Throat Hit 101: Master The Itch!
Satisfying throat hits are one of the main reasons smokers switch to vaping. Here, we’ll be teaching you how to find your perfect throat hit and master that nasty nicotine itch once and for all!
One of the things ex-smokers miss the most about cigarettes is that ultra-satisfying bite at the back of their throat. “Throat hit” is the sensation you get from the combination of nicotine and heat hitting the back of your throat, which has been psychologically linked to satisfaction of nicotine cravings.
It used to be difficult to get a good throat hit from vaping, back when innovation was scarce. But nowadays, there are tons of products specifically designed to give vapers that very same sensation, helping to ease those nasty nicotine cravings and keep vapers off of cigarettes.
A satisfactory throat hit has been proven to be absolutely needed when transitioning from tobacco products to e-cigarettes.
It’s never been easier to replicate the feeling of smoking a cigarette. But if you’ve found that your current vape kit or E-Liquids aren’t scratching your itch, don’t worry.
Let’s talk a little more about throat hit and give you the tools you need to handle your cravings moving forward.
Throat Hit in Cigarettes
Throat hit can be traced back to the 1950’s when low-tar cigarettes were first introduced (and by “low-tar,” they meant cigarettes with filters). This meant that less nicotine was getting to the smoker, and “satisfaction” began to waver.
Cigarette manufacturers like Phillip Morris began adding ammonia to their tobacco to combat this. This process, called “freebasing,” sees the combination of the nicotine and ammonia compounds into a faster-acting chemical.
As a result, the nicotine in these cigarettes became more satisfying, intensifying throat hit and allowing nicotine to enter the bloodstream faster than ever before.
Best Ways to Get Throat Hit From Vaping
Now that vaping has had some time to innovate itself, there are tons of ways to get a satisfying throat hit without ever touching another cigarette. Here are some of the best methods for achieving a better throat hit from vaping.
Nicotine Salt E-Liquids (aka Nic Salts)
Nic Salts are by far the easiest way to get an ultra-satisfying throat hit at higher nicotine strengths, ensuring you’re getting everything you need to keep those cravings at bay.
A recent addition to the E-Liquid market, Nic Salts contain a different nicotine formulation than the E-Liquids we had before.
The chemistry here is fairly straightforward. Traditional “freebase” nicotine E-Liquids (including 50/50 E-Liquids) contain a form of nicotine which is extracted from the tobacco leaf, with added ammonia to increase the pH level, thus returning the nicotine to a neutrally charged freebase state.
One would think that, because the nicotine in cigarettes is also freebase, this would replicate the same throat hit—however, because most of the nicotine in vapour doesn’t get absorbed into the bloodstream when you vape, it doesn’t quite scratch the itch as intended.
Nic Salts, on the other hand, are made with nicotine derived from tobacco leaves mixed with an added natural acid—usually benzoic or citric—resulting in positively charged nicotine molecules bound to negatively charged organic conjugates.
This may sound confusing, but what it really means is that Nic Salts are able to enter the bloodstream much faster than freebase nicotine, and they provide a much smoother and more satisfying throat hit at higher nicotine strengths—whereas with freebase nicotine, the higher the strength, the harsher it feels on the throat.
Nic Salts were designed to replicate the same throat hit you get from smoking cigarettes, making them the ideal choice for anyone needing to satisfy a nicotine craving. We recommend Nic Salts to new vapers and recent ex-smokers for their unparalleled ability to replicate the feeling of smoking.
And because most Nic Salts are made with a base formula of 50% VG to 50% PG, they’re ideal for use in most basic, low-powered Starter Vape Kits and Pod Kits—yes, the inexpensive kind. You can get yourself set up with a new, Nic-Salt-compatible device for less than £15!
Sub-Ohm Vaping
If you want to increase throat hit without upping your nicotine intake, you should consider sub-ohm vaping. You can get a great throat hit from sub-ohm vaping just from the sheer volume of vapour that these devices produce.
In sub-ohm or DTL (Direct-to-Lung) vaping, you’re inhaling directly into your lungs from the device, rather than drawing into your mouth before inhaling as you would with an MTL (Mouth-to-Lung) vape kit. While MTL is more similar to smoking, those who’ve left cigarettes in the rear view might enjoy the feeling of sub-ohm vaping.
Sub-ohm vaping produces those monstrously large clouds you’ve likely seen before thanks to their low-resistance coils. The amount of vapour produced hits the throat nicely without being high in nicotine.
If you’re looking to try sub-ohm vaping, you’ll need an Advanced Vape Kit or Vape Mod capable of DTL vaping at higher wattages, and you’ll need to invest in some Shortfill E-Liquids to use with the kit. With sub-ohm vaping, you can use nicotine—however, you should limit the nicotine strength of your E-Liquids to 3mg or 6mg maximum, because anything higher will likely be too harsh on the throat.
In addition, sub-ohm vapers have to add their own nicotine to their E-Liquids in the form of a Nic Shot, which is essentially a concentrated bottle of nicotine designed to be added to Shortfills. The mixing process is very simple and should take you less than a minute or two to complete.
For more information about how sub-ohm vaping works, check out our comprehensive guide: What is Sub-Ohm Vaping?
Up Your Nicotine Strength
When shopping for E-Liquids, if you always buy the lowest nicotine strength you think you’ll need, you may be making a mistake.
Personally, I was a dual user (someone who both smokes and vapes) who vaped a 3mg or 6mg E-Liquid daily (wrongly believing that anything more would be harmful), but couldn’t manage to quit smoking. I just thought vaping wasn’t doing the trick. Fast-forward a few years to the advent of Nic Salts: I tried a 20mg strength Nic Salt, and within 5 days, I’d quit smoking for good.
If you go for the lowest possible nicotine strength when shopping for E-Liquids (like I did), chances are you’re not actually getting enough. Upping your nicotine strength, especially if you currently smoke or have recently quit, can mean the difference between a life of smoking cigarettes and a life smoke-free.
If you’re currently vaping a 0mg, 3mg, or 6mg nicotine strength, try upping your nicotine intake by a level or two and see if that helps scratch the itch a bit more. There’s a chance you’re simply not getting enough to give you a good throat hit.
Disposable Vapes
If you’re not too jazzed about buying a whole new kit or E-Liquids for yourself, the recent revolution of disposable vapes might be more up your alley.
Disposables like the best-selling Geek Bar or Elf Bar are a type of vape device that is designed to be vaped straight out of the packaging, with no refills or recharging necessary. There are no buttons or menus—to vape, simply inhale on the mouthpiece.
Most disposables contain about as much nicotine as a single pack of cigarettes, and the E-Liquid inside the disposable is—you guessed it—a Nic Salt, meaning you can see if Nic Salts work for you without having to purchase a new vape kit. And when the puff bar is empty, simply dispose of it and get yourself a new one.
Disposables are the premiere choice for those looking to try vaping without having to commit to the purchase of a whole vape setup. For as little as a few pounds, you can try vaping in a no-maintenance, entirely fuss-free way, with the added benefit of a smooth, Nic Salt throat hit.
Summary: Ditch the Sticks and Scratch the Itch!
So, you now know that you can get a perfectly satisfying throat hit without ever having to light up another cigarette again.
As recently as a few years ago, throat hit in vaping could be elusive without the right equipment and know-how—but now, anyone with a fiver in their bank account can get an ultra-satisfying throat hit without much effort at all.
That’s definitely progress.