Overcoming Vape Harshness with Nicotine Salts

There are many things to love about vaping. The fact that it promises so much versatility on both the hardware and e-liquid fronts means there is rarely a dull day as a vaper. While that’s not a bad thing, it also means there are more potential pain points to deal with. One common issue many vapers grapple with is vape harshness. A harsh vape is not a pleasant taste and it takes away from the quality of your experience. But what do we really mean by a harsh vape, and more importantly, how do you fix it?

What is a harsh vape?

A harsh vape is basically an irritating sensation you get at the back of the throat when inhaling vapour from an e-cig device.

A throat hit, which is the feeling you get at the – well – back of your throat when vaping, is not a bad thing. In fact, a vape without a good throat hit can be underwhelming for some. It is one of the reasons smokers, in particular, regress when transitioning to e-cigs.

But throat hit becomes a problem when the resultant taste is irritating on the throat. This burning sensation is what we mean by a harsh vape.

For beginners, it can be off-putting if you don’t understand what you’re dealing with. It’s important to get to the bottom of the issue because it compromises your overall vaping experience and may lead some to seek other nicotine alternatives.

What causes vape harshness?

There are myriad reasons why you might be experiencing a harsh vape.

Some of the most common include the following:

1. High nicotine levels

Nicotine strength is one area you should look at if your vape feels harsh. Different users have different nicotine needs. If you’re on a nicotine level that is higher than you need, it can create a burning sensation in your throat.

Going down a notch will normally fix the problem if this is the underlying cause. For instance, if you’re using a 9mg e-liquid, try a 6mg variant and see how it works for you.

2. PG/VG ratio

As you know, propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerine (VG) are the two main constituents of e-liquid, often used in varying ratios.

This ratio determines the properties of any given e-liquid in terms of viscosity, flavour, throat hit and vapour production.

E-liquids high in VG are thicker and emit huge clouds of vapour, which is why they’re used in sub-ohms. PG-based e-liquids, for their part, have a thinner consistency and PG is also a better carrier of flavour.

As far as throat hit and harshness are concerned, VG is smoother on the throat compared to PG. So, if you find yourself struggling with a harsh vape, consider substituting your 50/50 e-liquid with a 70/30 variant and see how you respond to it.

The downside with having a higher VG is that while it results in a smoother vape, it sacrifices nicotine satisfaction, something higher-nicotine users or transitioning smokers might not find ideal. This is where nicotine salt juice might prove useful, but more on this shortly.

3. Poor quality vape juice

The e-liquid space has one of the most diverse categories you’ll find of any product. This means vapers are spoilt for choice when it comes to e-liquid selection.

Unfortunately, low quality vape juice doesn’t often guarantee the best experience, with vape harshness being one of the many shortcomings. Stick to quality brands and shop from trusted vendors like Vapemate to cut your risk of happening across low-quality or counterfeit products.

Still on the issue of quality, keep in mind that e-liquids that are not properly stored, are old or past their sell-by date can cause vape harshness.

4. Strong e-liquid flavours

The choice of flavour is a subjective thing, but it’s worth noting that certain flavours such as mint, eucalyptus and citrusy notes can feel sharp on the throat and tongue.

If you find these vape flavours are not up your alley, consider switching to something sweeter or subtler.

Darker flavours such as coffee or tobacco give a subtle throat hit (ironically), as do flavours in the sweet fruit or dessert category. That includes creams as well.

5. Gunk build-up

The aforementioned dark and sweet flavours may be able to stave off vape harshness, but they can impact your experience negatively if you don’t take care of your device properly.

Gunk build-up in the coil can cause a harsh taste (as can a clogged atomiser or airflow), so always make it a point of cleaning your device and coils regularly.

6. Too much wattage

Higher wattage burns e-liquid faster and at higher temperatures. This can cause a harsh vape and contribute to other issues such as intense nicotine buzz.

Always use vape coils compatible with your device and make sure to adjust your e-cig to a lower wattage (where applicable) if you’re trying to establish the cause of vape harshness.

7. Overheating

Another reason you could be getting a harsh vape taste is due to overheating. Overheating of e-cig devices can be caused by improper device use such as chain vaping or using your e-cig for an extended period of time.

Also, avoid leaving your device (and vape juice) in direct sunlight to avoid overheating.

The case for nicotine salts

As you can see, there are many things that could be contributing to the harshness you may be getting in your vape. That versatility we mentioned earlier that comes with vaping can also be a double-edged sword because e-cigs are not as homogenous as their combustible alternatives.

This variety and plethora of options is not only seen in e-cig devices and their accessories, but also very much extends to e-liquids too.

E-liquids, though, can be narrowed down to two main types based on their formulation:

• Freebase e-liquids
• Nicotine salt e-liquids

All standard or “regular” e-liquids laced with nicotine are made using freebase nicotine. These include regular (aka 50/50) e-liquids and juices used for sub-ohm vaping, with the exception of shortfill e-liquids which contain 0mg of nicotine.

So, why does this matter in the context of vape harshness?

In a nutshell, freebase e-liquids are more prone to harshness than their salt nic counterparts. Freebase e-liquids with high nicotine content in particular are bigger culprits. And the reason could be down to their formulation.

You see, one way of extracting nicotine from tobacco leaf is through the use of an ammonia extract. It’s the same concept used in the manufacture of tobacco-leaf-based freebase e-liquid.

However, nicotine salt juice employs a different method – thanks to a breakthrough idea by Pax Labs, the original creators of nicotine salt e-liquid.

Pax Labs established that it was possible to increase the amount of nicotine in e-liquids without making the juice too harsh. This involved removing the ammonia out of the equation and replacing it with benzoic acid.

What benzoic acid did was lower the alkalinity in e-liquids, resulting in a vape that is able to deliver higher nicotine doses without it being harsh on the throat. This is why salt nics have a better kick and deliver nicotine into the body faster and more effectively compared to freebase nicotine.

In short, the creators of nicotine salt juice were able to replicate the feel of an actual cigarette without bringing the deleterious effects of combustible cigarettes on board.

For this reason, salt nic juice is a great option for smokers switching to vaping as it guarantees a more seamless transition. The same case applies to users who feel regular e-liquid doesn’t do it for them.

Nicotine salt juice is also more satisfying, which means users are likely to vape less.

Overcoming vape harshness with nicotine salts

Vape harshness should not be a concern for non-nicotine users since zero-nicotine e-liquids do not contain any nicotine (obviously) and their PG level is low – the two main culprits behind vape harshness.

If you’ve found it hard to get past the harshness of vape juice as a nicotine vaper, you might want to try e-liquids from different brands first and see if that makes a difference.

Despite being marketed as similar flavours, e-liquids from different brands (say, an Apple flavour from Brand X and an Apple flavour from Brand Y) will often differ in taste as the mixology is different.

If that doesn’t work for you, or you would rather avoid the whole experiment thing, consider switching to nic salts altogether. Earlier, we alluded to propylene glycol (PG) in relation to nicotine satisfaction.

Nic salt e-juice typically comes in a 50/50 ratio. However, due to the composition reasons we’ve highlighted above, salt nics are able to sidestep the shortcomings of a high PG content (notably harshness) without compromising on vape satisfaction.

This is why we can’t recommend them highly enough for heavy nicotine users and smokers switching to vaping in particular. The good thing today is that unlike when they first came out and were only available as closed pod systems, customers have options.

For those who prefer vape pens or MTL kits, nicotine salt e-liquids come in re-fillable form and can be used in most vape tanks, provided the hardware is compatible. As well, you can still get them in prefilled format. See the vast collection of prefilled vape pods in our store, for example.

We also stock refillable vape pods to suit every tongue.

Nic salts also feel harsh. What’s up?

Even in high concentrations, salt nics will still generally feel smoother than standard e-liquids. However, there are instances when a nicotine salt vape might feel rough on the throat.

Usually, you are either vaping a very high concentration (anything above 30mg – if you’re lucky to find it locally with most in the UK capped at 20mg) or you are vaping at a high wattage (above 20W). Therefore, you need to decrease your nicotine strength and tweak your power settings respectively.

If none of these resolve the problem, you can also try the following hacks:

1. Dilute your juice

 It’s possible to dilute your nic salt e-liquid without necessarily reducing its potency per se. To do this, add some VG and a few drops of water (or PG liquid as an alternative).

This will remove the sting from the juice. Plus, the VG will result in a thicker blend which will slow the flow a bit, resulting in a softer inhale.

2. Switch to a higher-resistance coil

You can also try switching to a slightly higher-resistance coil and notice if there is a difference.

If you’re on a 0.8 Ohm coil, for instance, try a 1 Ohm coil but leave the voltage as is. What this does is make the vape cooler and softer.

3. Opt for a lower PG variant

Lastly, if a salt nic feels harsh on the throat, try a blend with less PG.

If by any chance the e-liquid contains more than 50%PG, try an offering with identical PG/VG ratios (that is, 50/50 – the default for most nic salts) and notice if there is a change.

Conclusion

There are many things that can contribute to a harsh vape taste, including high nicotine levels in e-liquid, PG/VG ratio content, wattage and more.

One way to address the issue effectively is to switch to nicotine salt e-juice which has a smoother throat hit compared to freebase e-liquids even at higher nicotine concentration levels.

What’s more, nic salts are also more satisfying and boast a faster absorption rate which means they can curb cravings more effectively while reducing your vaping sessions.

However, regardless of the choice you end up making, always make sure to source your vape supplies from a reputable supplier.

At Vapemate, we aim to provide our customers with the highest quality vaping products. Our salt nic range is crafted with a superior vaping experience in mind, and we ensure offerings from partner brands that we offer in our store also tick the box.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does a harsh vape mean?

A harsh vape is an unpleasant experience you get at the back of the throat which can be attributed to different factors.

If you’re just starting out in vaping, it is important to remember that a harsh vape taste should not be the norm. Often, it is a sign that there is an underlying issue that warrants your attention.

What are the causes of a harsh vape?

Vape harshness can be caused by many things. Some common culprits include high PG content, poor quality e-liquid, high device wattage, strong e-juice flavours and gunk build-up in your device. Vape harshness is mostly associated with freebase e-liquids.

How to make vaping less harsh?

If you are experiencing vape harshness, there are a few things you can do to reverse the situation. You could try higher VG e-liquids which are smoother on the throat.

As well, vaping at a lower wattage can keep the vapour cool and allow for a gentler inhale. You could also opt for sweeter, creamy or dessert e-liquids which typically have a smoother throat hit. If that is not an option, try switching to nicotine salt e-liquid.

Is salt nicotine e-liquid less harsh?

Yes, salt nics are less harsh compared to freebase nicotine e-liquids. They also feel less bitter when vaping higher nicotine concentrations, which makes them ideal for someone who prefers a nicotine vape with gentler inhales.