WHAT IS NICOTINE?

Nicotine belongs to a family of compounds called alkaloids that occur naturally in several varieties of plants – including tomatoes, aubergines and potatoes. However, while these plants do contain nicotine, they contain far lower levels as compared to the tobacco plant, which has the highest levels of nicotine.  

Key facts about nicotine  

• Nicotine is addictive. Over time the reported desired effects of nicotine can lead to difficulty quitting with symptoms of withdrawal 
• Nicotine is a stimulant that can cause a physiological effect. 
• Nicotine is naturally sourced from the tobacco plant; however, it can also be synthetically created. 
• While addictive and not risk free, nicotine itself is not carcinogenic 
• The primary cause of smoking-related disease is not exposure to nicotine, but to the toxicants created by the burning of tobacco [1,2,3]. 
• The World Health Organization (WHO) does not classify nicotine as carcinogenic [4] and other national health authorities [5] recognise that nicotine, while addictive, does not directly cause Cancer.  

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF USING NICOTINE?  

As a stimulant, adult nicotine users have reported a variety of effects when using nicotine products. However, there are known acute adverse effects associated with the nicotine in those products, like dizziness and nausea.  

DO NICOTINE EFFECTS DIFFER DEPENDING ON THE PRODUCT FORMAT OR PRODUCT CATEGORY?  

No, the effect of nicotine is not different with different products. However, there are differences in the rate at which nicotine is absorbed into the body with different products.  

For inhalation products, nicotine is delivered to the lungs where it is absorbed relatively quickly into the bloodstream. Lungs are larger and have more area for nicotine to be absorbed into the bloodstream, so nicotine’s effects may be felt quickest.  

For oral products, nicotine is delivered through the gums into the bloodstream typically over a slower timeframe. In the mouth, there is less area for nicotine to be absorbed into the bloodstream, so its effects may be slower.  

The effects of nicotine will also depend on whether the consumer is a regular user of nicotine. Choosing the right nicotine level is important to get the desired experience. It’s important to remember that nicotine consumption is addictive and is not risk-free.  

POUCHES & NICOTINE DELIVERY  

Take nicotine pouches as an example: they are an oral nicotine product containing no tobacco. Nicotine is absorbed through the gums with the pouch typically being held in the mouth for around 30 minutes, after which the pouch can be removed and discarded responsibly.  

VELO pouches contain nicotine and high-quality ingredients, like water, plant-based materials, flavourings and sweeteners. They can be used anytime, anywhere, as they deliver nicotine without smoke or vapour smell or the need of a device.  

They can be found in different nicotine levels from 4mg to 17mg.  

*This product is not risk-free and contains nicotine, an addictive substance.  

Explore the full range of VELO products here  

Choosing a suitable option is essential. If you are an experienced smoker or nicotine user but new to nicotine pouches, you may prefer to choose a lower-strength nicotine pouch as the nicotine experience is different, and then subsequently explore the full VELO range.  

VELO nicotine pouches are not risk-free and are addictive. They are not marketed or licensed as smoking cessation aids or devices 

References: 

[1] IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Tobacco smoke and involuntary smoking (No.  

83). World Health Organization and International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2004. Available at:  

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK316407/ 

[2] Jenkins, R.A., et al., Mainstream and sidestream smoke. In The chemistry of environmental tobacco smoke: composition  

and measurement (2nd ed.), CRC Press, 2000. p 49-75. DOI: 10.1201/9781482278651  

[3] Rodgman, A. and Perfetti, T.A., The chemical components of tobacco and tobacco smoke. CRC press, 2013. DOI:  

10.1201/b1397  

[4] World Health Organization and International Agency for Research on Cancer, Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs,  

Volumes 1–142, available at https://monographs.iarc.who.int/agents-classified-by-the-iarc (Accessed: 09 July 2026). 

[5] U.K. National Health Service (NHS), Vaping myths and the facts. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quitsmoking/ready-to-quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/vaping-myths-and-the-facts/#nicotine. (Accessed: 09 July 2026)