An empirical test was performed at the Global Forum on Nicotine 2019 where some 50 adult nicotine users from 30 nations tried some major off-the-shelf snus and tobacco-free snus products. They also tried identical snus brands in a Sting Free edition. Many tried them simultaneously, placing the snus portions on both sides under the lip. The results were clear. More than 9 out of 10 new users preferred the snus varieties that didn't sting their gum.