One of ZYN’s strong suits is the wide range of flavors and strengths that cater to a large customer base and their preferences. In addition to their flavored pouches, ZYNs also come in two unflavored varieties—Smooth and Chill. These options are great for nicotine enthusiasts who don’t want different aromas being a part of their pouch experience.
In this guide, we’ll compare ZYN Smooth vs. Chill, highlight the benefits of unflavored pouches, and help you choose the right one for you by answering these questions:
- ZYN Chill vs. Smooth—what are the differences and similarities?
- What are the advantages of unflavored ZYN pouches?
- How do unflavored ZYNs compare to flavored ones?
- What are popular alternatives to ZYN Chill and Smooth?
ZYN Chill vs. Smooth—What Are the Differences and Similarities?
ZYN Smooth and ZYN Chill are the two unflavored ZYN varieties. They offer a “pure” nicotine experience, with only the mildly bitter nicotine taste and the buzz from the pouch without any additional flavor. So, how do you choose between the two?
The best way to make an informed choice about which one is for you is to look at Chill vs. Smooth ZYN across several categories, such as:
- Potency
- Pouch formats
- Mouthfeel
ZYN Chill vs. ZYN Smooth—Potency
The strength of a nicotine pouch refers to the amount of nicotine contained in it, expressed in mg per pouch. This is one of the most important factors when choosing pouches.
If the nicotine content is too low, you might not feel anything. On the other hand, if you go too high, you risk a negative reaction.
ZYN Chill and Smooth are similar in nicotine content, as both are available in the 3 and 6 mg variants.
ZYN Smooth vs. ZYN Chill—Pouch Formats
Nicotine pouches can come in several formats, depending on the brand. In ZYN’s case, the options are Slim and Mini Dry.
Slim and Mini Dry have different shapes, weights, and moisture content.
Mini Dry pouches are small rectangles that weigh around 0.4 grams each. They’re completely dry, which means they take a little longer to kick in once you put them in your mouth. The nicotine and flavor delivery is also more gradual, which results in a longer, more subtle experience.
Slim pouches are slightly larger, thin rectangles that weigh around 0.7 grams. They contain a small amount of moisture, providing a more intense flavor and nicotine hit.
Both Smooth and Chill ZYNs come in the Mini Dry format, meaning both will provide a long, gradual nicotine buzz.
ZYN Chill vs. ZYN Smooth—How Do They Feel in Your Mouth?
Considering that ZYN Chill and Smooth are unflavored variants, comparing how they taste would be difficult. Instead, a better way to compare the two is to see how they feel in your mouth.
ZYN Smooth is usually described as silky because, aside from the nicotine and mild sweetness, all you feel on your gums is the pouch.
ZYN Chill provides a similar experience but with an added twist—it contains WS-3, a synthetic agent that helps Chill pouches provide a cooling sensation without adding flavor.
What Are the Advantages of Unflavored ZYN Pouches?

Source: Pixabay
The biggest advantage of unflavored ZYN pouches is a more subtle ZYN experience. However, this isn’t the only benefit you get from choosing ZYN Chill or Smooth. The main advantages of using ZYN Smooth and Chill can be separated into three main points:
- Lower odds of an allergic reaction
- The experience is not as intense
- Laxed legal restrictions
Lower Odds of an Allergic Reaction
The flavorings in ZYN pouches are made from natural extracts that are carefully selected and combined to provide a delicious taste. Although allergies to these extracts are uncommon, if an allergic reaction happens, it can sour the experience or even cause serious problems depending on severity.
Unflavored pouches don’t contain any flavorings, natural or artificial, so the chances of an allergic reaction when using them are non-existent.
The Experience Is Not as Intense
Unflavored ZYNs come in the same strength categories as their flavored counterparts, but the subjective feeling of using them can greatly differ. Because of the way they interact with your mouth, sour, spicy, and minty flavors can make the buzz you’re getting feel stronger than it is.
Unflavored ZYN pouches don’t stimulate your mouth like flavored pouches, so the feeling you get from them won’t be as intense.

Source: Sora Shimazaki
Laxed Legal Restrictions
Some states have imposed bans on flavored tobacco products due to concerns that the flavors might make them popular among the youth. The bans usually pertain to flavored cigarettes and vape liquids, but even though they don’t contain tobacco, nicotine pouches are placed in the same category and must abide by the same restrictions.
This means that in the states of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California, unflavored pouches are the only available options.
These bans are mostly enforced on brick-and-mortar shops. This means that if you can’t find your preferred ZYN flavor locally, you can order them online—if your state laws permit it.
Get Your Pouches Online at SnusBoss
SnusBoss has a great variety of ZYN flavors and strengths. Whether you’re looking for Smooth and Chill or a flavored variant, the experts who run the website have you covered. SnusBoss offers a fantastic selection of some of the most popular ZYN flavors like Citrus, Cool Mint, and Espressino.
To order from SnusBoss, you need to follow three simple steps:
- Go to the online store
- Choose your favorite ZYN flavor and strength
- Put in your shipping and payment information
If you decide on the express shipping option, the pouches will be at your doorstep in 2–3 business days. When you buy from SnusBoss, you get to enjoy the following perks:
- Free shipping on all orders above $249
- Competitive prices and bulk discounts
- Regular discounts and promotions
How Are Unflavored Pouches Different From Flavored Ones?
Aside from the presence and intensity of taste, unflavored ZYN pouches cater to different needs than flavored ones. All ZYN pouches come with a high-quality guarantee, and saying that one kind of pouch is better is purely subjective.
To fully illustrate the differences between flavored and unflavored pouches, we’ll compare them across the following criteria:
- Ingredients
- Strength
Ingredients
Both flavored and unflavored ZYN pouches are made from food-grade ingredients paired with pharmaceutical-grade nicotine salts to provide the best experience and a long-lasting buzz.
The formula for both is exactly the same except for one difference, as shown in this table:
Ingredient | Flavored Pouches | Unflavored Pouches |
Nicotine salts | Yes | Yes |
Sweetener | Yes | Yes |
Fillers | Yes | Yes |
pH balancers | Yes | Yes |
Stabilizers | Yes | Yes |
Granulation agent | Yes | Yes |
Flavoring | Yes | No |
While ZYNs contain sweeteners, they don’t contain any sugar. Instead, ZYNs use acesulfame K, a sweetener that does not affect blood sugar levels when ingested. Both flavored and unflavored pouches contain acesulfame K, but the sweetness is less pronounced in the unflavored variant.
Strengths
ZYNs come in four strength levels—1.5 mg, 3 mg, 6 mg, and 9 mg. Flavored variants span the entire strength range, though availability may vary. In comparison, Smooth and Chill are more limited since the only options available are 3 and 6 mg.
This means that while Smooth and Chill are great if you prefer more moderate pouches, flavored variants might be a better match for beginners and the most experienced users.

Source: Zyn_sverige
Should You Use Flavored or Unflavored ZYNs?
If you want to fully appreciate ZYN and explore all it has to offer, don’t limit yourself to just one type. Experiment with different strengths and flavors to find what suits you best. This way, you can make the most of each pouch and enhance your experience.
If you’d like to know what you’re getting into before trying out new products, remember that:
Unflavored ZYNs Are Better If | Flavored ZYNs Are Better If |
You’re allergic to certain flavorings and don’t want to risk a reaction You’re looking for a more subtle ZYN experience You can’t legally buy any of the flavored variants | You use strength levels not covered by unflavored pouches You prefer a more intense ZYN experience You like to experiment with different flavors |
What Are Popular Alternatives to ZYN Chill and Smooth?
Unlike ZYN Smooth, which offers an unadulterated nicotine experience, ZYN Chill gives you a refreshing sensation. Minty flavors are among the most popular, and comparing them to ZYN Chill and Smooth can help you decide which suits you best.
The three most popular minty ZYN flavors we’ll weigh against Chill and Smooth are:
- ZYN Cool Mint
- ZYN Wintergreen
- ZYN Spearmint

Source: ZYN
ZYN Cool Mint
ZYN Cool Mint offers a strong peppermint aroma that turns into a cooling sensation within minutes. It comes in three strengths, topping off at 9 mg, which caters to more experienced users than Chill and Smooth.
Cool Mint is an excellent alternative for Chill and Smooth if you want a strong cooling flavor or something stronger than 6 mg.
This is how the three stand up to each other:
Criterion | Chill | Cool Mint | Smooth |
Flavor profile | Neutral, cooling | Strong peppermint | Neutral, mildly sweet |
Strength levels | 3 and 6 mg | 3, 6 and 9 mg | 3 and 6 mg |
ZYN Wintergreen
Similarly to Cool Mint, Wintergreen gives a wintery cooling sensation, but with added notes of sweetness.
Strength-wise, there isn’t any difference between the flavors—all three come in 3 and 6 mg formats.
Wintergreen’s subtle sweetness and mint aroma offer a more flavorful experience than Chill and Smooth, but if your main concern is pouch strength, you’ll be good with either.
Here’s how it compares to Chill and Smooth:
Criterion | Chill | Wintergreen | Smooth |
Flavor profile | Neutral, cooling | Mint, subtly sweet | Neutral, mildly sweet |
Strength levels | 3 and 6 mg | 3 and 6 mg | 3 and 6 mg |
ZYN Spearmint
ZYN Spearmint has a slightly milder minty flavor with a sweeter aroma than Wintergreen. Unlike other minty flavors, you can find ZYN Spearmint in every strength.
Spearmint’s gentle cooling sensation and sweetness make it a subtle flavor and a great alternative to Chill and Smooth, as you can see below:
Criterion | Chill | Spearmint | Smooth |
Flavor profile | Neutral, cooling | Subtly minty, sweet | Neutral, mildly sweet |
Strength levels | 3 and 6 mg | 1.5, 3, 6 and 9 mg | 3 and 6 mg |
Looking for More Flavors? SnusBoss Has You Covered
If you’re looking for flavors outside of the fantastic selection ZYN has to offer, you don’t have to look too far. SnusBoss also sells high-quality pouches from these brands:
You have to be at least 21 to legally buy nicotine pouches in the U.S.
Featured image source: ZYN_sverige