Nicotine salt or freebase
Two forms of the same substance
Nicotine is contained in liquids either as freebase or as nicotine salt. In both cases, this means the same substance, just in a different chemical form.
- Freebase is the free, alkaline form of nicotine. For a long time, it was the usual form in liquids.
- Nicotine salt is formed when nicotine is combined with an acid. Common examples are benzoic acid or lactic acid. This makes the liquid less alkaline.
What is on the label
For both forms, the nicotine strength is stated in mg/ml and refers to the amount of nicotine. 10 mg/ml nicotine salt therefore contains 10 mg of nicotine per millilitre, just like 10 mg/ml freebase. Whether a liquid contains nicotine salt is usually stated on the label, for example as “Nikotinsalz”, “Nic Salt” or “NS”.
Differences according to manufacturers
| Freebase | Nicotine salt | |
|---|---|---|
| chemical form | alkaline | combined with acid |
| taste impression in the throat | often described as harsher | often described as softer |
| typical devices according to manufacturers | also devices with low resistance and higher power | mainly pod systems with higher resistance |
The information on the taste impression consists of manufacturers’ descriptions and not of measured values. We make no statements about effects.
Which form suits which device?
Manufacturers of pod systems often recommend nicotine salt liquids in a certain strength range, such as 10–20 mg/ml. The recommendation is given in the instructions or the product data of the device.
Mandatory information
In the EU, nicotine-containing liquids carry the warning “This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.” and may contain at most 20 mg/ml. They may only be supplied to persons aged 18 and over.