What the milligram number measures
It is the amount of nicotine in a single pouch, measured in milligrams. It is not the amount in the tin, and it is not a measure of how strong the flavour is. A 21 mg Cool Mint and a 6 mg Cool Mint taste the same; one simply carries more nicotine.
One thing worth knowing: strengths are not directly comparable between brands. Pouch size, moisture level and formulation all affect how quickly nicotine is released and how much of it you actually absorb. Treat the number as a guide within a single brand's range rather than an absolute.
The four OVNS strengths
6 mg — the lowest we make
The right starting point if you have never used pouches. Also the one many people settle on for daytime use when they want the ritual without much intensity. If you are coming to pouches with no nicotine history at all, you should not be starting here either — you should not be starting at all.
9 mg — one step up
A modest increase over 6 mg. This is usually where people land after a week or two at 6 mg if they find themselves reaching for pouches more often than they would like. The tingle is more noticeable in the first few minutes.
15 mg — one step below the highest
A clear jump rather than a nudge. Suited to established nicotine users who find 9 mg fades too quickly. If you are moving up from 9 mg, try 15 mg at a time of day when you are not about to do anything demanding.
21 mg — the highest we make
The strongest pouch in the OVNS range. This is not a beginner product and is not a good place to experiment. It suits heavy, established nicotine users who already know how their body responds to a strong pouch.
Moving up is one step at a time. 6 to 9, 9 to 15, 15 to 21. Jumping from 6 mg to 21 mg is the most reliable way to have a bad time.
Signs you have gone too strong
A burning rather than tingling sensation, hiccups, nausea, dizziness, a racing heartbeat, or a headache. If any of these appear, take the pouch out and drop back a strength. These effects pass, but there is nothing to be gained from sitting through them.
Signs the strength is too low
The most common one is reaching for the next pouch immediately after finishing one, or going through a can noticeably faster than you expected. That is the moment to move up one step rather than to use two pouches at once — which you should never do.
Telling the strengths apart on the shelf
Every OVNS lid is printed with four dots, and only the dark ones count. Two dark means 15 mg. Four dark means 21 mg. None dark means the number is on the back of the can — 6 mg or 9 mg. We wrote the full explanation of the dot code because shopkeepers and distributors kept asking.
For a deeper breakdown of strength in general, see the OVNS strength guide.
Important
Nicotine is an addictive chemical. OVNS pouches are for adults 21 and over who already use nicotine, and are not a smoking cessation aid.
