Seriously, what is the difference...

[NCC]

And, is the price difference worth it?
I'm using prices from Heartland Vapes for this, but other suppliers have similar ranges.
For one gallon of 100mg base, they have four ranges as follows...
Ultra Premium $250
Nic Select $180
CNT $210
House $160

Now, that's quite a range, and I know there are those here who reasonably snub boutique.
I don't want to raise a fuss. But, when it comes to buying a supply that will realistically last me the rest of my life (I have 1.5 Liters in hand and am 66 years old), I don't mind spending a few extra dollars if it's worth it. I don't buy the concept that it's all the same and that you should just buy the cheapest you can get. On the other hand, I am really foggy about what the differences are between the cheapest and the most premium priced. Nicotine is nicotine, but... What is the actual difference in these products?

In life in general, I have almost always found that buying the cheapest of ANYTHING turns out to be a disappointment. But, that doesn't mean I have money to waste.
It would be as simple as buying distilled water, if I were buying pure nicotine, such is not the case.

 

[Wow1420]

Some years back, Rossum ran a blind taste test on multiple brands of nicotine. While not everyone agreed on what was best, there were differences that could be tasted. The "ultra-pure" high-end stuff is usually pretty close to tasteless. I prefer the basic "house" nic with a tiny bit of an earthy taste to it.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

I agree with the "buy once cry once" theory. It's usually a good theory to live by as a consumer. But not always.

I bought the cheap nic due to financial concerns. But I have my doubts about my choice. However, some assured me I did not make a mistake because they personally find the cheap stuff more than suitable. But that doesn't mean I will, of course.

I haven't used it yet nor can I compare it to any other nic brand or "class" since I've never used anything else.

Others, who buy the most expensive (NN, WL, etc), claim there is no debate. It's like comparing cheap wine to expensive wine.

Some of the price difference is in the sourcing, transportation costs, brand name reputation protection/perception, etc. Some has to do with "purity", I image.

I can't worry about my decision, not much I can do at this point. It does make me wonder though.

 

[zoiDman]

... Nicotine is nicotine, but...

This is True. But the Same can be said that Beer is Beer. Or Steak is Steak.

Heartland Vapes has a Good Rep of selling Good Nicotine Base(s). But House Blends can change. So it's hard to say if someone Bought and Liked some House Blend in the past if that is the Same as what they are Selling Today. Might be the Same? Might be Better? Might be Worse.

I have maybe 1.5L of HV House Blend. Very Vapable. It has a Slight Peppery taste. Perhaps do to the PG Base as much as from the Nicotine.

CNT has a Long history of Good Reviews. The CNT I have is Virtually Tasteless. But the CNT I have was purchased awhile back. It also came from a Different Vendor.

Ultra-Premium is also Very Good. I'd put it a notch below CNT. Albeit a Small notch. But once again, the Ultra-Premium I have was from way back when. So take it for what it is worth.

Not sure How Much nicotine base you are thinking about buying? But buying a Small amount 1st and then Tasting it is a Pretty Good way to know what is going on.

 

[DavidOck]

Been using their "house" nic for several years, good stuff. Haven't coughed up the extra $$ for the others, so can't say if they're "better". The house nic is clear, even after several years on ice.

 

[madstabber]

I’ve never noticed the difference in nicotine base taste. Of the ones you list I’ve only tried CNT. It was good but I also found myfreedomsmokes nicotine just as good and many found it had a peppery taste. I was making tobacco juices at that time though and pepperiness would have helped the flavor. So if your like me and not taste sensitive I’d say go cheap but if you have sensitive taste buds go with a more expensive option.

 

[Brewdawg1181]

And, is the price difference worth it?
I'm using prices from Heartland Vapes for this, but other suppliers have similar ranges.
For one gallon of 100mg base, they have four ranges as follows...
Ultra Premium $250
Nic Select $180
CNT $210
House $160

Now, that's quite a range, and I know there are those here who reasonably snub boutique.
I don't want to raise a fuss. But, when it comes to buying a supply that will realistically last me the rest of my life (I have 1.5 Liters in hand and am 66 years old), I don't mind spending a few extra dollars if it's worth it. I don't buy the concept that it's all the same and that you should just buy the cheapest you can get. On the other hand, I am really foggy about what the differences are between the cheapest and the most premium priced. Nicotine is nicotine, but... What is the actual difference in these products?

In life in general, I have almost always found that buying the cheapest of ANYTHING turns out to be a disappointment. But, that doesn't mean I have money to waste.
It would be as simple as buying distilled water, if I were buying pure nicotine, such is not the case.

First purchase was whatever Wizard Labs sells, so I had no idea how good it was, but it worked. Next was CNT. It was fine, too. Did some research, and Chemnovatic had the best background as one of the world's largest suppliers, and great documentation. It might've been a little better than the others. Maybe. It was good. Nude Nic, also really good. I decided to take advantage of the low cost of Heartland on a sale, and it wowed me. It smells awesome. I like it better than any I've tried, and it was by far the lowest cost. I really love the aroma of this stuff. I couldn't stop smelling the bottle. Not that it was strong, but just smells really good.

BUT- I only do tobacco. I love the smell and taste of real tobacco. There might be nics that that taste cleaner, and offer less taste. But with tobaccos, I can't, in all honesty, taste a difference in the vape from any of them. I might feel differently if I vaped flavorless, but I don't think so. I'm happiest with the cheapest that I've bought, in spite of the fact that I have a sensitive palate (I have to rebuild after every 8 ml or so). Unless you vape flavorless, and have a really discerning palate, you probably will be fine with the lowest cost as well. As long as you store it properly.

I love Heartland's house nic. It's absolutely fine, or better than that. If it gets you a few more years of nic for the same money, I recommend it highly, and was surprised how good it was at that price. I honestly now don't believe there's a big difference, but thought there would be from what I read here when I started. I'm fortunate enough to be able to buy whichever I want (because I don't waste $), and if I buy more, it'll be Heartland. For what it's worth, I did buy a 2nd liter from them after tasting the first.