Glossary: Snuff, Snus, Pouches, and Vapes (Switzerland)

This glossary explains the most important terms related to snuff, snus, nicotine pouches, vapes, the Swiss legal situation, and common brand and product names. The sections are categorized by topic, and the terms within each section are sorted alphabetically.

Snuff

Brasil: Collective term for dark, heavily fermented snuff tobaccos with a sweet and spicy note. Today, the term primarily describes the style, not necessarily the origin of the tobacco.
Fermentation: Controlled aging of the tobacco leaves. It breaks down bitter substances and shapes the color, aroma, and taste of the finished snuff.
Gletscherprise: Established term for highly mentholated, very dry pinches with a cooling effect in the nose.
Mahlgrad: Grind size. Fine grinds act more directly, while coarse ones are easier to dose and create less dust.
Menthol: Cooling additive that opens up the scent profile in many dry snuffs. Menthol does not replace nicotine and does not alter the effect.
Nasal: Nasal application: The product is sniffed into the nose, not smoked, and not swallowed.
Prise: Pinch: The individual portion of snuff taken per nostril. Common tools include the back of the hand, fingertip, or a snuff doser.
Rapé: Traditionally coarsely ground, often dry snuff. Historically, the term referred to grated tobacco from pressed rolls.
Schmalzler: Bavarian style: moist snuff refined with fat or oil, featuring an earthy, mild aroma.
Tabakdose: Snuff box or tin: Airtight container for snuff. It protects against drying out and the loss of aromas.

Snus

Brauner Snus: Brown snus: Snus containing tobacco. It gets its color from the ground, moistened tobacco and is worn under the upper lip.
Loser Snus: Loose snus: Unportioned snus from which the consumer forms a prilla themselves.
Mundtabak: Oral tobacco: Umbrella term for tobacco products that are used in the mouth and not burned.
Nikotinstärke: Nicotine strength: Indication of the nicotine content, for snus mostly in milligrams per gram (mg/g), for portion pouches sometimes per pouch.
Pasteurisierung: Pasteurization: Heat treatment of the tobacco during snus production. It distinguishes snus from fermented chewing tobacco products.
Portionssnus: Portion snus: Pre-portioned pouches. Common formats are Original (moist, brown fleece), White (drier, less drip), and Slim (narrower, flatter).
Prilla: Scandinavian term for the inserted portion under the upper lip.
Runterlaufen: Drip: Colloquial term for the flavor and moisture release of a pouch. White and dry portions drip more slowly.
Vlies: Fleece: The textile pouch material. Thickness and surface affect comfort and the speed of release.
Ziehzeit: Usage time: The period during which a portion is worn. It depends on the format, moisture, and personal habit.

Nicotine Pouches

All White: Term for completely white pouches with a dry surface and minimal drip.
Extra Strong: Marketing term for pouches with high nicotine content. The terms are not standardized; the specification on the can is what matters.
Freebase-Nikotin: Freebase nicotine: Nicotine in its free base form. It usually has a harsher throat hit in the mouth compared to nicotine salt.
Füllstoff: Filler: Tobacco-free carrier material, usually plant-based cellulose. It gives the pouch volume and carries the nicotine and flavorings.
Nikotinbeutel: Nicotine pouch: Tobacco-free pouch containing nicotine, filler, flavorings, and humectants, which is placed under the lip.
Nikotinsalz: Nicotine salt: Nicotine bound with an acid. It is perceived as milder and is common in high strengths.
Slim, Mini, Regular: Common formats: Slim is narrow and flat, Mini is short and discreet, Regular is broader and more voluminous.
Tingling: The typical tingling sensation under the lip during the first few minutes. It is caused by nicotine and flavorings, not by spiciness.
Trockenheit: Dryness: Moisture level of the pouch. Dry pouches start slower and last longer, while moist ones release faster.
Weisser Beutel: White pouch: Everyday term distinguishing it from brown snus: no tobacco, only nicotine on a plant-based carrier.

Vapes and E-Cigarettes

Akkukapazität (mAh): Battery capacity (mAh): Amount of energy in the battery in milliampere-hours. Higher values mean a longer runtime per charge.
Coil: Atomizer head with heating wire and cotton wick. It vaporizes the liquid and wears out over time.
E-Liquid: Liquid made of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorings, and optionally nicotine, which is vaporized in the device.
Einweg-Vape: Disposable vape: Pre-filled device that is not refilled after use. The electronics and battery belong in electronic waste recycling, not household trash.
Mesh Coil: Atomizer with wire mesh instead of a coiled wire. It heats more evenly and delivers a more consistent flavor.
MTL und DL: MTL and DL: Draw types. Mouth-to-Lung draws like a cigarette with a tight airflow, Direct-Lung has an open and vapor-rich draw.
Ohm: Resistance of the atomizer. Lower values generate more vapor and heat at the same power output.
PG und VG: PG and VG: Propylene glycol carries flavor and draw resistance, vegetable glycerin creates vapor. The mixing ratio shapes the character.
Pod-System: Device with a replaceable cartridge. It combines ease of use with refillability.
Zugautomatik: Draw activation: Triggered by inhaling instead of pressing a button. Most disposable devices and pods work this way.

Swiss Laws and Regulation

Fernabsatz: Distance selling: Sale without personal contact, for example online or by phone. Special obligations apply here for nicotine-containing products, including age verification.
Geltendes Recht: Current law: Regulation already in force. This must be distinguished from enacted but not yet effective decrees.
Kennzeichnungspflicht: Labeling requirement: Rules on what information and warning labels must be on packaging, for example regarding nicotine and youth protection.
Mindestalter: Minimum age: With the Tobacco Products Act, a nationwide minimum age of 18 applies to tobacco and nicotine products in Switzerland. Cantonal rules can be stricter.
Tabakproduktegesetz (TabPG): Tobacco Products Act (TabPG): Federal law on tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. Among other things, it regulates sales to minors, advertising, and product requirements.
Tabaksteuer: Tobacco tax: Federal excise tax on tobacco products. Separate tax rates exist for nicotine-containing liquids.
Testkauf: Test purchase: Officially initiated purchase by underage test persons to check age verification in retail.
Vernehmlassung: Consultation process: Consultation procedure for a draft law. A consultation draft is not yet current law.
Werbeeinschränkungen: Advertising restrictions: Rules on where and how tobacco and nicotine products may be advertised. They differentiate by channel and target audience.
Zollfreimenge: Duty-free allowance: Amount that may be brought in duty-free for personal use when entering the country. The current details provided by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security apply.

Brands and Product Names

Chargennummer: Batch number: Production identification on the can or packaging. It allows tracing back to the manufacturing time and lot.
Eigenmarke: Private label: Product offered by a retailer under their own name, often produced by a contract manufacturer.
Hersteller und Marke: Manufacturer and brand: The manufacturer produces, the brand is the name under which it is sold. A brand can have multiple manufacturers and vice versa.
Limited Edition: Limited edition: Run limited by time or quantity, often with a special flavor or design.
Originalverpackung: Original packaging: Unopened packaging from the manufacturer with complete labeling. It is a prerequisite for traceability.
Produktlinie: Product line: Related variants of a brand that differ in strength, format, or flavor.
Sortenbezeichnung: Variant name: Name of the individual variant within a line, such as by flavor or strength level.
Stärkestufe: Strength level: Manufacturer's indication of nicotine intensity, often as dots or terms like Normal, Strong, Extra Strong. Only the milligram specification is directly comparable.
Swiss Made: Swiss Made: Indication of manufacturing in Switzerland. The requirements for this designation are legally regulated.
Verfallsdatum: Expiration date: Recommended time of consumption. For snus and nicotine pouches, cool storage prolongs freshness.

Usage Notes

The explanations describe established expert knowledge and industry-standard terms. Manufacturer specifications such as strength levels are not standardized; the labeling on the packaging is always authoritative. Legal information refers to Switzerland; cantonal rules may be stricter.

As of: September 22, 2026.

Nicotine is addictive. Tobacco and nicotine products are not suitable for minors, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.

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