Nicotine (in particular, freebase nicotine) is the main factor in throat hit. The PG/VG ratio is more a throat-hit modifier, than contributor --- higher VG can make it "smoother", and higher PG can make it "harsher". Think of it more like a punch ... an average six year old child can only punch so hard, it'll feel nicer if they are wearing a boxing glove (high VG) rather than a bare fist (high PG), but it'll never feel like the punch of an average 12 year old (gloves on or off).
Yeah, that analogy breaks down fast with age, but it gets the basic idea across. A 6mg/ml freebase liquid just won't give the throat punch of a 12mg/ml freebase liquid (and a 12 won't hit like an 18, and so on), regardless of the PG/VG ratios involved.
nicotine salts, on the other hand, have very little throat hit, so they're of little use if you are looking for throat hit.
May I ask why you want to keep the nicotine low? In the early stages of quitting, it is more important to focus on what works best and worry about the rest later ... in my opinion.
Thanks Jandrew. Good explanation !
Got it concerning salts, not for me in this stage I guess.
Nicotine low because I feel that all above 1mg nic gives me an unpleasant one side headache (I guess too much for me), also because I keep pushing vapor, 3 or 4 draws per MTL (maybe too much...), trying to fill my mouth with vapor to achieve stronger throat hit...