What flavor is ZYN Smooth and ZYN Chill?
In the USA, ZYN offers a range of 10 flavors, two of which are “unflavored”: ZYN Smooth and ZYN Chill. These two variants are frequently compared to each other, often mixed up and usually picked as the least liked ZYN flavors. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to have a closer look at these variants.
ZYN Smooth is a tobacco-inspired, unflavored nicotine pouch with a mild and earthy taste [of nicotine]. It is praised by some users for its subtlety and great pairing with beverages (- picking up the taste of the beverage). ZYN Chill is a slightly refreshing, unflavored nicotine pouch. It provides a subtle cooling effect. The obvious question is: ZYN has 5 mint & menthol flavored variants in its US portfolio, offering different levels of refreshing taste and cooling sensation. What is it about ZYN Chill? It provides the cooling effect without mint and menthol flavors and can be sold in states or localities where flavored nicotine (tobacco) products are prohibitied – such as, California and Massachusetts. Both ZYN Smooth and ZYN Chill are marketed as “Flavor-Ban Compliant”.
ZYN Chill pouches has no mint and menthol flavors, but a synthetic cooling agent, WS-3. N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide, WS-3 in short is one of the most used cooling agents in the food and beverage industry. Unlike menthol, WS-3 is virtually nonvolatile, odorless and tasteless – thereby, providing a cooling sensation without affecting the taste or aroma of the final product. It’s known for its clean, immediate cooling impact and has been found to cool primarily the roof of the mouth, the back of the mouth and the back of the tongue. WS-3 is commonly used in gums/candies/mints, carbonated & alcoholic beverages, toothpastes and mouthwashes. WS-3 is considered safe for consumption by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). However, its safety for inhalation is unknown. WS-3 is also present in “Flavor-Ban Compliant” Camel Crisp and Newport EXP, the non-menthol cigarettes offering “a new fresh twist” and “a taste that satisfies the senses”.
What is present in ZYN Smooth and ZYN Chill?
Flavor ban regulation relies on the concept of “characterizing flavor” that is primarily based on odor perception (such as a minty, fruity, or sweet smell). As WS-3 is odorless, synthetic cooling agent, it is claimed by the manufacturers to be “Flavor-Ban Compliant”.
WS-3 is also present in ZYN Peppermint and ZYN Spearmint in addition to other minty flavorants: menthol, menthone, menthyl acetate and carvone. Menthone is a constituent of the essential oil of peppermint and menthyl acetate is the main constituent that contributes to the smell and flavor of peppermint. Carvone is a constituent that is present in high amounts in the essential oil of spearmint. Both ZYN Cool Mint and ZYN Menthol has only one flavorant present: menthol. However, the amount of menthol in ZYN Cool Mint pouch is about 4 times the quantity in ZYN Menthol pouch1.
WS-3 in ZYN Chill is sufficient to provide a robust oral cooling sensation by strongly activating cold and menthol receptor (TRPM8) in combination with lower sensory irritation than menthol would cause. Nevertheless, laboratory testing and real-life use do not always coincide. ZYN Chill remains as the least liked ZYN flavor by the nicotine pouch users alongside with flavorless, sensationless ZYN Smooth.
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