The Low-Nicotine Era Is Coming, Atomization Tech Will Shape Flavor Differences

The low-nicotine era is approaching for electronic cigarettes. Recently, media reports revealed that the national standard for electronic cigarettes has entered the approval stage and is expected to be officially implemented this October. It is reported that the national standard will strictly regulate electronic cigarettes from seven aspects, with a focus on reducing the nicotine concentration in e-liquids.
 
Currently, countries and regions such as the United States, Japan, and the European Union have clear regulations on the nicotine concentration in electronic cigarettes. For example, according to the EU TPD directive, the nicotine concentration in e-liquids must be limited to 20mg/ml, meaning the nicotine concentration should be below 2%. Industry insiders believe that reducing nicotine concentration is an inevitable trend, and 2% may become the benchmark for nicotine concentration in domestic electronic cigarettes in the future.

The nicotine concentration in e-liquids affects the user experience of electronic cigarettes. Higher nicotine concentrations provide users with a better "throat hit" and "satisfaction."

A representative from an OEM company stated that some domestic electronic cigarette brands rely on ODM/OEM models, resulting in lower product technology levels. The optimal nicotine concentration for e-liquid flavor realism is 3%-5%, which has become the choice for the majority of brand owners. If the national standard of 2% nicotine concentration is implemented, the entire electronic cigarette industry will undergo a reshuffle, with underqualified companies being eliminated from the market. For companies with R&D capabilities, simulating the smoking experience at a 2% concentration will also pose a significant challenge.

Looking back at the history of electronic cigarettes, atomization technology has always been a crucial factor in enhancing flavor.

Early electronic cigarettes used freebase nicotine e-liquids, resulting in a poor user experience and a flavor far from that of traditional cigarettes. To address the issue of flavor "distortion," high-wattage devices emerged. These devices upgraded various aspects such as battery voltage, atomization modules, and output power, improving the atomization effect of e-liquids and compensating for the flavor gap caused by low nicotine concentrations, allowing users to experience a "throat hit" and "satisfaction" closer to that of traditional cigarettes. Additionally, some high-wattage users customize their devices through minor adjustments to the atomization system, creating differentiated and personalized flavor experiences.

In my opinion, as a smoking cessation product, the quality of flavor determines the success or failure of the product. How to achieve flavor realism under the national standard's low nicotine requirements tests the technical strength of every electronic cigarette company. Currently, atomization technology will remain a key factor in determining flavor differences for some time.