In recent years vaping in Australia has gone through a monumental change. In fact it is the largest change that the world has seen. As we all know; in 2024 the laws around vape products were changed and they became a pharmacy only product, with some products even being made prescription only.
Through those changes vape companies had to make many changes to their labelling. Aside from the look and feel of the labels, the companies also had to change the way some information pieces are shown. In this article we cover the way nicotine salt contents are shown.
What is salted nicotine?
At the outset it seems pretty easy: First we must think about the nicotine and the rest of the e-liquid to be separate parts. The Salted nicotine (otherwise known as ‘nicotine salt’) is just normal (freebase) nicotine that has had an organic compound added (generally an acid, like salicylic acid) to change the pH levels.
Why do we salt the nicotine?
Salting nicotine changes the pH levels of the nicotine making it feel smoother for the user, and to make the nicotine absorb quickly into the body when inhaled through a vape device.
How do we determine the strength of a salted e-liquid?
When a nicotine salt e-liquid is made it is made in multiple parts. The nicotine salts are made separately to the e-liquid, we call this a ‘nicotine salt solution’. We then add that nicotine solution to the e-liquid, creating the ‘finished product’.
As mentioned above; the ‘nicotine solution’ is made up of pure nicotine and an organic compound (i.e. an acid like salicylic acid). Because the 2 products are mixed there is a dilution of the nicotine strength. For example: if we make a 50:50 mix, let’s say 100ml of 1000mg nicotine and 100ml of acid, we end up with 200ml of liquid that has a strength of 500mg nicotine. This product is what we call the ‘nicotine salt solution’.
Why do salted e-liquids have 2 numbers on them?
So, now let’s look at the e-liquid in the form of a ‘finished product’. This finished product is made up of PG, VG, flavourings, and a nicotine salt solution.
Of course, nicotine salt e-liquids are made with a nicotine salt solution with concentrates such as 20mg/ml, 30mg/ml, or 50mg/ml. This means that we have used 20, 30, or 50mg/ml of SOLUTION in the liquid.
Let’s remember that the solution is made up of nicotine and acid, so it has been diluted. This means that a 20mg/ml nicotine salt solution, as used in our recipes, results in an e-liquid with 11.4mg/ml pure nicotine.
Recent law changes mean that now we need to note BOTH strengths on the bottle (the solution content AND the actual nicotine content). This is confusing for the user… We understand this… But it is law… Sorry.
Has your favourite e-liquid changed in any way?
No. This is the way that the product has always been made, and there is no intention of changing this. The only thing that has changed is how the information is presented to you, the user.
So you can be assured that an e-liquid that now notes 28.5mg/ml in bold, and 50mg/ml in smaller text, is still the same strength as the old products that were marked with just 50mg/ml. It’s the same product, the information is just given to you in a way that the authorities have asked us to.
