. E-cigarettes can be considered part of the fashion world and should follow this cyclical law. However, this time the cycle has come a bit early. Why has there been a sudden surge in small devices while larger devices have become more subdued?

Some say it is because small devices have become increasingly refined, stylish, and convenient, especially with the emergence of pod systems, making small devices the new favorites in the e-cigarette world!

Others say that larger devices are too cumbersome, inconvenient to carry, and do not provide enough satisfaction!

Even more say that the emergence of nicotine salts is the fundamental reason for the rise of small devices!
What are nicotine salts? How do they differ from the nicotine we usually encounter?

Nicotine salt e-liquids have recently become popular in the e-cigarette community. For example, e-liquids made with nicotine salts can provide a higher nicotine content to users without the harshness of the same concentration of freebase nicotine, making it feel closer to smoking, but no one has explained why there is such a difference.

After speaking with Gary, the technical director of Kepler e-liquids, he provided me with the answer.

Nicotine, commonly known as nicotine, is a type of alkaloid derived from pyridine, which has a certain alkalinity and can react with acids to produce amine salts. Therefore, nicotine salts are essentially amine salts. Compared to nicotine itself, nicotine salts cause much less irritation to the oral or throat mucosa. When nicotine salts enter the body, they decompose into nicotine and corresponding acids. For the same weight of nicotine salts and nicotine, the amount of nicotine that actually enters the body is less because nicotine salts also include the weight of the acids. Therefore, nicotine salts can generally be formulated up to 50mg, or even nearly 100mg, but the actual amount of nicotine may be less than expected, depending on the type of acid used.

Gary told me that the nicotine salts in Kepler's e-liquids are made using citric acid and tartaric acid. Citric acid is abundant in lemons and citrus fruits, while tartaric acid is found in grapes. Using these natural organic acids to synthesize nicotine salts is safer and healthier, and even has certain benefits for the human body, as these acids can also be beneficial.

The nicotine salts in Kepler's e-liquids are formed by combining citric acid and tartaric acid with nicotine in a specific ratio, which has been determined through hundreds of experiments. The advantage of this ratio is that it allows the e-liquids made with nicotine salts to achieve the best flavor, providing a satisfying smoking experience without a strong throat hit.

In this era of small devices, the quality of nicotine salt e-liquids determines the success or failure of small devices.