Nicotine Pouch Strengths

When shopping at Two Wombats, we catagorise nicotine strength into 4 different filter groups to make shopping easier for you. 

Low Strength Pouches (0 - 4mg)

Best for:

• First-time users
• Occasional daytime use
• Those who prefer a soft, smooth experience

Low-strength pouches deliver a subtle release and help new users get familiar with the sensation without feeling overwhelmed.

Regular Strength (4-8mg)

Best for:

• People familiar with nicotine pouches
• Anyone who wants balance and comfort
• Daily use

Regular strength offers a noticeable but controlled experience, making it the most popular category globally.

Strong Pouches (8-12mg)

Best for:

• Experienced pouch users
• Those who enjoy a more pronounced hit
• People transitioning from similarly strong alternatives

Strong pouches provide a clearer, more robust release while still feeling manageable for most experienced users.

Extra Strong (12mg +)

Best for:

• Very experienced users
• Anyone looking for a fast, powerful sensation
• Evening or occasional use

These pouches deliver significantly more intensity and are recommended only for users accustomed to higher strengths.

One of the challenges in understanding pouch strength is that every brand uses a slightly different system. You can see below here Velo's different systems they use, and how it can be tricky to understand what each word means.

Velo Strength System as an Example:

Every nicotine pouch has its own unique release profile, a blend of characteristics that determines how quickly the nicotine kicks in, how strong it feels, and how long the sensation lasts. Elements such as nicotine type, flavour, moisture, pH level, and even how the pouch is made all play a major role in shaping your experience.

Let’s break each factor down.

1. Nicotine Type
Nicotine pouches typically use one of two forms of nicotine:

• Freebase nicotine – Absorbs more slowly and can feel harsher on the gums. This type is more common in older, traditional pouch styles.
• Nicotine salts – Smoother, faster-acting, and easier for the body to absorb. Most modern pouches (including ZYN) use nicotine salts to deliver a strong experience without increasing the mg per pouch.

2. Flavour

Flavour can dramatically influence perceived strength.

Cooling flavours like Mint or Menthol create a refreshing, tingling sensation. This “cool kick” can make a pouch feel stronger than its nicotine content suggests.

For example, a ZYN Cool Mint 6 mg may feel more intense than a ZYN Citrus 9 mg, purely because of the cooling effect.

This is why mint-forward flavours are so popular, they deliver a crisp, sharp sensation without needing a higher nicotine dose.

3. Moisture Level

Pouches either come in a wet or dry formula. In Europe, most formulas are wet. Pouches that are drier have an effect on the nicotine release.

This results in:

• Slower nicotine release
• Longer-lasting flavour
• Minimal drip great for discreet use

Compared to wetter pouches, ZYN may feel less intense at the start, but the overall experience is smoother, steadier, and more consistent over time.

4. pH Level

You won’t see pH listed on the can, but it has a big impact on strength perception:

• Higher pH → faster nicotine absorption → a stronger kick
• Lower pH → smoother delivery → a gentler feel

ZYN carefully adjusts its pH to strike a balance: strong enough to satisfy, but smooth enough to stay comfortable.

5. Production Style

How a pouch is made also affects strength.

ZYN pouches are firm, dry, and filled evenly, resulting in a slow and consistent release.

In contrast, some brands (such as VELO) apply nicotine to the outside of the pouch, meaning the initial effect hits faster and feels more immediate.

Many brands use a dot system (or stars and similar symbols) to show nicotine strength on their packaging. It’s a simple visual guide that helps customers quickly recognise their usual strength and compare products within the same brand.

However, the dot system isn’t standardised across the industry. Each brand sets its own scale, which means identical symbols can represent very different nicotine levels.

For example:

• ZYN 2-dot = 6 mg per pouch
• CLEW 2-dot = 10 mg per pouch

A big difference,  despite the same number of dots.

So, while dots are useful for quick reference, always check the actual mg per pouch, especially when switching between brands. You can see that FUMi has a higher dot amount than Nordic Spirit, even though the strength per pouch is actually often lower.

Zyn complicate things further, by having a separate dot system for Mini and Slim, and then sometimes being inconsistent in how they use them. The table below tries to show you how complicated it is, but this is why at Two Wombats, we've tried to standardise so that you can follow our system to know what to expect when trying new brands.

Finding your perfect strength is personal, but the following guide makes the process easier and more intentional.

1. Consider Your Experience Level

• Complete beginners should start with 1–4 mg.
• Early users are typically comfortable in the 4–8 mg range.
• Experienced users often prefer 8–12 mg.
• Very experienced users may use 13–20 mg or more.

Starting lower is always the safer and more enjoyable approach. It’s easier to move up than step back down.

2. Think About How Often You Use Pouches

Your daily routine directly affects what strength works best.

• All-day or very frequent use? Choose Low or Medium to keep the experience steady and comfortable.
• Moderate, occasional sessions? Strong might work well.
• Short, focused sessions? Consider Extra Strong or Ultra.

3. Match Strength to the Setting

Different strengths suit different moments.

• Workday / meetings → Medium
• Relaxing at home → Medium or Strong
• Short intense sessions → Extra Strong
• Discreet travel / commuting → Slim Medium pouches
• Weekend or evening → Strong to Extra Strong

This is why many users keep two or three strengths on hand.

Not all 10 mg pouches feel the same. Brand formulation matters a lot.

VELO

• Known for a fast but balanced release
• Moisture level is moderate
• 10–14 mg VELO often feels milder than same numbers from dry brands

ZYN

• Dry format results in slower, calmer release
• ZYN 6 mg often feels lighter than VELO 6 mg

Helwit

• Dry format results in slower, calmer release
• ZYN 6 mg often feels lighter than VELO 6 mg

Killa / Pablo

• Extremely fast release, often intense
• Designed for experienced users only
• Strength tends to feel above the mg number

This variation is why this nicotine pouch strength guide emphasises trying a few brands—not just relying on mg numbers.

Ordering your pouches online from trusted stores like Two Wombats has a huge list of advantages that make your shopping experience easier, faster, and more reliable.

When you order from Two Wombats, you can count on:

• Fast, reliable delivery across the UK & EU
• A full range of flavours and strengths
• Discreet packaging for complete peace of mind
• Better value, especially when buying in bulk
• Pick n Mix options and regular discounts
• Authentic products, always fresh and carefully handled
• A loyalty programme and occasional freebies with your order

Simply choose your flavour, pick your preferred flavour, and enjoy premium-quality snus delivered straight to your door.

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