Blackcurrant Menthol Elux Nic Salts 20mg

Overview

The Blackcurrant Menthol Elux Nic Salts 20mg by Elux in Blackcurrant Menthol at 20mg. Free UK delivery over £20, same-day dispatch on weekday orders before 4pm.

Elux Nic Salts 20mg Blackcurrant Menthol: Overview

Elux Nic Salts 20mg Blackcurrant Menthol is a 10ml nicotine salt e-liquid that pairs a dark, slightly tart blackcurrant with a clean menthol finish. It is a refill liquid rather than a ready-to-use disposable, which means you pour it into a refillable pod kit or a low-power tank, and it suits anyone who already owns that kind of hardware or is picking up a starter kit alongside the bottle. The name tells you the three things that matter at the shelf: the Elux brand, a 20mg/ml nicotine salt strength, and a single flavour, blackcurrant with menthol.

Elux is best known in the UK for its fruit-and-ice flavour approach, and this bottle carries the same idea into a format you can use repeatedly. Instead of throwing away a complete device every few days, you keep the pod kit and top it up. That changes both the running cost and the amount of waste you generate, and it gives you control over how much nicotine you take in with each refill.

Here are the headline facts for quick reference.

• Product type: nicotine salt e-liquid for refillable devices
• Bottle size: 10ml, which is the largest bottle UK rules allow for nicotine e-liquid
• Nicotine strength: 20mg/ml (2%), the highest strength that can legally be sold in the UK
• Nicotine type: nicotine salt, designed for low-wattage pod and mouth-to-lung devices
• Flavour: blackcurrant fruit with a menthol cooling finish
• Typical base: a balanced PG/VG blend, which is the usual choice for salts; check the exact ratio printed on the label of your bottle
• Suitable for: adults aged 18 and over who currently smoke or vape

The rest of this guide goes through the flavour in detail, how the liquid behaves in different devices, what the 20mg strength means in practice, how to fill and look after your kit, and how this bottle compares with similar nic salts from other brands. The aim is to give you enough information to decide whether it fits your setup before you buy, including the situations where you are better off choosing something else.

Flavour Profile: Blackcurrant and Menthol

Blackcurrant is a flavour that tends to divide people. Done well, it has a deep, slightly sharp, almost cassis-like character that sits somewhere between sweet jam and tart cordial. Done badly, it can taste flat or medicinal. The appeal of pairing it with menthol is that the cooling note keeps the fruit from becoming heavy, so the flavour stays clean over a long session instead of tiring your palate after a few puffs.

Based on the flavour family and the way this style of liquid is usually built, here is what to expect from each stage of a puff.

• On the inhale: a dark berry note with a gentle tartness. It leans towards the sharper side of blackcurrant rather than a sugary confectionery sweetness.
• Mid-draw: the fruit and the cooling effect overlap. This is where most of the character sits, with the berry flavour carried along by a steady chill rather than a sudden blast.
• On the exhale: the menthol comes forward and lingers briefly on the tongue and the back of the throat. The finish is cool and fairly dry, with a faint herbal edge that menthol often brings.
• Aftertaste: light and fresh rather than sticky, which makes it easy to vape for long stretches without the sweetness building up.

The menthol level is best described as noticeable but not arctic. If you normally reach for extra-strong ice or polar flavours, you may find it mild. If you usually vape plain fruit flavours and want a bit of cooling, it should feel like a step up without being overwhelming. Because the cooling is tied to the fruit rather than sitting on top of it, the liquid reads as a blackcurrant flavour with menthol, not a menthol flavour with a hint of blackcurrant.

Temperature and wattage change how you perceive it. At lower power the fruit stays rounder and the cooling feels gentler. At higher power the menthol sharpens and the berry can start to taste slightly toasted, so it pays to keep the device in the lower half of its range. Cold air and a cold pod also make menthol feel stronger, which is worth knowing if you vape outdoors in winter.

If you enjoy this flavour style, you may also like other fruit-and-ice combinations you will see across the Elux range and from competing brands, such as blue razz ice, watermelon ice, strawberry ice, mixed berry, peach ice and grape ice. Check the Elux category on our site for what is currently listed, since availability changes between batches.

Performance, Throat Hit and Nicotine Delivery

Nicotine salts behave differently from the freebase nicotine used in traditional e-liquids. The salt form is combined with an acid, which lowers the pH of the liquid and makes the vapour much easier on the throat at a given strength. That is the main reason 20mg is practical in a salt but would be harsh and unpleasant in a freebase liquid of the same strength. Salts are also absorbed quickly, so people who are replacing cigarettes often find the sensation more familiar than they do with lower-strength freebase.

In practice, this bottle should perform like other 20mg salts in a similar base. A few things to expect.

• Throat hit: noticeable but smooth. The menthol adds to the perceived sensation, so the overall experience feels a little firmer than a plain fruit flavour at the same strength.
• Vapour volume: modest. Salts are intended for low-power devices, so you get a compact, flavour-focused cloud rather than a large plume. This is normal and not a sign of a fault.
• Flavour clarity: good at low wattage. Pod-style coils heat the liquid gently, which lets the fruit and menthol come through without being burnt off.
• Satisfaction per puff: relatively high compared with the same strength in freebase, which means many users take fewer, shorter puffs than they would with a lower-nicotine liquid.

It is worth being honest about the trade-off. Because salt nicotine is delivered efficiently, it is easy to take in more than you intended if you chain vape. At 20mg/ml, a handful of long draws is often enough to feel it. If you are new to salts, take it slowly for the first few sessions and note how you feel after ten minutes before deciding whether to carry on.

The mouth-to-lung draw style suits this liquid best. Draw slowly for three to four seconds, hold the vapour briefly in your mouth, then inhale. Quick, hard pulls tend to produce a hotter, harsher hit and can pull more liquid through the coil than it can wick, which leads to spitting or a burnt taste. If you find that direct-to-lung inhaling is your habit, you will generally want a different liquid, as covered in the section on who should look elsewhere.

Finally, remember that performance depends on the device as much as the liquid. A well-matched pod kit with a fresh coil will make this e-liquid taste cleaner and last longer than a tired or mismatched one, so it is worth treating the hardware as part of the purchase.

Bottle, Packaging and Build Quality

The liquid comes in a standard 10ml plastic bottle with a narrow nozzle, which is designed for precise filling of small pods. UK rules require refill bottles for nicotine e-liquid to be no larger than 10ml, to have a child-resistant closure and to have a tamper-evident seal. Those features are standard on bottles sold through reputable UK retailers, and you should check for them when your order arrives.

On receiving your bottle, run through this quick checklist.

• Tamper-evident ring: the ring under the cap should be intact. If it has been broken before you open the bottle, do not use it and contact the shop that supplied it.
• Child-resistant cap: you typically need to push down while turning. Make sure it closes firmly again after each fill.
• Nozzle: it should be clean and unblocked, with no dried residue around the tip.
• Label: it should show the brand, flavour, volume, nicotine strength, ingredients, a batch number, a best-before date and the standard health warning that the product contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance.
• Fill level: a 10ml bottle should look close to full, with a small air gap at the top.

Build quality in the sense of the bottle is straightforward. The plastic is soft enough to squeeze gently, which helps you control the flow, but firm enough to keep its shape. A narrow nozzle is useful, but it can drip if you squeeze too hard, so hold the bottle upright over the pod and apply light pressure. A paper towel under your hands is a sensible habit while filling, because nicotine liquid on skin is best washed off promptly with soap and water.

Storage matters more than most people expect. Keep the bottle upright, tightly closed, out of direct sunlight and away from heat, in a cool cupboard or drawer. Heat and light degrade e-liquid over time, darkening the colour and dulling the flavour. Nicotine salts can darken slightly with age even when stored well, so a mild colour change is not automatically a problem, but if the smell or taste has clearly changed, replace it.

Always store the bottle out of reach of children and pets. Nicotine is toxic if swallowed or absorbed in quantity, and fruit-flavoured liquids can look and smell appealing to young children. When the bottle is empty, rinse it out if your local council accepts it, then recycle it with other plastics, or take it to a vape-shop recycling point if kerbside collection does not take small mixed plastics where you live.

Devices, Coils and the Technology This Liquid Is Designed For

This is a nic salt liquid, and nic salts are built for low-power hardware. The usual fit is a refillable pod kit or a compact mouth-to-lung tank with a coil resistance of roughly 0.6 to 1.2 ohm, run at around 8 to 25 watts or at whatever the device sets automatically. Examples of device families that are commonly paired with liquids of this kind include the Vaporesso XROS series, Uwell Caliburn range, OXVA Xlim kits and Geekvape Wenax pods. These are examples of the category rather than a recommendation to buy any one of them, and you should always check the manual for your own device.

The specification that matters most is the match between the liquid and the coil.

• Liquid capacity: 10ml per bottle, which fills a typical 2ml pod around five times.
• Nicotine strength: 20mg/ml, intended for restricted-airflow, low-wattage use.
• Recommended coil resistance: 0.6 to 1.2 ohm, usually mesh or ceramic in current pod kits.
• Recommended power range: roughly 8 to 25 watts, staying in the lower half for fruit and menthol flavours.
• Airflow: tight to medium. Wide-open airflow dilutes the nicotine hit and the flavour.

Mesh coils spread heat across a wide surface, which gives even vaporisation and good flavour with a balanced PG/VG liquid. Ceramic coils are valued for clean flavour and longevity. Both handle nic salts well, and both can be primed with a few drops directly on the coil face before the first use, which prevents the dry, scorched taste a new coil can give if it has not wicked properly.

Fruit and sweet liquids leave residue on coils more quickly than clear or tobacco flavours, so expect to change the coil or pod every one to two weeks with regular use. Signs that it is time include a muted or burnt flavour, a harsher throat hit and a dark, crusty look to the coil head. Replacing early keeps the liquid tasting the way it should and protects the device.

Avoid pairing this liquid with a sub-ohm tank run at high wattage. A 20mg salt at 60 watts would deliver a lot of nicotine very quickly, would be harsh, and would use through the bottle at an unnecessary rate. If your current device is a high-power direct-to-lung tank, a separate pod kit is a much better match than trying to adapt what you already have.

When coils and pods reach the end of their life, do not put them in the general rubbish. They are classed as small electrical and electronic waste in many cases, and most vape shops that sell them will accept used pods and coils for recycling. Your local council recycling centre will usually also take small electrical items.

Battery Life and Charging Your Device

The liquid itself has no battery, but the device you pair it with does, and the battery characteristics shape how you will actually use this bottle. Most refillable pod kits sold in the UK have an internal battery in the region of 500 to 1,000 mAh, charged by a USB-C cable. Because nic salts are designed for low-wattage use, they are easy on the battery. At 10 to 15 watts, a 800 to 1,000 mAh battery usually lasts a light to moderate user for most of a day, and a heavier user may want to top up once in the afternoon.

These practical points apply to most pod kits.

• Charging time: typically 30 to 60 minutes for a small internal battery from a standard 5V USB source. Check the device manual for the recommended current.
• Charger choice: use the cable supplied or a good-quality replacement with a basic USB-A or USB-C wall adapter. Very high-output fast chargers are not necessary and add no benefit.
• Charging habits: do not leave the device charging unattended overnight, on soft furnishings, or in a bag. Charge on a hard, clear surface.
• Indicators: a flashing or coloured light usually means low battery or a short circuit. If the device flashes unexpectedly, unplug it and check the connection points on the pod.
• Pass-through: some devices let you vape while charging. It is usually better to avoid that, because it generates extra heat.

Battery safety is one of the few areas of vaping where rules are worth taking seriously. Do not use a swollen, cracked or dented device. Do not carry it loose in a pocket with keys or coins. Do not leave it in a hot car or in strong sunlight. If a device overheats, gets very hot to touch or smells unusual, stop using it and contact the retailer.

When a device reaches the end of its life, take it to a recycling point rather than the household bin. Lithium batteries can cause fires in bin lorries and recycling plants. Many supermarkets and DIY shops have battery recycling bins, vape shops will usually take back devices, and your local council recycling centre accepts small electricals. This is the right route for pods that contain residual liquid or electronics as well.

If you find your battery drains faster than expected, the usual causes are a degraded battery that has been cycled many times, a coil that has become clogged so the device draws more power to compensate, or running the device at a higher wattage than the liquid needs. Cleaning the contacts and replacing the coil often restores normal run time.

Choosing the Right Nicotine Strength

The 20mg/ml figure means there are 20 milligrams of nicotine in every millilitre of liquid, or 2%. A 10ml bottle therefore contains 200mg of nicotine in total. In the UK, 20mg/ml is the maximum strength that can be sold, so this bottle is at the top of the available range. Nic salts are also sold at lower strengths, commonly 10mg and sometimes 5mg, 11mg or 12mg depending on the brand, and you should choose the strength that matches your current nicotine intake rather than defaulting to the highest.

A rough guide, which is general information and not medical advice, looks like this.

• 20mg/ml: suits people who smoke around ten or more cigarettes a day, or who light up soon after waking, and who are switching to vaping entirely. It is intended for restricted, low-wattage devices.
• 10 to 12mg/ml: suits lighter smokers, people who are partway through reducing, and people who find 20mg too strong.
• 5mg/ml or lower: suits people who are close to stopping and want to taper off.

Signs the strength may be too high include dizziness, nausea, headache, a racing heart, hiccups or feeling light-headed. If any of these occur, stop vaping, drink some water and consider a lower strength next time. Signs it may be too low include constant cravings, chain vaping and going back to cigarettes. If you find yourself vaping continuously and still not satisfied, a higher strength in a low-power device is often a better answer than a much higher wattage.

Vaping is considerably less harmful than smoking for people who switch completely, and the NHS and public health bodies support it as an aid to quitting. It is not risk-free, and nicotine is addictive. Vaping is not intended for non-smokers or for anyone under 18. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition, or are taking medication, speak to your GP or pharmacist before starting. Local stop smoking services in England offer free support and can combine vaping with behavioural help if you want a structured plan.

A sensible approach is to start at the level that matches your smoking habit, give it two weeks, and then review. Once cravings are under control you can drop the strength in steps, for example from 20mg to 12mg to 6mg, rather than all at once. Keeping a note of how many pod fills you go through in a day is a simple way to see whether the strength is right or whether your habit is creeping up.

Who This Liquid Is For, and Who Should Skip It

Every flavour and strength has an audience, and being clear about the fit will save you money. This bottle is aimed at a fairly specific group of adult vapers.

It is a good match for these people.

• Adult smokers who are switching and need a strength close to their current intake
• Existing pod-kit users who want a fruity flavour with some cooling instead of a plain sweet one
• People moving away from disposables who want to keep a similar flavour style at a lower running cost
• Mouth-to-lung vapers who prefer a tight draw and compact vapour
• Anyone who finds very sweet dessert and candy flavours tiring and wants something a little sharper

You are likely to be happier with something else if any of the following describes you.

• You do not currently smoke or vape. A 20mg salt is designed for people with an existing nicotine habit. Non-smokers should not start vaping, and under 18s cannot legally buy it.
• You want big clouds. Salts in low-power devices will not give you a dense plume. A high-VG freebase liquid at lower strength in a sub-ohm tank is the usual answer.
• You dislike menthol or cooling agents. The cooling is part of the flavour, not an optional extra, so if you want plain blackcurrant you should look for a non-menthol version.
• You want a low nicotine level. If you are only after a gentle hit, choose a lower-strength salt instead of the 20mg option.
• You use a high-wattage device. Using this liquid in a sub-ohm tank at high power would be harsh and wasteful.
• You prefer sweet dessert or tobacco flavours. The profile is fruit-led and fresh, and it will not suit someone who wants custard, caramel or tobacco notes.

It is also worth saying that people sensitive to menthol, or who have a respiratory condition such as asthma, should pay attention to how they react. Some vapers find that cooling agents irritate the throat or trigger coughing. If that happens, stop and consider a non-menthol alternative, and speak to your GP if symptoms continue.

How to Fill, Prime and Use It

Using a refill liquid is simple once you have done it a couple of times, but a few habits make the difference between a clean setup and a leaky, burnt-tasting one. Follow these steps with a new bottle and a new or recently cleaned pod.

• Step 1, prepare: wash and dry your hands, turn the device off if it has a lock or off switch, and place a paper towel on a flat surface.
• Step 2, open the pod: remove the pod from the device and open the fill port. Many pods use a silicone bung or a sliding cover.
• Step 3, open the bottle: push down on the child-resistant cap and turn it. Check the tamper ring has separated cleanly.
• Step 4, fill: place the nozzle against the fill port and squeeze gently. Fill to just below the maximum line and avoid covering the central airflow tube.
• Step 5, close up: shut the fill port, wipe away any spills and close the bottle firmly.
• Step 6, wait: leave a new pod or coil for five to ten minutes so the cotton or mesh can soak up the liquid before you take the first puff.
• Step 7, first puffs: take two or three gentle draws without firing the device, then start vaping slowly. If the device has adjustable power, begin at the lower end of the recommended range.

For cleaner flavour, take slow, steady draws of three to four seconds and pause between puffs. Rapid chain vaping heats the coil faster than it can be re-wetted and gives a dry, scratchy hit. If the device has a draw-activated or button-fired design, follow the manual about maximum puff length, which is often around eight to ten seconds.

Refilling often is better than letting the pod run dry. Vaping on an empty or nearly empty pod burns the cotton, which ruins the coil and leaves a bitter taste that tends to linger even after you refill. Top up when the liquid drops to around a quarter of the pod. Between uses, store the device upright, or with the mouthpiece upward, to reduce condensation and leaks.

To switch between flavours, empty and rinse the pod, let it dry completely, and then refill. Mixing blackcurrant menthol with another liquid in the same pod will give an unpredictable result and may shorten the life of the coil, so it is better to keep one flavour per pod or to change the coil when you swap.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Most problems with salts in pod kits come from the same short list of causes. If something does not feel right, work through these before concluding the liquid is at fault.

• The pod leaks: the usual causes are overfilling, a loose bung or pod seating, or temperature and pressure changes. Fill only to the line, make sure the pod is pushed in fully, and wipe condensation from the airflow vents. If it keeps happening with a new pod, the pod itself may be defective.
• Burnt or dry taste: the coil is either not primed or has run low on liquid. Refill, wait ten minutes and take gentle puffs. If the taste does not clear, the coil is probably spent and should be replaced.
• Weak flavour: a clogged coil is the most common reason, especially with fruit liquids. Replace the coil. Another cause is vaper fatigue, where your taste buds become used to a flavour over days. Switching to a different flavour for a day or two usually resets it.
• Throat hit feels too harsh: lower the power, shorten your draws and consider a lower nicotine strength. Running a salt at high wattage makes the hit sharper.
• Gurgling or spitting: there is too much liquid in the airflow path or the coil is flooded. Take the pod out, blow gently through the mouthpiece to clear it and wipe the contacts. Refilling less full prevents it.
• Device will not fire: check the battery, make sure the pod is fully seated and clean the metal contacts with a dry cotton bud. If the problem persists, try another pod or a different charger.
• Dizziness or nausea after vaping: this may mean the nicotine hit is more than you need. Stop, rest and consider a lower strength.
• Menthol feels too strong: reduce the power slightly or warm the device in your hand before use. Cooling effects are exaggerated at low temperatures.
• Liquid colour has darkened: mild darkening happens with nic salts as they age and is not necessarily a fault. If the smell or taste has changed significantly, replace the bottle.

If none of these steps resolves the issue, contact the shop where you bought the product with your order details and a clear description or photo of what you are seeing. Reputable UK retailers will help work out whether the issue is the liquid, the device or the way it is being used, and they can advise on returns where a fault is confirmed.

Value for Money and How Long a Bottle Lasts

The honest way to judge value on a nic salt bottle is by cost per day of use, not by the sticker price alone. A 10ml bottle is the maximum size for nicotine e-liquid in the UK, so the bottle price is directly comparable with other nic salts, and what changes is how quickly you work through it.

Here is a simple way to estimate your own usage.

• Light user: around 1 to 2ml a day, which makes a 10ml bottle last roughly five to ten days.
• Moderate user: around 2 to 3ml a day, which gives roughly three to five days from a bottle.
• Heavier user: around 3 to 5ml a day, which puts a bottle at two to three days.

These are broad estimates based on typical pod use. They vary with puff length, power setting, coil condition and the type of device. A standard 2ml pod holds roughly one fifth of the bottle, so you can count your pod refills per day for a quick check.

The running costs are the liquid itself and the replacement coils or pods. A pack of replacement pods or coils typically costs a few pounds and lasts one to two weeks with fruit flavours. In total, a regular vaper often spends noticeably less than they did on single-use devices over the same period, and the gap tends to widen if you buy multiple bottles at once.

Single-use disposable vapes have been prohibited in the UK since June 2025, which means refillable systems are now the main route for people who want a similar ease of use at a lower cost. The 20mg/ml limit that applied to disposables applies equally to refill liquids, so there is no strength advantage in either format. What you gain with a refill liquid is flexibility: you can choose a strength, change flavours without changing hardware, and replace only the parts that wear out.

For value, the points in favour of this bottle are the established brand, the 10ml size and the fruit-and-menthol profile that tends to hold its flavour through a whole pod. The points against are that you need compatible hardware, that you must replace coils regularly, and that a bottle at 20mg runs through faster than a lower strength if you chain vape. If you are price-sensitive, it is worth comparing multi-buy offers and checking that you are not paying for a strength that is higher than you need.

How It Compares With Similar Nic Salts

There are a lot of 10ml nic salt ranges in the UK, and many of them share the same basic format. The differences come down to flavour accuracy, the exact base ratio and personal preference, so it helps to know where Elux sits in the field. The comparisons below are general observations, not lab results, and your own taste will decide.

• Elfliq by Elf Bar: a close relative in style. It offers a large range of fruit and ice flavours in the same bottle size and strengths, and the choice between the two often comes down to which specific flavour you like more. If you already use one and like its profile, the other will feel familiar.
• IVG Salt: tends to offer a wide flavour catalogue, with a mix of sweet, fruit and menthol options. It is a sensible alternative if you want to compare several brands in one order.
• Nasty Salt: known for bold, sometimes sharper flavour profiles and strong ice options. It may suit you better if you want a more intense cooling effect than this bottle provides.
• Hayati Pro Max Salts: aimed at the dessert and candy end of the market. A better choice for sweet tooth vapers than for people looking for a fresh fruit and menthol blend.
• Dinner Lady Salts: often associated with dessert, lemon and cola style flavours. It is a different direction from a fruit and menthol liquid, so it is more of a complement than a direct competitor.

On strength and bottle size there is nothing to separate them: all of them are limited by the same 10ml and 20mg/ml caps. On nicotine feel, the differences between brands are subtle and depend on the exact salt formulation and acid used. On flavour, blackcurrant is a less common choice than blue razz, strawberry or watermelon, so this bottle is useful if those mainstream fruits feel overfamiliar to you.

Where this product is weaker is range depth and extra-strong cooling. If you want a full ice blast, other brands may suit you better. If you want a broad choice of different flavour families under one name, a larger catalogue may be easier to work through. Where it is stronger is in giving a distinct, slightly tart fruit with a balanced chill instead of leaning on sweetness.

The practical approach is to treat the 10ml bottle as a low-risk trial. If you are new to this flavour, try one bottle next to another brand you know and compare how each tastes by the end of a pod, since many liquids taste similar for the first few puffs and diverge once the coil warms up.