Nicotine pouches are small, tobacco-free pouches placed under the upper lip that release nicotine gradually. They've grown quickly in the UK over the past few years, but for many adult shoppers the basic question is still the same: what actually are they, what's inside, and how are they different from snus, vapes or cigarettes?
This guide answers that in plain terms. No jargon, no marketing claims — just what a nicotine pouch is, what it isn't, and how the format works.
What is a nicotine pouch?
A nicotine pouch is a small white pouch, roughly the shape of a folded teabag, designed to sit under the upper lip. Inside the pouch is a measured amount of nicotine, plant-based fibres, flavourings and salts. While the pouch is in place, nicotine is absorbed through the gum and into the bloodstream.
There's no smoke, no vapour, no spitting and no tobacco leaf. The pouch typically stays under the lip for around 15 to 30 minutes and is then thrown away.
Nicotine pouches are made for adults aged 18 and over. They contain nicotine, which is addictive, and they're not suitable for non-smokers, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone with a heart condition.
What's inside a nicotine pouch?
Open up a typical nicotine pouch and you'd find five things:
- Plant-based fibres. Usually cellulose or eucalyptus pulp, sometimes mixed with food-grade fillers. This is the bulk of the pouch material — what gives it shape and texture.
- Nicotine. Added in a controlled, measured dose. Most modern UK brands use pharmaceutical-grade nicotine and label the strength in milligrams per pouch on the can.
- Flavourings. Mint, berry, citrus, fruit, coffee, herbal — whatever the brand has chosen. Flavourings are food-grade and account for a small percentage of the pouch.
- Sweeteners and salts. These help the nicotine release smoothly and balance the taste under the lip.
- pH regulators. A small amount, used to keep the pouch at the right pH for steady nicotine release.
That's it. There's no tobacco leaf, no combustion residue and nothing that needs to be heated, lit or inhaled.
Read more about what's inside a nicotine pouch
How do nicotine pouches actually work?
The mechanism is simple. Once the pouch sits under the upper lip, moisture from the gum activates the contents. Nicotine, salts and flavourings release gradually into the lining of the mouth, where the nicotine is absorbed through the gum tissue and into the bloodstream.
The release peaks during the first 10–15 minutes — this is when most users notice the nicotine effect most clearly — and then tapers off across the remaining 30–45 minutes. By the end of a session, most of what the pouch had to give has been delivered.
You don't chew, swallow or move the pouch around. You just leave it in place and remove it when the flavour fades or when you've had enough.
Read more about how to use nicotine pouches
How are they different from snus, vapes and cigarettes?
Nicotine pouches share the under-the-lip format with traditional Swedish snus, but they don't share the contents. They share the nicotine-delivery purpose with vapes and cigarettes, but not the format. Here's the short version:
Traditional Swedish snus: Contains moist tobacco leaf; nicotine pouches do not |
Cigarettes: Burn tobacco, produce smoke and tar; pouches do neither |
Vapes / e-cigarettes: Heat liquid into vapour for inhalation; pouches deliver via the gum, no inhalation |
Nicotine gum: Designed to be chewed and parked; pouches stay still under the lip |
The closest cousin is snus — same format, different contents. The article on snus vs nicotine pouches goes into the detail.
Are nicotine pouches the same as nicopods or white snus?
Yes — different names, same kind of product. The category is still relatively young in the UK, so several names are used in parallel:
- Nicotine pouches — the clearest and most accurate term
- Nicopods — informal, used by some brands and forum communities
- White snus — common in UK shopping and search, even though the product isn't snus
- Tobacco-free snus — used to distinguish from traditional snus
- Snus — used loosely in UK shopping. Most "snus" you'll find at a UK retailer is actually a nicotine pouch.
If you've seen any of these terms and wondered whether they meant the same thing — they do. The differences are in marketing language, not the product.
Who uses nicotine pouches?
Nicotine pouches are an adult product. The typical user in the UK falls into one of three groups:
- Existing nicotine users who've moved from cigarettes or vapes to pouches because they prefer a smoke-free, vapour-free format that's discreet during the day.
- Long-term snus users in the UK who can no longer easily access traditional Swedish snus and have moved to tobacco-free pouches as the closest available alternative.
- Adults switching between formats depending on context — for example, using vapes outdoors and pouches at work or in places where vaping isn't practical.
Pouches are not a starting product. They aren't suitable for non-smokers, anyone under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone with a heart condition.
What does a typical pouch session look like?
Place one pouch under your upper lip, leave it in place for 15–30 minutes while the nicotine releases, then remove and dispose of it in the lid recess. There's a mild tingle under the lip during the first few minutes — that's normal, it settles quickly.