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Long term nic storage: Carolina Xtracts says not to freeze?
submitted about 6 years ago by GatedGrain

In light of all the craziness going on in the US, I've purchased ~3.5 years worth of nicotine base from Carolina Xtracts just in case things get really bad. I don't plan on using it until I'm forced to, so my goal is to store it for as long as possible. (I bought 120+500ml of 100mg salt VG if anyone's wondering)

I'm looking at the Carolina Xtracts website and it says at the top of their page for freebase: >END USER NOTE: DO NOT PLACE ANY NICOTINE PRODUCT IN THE FREEZER. FOR DETAILS PLEASE READ OUR FAQ NOTES CONCERNING COLD TEMPERATURES.

They go on to say in the FAQ:

>Should I store Nicotine Products in the freezer?

>No, Absolutely not. Damage can occur to 100MG/ML nicotine products when oxides form during near-freeze/thaw cycles caused by temperature fluctuations of some freezer units (but not all). Such fluctuations are typically caused by opening the freezer door and outside weather affecting the efficiency of the unit. Typical refrigeration temperatures, or even room temperatures are a much safer storage range than 27-33F because they are well away from freeze/thaw potential.

Right now, I haven't even opened the boxes the bottles shipped in. I'm not going to decant until I first need to access the nicotine (I have 1oz amber polycone cap bottles and a can of argon wine preserver on standby). Storing it all in a cool cabinet ATM.

I'm really curious about the community's thoughts on this, as CXT seems to really know what they're talking about, and a lot of people say they have the highest quality stuff - but their advice is totally opposite from years of common wisdom in the community. I'm at a crossroads of who to listen to on this.

(Edited to comply with rules, sorry!)

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6 points
 
by Apexifiedabout 6 years agoDelightfully Mediocre

I can only speak from my experience of holding on to a couple liters of Vape Clarity for the past 4+ years (they went out of business) It's broken up into 120ml Amber glass bottles and I take one out every 2-3 months... It's always crystal clear and smooth as the day I got it.

I've also had a bunch of other brands of nic in the freezer for various times from a few months to over a year and haven't seen any change.

Of course that's all anecdotal but I know a lot of others with similar experiences.

3 points
 
by coop34about 6 years ago

I too have been holding on to the last 60 ml bottle of Vape Clarity from a liter. Idk know why, maybe insurance in case I get a bad batch from where ever...

I'm going to re-up soon if summer ever ends. And yes Carolina, I will put into the freezer.

1 points
 
by GatedGrainabout 6 years ago

This is a valuable anecdote, thanks. Great to hear from long term experience.

5 points
 
by Mechnastyabout 6 years ago

I just got 2000ml of 100mg. Half salt and half freebase. It's all going in the freezer. Thanks for that argon wine preserver tip though. Here I was about to source it from a welding supplier. If you're worried about temperature fluctuation from opening and closing the door you could put it in a small styrofoam cooler and then put it in the freezer.

2 points
 
by GatedGrainabout 6 years ago

Thanks for the advice. I got a can of the ArT brand on amazon because they say it’s 100% argon, while the cheaper Private Preserve stuff is apparently a mixture of gasses, mostly nitrogen. 🤷‍♂️

4 points
 
by EdibleMalfunctionabout 6 years agoI found my thrill on Blueberry Hill

Freeze it. Keep larger supply in the freezer. Have a smaller working bottle out to use.

They're saying not to continually pull it out of the freezer, bring it to room temp, open it, and put it back in the freezer. Which is correct

6 points
 
by tet5uoabout 6 years ago

Most home freezers have a thaw-freeze cycle built into them. It's how there's no ice-wall like we used to get on old freezers.

1 points
 
by GatedGrainabout 6 years ago

Thanks for your advice. It’s so confusing because the first words of the answer from them about freezing are, “No, absolutely not.”

I do eventually plan on dividing the 620ml into twenty one 30ml amber bottles topped with argon, but only once I need to first open the big bottles.

Each 30ml would be pulled out and used as needed, making 120ml of 24mg and lasting me about 60 days.

4 points
 
by TDVapesabout 6 years ago

Remember, they want your business! Repeatedly.

ECF has several folks that have stored their nic in freezers going on 5 to 8 years. Even with taking it out, warming it up, back lighting it and putting it back in the freezer, it has all stayed as clear as they day they bought it. At the same time, non-frozen nic, stored in a cool dry and dark area, has oxidized.

As someone has stated, make up some smaller bottles for use and take one out as needed.

3 points
 
by The-Warlockabout 6 years ago

Because people tend to take it out and unfreeze it, use it, then put it back and that leads to too much opening and exposing it to air and so on. But just use a small 30ml of nicotine out at all times by your mix station. Only using your nic from the freezer as needed to refill your 30ml bottle. It makes it less times needing to take out the big bottle. I always have stored my nic in the freezer and have some 3 years old and tastes as good and fresh as the day it was purchased.

3 points
 
by Rabbitdawgabout 6 years ago

I am also a newbie living in reasonable fear that the crackdown will spread all the way to available nicotine. I don't believe they'll out law 'evil' food flavorings through, unless the FDA wants to ban Christmas cookies, jams & jellies.
Searching the internet, I've seen 'expert' opinions on freezing liquid nicotine all over the map. I walked away with the feeling that nobody really knows what they're talking about. However...

The prevailing opinion is liquid nicotine will last in a home freezer indefinitely, or at least for 5 to 10 years. Some say PG is better, others say VG. I really don't think it makes a big rat's. Also, argon is advised, but wine connoisseur's use it and only expect it to give about three day's of protection. Best to break the supply down into 30 ml bottles and use as needed. That being said, the oxidation process is radically slowed down by the freezing process alone.
Some sites claim that home freezers are insufficient for nicotine preservation, but I happen to have the (mostly full) remnants of a 3-plus year old 1 litter bottle of 250 ml per litter VG nicotine in my freezer right now. I bought it back in the day to occasionally spike low-nic juices. So far, I have seen zero change in color or quality.
Hope that helps.

1 points
 
by Shi92about 6 years ago

For long term storaging nicotine go with pg not vg

2 points
 
by GatedGrainabout 6 years ago

They only sell their salt in VG unfortunately :(

1 points
 
by diydivaflowersabout 6 years ago

I always put nic in the freezer. I buy 500mls at a time and split it into 100ml amber glass bottles. This way when I mix I only "thaw" 1 small bottle at a time

1 points
 
by oOflyeyesOoabout 6 years ago

I second argon!! I use it on my long steep juices too.

1 points
 
by Kyonkannoabout 6 years ago

I buy my supplies from Liquidnicotinewholesalers and I had a bottle of 120 ml 48g/ml nicotine for more than a year on the freezer, taking it out regularly to mix my juices. Been fine so far. I had ordered a new bottle of 240ml 60g/ml which will definitely last me (supply wise) for at least 2 years. Even if it goes bad after a year or so, 10 bucks a pop ain't that much of a problem.

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