Synthetic nicotine is made in a laboratory from non-tobacco starting chemicals, while tobacco-derived nicotine is extracted from tobacco leaves. Both are the same nicotine molecule. For background on strength and labels, see nicotine in vapes.
Zavro products contain nicotine, which is an addictive chemical, and are for adults 21+.
What is synthetic nicotine?
Synthetic nicotine is nicotine produced by chemical synthesis in a lab rather than by extraction from the tobacco plant. It is chemically the same nicotine molecule as tobacco-derived nicotine.
It is often sold as "tobacco-free nicotine" or TFN. Those terms describe the starting material, not the content of the finished product. A vape made with synthetic nicotine still contains nicotine.
What is tobacco-derived nicotine?
Tobacco-derived nicotine is nicotine extracted from tobacco leaves and then purified for use in e-liquid. It has been the standard source of nicotine for vape liquids for many years.
The finished e-liquid contains nicotine, not tobacco leaf. The source only describes where the nicotine started.
How are the two made?
Tobacco-derived nicotine is extracted from the leaf, and synthetic nicotine is built up in a lab from other chemicals. The end product in each case is nicotine.
- Tobacco-derived: nicotine is extracted from tobacco plants, then processed into a form suitable for e-liquid.
- Synthetic: nicotine is assembled by chemical reactions from starting chemicals that do not come from tobacco.
Different manufacturers use different processes, and we do not describe any single process in detail here.
Is synthetic nicotine the same as tobacco nicotine?
Yes, at the molecular level they are the same molecule. The difference is the source, not the compound.
| Tobacco-derived nicotine | Synthetic (TFN) nicotine | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting material | Tobacco leaves | Non-tobacco chemicals |
| How it is made | Extracted from the plant | Made in a lab |
| Molecule | Nicotine | Nicotine |
| Addictive | Yes | Yes |
| Regulated by the FDA as a tobacco product | Yes, since August 8, 2016 | Yes, since April 14, 2022 |
| Age requirement | 21+ | 21+ |
This article makes no claim that either source is better or preferable. Both are nicotine, and both are addictive. Which one a product uses is a labeling fact.
Does tobacco-free mean nicotine-free?
No. Tobacco-free means the nicotine did not come from tobacco leaves. The product still contains nicotine, which is an addictive chemical.
A label that says "tobacco-free nicotine" or "TFN" is describing the source. To know how much nicotine is in a product, read the strength on the label, for example 5% (about 50 mg/mL) or 20 mg/mL.
How does US law treat synthetic nicotine?
Since April 14, 2022, US federal law treats nicotine from any source, including synthetic, as a tobacco product regulated by the FDA. That change came through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022.
Before that date, products using synthetic nicotine sat outside the legal definition of a tobacco product, which was written around nicotine derived from tobacco. After the change, the same rules apply to both sources. The minimum age to buy is 21, and the same marketing rules apply.
The law covers nicotine as a category. It does not mean any given product is approved or authorized by the FDA, and Zavro makes no such claim for its products.
Which Zavro products use which nicotine?
Zavro Spur uses tobacco-free (synthetic) nicotine, and Zavro Edge uses tobacco-derived nicotine.
| Zavro Spur | Zavro Edge | |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotine source | Tobacco-free (synthetic) | Tobacco-derived |
| Strength | 5% now; 2% from December 2026 | 20 mg/mL |
| Format | Rechargeable disposable, rated 50,000 puffs | Prefilled pod system, about 10,000 puffs rated per 7 mL pod |
Spur uses nicotine salt, a formulation described in What Is Salt Nicotine? It is a rechargeable disposable with an OLED screen, USB-C charging, a dual mesh coil and three power levels, the top one called Turbo. It comes in nine flavors. It is assembled in the USA. See the Spur collection.
Edge pairs a rechargeable Edge battery with prefilled pods. Each pod holds 7 mL of e-liquid at 20 mg/mL. Pods come in seven flavors. See the Edge collection.
Puff counts are manufacturer ratings under test conditions, and real counts vary with puff length, power mode and habits.
Why does the nicotine source matter on a label?
The source tells you where the nicotine came from, and it lets you compare products on equal terms. It does not change the strength, the addictive nature of nicotine, or the 21+ age requirement.
When you read a label, check three things: the strength (percent or mg/mL), the form (salt or freebase) and the source (tobacco-derived or synthetic). The nicotine in vapes guide walks through all three.
How can you tell which nicotine a product uses?
Look for the words "tobacco-derived", "tobacco-free", "synthetic" or "TFN" on the label, packaging or product page. If the source is not stated, ask the seller, because the source is a plain labeling fact.
Do not read "tobacco-free" as a statement about nicotine content. The strength is what tells you the nicotine concentration, for example 5% (about 50 mg/mL) or 20 mg/mL. Source and strength are separate details, and a product can combine any strength with either source.
It also helps to keep three labels apart: the form (salt or freebase), the source (tobacco-derived or synthetic) and the strength (percent or mg/mL). A product can be salt and synthetic, as Spur is, or salt and tobacco-derived, depending on the maker. For a walkthrough of all three, see the nicotine guide.
Frequently asked questions
The answers below cover the most common questions about synthetic and tobacco-derived nicotine. In short: same molecule, different source, same legal treatment.