Guide

Oral Nicotine, Explained: Pouches, Gum and Melts

Oral nicotine sits in the mouth instead of being inhaled. How pouches, gum and melts each work, and how they differ.

Oral nicotine goes in the mouth instead of being inhaled. The main formats are pouches, gum and melts. They work in similar ways but feel different to use. Here is what each one is and how they compare.

What oral nicotine is

Oral nicotine is any nicotine product you hold in your mouth rather than inhale. The nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth, sometimes called buccal absorption, and reaches you without smoke or vapour. Most modern oral nicotine is tobacco-free. The nicotine is either synthetic or extracted, and the product carries flavour and not much else.

This is worth separating from snus, which people often confuse it with. Snus contains tobacco and is banned from sale in the UK. The pouches and melts on sale today are tobacco-free, which is why they are legal here.

Nicotine pouches

A pouch is a small sealed sachet you tuck between your lip and gum. It holds nicotine and flavour, no tobacco, and you leave it in place for anything up to an hour before binning it. There is nothing to chew and nothing to spit out. Strengths range widely, and brands like Zyn, Velo and Nordic Spirit have made this one of the fastest-growing formats in the UK.

Nicotine gum

Gum is the oldest format. You chew it to release the nicotine, then park it against your cheek and chew again when the craving returns. This is the chew and park method, and the technique matters, since chewing it like normal gum releases the nicotine too fast and can feel harsh. Most nicotine gum is sold as nicotine replacement therapy in pharmacies.

Nicotine melts

A melt is a small piece that dissolves in the mouth on its own. No chewing, and no pouch to take out afterwards. The nicotine absorbs through the lining of the mouth as the melt breaks down. The older pharmacy version of a dissolvable is the nicotine lozenge, which is sold as nicotine replacement therapy.

This is the format NYXE is built around. NYXE is a nicotine melt made for vapers, with a cooling sensation as it dissolves. There is no device and no liquid. You put it in and it dissolves.

How the formats differ

The formats split on a few practical points. Placement is one: a pouch sits under your lip, while a melt sits anywhere and dissolves. What you do afterwards is another: a pouch gets removed and binned, while a melt leaves nothing behind. Onset and the strength of the sensation vary by format and by brand. Discretion is similar across all of them, since none involves a device or smoke.

The rules in the UK

Oral nicotine is legal to buy and use in the UK if you are over 18. The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 brought nicotine products including pouches under a minimum age of sale of 18, so you should expect an ID check online and in store. Snus stays banned, because it contains tobacco. Tobacco-free oral nicotine does not.

FAQ

What is oral nicotine?

Any nicotine product you hold in your mouth instead of inhaling. The nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth.

Is oral nicotine the same as snus?

No. Snus contains tobacco and is banned in the UK. Pouches and melts are tobacco-free and legal.

Do you swallow it?

No. You hold it in your mouth and let it work there. Swallowing sends the nicotine to your stomach instead, where it does little.

Are nicotine pouches legal in the UK?

Yes, for adults aged 18 and over.

What is the difference between a pouch and a melt?

A pouch sits under your lip and gets removed. A melt dissolves in your mouth and leaves nothing to take out.