You might quickly become confused when deciding on the right nicotine level to vape at, especially as a new vape user. E-liquids usually come in different strengths ranging from zero nicotine to 20mg/ml, which is the maximum nicotine concentration allowed in the UK. You may even see some nicotine strengths in percentages instead of concentration. All this can leave you indecisive.
But you are not alone: some people choose vape juices that suits their flavour preference, like fruity, tobacco, menthol, dessert e-liquids, but don’t know the strength of vape juice that is best for them.
However, the truth is that it is hard to know the amount of nicotine contained in one cigarette, but when it comes to vape, you have the advantage of knowing the right nic levels for you. That’s what this article will show you. It will expose you to the standard vape juice nicotine strengths to help you decide on the right option to choose.
What is Nicotine?
Nicotine is an alkaloid naturally found in the tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum). It is sometimes synthesized, but it is found in smaller amounts in foods like potatoes, tomatoes, and aubergine. Nicotine is widely used as both a stimulant and a relaxant, with people reporting effects such as alertness, mood elevation, and calmness. Sounds great, right?
Despite all the useful attributes, nicotine is commonly viewed as being addictive, and many people who switched from smoking to vaping always use e-juice in different nicotine strengths, as there are so many options available.
However, you can still buy commercial e-juice without any nicotine (if you're looking only for the fun part: clouds!), but most of these liquids are sold with varying levels of nicotine. This is more reason for you to pick the right nic strength, especially as a new vaper.
Vape Juice Nicotine Levels
Although the concentration of nicotine in cigarettes varies with brands, commercial vape juices have standardized quantities across the market. The typical nicotine strengths are 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 12mg, and 18mg. However, some vape juices can have up to 20mg/mL of nicotine strength (maximum allowed in the UNITED KINGDOM).
These values show the quantity of nicotine found in 1ml of e-juice. Sometimes they are expressed in percentages (such as 2% instead of 20mg/ml).
How much Nicotine is Right for me?
The nicotine levels in e-cigs contribute primarily to how enjoyable vaping is for you, especially if you’re a new vaper. Most heavy smokers typically find that 12-18mg/mL are adequate concentrations, to start with, while regular smokers enjoy vaping with 6-12mg/mL. On the other hand, light smokers tend to stick with 3-6mg/mL because they find it manageable. Sub-ohm vapers also tend to stay within this concentration because they get more massive clouds with more nicotine per puff.
But, vaping is not the same as smoking cigarettes, and finding the right nicotine strength may be determined by how long you vape.
As a regular user who wants shorter vape sessions, you may decide to opt for higher nicotine strength in your vape juice. But if you prefer longer sessions, you may find lower concentration more comfortable.
Although it may take some experimentation for you to know the right nicotine strength for you, here are some factors you should take in consideration before choosing the most suitable nicotine strength for you.
Throat Hit and Taste: E-liquids with higher vape juice nicotine levels usually have a harsher taste and give throat hit. However, a lower nicotine level that provides a smoother hit and allows some vapers to enjoy the flavour better.
Smoking equivalency: If you switch from smoking to vaping, you may need to find a nicotine level that produces an equal level of pleasure as what you get when you still smoke. A heavy smoker would usually feel comfortable with a higher nicotine level, but vaping is quite different from smoking, and a lighter nicotine level may just be a better option.
Usage: If you only smoke once or twice in a day, you may do well with a higher nicotine level. But if you vape in longer sessions, a high nicotine level may be too much for you - maybe even causing nausea and dizziness, so take it easy!
Final Remark
You don’t know the amount of nicotine you get from smoking cigarettes, so deciding on the right nicotine strength based on your smoking experience is wrong. You need to understand that that commercial vape juices are standardized across the market, and you may only decide the best after you experiment. However, you don’t need to stop at the level you started on. You can try different e-juices, nicotine levels, and devices until you find what’s perfect for you. For this, I would highly recommend our OHM GO KIT, which is perfect for people who's looking for their right nicotine level. The battery wattage self adjusts to the e-liquid you're using, so you can give it a go in different types of e-juices until you find the correct one for you. You will also get two coils with the kit, so you can try each liquid with the correct recommended wattage. Lower nicotine levels with the 0.5 OHM coil and higher nicotine levels with the 1.0 OHM one.
Now that you know everything about nicotine levels, why not browse our award-winning e-liquids and choose the right one for you?
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