The two strengths look almost identical on the bottle but they behave quite differently in real use. 20mg JUST SALTS is at the UK legal maximum and is designed to replace cigarettes for adults who previously smoked heavily. 10mg JUST SALTS is the maintenance strength, used either by people who smoked moderately or by ex-smokers who have been stable on 20mg for a few months and want to start reducing.

The single most common mistake we see at the counter in Omagh and Strabane is the heavy smoker who picks 10mg because they are wary of high nicotine. The result is almost always chain-vaping, never quite feeling satisfied and slipping back to cigarettes within a week or two. Cigarettes deliver roughly 1 to 2mg of absorbed nicotine each, and a 20-a-day smoker is genuinely used to a meaningful nicotine intake. Starting too low does not protect you, it just means the switch fails.

The second most common mistake is sticking on 20mg forever. Once your switch is stable and cravings have settled, dropping to 10mg makes the bottle last longer, gives slightly cleaner flavour and is the natural next step on a measured reduction path. There is no rush, but there is no benefit to staying at the legal maximum once you no longer need it.

The chemistry that makes 20mg smooth

20mg of freebase nicotine in a 10ml bottle would be harsh enough that most ex-smokers cough on the first puff. The reason JUST SALTS 20mg is smooth is the salt chemistry. Nicotine combined with a mild organic acid (commonly benzoic acid) lowers the pH of the e-liquid, and that small change is what takes the throat-hit edge off a high-strength bottle. Same legal nicotine cap, completely different feel from old-style high-strength e-liquid.

Cigarettes per day as a starting guide

The cleanest way to choose your first JUST SALTS strength is by matching your previous cigarette intake. If you smoked 20+ a day, start at 20mg. If you smoked 10 to 20 a day, you can usually start at 10mg, though 20mg is fine as well if cravings feel strong. If you smoked under 10 a day, 10mg is almost always the right starting strength. You can always step up if a 10mg bottle leaves you puffing constantly, and step down if a 20mg bottle feels too intense. Our guide to switching from cigarettes walks through the journey week by week.

You do not need to stay on 20mg forever. Once your switch is settled, dropping to 10mg is the standard next step on a measured nicotine reduction path. Here is how to do it without setting yourself up to relapse.