The UK nic salts market exploded after the June 2025 disposable vape ban, and not all bottled e-liquids are created equal.

While dozens of brands rushed to capture ex-disposable users, only a handful truly deliver on the promise of superior flavor, consistent performance, and real value.

We’ve tested every major player. Here’s the definitive ranking.

#1: VapeBeat x Crystalize Bar Salts – The New Gold Standard

The Verdict: VapeBeat x Crystalize Bar Salts doesn’t just match the competition, it obliterates it.

This is the only UK nic salt range engineered specifically to deliver 2x to 3x the flavor intensity of standard nicotine salts while maintaining the smoothest throat hit in the category.

Why Bar Salt Dominates

1. Unmatched Flavor Engineering

Standard nic salts, even the good ones, suffer from flavor fade. You get a decent hit for the first few draws, then the intensity drops off.

VapeBeat x Crystalize Bar Salts uses a proprietary benzoic acid formulation that delivers consistent, explosive flavor from first puff to last pod.

The difference is immediately noticeable. Blueberry Sour Raspberry doesn’t taste like “blue razz-ish” candy, it tastes like crushing fresh blueberries and tart raspberries directly onto your coil.

Pineapple Sour Ice delivers bright, tangy pineapple acidity that most brands can’t replicate without turning into artificial candy sweetness.

Why the intensity matters: Pod systems have limited power output. Most nic salts compensate with excessive sweeteners to create perceived flavor—which murders coils and leads to muted, syrupy vapes.

VapeBeat x Crystalize Bar Salts achieves intensity through flavor density, not sugar overload.

The result? Coils last 30-40% longer, and you actually taste the profile you paid for.

2. Perfect 50/50 VG/PG Balance for Pod Systems

VapeBeat x Crystalize Bar Salt’s 50/50 ratio isn’t arbitrary; it’s scientifically optimized for MTL pod wicking.

Too much VG and you get dry hits in tighter pods (looking at you, XROS users). Too much PG and you sacrifice vapor volume and mouthfeel.

The 50/50 sweet spot ensures:

• Instant wicking in 0.6Ω to 1.2Ω coils
• Zero flooding, even with heavy chain-vaping
• Warm, satisfying vapor density without cloud-chasing obnoxiousness
• Clean flavor delivery with no chemical aftertaste

3. UK Manufacturing + TPD Compliance You Can Trust

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: most “big name” nic salts are manufactured in China or contracted overseas, then repackaged in the UK.

VapeBeat x Crystalize Bar Salts is UK-made from base to bottle, with full pharmaceutical-grade nicotine salt and domestic quality control.

Every batch undergoes lab testing for:

• Nicotine content accuracy (±2mg tolerance)
• Diacetyl and acetyl propionyl screening
• Heavy metal contamination testing
• Microbiological safety

You’re not just getting better flavor—you’re getting verified safety.

4. Format Flexibility: 10ml, QuickMix, Longfills

No other brand in the UK offers this level of choice:

• 10ml Nic Salts (£3.99): Ready to vape immediately. Perfect for sampling flavors or light vapers. TPD-compliant, zero mixing required.
• QuickMix 20ml (£4.99): Innovative male/female nozzle system. Plug the 10ml flavor shot into the 10ml nic shot, shake 30 seconds, vape. No syringes, no mess, no mathematical anxiety. Freshness of mixing yourself at disposable-level convenience.
• Longfills 60ml & 120ml (£9.99-£18.99): Concentrated flavor shots + included salt nicotine shots. Mix to 10mg strength and get massive value—120ml works out to £1.08 per 10ml equivalent. Shelf-stable for 12+ months before mixing.

Heavy vapers switching from disposables save £600+ annually with Longfills. That’s a lot of cash. If you’re using prefilled pod vapes, the savings will be even higher. .

5. The Flavor Range That Actually Hits

VapeBeat x Crystalize Bar Salt’s doesn’t throw 50 mediocre flavors at the wall to see what sticks. The 25+ profiles are tightly curated around three core strengths:

• Fruit Blends: Blueberry Sour Raspberry, Triple Mango, Pineapple Sour Ice, Grape & Raspberry—these aren’t “fruit-flavored.” They’re fruit-accurate. No perfume notes, no chemical sweetness, just clean, vibrant profiles.
• Ice Variants: Lemon & Lime has become the disposable bar standard for good reason—zesty, fizzy, perfectly cooled without numbing your tongue. Bar Salt nails the balance between refreshment and flavor clarity.
• Candy Profiles: Gummi Bears delivers high sweetness without the coil-destroying sugar bomb most candy vapes become. It’s dessert-level indulgent but still vapeable all day.

The Competition Can’t Match This

Elfliq gives you familiar Elf Bar flavors but lacks intensity. Elux Legend has bold flavors but inconsistent batching. MaryLiq delivers smooth hits but limited format options. IVG Intense lives up to its name but at the cost of coil life.

VapeBeat x Crystalize Bar Salts gives you intensity, consistency, format flexibility, UK manufacturing, and superior coil longevity. It’s not close.

Who It’s For:

• Ex-disposable users who refuse to compromise on flavor
• Pod vapers (XROS, XLIM, Caliburn, etc.) seeking maximum performance
• Anyone tired of muted, disappointing nic salts that promise the world and deliver cardboard

👉 Shop Bar Salt 10ml Nic Salts
👉 Shop Bar Salt Longfills
👉 Shop Bar Salt QuickMix

#2: Elfliq by Elf Bar – The Safe Bet

If you’ve been vaping Elf Bar disposables and want the exact same flavors in bottle form, Elfliq is your automatic choice.

Elf Bar took their disposable recipes and transferred them wholesale into 10ml nic salt bottles.

Strengths:

• Flavor accuracy to Elf Bar disposables: If you loved Blue Razz Lemonade or Strawberry Ice in the BM600, you’ll get precisely that taste here. Zero guesswork.
• 40+ flavor options: Massive range covering fruit, menthol, dessert, soda. Something for everyone.
• Wide availability: Every UK vape shop stocks Elfliq. Convenience factor is real.
• Consistent quality: Elf Bar’s manufacturing QA is tight. Batch-to-batch variation is minimal.

Weaknesses:

• Flavor intensity is medium: Elfliq tastes good, but it doesn’t punch like Bar Salt. The profiles are there, but they sit at 60-70% intensity compared to Bar Salt’s full-throttle delivery.
• Coil life varies: Sweet flavors (Cotton Candy Ice, P&B Cloudd) gunk coils faster than advertised.
• 20mg only for most flavors: Limited 10mg selection means less flexibility for nicotine reduction.

Best For: Elf Bar loyalists who want zero learning curve.

#3: Elux Legend Nic Salts – Maximum Variety

Elux Legend carved out market share with their 3500-puff disposables, and the nic salt line brings that bold, sweet, icy signature to refillables.

If you want choice, Elux delivers 50+ flavors—the largest range in the UK.

Strengths:

• Flavor diversity is unmatched: 50+ profiles from mainstream (Mr Blue, Triple Mango) to experimental (Banana Pudding, Rainbow). You won’t get bored.
• Bold, upfront flavor: Elux doesn’t do subtle. Every flavor hits immediately with high sweetness and confident cooling.
• Value pricing: Often available at 5 for £10 (£2/bottle), making it one of the cheapest premium options.

Weaknesses:

• Inconsistent batching: Some users report variation between bottles of the same flavor. Quality control isn’t as tight as Elfliq or Bar Salt.
• Heavy sweetener use: The boldness comes at a cost—coil life averages 4-6 days vs. Bar Salt’s 7-9 days.
• Can be overwhelming: The intensity works for 10-minute vape sessions but becomes fatiguing as an all-day vape.

Best For: Flavor adventurers who want maximum variety and don’t mind changing coils frequently.

#4: MaryLiq by Lost Mary – Smooth Operator

Lost Mary built their disposable empire on smooth, balanced flavors that don’t assault your palate. MaryLiq translates that philosophy into 10ml nic salts with an emphasis on refined, complex profiles over pure intensity.

Strengths:

• Exceptional smoothness: MaryLiq has the gentlest throat hit in the category. Even 20mg feels like 10mg from other brands. Perfect for throat-sensitive vapers.
• Complex flavor layering: Blends like Pink Lemonade and Triple Berry develop over the course of the inhale rather than hitting you with everything at once. More sophisticated.
• Clean coil performance: Low sweetener formulation means coils last 8-10 days easily.
• Affordable: £3.49 standard pricing with 5 for £11 deals.

Weaknesses:

• Lower intensity: If you’re chasing bold, punchy flavor, MaryLiq will feel muted. It’s refined but not aggressive.
• 20mg only: No 10mg option limits nicotine reduction flexibility.
• Smaller flavor range: 25-30 flavors vs. Elux’s 50+.

Best For: Vapers who prioritize smoothness and complexity over raw intensity.

#5: IVG Intense Salts – Flavor Maximalists Only

IVG didn’t half-ass the name—these are genuinely intense. The UK-based manufacturer formulated this range specifically to exceed standard nic salt flavor delivery, and they succeeded. If Bar Salt offers 2-3x intensity, IVG Intense delivers 1.5-2x with a heavier sweetness profile.

Strengths:

• Flavor punch: IVG Intense lives up to the billing. Blue Sour Raspberry, Frozen Cherries, Summer Blaze—all deliver vibrant, bold flavor.
• UK-made with award-winning pedigree: IVG won “Best UK E-Liquid Brand” three times in Ecigclick Vape Awards. Their manufacturing quality is proven.
• 30 flavors spanning all categories: Fruit, menthol, candy, dessert. Comprehensive without being overwhelming.
• Pharmaceutical-grade nic salts: Clean, smooth nicotine delivery with minimal throat hit despite 20mg strength.

Weaknesses:

• Coil killer: The high flavor intensity comes from concentrated flavoring + sweeteners. Expect 4-6 day coil life, not the 7-9 days Bar Salt delivers.
• Very sweet: Even “fruit” flavors have candy-level sweetness. Not everyone’s cup of tea.
• Price: £3.99-£4.99, no budget deals.

Best For: Experienced vapers who want maximum flavor and don’t mind frequent coil changes.

#6: SKE Crystal Nic Salts – The Disposable Replica

SKE Crystal Bar dominated the disposable market before the ban, and Crystal Nic Salts exist for one purpose: giving you the exact same experience in a refillable bottle.

If you miss your Crystal Bar, these are your answer.

Strengths:

• Perfect disposable replication: SKE uses the identical formulation. Blue Razz Lemonade tastes exactly like the Crystal Bar version. Zero compromise.
• UK-made with strict QA: Manufactured domestically with batch testing and TPD compliance.
• Excellent bottle design: Long, thin nozzle makes pod filling effortless, even with slide-top-fill systems.
• 25+ flavors: All the Crystal Bar classics plus some exclusive nic salt options.

Weaknesses:

• Medium intensity: Crystal Salts deliver accurate flavor but not aggressive intensity. Similar to Elfliq in punch level.
• Excessive packaging: Big boxes with sealed internal bags feel wasteful for 10ml bottles.
• 20mg only for most flavors: Limited 10mg selection.

Best For: Crystal Bar users who want zero learning curve and exact flavor replication.

The Bottom Line: What Should You Buy?

• If you want the absolute best nic salts in the UK market: VapeBeat x Crystalize Bar Salts are the way to go. Superior intensity, UK manufacturing, format flexibility, and coil longevity make it the clear winner.
• If you’re a brand loyalist: Stick with your disposable’s nic salt line (Elfliq for Elf Bar, MaryLiq for Lost Mary, Crystal Salts for SKE). You’ll get familiar flavors without surprises.
• If you’re on a budget: Elux Legend offers 50+ flavors at £2/bottle in bulk. Just accept you’ll change coils more often.
• If you’re throat-sensitive: MaryLiq provides the smoothest hit in the category, even at 20mg.
• If you’re a flavor chaser: IVG Intense or Bar Salt. Both deliver exceptional intensity—Bar Salt just does it with better coil life and manufacturing transparency.

Explore Flavour Options

Want to explore more?

• All Nicotine Salts – Browse 500+ nic salt options
• 20mg Nic Salts – Strong nicotine options
• Fruit Nic Salts – Berry, tropical, citrus flavors
• Ice/Menthol Nic Salts – Cooling options
• Candy Nic Salts – Dessert lovers