The short version
VELO and Nordic Spirit are the two most mainstream nicotine pouch brands in the UK. Both are tobacco-free, both offer a spread of flavours and strengths, and both are manufactured by major tobacco companies (BAT and JTI respectively). If you're comparing them for the first time, the differences come down to flavour style, strength range and format options.
VELO has a bigger range on our shelves (38 products vs 20) and stretches from 4mg minis up to 17mg extra strong. Nordic Spirit keeps things tighter, running from 3mg up to 12mg, with a more classic, less experimental flavour approach. Both are sensible starting points for adults who use nicotine and want to try pouches.
Side-by-side comparison
| VELO | Nordic Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
| Products on JusSnus | 38 | 20 |
| Strength range | 4mg - 17mg | 3mg - 12mg |
| Strength levels | Light, Regular, Strong, Extra Strong | Light, Regular, Strong, Extra Strong |
| Formats | Regular, Mini | Regular |
| Flavour style | Broader, some experimental (Cooling Storm, Lime Flame) | More classic and straightforward |
| Mint options | Polar Mint, Freeze, Cooling Storm, Citrus Mint | Spearmint, Sweet Mint, Frosty Mint, Mint |
| Best for | More variety, wider strength range, mini formats | Cleaner flavours, more familiar feel |
VELO in detail
VELO's range covers more ground than most pouch brands in the UK. At the light end, you've got Tropic Breeze Mini and Polar Mint Mini at 4mg — small, discreet pouches designed for lower nicotine delivery. Regular strength options like Polar Mint, Cherry Ice, Orange Ice and Strawberry Ice sit around 10mg. Then Cooling Storm and Freeze push up to 14mg (strong) and 17mg (extra strong) for users who want more.
The flavour range leans experimental in places. Lime Flame mixes lime with liquorice. Cooling Storm is less a flavour and more a sensation — heavy menthol cooling. Urban Vibe blends citrus and ice. Ruby Berry spans the full strength range from 4mg to 17mg, which is unusual for a single flavour.
That strength spread within individual flavours is worth noting. Ruby Berry at 4mg, 6mg, 10mg, 14mg and 17mg means you can find a strength you like and stick with the same flavour. Not many brands let you do that.
VELO also offers Mini formats — smaller pouches that sit more discreetly under the lip. Polar Mint Mini, Tropic Breeze Mini and Royal Violet Mini are all available at lower strengths. If discretion matters to you, these are worth trying.
Nordic Spirit in detail
Nordic Spirit takes a different approach. The range is smaller (20 products), the flavours are more traditional and the branding is cleaner. Where VELO tries to cover everything, Nordic Spirit focuses on doing a tighter set of flavours well.
Mint is the core. Spearmint runs from 3mg to 11mg — that's light through to extra strong in a single flavour, which makes it one of the most versatile single-flavour ranges on the market. Sweet Mint, Frosty Mint and a standard Mint option round out the minty side. Frosty Mint leans cooler and sharper, while Sweet Mint sits on the gentler end.
Beyond mint, Nordic Spirit stocks Blueberry, Forest Berries, Raspberry, Watermelon, Tropical Mix, Melon, Zesty Pear, Dark Fizz, Elderflower and Bergamot Wildberry. The fruit flavours tend to be cleaner and less sweet than VELO's — more of a natural fruit character than a candy interpretation.
Strength goes from 3mg (Spearmint Light) to 12mg (Mint Extra Strong). That's a narrower band than VELO's 4-17mg, which means Nordic Spirit tops out lower. If you want something above 12mg, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Browse all Nordic Spirit products
Choosing by preference
If you prefer mint
Both brands do mint well, but they do it differently. VELO goes for intensity — Polar Mint, Freeze and Cooling Storm are progressively colder. Nordic Spirit goes for clarity — Spearmint and Sweet Mint are more recognisably "mint" without the heavy menthol overlay.
If you want a sharp, icy mint that fills your mouth with cold, VELO Freeze or Cooling Storm is what you're after. If you want mint that tastes like mint without the theatrics, Nordic Spirit Spearmint is cleaner. For a broader look at mint options across all brands, see our mint nicotine pouches guide.
If you prefer fruit
VELO's fruit options tend to be sweeter and more candy-like. Ruby Berry, Tropical Ice and Tropic Breeze lean that way. Nordic Spirit's fruit flavours — Blueberry, Forest Berries, Raspberry, Zesty Pear — feel more toned down and natural.
Neither approach is better. It depends whether you want your pouch to taste like a fruit sweet or more like actual fruit.
If you want lower strength
Nordic Spirit Spearmint starts at 3mg, which is the lowest we stock from either brand. VELO's lowest options are 4mg minis. Both work for adults who use nicotine but want a gentle introduction to pouches.
If you want stronger options
VELO wins here. Cooling Storm and Freeze reach 17mg at their extra strong level. Nordic Spirit maxes out at 12mg. If you want to stay within these two brands but push higher, VELO is the only option above 12mg.
For anything above 17mg, you'd need to look at Pablo or Killa. Our strong nicotine pouches guide covers those brands in detail.
Stock on JusSnus
- VELO — 38 products across Light, Regular, Strong and Extra Strong
- Nordic Spirit — 20 products across Light, Regular, Strong and Extra Strong
- Mint collection — all mint pouches from every brand
- Regular strength — mid-range options from both brands
- Strong — higher-strength options
Frequently asked questions
Is VELO stronger than Nordic Spirit?
VELO's range goes higher — up to 17mg per pouch compared to Nordic Spirit's 12mg maximum. At the regular strength level (6-10mg), there's considerable overlap. The difference shows at the top end.
Which has better mint flavours?
Depends what you mean by "better." VELO has more mint varieties and pushes the cooling sensation harder with products like Freeze and Cooling Storm. Nordic Spirit's Spearmint and Frosty Mint are cleaner and less intense. Try one from each side and see which suits you.
Are VELO and Nordic Spirit tobacco-free?
Yes. Both brands produce tobacco-free nicotine pouches. The nicotine is either synthetic or extracted, delivered in a plant-fibre pouch material. Neither contains tobacco leaf.
Which is better for beginners?
Both work. Nordic Spirit Spearmint at 3mg is the gentlest option between the two brands. VELO Polar Mint Mini at 4mg is close behind. Either is a reasonable starting point for adults who already use nicotine in other forms and want to try pouches. See our guide to using nicotine pouches for placement and timing advice.
