Role of sweet and other flavours in liking and disliking of electronic cigarettes

Abstract

Objective To examine the extent to which the perception of sweet and other flavours is associated with liking and disliking of flavoured electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Methods 31 participants (13 females/18 males; 12 sole/19 dual users) vaped 6 commercially available flavours of blu Tanks: Classic Tobacco (CT), Magnificent Menthol (MM), Cherry Crush (CC), Vivid Vanilla (VV), Piña Colada (PC) and Peach Schnapps (PS); all ‘medium’ strength, 12 mg/mL nicotine concentration. For each flavoured e-cigarette, participants first rated liking/disliking on the Labeled Hedonic Scale, followed by perceived intensities of sweetness, coolness, bitterness, harshness and specific flavour on the generalised version of the Labeled Magnitude Scale. The psychophysical testing was conducted individually in an environmental chamber. Results PC was perceived as sweetest and liked the most; CT was perceived as least sweet and liked the least. Across all flavours, liking was correlated with sweetness (r=0.31), coolness (r=0.25), bitterness (r=−0.25) and harshness (r=−0.29, all p<0.001). Specifically, liking was positively correlated with sweetness of PS (r=0.56, p=0.001) and PC (r=0.36, p=0.048); and with coolness of MM, CT and VV (r=0.41–0.52, p<0.05). In contrast, harshness was negatively correlated with liking for CC, PC and PS (r=0.37–0.40, p<0.05). In a multivariate model, sweetness had the greatest positive impact on liking followed by coolness; harshness had the greatest negative impact on liking. Conclusions Our findings indicate that bitterness and harshness, most likely from nicotine, have negative impacts on the liking of e-cigarettes, but the addition of flavourants that elicit sweetness or coolness generally improves liking. The results suggest that flavours play an important role in e-cigarette preference and most likely use.

Impact of non-menthol flavours in e-cigarettes on perceptions and use: an updated systematic review

“…Eight studies were conducted among adults, including three laboratory experiments and one discrete choice experiment that examined the effect of e-cigarette flavours on factors such as ratings of taste and appeal 30–33. Four studies included relatively small convenience samples of adults, each finding similar results: flavours in e-cigarettes enhanced the rewarding and reinforcing value of e-cigarettes compared with unflavoured e-cigarettes,30 and the appealing sensory characteristics of flavours (ie, sweetness and coolness) were positively associated with liking of the product,32 33 the willingness to use again and an increase in amount willing to pay for the product 31 32. Similarly, in a cross-sectional survey of 765 current or former adult smokers, removal of flavours significantly reduced the price respondents were willing to pay for e-cigarettes, though this association was not observed among dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes 34.…”

Pulmonary toxicity of e-cigarettes

“…Given that there are Ͼ7,500 flavors of e-liquids on the market (139), our lack of knowledge regarding the basic safety of inhaling these flavoring additives presents a major challenge to the scientific and regulatory environment (14). It should be noted that the subjective experience of flavor is a critical motivator for e-cigarette use (9,123), with sweet flavors (e.g., candy, fruit) being especially appealing to youth (1,73) and young adult users alike (52,67). Additionally, a recent study reported that flavoring components of e-liquids were the main contributor in the production of toxic carbonyl species (66).…”

Flavoured tobacco products in the USA: synthesis of recent multidiscipline studies with implications for advancing tobacco regulatory science

“…Mice without this receptor showed a strong aversion to the menthol and nicotine solution and preferred nicotine alone. The second, by Kim et al ,20 used a human laboratory-based study to rate liking/disliking, and intensities of flavour characteristics (ie, sweetness, coolness, bitterness, harshness and specific flavour) across multiple flavours of a standard e-cigarette with a common nicotine level. Across all flavours, liking was positively correlated with sweetness and coolness and negatively correlated with bitterness and harshness.…”