What is the difference between snus and nicotine pouches? A guideline

On the surface, snus pouches and nicotine pouches look very similar – especially when comparing white snus with nicotine pouches which look completely identical. Moreover, snus and nicotine pouches are often manufactured by the same brands and are packaged in very similar cans – which of course adds to the confusion. Nevertheless, although both are non-combustible oral products, there are certain differences that separate them quite substantially.

What does snus and nicotine pouches contain?

One of the primary ingredients in snus is tobacco, whereas nicotine pouches are 100% tobacco-free. In fact, nicotine pouches are created through a specialized process that extracts the nicotine from the tobacco leaf. This method was only discovered in Sweden in the early 2000s, making nicotine pouches quite new to the oral products market.

Instead of tobacco, nicotine pouches usually contain food grade fillers, as well as water, flavourants, salt – and of course, most importantly, nicotine. Snus shares many of these ingredients, but also contains sodium carbonate and, of course, tobacco. In the case of white snus pouches, the tobacco has been whitened and therefore bears a very strong resemblance to the all-white nicotine pouch.

One thing that white snus and nicotine pouches have in common is that they are purported to drip less than traditional snus, and do not stain your teeth. If the pouch does slip down a little during use, it will be more difficult to detect, which may suit users who appreciate discretion.

One important difference in the ingredients is that, unlike snus, nicotine pouches do not need to be kept in the fridge in order to retain their freshness. This could make them somewhat more convenient than snus, as you do not need to worry about space in your refrigerator, and can keep your nicotine pouches on you at all times.

Do nicotine pouches have the same effect as snus?

As with snus, you are able to purchase nicotine pouches with different strength levels, which guarantees that you will still experience the same nicotine boost as you do with snus. Veteran tobacco users should start their nicotine pouch journey using a higher level of nicotine, while beginners can choose variants with a lower nicotine content to get them accustomed to the nicotine sensation.

Are snus and nicotine pouches used differently?

Both of these products are used in the same way – by placing a pouch (or ball in the case of loose snus) underneath your top lip. The nicotine can then be absorbed through the gums and into the bloodstream.

As nicotine pouches are not as moist as snus, they do require some saliva to kickstart the absorption process. You can do this by placing them on your tongue first, and then maneuvering them to your lip, or of course by adding some saliva under your lip after placement.

Snus and nicotine pouches can be enjoyed for approximately the same duration of time – 20-40 minutes – before being discarded in the regular trash.

Regardless of whether you want to start a tobacco or tobacco-free journey, there is a product to suit your needs.

Henrik Ståhl

Published 2021-04-01