Free Delivery If Order Value Over £20 and Same Day Dispatch If Order is Before 2PM

Difference Between Nic Salts & Nic Shots

Difference Between Nic Salt and Nic Shots?

New vapers tell us that they feel intimidated by the wide range of products available to them. The vape industry is full of confusing jargon. It is easy to get lost in thoughts and give up on the idea of quitting smoking altogether. Vape industry rules and regulations are always changing. This makes it even more confusing for new vapers to learn about the different e-liquid and vape kit ranges available to them.

Just when beginner vapers have got their heads around starter e-liquids, nic salts and nic shots make an appearance. For most beginners, learning the difference between a nic shot and a nic salt is the next step in their journey. Once they have these terms under their belt there is no limit to the new flavour sensations they can explore. This article explains the difference between these two common types of e liquid and proves that there is no need to feel intimidated by vape industry jargon.

What Is a Nic Shot?

Nic shots are an odourless, colourless, vessel for nicotine. They were developed in response to new rules and regulations from the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). Every e-liquid manufacturer knows it is important to make their products TPD compliant. This governing body regulates the production and sale of e-liquids and other vape products in the UK. A few years ago, the TPD released regulations that require manufacturers to test any new e-liquid products that contain nicotine.

With any liquid, the testing stage is the longest and slowest part of production. It requires laboratory specialists and a lot of time. When vape manufacturers and suppliers heard about the new regulations, they knew that they had to act fast to get products on shelves as quickly as possible. In the past, vapers could buy e liquid that already came with nicotine. To get around the regulations, manufacturers created nic shots.

Nic shots come in 10ml bottles and are completely TPD compliant. Nic shots pair with shortfills. Shortfills typically come in 60ml and 120ml bottles. The 60ml bottles contain 50mls of vape juice and the 120ml bottles contain 100mls of vape liquid. As the name suggests, the e liquid stops just short of the full bottle. This means that there is always more than enough space for a nic shot. Under the new TPD guidelines, manufacturers only need to test the nicotine shot.

This greatly reduces the amount of time it takes to get a product on shelves. Vapers now have to purchase a shortfill e liquid and add in a nic shot of their choice.

How Much Nic Shot to Use?

Shortfills usually come in 60ml and 120ml variants. The 60ml bottles come with 50mls of e liquid, whereas the 120ml bottles come with 100mls of e liquid.

Due to TPD regulations, nic shots are only available in 10ml bottles. This is why many vapers choose to add one nic shot to 60ml bottles, and two nic shots to the 120ml bottles.

Of course, the amount of nicotine strength in each nic shot affects the overall mixture. With different combinations of nic shot strengths, vapers can adjust their shortfill to suit their preferences.

We stock Nic Nic for all our customers’ nicotine shot needs. These shots deliver a punch.

How to Make 3mg Strength E-liquids With Nic Shots

In most starter vape liquid ranges, there is a choice between 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 12mg, and 18mg nicotine strength options.

Nicotine shots are slightly different. At the lower end, nic shots come with 11mgs of nicotine. Other options include 18mgs and 20mgs. Nic shot strengths start high because the ratio of nicotine to e liquid changes the overall amount in the mixture.

Here is how to achieve a 3mg overall mixture with different amounts of e liquid.

• 25ml shortfills need ½ of an 18mg shot.

• 50ml shortfills need an 18mg shot. • 100ml shortfills need 2 18mg shots.

How to Make 6mg Strength E-liquids With Nic Shots

Here is an easy breakdown of what to expect when creating 6mg E-Liquids with Nic Shots.

• 25ml shortfills need an 18mg shot.

• 50ml shortfills need 2 18mg shots.

• 100ml shortfills need 4 18mg shots.

How to Use Nicotine Shots?

Nicotine shots go into shortfills. Shortfills come in 60ml and 120ml bottles. 60ml bottles have enough space for a 10ml shot. Vapers can choose to add one or two shots to 120ml shortfill bottles to create their desired outcome.

Vapers can simply empty their nicotine shot into a shortfill bottle, shake well, and transfer the mixture into a vape kit of their choice.

Some shortfills come in 25ml bottles, which means that vapers have to add e liquids and nic shots to their device separately.

What is Salt Based Nicotine? 

Salt based nicotine is the purest form of nicotine on the market. Salt based nicotine products are more commonly known as nic salts, salt nics, and nicotine salts.

They are sourced from a naturally occurring form of nicotine found in tobacco leaves. Salts contain the same nicotine that is found in cigarettes, minus many of the harmful chemicals.

Manufacturers add benzoic acid to nic salts to create a smooth, mild throat hit that replicates the feeling of smoking a traditional cigarette. With salt nics, vapers can get the same nicotine hit without the harsh throat hit.

How Much Nic Salt to Use?

Given that salt nics are different from the other alternatives on the market, it is important to understand how to use them.

A lot of vapers use nic salts because there is a wide range of nicotine strengths available. Here are some quick tips for choosing the right salt nic strength for you.

• People who smoke a few cigarettes a day will be comfortable with 3mg and 6mg options.

• New vapers who used to smoke 10 to 20 cigarettes a day will feel satisfied with 8mg and 12mg strength nic salts.

• People who smoke more than a pack of cigarettes a day need 18mg and 20mg strength options.

The Benefits of Choosing Nic Salts Over Freebase Nicotine

There is a distinction between nic salts and freebase nicotine. Freebase nicotine goes into distilled alternatives like starter vape liquids. Beginners favour nicotine salts because they are absorbed into the bloodstream far quicker than distilled alternatives.

Here are some of the benefits of choosing nic salts over distilled alternatives.

• Vapers will not find a purer form of nicotine.

• They produce a mouth to lung (MTL) vape hit. This means that beginner vapers can enjoy the feeling of smoking a cigarette without the harsh throat hit.

• Nicotine salts do not come with all the harmful chemicals that cigarettes do.

• Vapers can experience a nicotine hit within 6-7 seconds.

 • They are cheaper in the long run. Although nic salts are slightly more expensive than distilled alternatives, they deliver nicotine more effectively. Customers can vape less for the same quality hit.

• Nic salts are more chemically stable than distilled vape liquids. They last longer, which means that vapers do not have to worry about that e-liquid going out of date.

• Salt nics work well with simple devices. Beginner vapers can get the same great nicotine hit without worrying about learning how to use advanced vape kits.

How to Use Nic Salts?

A lot of transitioning smokers need a high level of nicotine to deal with their cravings. This is why they choose nic salts, which come in higher strengths than freebase nicotine alternatives like starter vape liquids.

 Vapers can simply put their nic salts in a vape kit of their choice and begin smoking. Nic salts work best with low powered devices. A lot of starter vape kits are low powered and easy to use. Users just need to make sure that their coil is 1ohm or above in resistance.

Nic Salts and Nic Shots at Eliquid Base


 We pride ourselves on stocking a wide range of premium quality products. Vapers can depend on us for all their nic shot and salt nic needs. Our Nic Nic range is designed to curb nicotine cravings. The 11mg, 18mg, and 20mg nicotine shots in this catalogue are sure to satisfy beginner, intermediate, and advanced vapers alike. Our nic salt range is far more expansive. Premium quality brands like Dinner LadySlushie and Nasty Juice abound in our online vape shop.

With our ranges, it has never been easier for transitioning vapers to achieve a mouth to lung vape hit that replicates the feeling of smoking a traditional cigarette.

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

What are you looking for?

Your cart