Appeal and Sensory Characteristics of Oral Nicotine Products in Young Adults Who Vape E-Cigarettes

Abstract

Introduction: This study applied a novel tobacco regulatory science paradigm to characterize inter-product variation in the appeal and sensory features of emerging commercial and therapeutic oral nicotine products (ONPs) among young adults who vape e-cigarettes.

Aims and methods: Twenty-three young adults without ONP experience who use e-cigarettes completed a single-blind, single-visit remote lab study. Participants rated appeal and sensory characteristics during 5-minute standardized self-administrations of eight ONPs (four fruits and four mints) from various brands (Lucy, Rouge, Solace, Nicorette, On!, and Velo). Participants were randomized between-subjects to ONP type (pouches or gum).

Results: Gum ONPs were rated sweeter (B = 19.5, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 4.3, 34.7), stronger in flavor (B = 25.6, 95% CI = 12.2, 39.0), and lower in tingling sensation (B = -14.0, 95% CI = -27.8, -0.2) than pouches. Fruit-flavored ONPs were sweeter (B = 12.9, 95% CI = 6.1, 19.7) and caused less burning (B = -12.0, 95% CI = -19.5, -4.5) than mint. Product type × flavor interactions found that gum versus pouch enhanced sweetness and flavor strength more for fruit than mint, while pouch versus gum increased burning and harshness more for mint. Nicorette White Ice was most appealing, while Rogue Fruit and Nicorette Mint were less so. Appeal correlated with most types of sensory experiences (rs = -0.33-0.54), except for tingling and burning.

Conclusions: Nicotine gums may offer a more pleasant sensory experience than pouches for young adults who use e-cigarettes, with variation across brand/flavor variants.

Implications: Results indicate that gum ONPs and fruit flavors may offer greater appeal and a more pleasant sensory experience than pouch ONPs and mint flavors for young adults who use e-cigarettes and are ONP-naïve, with heterogeneity in user experience across some brand/flavor variants. This study also introduces a method for assessing the appeal and sensory features of ONPs, which can inform regulatory efforts and strategies to reduce nicotine dependence among young adults who use e-cigarettes.

Figure 1.

Mean Appeal and Sensory Attribute Ratings, by Product Type and Flavor. Appeal composite score = Average of “liking,” “disliking,” (reverse-scored) and “willingness to use again” (range 0–100).

Figure 2.

Relative difference in mean appeal composite score of each brand compared to the combined mean appeal of the other brands, rank ordered. Appeal composite score = Average of “liking,” “disliking,” (reverse-scored) and “willingness to use again” (range 0–100). x-axis = difference from mean (95% CI); y-axis = brand. *Rating significantly different from the mean ratings of the fifteen other brands (p < .05).

Figure 3.

Correlation matrix between appeal and sensory attribute ratings. Appeal composite score = Average of “liking,” “disliking,” (reverse-scored) and “willingness to use again” (range 0–100). Correlation range: −1 to 1. Strength = Strength of flavor. x = Statistically non-significant (ps > .05).