How Long Should You Keep a Pouch In? (And Other Stuff Nobody Tells You)

Most of this is obvious after a month of using pouches, but nobody explains it on day one.

How long does a pouch stay in?

Twenty to thirty minutes, for most people and most pouches. The flavor fades first, and the nicotine tapers off after it. Past forty minutes, you're mostly just holding a damp pouch for the sake of it.

A better rule is to take it out when it stops being pleasant. Some people take it out at fifteen minutes and some keep it in for forty-five. It comes down to preference.

Can you reuse one?

You could, but there's no point. A used pouch has already given you what it's going to give, so just throw it away.

What's the plastic bit in the can lid?

That's the catch lid, a little compartment for used pouches when there's no trash can around. A lot of people who've used pouches for a year don't know it's there. Use it instead of leaving pouches in cup holders.

How many pouches are in a can, and what does it cost to run?

Around 20 per can, depending on the line. Every can in our shop is $9.99, whether it's ZYN, VELO, Pablo or anything else, so the math is easy: at a moderate three a day, you'll go through about a can a week.

Where do you even put it?

Under the upper lip, between the lip and gum, slightly off-center. Use the upper lip, not the lower one. Putting it under the lower lip is a habit people brought over from dip, and it makes you drool. The upper lip holds the pouch still and keeps things tidy.

Does the tingle mean something's wrong?

A light burn or tingle in the first few minutes is normal, and it fades. Feeling sick, dizzy or sweaty is not normal. That means the strength is too high for you, not that something's wrong with the pouch, so drop down a strength. There's more on this in our strength guide.

Fridge or no fridge?

Unopened cans keep fine in any cool, dry drawer. The fridge does keep them fresh longer if you've bought a lot, which matters if you buy the 25-packs. We also check the dates on everything we ship, so this is mostly an issue for people who stockpile.

Can you have one anywhere?

Legally, more or less. Nothing burns, you don't exhale anything and there's no smell. Socially, use your judgment. Most of the appeal of pouches is that nobody has to know, so keep it low-key.

Our FAQ has more of the basics, including shipping, returns and the 21+ rules. We sell to adults only.

WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.