How to choose the right nicotine strength?

Everything about nicotine! Tips and helpful facts.

With so many different options it can be daunting to choose your first e-liquid. Not to worry – Vaperite is always super committed to giving you the latest and greatest, most accurate advice for your vaping paraphernalia.  We’re die-hard vaping enthusiasts and geared to provide you with all the information you need to choose the perfect nicotine strength for your preference. 

But first, it’s good to understand some basic differences in all the forms nicotine can come in. 

Let’s get into it!

What is nicotine?

Nicotine is the addictive chemical compound found in tobacco plants. It’s what smokers are raving about and the oh-so-good chemical that keeps you coming back for more. 

Nicotine affects us in many ways, other than the classic head rush we can sometimes experience in the morning. It heightens the mood and increases memory and alertness.

The chemical is extracted from the leaves of the tobacco plant and then processed into either freebase nicotine or nicotine salts. 

Freebase Nicotine

This is the original form of nicotine used in e-liquids. It’s stronger on the throat and can be a bit harsh in very high nicotine strengths. (upwards of 15mg)

This is a good option if you’re looking to vape regularly throughout the day without consuming too much nicotine.

Nicotine Salts

Now fast forward to today’s cutting-edge in vaping science, nicotine salts have arrived and they’re here to stay. 

Ironically, this is the natural form of nicotine before extraction from the tobacco plant. There’s a whole lot of science behind creating it so we won’t go too deeply into that.

In short, nic salts have a pH level closest to that of the human body. Benzoic acid is typically added to freebase nicotine to create nicotine salts, a form of nicotine that is much quicker and more efficiently absorbed into our bloodstream. 

Even better, the adjusted pH level allows you to use much higher nicotine strengths without feeling any harshness on your throat. 

Nicotine Base

Sometimes referred to as unflavoured e-liquids, nicotine bases are a simple mix of Propylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerin, and pure nicotine. Different people prefer different mixes inconsistent with PG and VG for a couple of reasons.

PG – Propylene Glycol provides a stronger throat hit. It’s a thinner, tasteless and odorless liquid. 

VG – Vegetable Glycerin is smoother on the throat, thicker than PG, and has a very slight sweet taste to it. This will be your go-to if you’re chasing clouds! 

Tip: For thick, dense vapor; use a VG dominant e-liquid with a lower nicotine profile.

What does mg mean in vape juice?

This is the measurement of nicotine present in your e-liquid. Milligrams (mg) are usually measured per milliliter. (mg/ml) For example; if you have a 10ml bottle with 6mg nicotine, that’s in fact 10 x 6mg = 60mg nicotine for your body to absorb. 

In other words, the mg is not per bottle, but for every milliliter of e-liquid, there is a certain amount of nicotine. 

Nicotine strength

For beginner vapers who’ve never smoked before, opting for a low nicotine strength anywhere in the 0mg – 6mg range would work well. A higher nicotine profile, unless a nicotine salt, will prove to be quite harsh. 

Some popular nicotine levels in e-juices: 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 12mg, 25mg, 35mg, & 50mg.

For ex-smokers who made a health-conscious shift to vaping, the 12mg – 50mg range would be optimal. Cigarettes contain around 8 – 12mg of nicotine each, of which your body only absorbs a portion of it. 

What nicotine level is equivalent to a cigarette?

First, we have to understand that of an average 10mg nicotine cigarette, only about 1 – 2mg is going to your body. Vaping freebase nicotine will also take longer to get into the bloodstream. 

On average, 1ml of 25mg nicotine salt will be equal to two cigarettes in terms of nicotine content, however, it can be slightly more due to the fact that nicotine salts are so efficiently absorbed by the body.  

Choosing the right nicotine strength & type

• Is 50mg of nicotine dangerous?
• How do nicotine strengths differ?
• What is the ideal nicotine level?

These are all common questions and are surely worth asking yourself before making your decision. For those switching over from smoking to vaping, the transition should be as smooth as possible. Picking the right nicotine level will make or break your effort to drop those cigarettes for good. 

Is 50mg nicotine dangerous?

For heavy smokers or those who just prefer high levels of nicotine, a 50mg nic salt will simply tick all the boxes, and even the boxes you never knew you had. 

50mg Nic salts are perfect for smaller, pod-like devices using a 1.0 ohm – 1.5-ohm coil. 

These nic salts can help you vape less frequently during the day. A handful of puffs is enough to satisfy even the most intense nicotine cravings. 

Vapers should however be responsible when using nic salts as it is addictive stimulants.

How do nicotine strengths differ?

On average, freebase nicotine goes up to around 16mg. These strengths are perfect for people who have been vaping for a long time and are looking to cut down on nicotine intake generally. 

You can expect a throat hit similar to that of smoking a cigarette. 

Upwards to the maximum of 50mg nicotine solutions (nicotine salts) are smoother on the throat due to its adjusted pH level, and absorption into the bloodstream is also much quicker and more efficient.

What is the ideal nicotine level?

There is no magic number or sweet spot that will work for everyone. As a rule of thumb, rather start with low nicotine strengths and increase it over time if you feel you need to, rather than jumping in at the deep end and realizing too late that it’s possible to adopt a whole other level of nicotine consumption.  

Take a look at the 4 types of people who generally start vaping below. Find yourself or the closest description to you, and use that as a guide.

Curious – If you’re new to the vaping scene and would like to try it to see what everyone’s raving about – we recommend starting with zero nicotine or anything up to 3mg or 6mg. Two great options would be Killer by Nasty’s melons fruit (3mg) and the Lemonade Monster Series (0mg and 3mg available) The Lemonade Monster series also have nicotine salts – so make sure you pick the right nicotine strength! 

Social – We get it – vaping can be a great social tool. If you find yourself only vaping when out with friends, anything from 0mg up to 6mg (or slightly higher, if you prefer the effects of nicotine) would work perfectly. You’ll be taking puffs regularly so it will be good to vape on something that doesn’t have too much nicotine and isn’t too harsh on your throat. The majestic vapor range has some of the coolest flavors available and comes in both 3mg options as well as nicsalts. 

Enthusiast – If you’re someone who loves everything about vaping and have been an avid vaper for some time now, opting for a nicotine strength between 3mg – 25mg/35mg would probably be a good fit, depending on your reason for vaping. If you’re after the clouds and flavors, a lower nicotine strength would be advisable. 

If you use pod-system vapes, you can try MTL & saltnic e-liquids with higher nicotine profiles. 

This is by no means a recommendation but rather an outline of the average nicotine strengths used based on experience. Vaperite’s premium range caters to almost every nicotine strength out there with mouthwatering flavors to match!

Ex-Smoker – If your goal is to replace cigarettes and leave them in the dirt for good, a mid to high strength nicotine solution would aid you best in making the transition as smooth as possible. 

If you’re after that signature throat hit of a cigarette, MTL (mouth-to-lung) freebase nicotine solutions in the 12-16mg range would be a perfect fit. 

Heavy smokers who consume a lot of nicotine can consider using nic salts in the range of 25 – 50 mg depending on the frequency of use. Higher nicotine content in nic salts will have a smoother throat hit but will satisfy nicotine cravings much faster.

Check out Vaperite’s premium range here. Or alternatively, you may consider the Majestic Vapor or Lemonade Monster ranges, for they both also offer good quality nicotine salts. 

Vaperite is serious about the benefits of vaping as a smoke harm-reduction tool. Choosing the right nicotine profile for your e-liquid is an important step. It will ultimately determine if you kick your bad habit for good, or end up craving more nicotine.

DISCLAIMER

The information and advice given in this article are merely suggestions. Do not by any means portray the intentions of Vaperite or any of its employees. Vaperite does not support or promote excessive nicotine consumption, but rather advises our clients and readers to enjoy nicotine responsibly.