Tobacco Asia

54 tobaccoasia Issue 5, 2023 September / October We'd like to let you in on an industry secret You can view the latest issue of TOBACCO ASIA magazine and TOBACCO ASIA's archived issues and searchable content at www.tobaccoasia.com All free. No passwords. No paywall. Just click and read. currently commercialized. It has a pH value of 5.5 ±0.5 and Alchem test panels reported it to pro- vide a "coolness" to the vape. With little or no flavor changes reported while offering a very pro- nounced nicotine rush, it isn't overbearing and has no harsh throat hit. Nicotine Lactate (as "NicSelect Silver Salt") With lactates also being very common in dairy products as well as occurring in the human body, nicotine lactate is regarded as yet another one of the "more natural" nicotine salts. When used in e-liquids, it softens the nicotine taste and has a pH value of 4.0 ±0.5. Alchem test vapers reported nicotine lactate to have quite similar properties to the aforementioned nicotine salicylate, with a mid-range nicotine delivery and without a strong throat hit. The future is thoroughly salted With nicotine salts' continued popularity growth, e-liquid manufacturers and vape houses have new possibilities at their fingertips to extend existing or launch new product lines, putting innovation back on track that was partially stalled when the EU's TPD hit the industry. "Nicotine salts have given a huge opportunity to the vape sector and their use has spread rapidly, attracting more consumers with a better vape experience and convenience," said Anna Balconi. However, freebase nicotine is not completely out of the picture. When used in higher wattage devices, it is still quite accept- able for most casual vapers. But it has neverthe- less become very clear that tobacco smokers find consuming freebase nicotine e-liquids unsatisfac- tory, many among them switching back to tobacco products as a result. Nicotine salt e-liquids, on the other hand, help make the transition from tobacco smoking to vaping considerably more successful in most cases. SMOORE's Tom Xie concurred. "Simply speaking, nicotine salts provide a far bet- ter vaping experience [than freebase nicotine] be- cause they allow for the nicotine to be absorbed directly in the lungs," he reiterated. "That in turn more closely simulates the sensation of smoking a real cigarette," he concluded. Factory interior, Alchem Europe SA. Credit: Alchem Europe SA Nicotine salicylate provides the smoothest vaping experience of all nicotine salts currently commercialized.

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