Most nicopods contain either synthetic nicotine or nicotine salts, which allow you to manage your daily nicotine habits without smoke, vapor, and any unpleasant smells.
But is there any difference between these two nicotine types?
Find out in our concise synthetic nicotine vs. nicotine salt comparison and see how these derivatives affect nicotine consumption.
Synthetic Nicotine vs. Nicotine Salt—Composition, Origin, Purity, Absorption Rates
To understand how different types of nicotine work and why they’re used in specific products, we’ll compare their:
- Composition
- Purity and consistency
- Nicotine absorption rates
- Effect duration
- Overall feel
- Health effects
- Shelf life
- Production costs
- Environmental impact
- Usage among different brands
1. Chemical Composition
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Synthetic nicotine (also known as non-tobacco-derived nicotine or tobacco-free nicotine) is created in a lab. It’s produced through chemical synthesis and has an identical chemical structure to traditional nicotine. This nicotine type interacts with the human body in the same way as the naturally-occurring variant.
With the increasing market demand for tobacco-free alternatives, synthetic nicotine has become a popular option in nicotine pouches, e-juices, and many smoking cessation aids. Since it’s produced in controlled laboratory conditions, manufacturers often choose it to deliver standardized and consistent products to their users.
First introduced by JUUL in 2016, nicotine salts have revolutionized the nicotine product industry. Its primary components are:
- Freebase nicotine—The purest form obtained by adding ammonia to the nicotine extracted directly from the tobacco plant
- Organic acids—Most commonly benzoic acid crystals, which reduce the pH level of freebase nicotine
Combining these two ingredients results in a more stable compound that offers several advantages compared to regular nicotine, including better absorption, a smoother consumption experience, and a longer shelf life.
2. Purity and Consistency
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Synthetic nicotine is made in highly controlled laboratory conditions, offering the highest level of purity and consistency. It doesn’t contain any naturally occurring impurities from tobacco, including dangerous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Most synthetic nicotine manufacturers claim that their nicotine offers purity levels of over 99%, surpassing every kind of tobacco-derived nicotine.
The production process gives manufacturers complete control, resulting in compound consistency and ensuring a standardized user experience.
The purity of nicotine salts largely depends on the quality of the tobacco. Unlike synthetic nicotine, nicotine salts may contain low concentrations of TSNAs, pesticides, or other chemicals used during plant cultivation.
Nicotine salts’ consistency can also vary depending on the tobacco source and the nicotine extraction method. The natural variability in various tobacco types can result in inconsistencies in potency and flavor across products and batches. Consequently, manufacturers use various methods to standardize their products.
3. Nicotine Absorption Rates
Nicotine salt has a quicker onset and a higher absorption rate than synthetic nicotine. It kicks in quicker at potentially lower concentrations, so it’s ideal for users seeking an instant nicotine hit.
The absorption rates of synthetic nicotine are roughly comparable to freebase nicotine, which is absorbed 30–40% slower than nic salts used in vaping devices.
Nicotine type isn’t the only factor determining the absorption rate in oral nicotine products like nicopods. Check out the table below to find out what else affects the onset speed:
| Additional Factors | Description |
| pH values | Nicotine pouches with higher pH levels create a more alkaline environment, facilitating more efficient nicotine absorption |
| Moisture level | Moist nicopods deliver their nicotine and flavor at a faster rate compared to dry products, resulting in a quicker and more intense nicotine experience |
| Pouch size | Larger nicotine pouches store more content and have a greater contact surface, resulting in higher nicotine absorption |
| Duration of use | The amount of nicotine absorbed from a nicopod directly depends on the session duration |
| Individual characteristics | We all absorb nicotine at a different rate. Individual factors, such as the health of your oral mucosa and the flow of your saliva, play a major role in your nicotine intake rate |
4. Effect Duration
Source: SplitShire
The origin of nicotine doesn’t play a significant role in the nicotine product’s effect duration. Whether synthetic or tobacco-derived, nicotine interacts with your body similarly, so users can expect a nearly identical experience when it comes to how long they can feel the buzz.
If you’re looking for a longer-lasting experience with a nicotine pouch, consider focusing on other factors, such as:
- High nicotine strengths
- Large pouch sizes
- Brands that use special delivery technologies
5. Overall Feel
Since nicotine salts have a lower pH level than synthetic nicotine, nicotine products containing them provide a smoother sensation for the user. That’s why manufacturers prefer salts, particularly for products with more nicotine.
Whether in nicotine pouches, vapes, or other smokeless products, using regular nicotine in high concentrations would result in a rough sensation, potentially causing throat irritation and discomfort to the user.
6. Health Effects
Source: succo
When considering the risk profiles of synthetic and salt nicotine, it’s important to keep in mind that most tobacco-related diseases come from smoke and other hazardous chemicals from the tobacco plant. Nicotine is a stimulant similar to caffeine, which doesn’t increase the risk of cancer and offers several benefits, including:
- Boosted energy
- Increased focus
- Improved attention span
- Better working and episodic memory
- Improved fine motor functions
Since synthetic nicotine shares a similar molecular structure as its tobacco-derived counterpart, their effects on the body and mind are virtually indistinguishable. Despite carrying minimal risks, nicotine salt may contain tobacco impurities, including traces of pesticides and TSNAs, making it a potentially less safe alternative to synthetic nicotine.
Still, synthetic nicotine is a relatively new product. As such, more research is needed to fully understand its potential health impact. Tobacco-derived nicotine has been used for centuries in various tobacco products and has given us plenty of time to document and understand most of its benefits and risks.
7. Shelf Life
Nicotine salts offer superior stability compared to synthetic nicotine. They are more resistant to oxidation, which can degrade nicotine, reduce its potency, and lead to an underwhelming experience with the product. As a result, products using nicotine salts tend to maintain their strength and quality longer.
While nicotine salts have an impressive shelf life, proper storage is still paramount. Keeping your nicotine products in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight helps preserve their freshness. With proper care, many nicotine products can stay fresh and potent for up to a year from their manufacturing date, depending on the product type.
8. Production Costs
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Due to financial factors, nicotine is still mainly sourced from tobacco plants. While its synthetic alternative may offer more purity, its production costs are significantly higher, typically costing three to four times more than tobacco-derived nicotine.
Still, recent advancements in synthetic nicotine production have narrowed the price gap. Over time, the costs of producing synthetic nicotine have decreased substantially, resulting in more manufacturers adopting synthetic nicotine for their products. As technology advances and production scales up, this cost difference may completely disappear, potentially reshaping the entire market.
9. Environmental Impact
Synthetic nicotine significantly reduces the ecological footprint associated with nicotine production. Conventional tobacco farming often involves extensive land use, agrochemicals, and substantial water resources. These methods can lead to soil degradation and water pollution, disrupting the entire habitat in some extreme cases.
Synthetic nicotine production avoids the environmental pitfalls of traditional farming by eliminating the need for tobacco cultivation. This shift towards a more sustainable approach conserves natural resources and minimizes the harmful substances released into the ecosystem.
10. Usage Among Different Brands
Synthetic nicotine is becoming the preferred choice for many nicotine pouch manufacturers.
Check out the table below to find out which popular nicopod brands use synthetic or tobacco-derived nicotine:
Some brands, including Velo or the recently launched Tucker Carlson’s ALP nicopods, use both types of nicotine, depending on the individual characteristics of their products.
Why Nicotine Pouches Are the Best Way To Enjoy Nicotine
Source: SnusBoss
Nicotine pouches are 100% tobacco-free, giving you one of the safest ways to enjoy nicotine without most of the dangerous chemicals from tobacco.
In addition to having one of the lowest risk profiles on the market, nicotine pouches have the following advantages:
- Wide range of strengths—Nicotine pouches offer a wider variety of strengths than any other tobacco or nicotine product. You can get nicopods with as little as 1.5 mg to over 36 mg of nicotine per pouch
- Higher absorption rate—Besides being stronger, nicotine pouches have a higher absorption rate than all traditional tobacco products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, dip, and regular snus
- Long-lasting buzz—Unlike cigarettes and vapes, which deliver a short-term effect, nicotine pouches give you a prolonged and steady buzz that lasts between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on the nicopod format and ingredients
- Lots of flavors to choose from—When it comes to their flavor selection, nicopods outshine any other nicotine product on the market. Whether you need a burst of refreshing minty or fruity flavor or crave a sweet or spicy aroma to jolt your taste buds, nicotine pouches have it all
- No teeth stains—Since they don’t use actual tobacco, nicotine pouches are among the cleanest nicotine products that don’t cause deep teeth stains
- Convenient and discreet—Since they produce no smoke or vapor and don’t require chewing or spitting, nicotine pouches are among the most convenient forms of nicotine consumption. You can use them anywhere and anytime you like, even in places where smoking and vaping are banned
Get Premium EU-Made Nicotine Pouches From SnusBoss
Led by industry experts, SnusBoss is the best place to get EU-made nicopods that deliver richer flavor, more moisture, and a stronger kick than most American brands.
Ever since the FDA’s 2016 decision to classify nicopods as tobacco products, U.S. manufacturers have been required to undergo complicated pre-market evaluations. Due to the EU’s more progressive stance on nicopods, its manufacturers were able to deliver nicopods that are superior in every way.
Check out the fantastic brands that use both synthetic nicotine and nic salts in their products and are available at SnusBoss:
| ZYN | Velo | Dope | GOAT | Denssi |
| Glitch | Hit | Oryx | Pik | Snatch |
| Pablo | Kozmo | Jäger | Kurwa | White Fox |
| Thor | Roger | Killa | Rogue | Kick |
| Siberia | Chapo | Paz |
Ordering from SnusBoss is quick and easy:
- Visit the online store
- Select your desired brand, strength, and flavor
- Enter your shipping and billing info
Choose express delivery at checkout to get your nicopods in two to three business days. Free shipping is available for all orders over $249.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nicotine Cause Addiction?
Nicotine’s addictive properties can cause long-term dependence with prolonged use. When your body gets accustomed to regular nicotine intake, quitting will likely result in unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
What’s the Difference Between Synthetic Nicotine vs. Nicotine Salts?
The key difference between these two types of nicotine is that synthetic nicotine is created entirely in a lab, whereas nicotine salts come from tobacco-derived nicotine. Since it contains no trace of tobacco, synthetic nicotine is often regarded as the purest form of nicotine, free from any potential pesticides or TSNAs that may be present in tobacco-extracted nicotine.
How Long Does Nicotine Stay in Your System?
Regardless of the type, nicotine can be present in your bloodstream for up to three days following your most recent use. During metabolization, nicotine is broken down into cotinine, which can remain at detectable levels for up to 10 days.
Featured image source: Monolemma
