Bar-Style Nic Salts Compared: Which 10ml Nic Salt Should You Buy?

Bar-style nic salts are 10ml e-liquids made to recreate the flavours of popular prefilled devices, for use in a refillable pod kit. The main ranges in the UK are Elux Legend, Bar Juice 5000, Elf Bar Elfliq, SKE Crystal Original Salts, Lost Mary Maryliq, IVG Salt Bar Favourites and Hayati Pro Max. At first glance they look almost identical: the same 10ml bottles, mostly the same 50/50 VG/PG base and the same 10mg and 20mg nicotine options.

This guide compares the nic salt e-liquids we stock side by side. It covers the real differences between ranges (nicotine strengths, pack sizes and flavour choice), explains how to pick a strength and kit, and sets out the UK rules on bottle size, nicotine limits and the new vaping duty.

What Are Bar-Style Nic Salts?

Nicotine salt e-liquid, usually shortened to nic salts, uses a form of nicotine combined with an acid. It is commonly described as smoother to inhale at higher strengths than traditional "freebase" nicotine. That is why nic salts are usually sold at 10mg and 20mg, while freebase e-liquids for similar kits are often bottled at lower strengths.

"Bar-style" refers to the flavour profiles rather than a separate type of liquid. These ranges take the flavour names made popular by single-use and prefilled devices (Blue Razz Lemonade, Triple Mango, Watermelon Ice and so on) and bottle them as 10ml nic salts. You use them in a refillable pod kit rather than buying a new device each time.

Why are they almost always 50/50 VG/PG?

VG (vegetable glycerine) and PG (propylene glycol) make up the base of an e-liquid. A 50/50 blend is thin enough to soak quickly into the small coils used in mouth-to-lung (MTL) pod kits, while still producing a reasonable amount of vapour. Every range in this guide uses a 50/50 base, according to our product listings or UK retailer specifications.

Nic Salt Comparison Table

The table below is based on the variants listed in our store at the time of writing. Flavour counts change as ranges are updated, so check each product page for the current list.

Because the bases are so similar, choosing between these ranges mostly comes down to two practical questions: does the range come in the strength you want, and does it make the specific flavour you are after?

The Ranges in More Detail

Elux Legend Nic Salts

Elux Legend has the widest flavour list of any range we stock. It includes fruit blends such as Triple Mango and Kiwi Passion Fruit Guava, menthol and mint options such as Fresh Mint and Menthol, and two tobacco flavours, Straight Tobacco and Vanilla Tobacco. Every flavour is listed in both 10mg and 20mg, and the bottles are sold singly, so it is easy to try several. Our guide to the best Elux Legend flavours narrows the list down.

Hayati Pro Max Nic Salts

Hayati Pro Max is the second-largest range here, with 49 flavours listed as single bottles. Our listing currently offers 20mg only, so it suits vapers who already know they want the higher strength. Flavours range from Blue Razz Lemonade and Lemon Peach Passionfruit to Menthol and Tobacco. For more background, see our Hayati Pro Max nic salts review.

Elf Bar Elfliq

Elfliq is Elf Bar's own nic salt range. We sell it in boxes of 10, with 46 flavours in both 10mg and 20mg. Alongside the fruit and ice flavours, it includes several less common options such as Blackcurrant Aniseed, Pink Grapefruit and Mint Tobacco.

IVG Salt Bar Favourites

IVG Salt Bar Favourites comes in packs of 10, in 10mg and 20mg, with 31 flavours listed. These include Blackcurrant Mango, Blue Slush and Red Apple Ice. The listing describes it as made in the UK and designed for low-powered pod devices and starter kits.

SKE Crystal Original Salts

SKE Crystal Original Salts comes in boxes of 10, in 10mg and 20mg, with 25 flavours. These include Blue Fusion, Gami Rare and Strawberry Burst. It is a smaller range, so it suits you best if your usual flavour is on the list. Our SKE Crystal Original Salts guide covers it in more depth.

Lost Mary Maryliq

Maryliq is Lost Mary's nic salt line. Our listing offers boxes of 10 at 20mg, with 25 flavours including Beach Day, Double Apple and Triple Melon. UK retailers also list 5mg and 10mg versions from the manufacturer, but we currently stock 20mg only.

Bar Juice 5000

Bar Juice 5000 has a shorter list of 20 flavours, sold singly in 10mg and 20mg. Options include Butter Mints, Orange Zest and Unicorn Shake. For a closer look at its strengths, read our Bar Juice 5000 strength guide.

10mg or 20mg: Choosing a Nicotine Strength

Nic salt strength is shown in milligrams per millilitre. A 20mg/ml liquid is the highest strength allowed for sale in the UK, and 10mg/ml is half of that. Which suits you depends on how much nicotine you are used to and how often you vape. No single strength is right for everyone.

• 20mg: the strength most bar-style devices are filled with. It is the closest match if you are used to those devices.
• 10mg: a lower option for lighter use, or for anyone who finds 20mg too strong.

If you are unsure, our article on choosing your nicotine level explains the options in more detail. Whichever strength you choose, nic salts are made for low-power devices. Do not use them in high-wattage sub-ohm kits.

Which Pod Kits Suit Bar-Style Nic Salts?

These liquids work best in refillable MTL pod kits with pods of around 0.6Ω to 1.2Ω, at low to moderate power. Higher-resistance pods give a tighter draw that most people associate with bar-style vaping, while a 0.6Ω pod gives a slightly looser, warmer vape.

Popular choices include the Vaporesso XROS range, which we compare in our Vaporesso XROS comparison guide, and the OXVA pod kits. You can browse every refillable option in our pod kits range.

Tips for getting the most from a 10ml bottle

• Fill the pod to just below the maximum line and leave it to stand for a few minutes before vaping, so the cotton soaks through.
• Sweeter flavours tend to shorten coil life, so expect to change pods more often with candy and dessert profiles.
• Keep bottles upright, capped and out of direct sunlight. Store them out of reach of children and pets.

UK Rules for Nic Salt E-Liquids

Why are nic salts only sold in 10ml bottles?

Under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, nicotine-containing e-liquid can be sold in refill containers of no more than 10ml. Nicotine strength is capped at 20mg/ml. Tanks and pods for these liquids are limited to 2ml. The MHRA guidance on GOV.UK sets these requirements out in full.

How does the vaping duty affect nic salts?

Vaping Products Duty started on 1 October 2026 at a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid, whether or not it contains nicotine. A standard 10ml nic salt bottle therefore carries £2.20 of duty. Stock imported before 1 October 2026 without a duty stamp can be sold until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027, every vaping product sold in the UK must carry a duty stamp. Full details are on GOV.UK.

How to Choose the Right Range

• You want to try lots of flavours: start with Elux Legend or Hayati Pro Max, both sold as single bottles.
• You want 10mg: choose Elux Legend, Bar Juice 5000, Elfliq, SKE Crystal or IVG Salt Bar Favourites.
• You already know your flavour: a box or pack of 10 (Elfliq, SKE Crystal, Maryliq or IVG) keeps you stocked up.
• You want a less common flavour: check the Elfliq list, which includes Blackcurrant Aniseed and Pink Grapefruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all bar-style nic salts 50/50 VG/PG?

Every range in this guide uses a 50/50 VG/PG base, according to our product listings or UK retailer specifications. That ratio suits the small coils in MTL pod kits. Always check the bottle label, as some brands make other nic salt lines with different ratios.

What is the strongest nic salt you can buy in the UK?

The legal maximum for nicotine e-liquid in the UK is 20mg/ml. Any nic salt sold legally in the UK will be 20mg or lower. A product claiming a higher strength is not compliant with UK rules.

Can I use bar-style nic salts in any vape kit?

They are made for low-power pod kits and MTL starter kits, usually with pods of around 0.6Ω to 1.2Ω. They are not suitable for high-wattage sub-ohm tanks, where the nicotine strength and the amount of vapour produced would be far too high.

Can I refill a prefilled pod with nic salts?

Prefilled pods are designed to be replaced, not refilled, and opening them is not recommended. If you want to use bottled nic salts, use a refillable pod kit with pods made to be filled.

How long does a 10ml bottle of nic salt last?

It depends on how much you vape and your kit's settings. A 10ml bottle fills a 2ml pod about five times. Most people find a bottle lasts several days, but heavier users will get through it faster.

Do nic salts go off?

Nic salts have a best-before or expiry date printed on the bottle or box. Stored upright, sealed and away from heat and light, they keep their flavour well up to that date. Once opened, use the bottle within a reasonable time.

Is there a nicotine-free version of bar-style nic salts?

Nic salts by definition contain nicotine, so there is no 0mg nic salt. If you want a nicotine-free option, look at 0mg e-liquids, such as shortfills, instead.

Why does my new nic salt taste burnt?

A burnt taste usually means the coil was fired before the cotton was fully soaked, or the power is set too high. Prime a new pod by filling it and waiting a few minutes before vaping. If the taste does not improve, replace the pod.

Has the vaping duty changed nic salt prices?

Vaping Products Duty adds £2.20 for every 10ml of vaping liquid manufactured in or imported into the UK from 1 October 2026. How that shows up in shelf prices depends on the brand and when the stock was imported. Check current prices on each product page.

Final Verdict

The bar-style nic salt ranges in the UK are more similar than their branding suggests. All seven here are 10ml, 50/50 VG/PG liquids made for low-power pod kits, and all are capped at the legal 20mg/ml limit. The real differences are flavour choice, strength options and pack size. Elux Legend and Hayati Pro Max offer the most flavours. Elux Legend, Bar Juice 5000, Elfliq, SKE Crystal and IVG cover both 10mg and 20mg. Maryliq and Hayati Pro Max are currently 20mg only in our listings. Pick your strength first, then your flavour, and pair the liquid with an MTL pod kit. Browse the full nic salts range to compare current flavours.

This product contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. For adults aged 18 and over only.