Products & flavours
HNB Flavour Profiles: Aroma, Body and Finish
By KOKEN Editorial Team · Published · 3 min read
An HNB flavour profile describes a stick in three parts: aroma (how intense and what character the scent has), body (how full or light it feels) and finish (the impression it leaves, such as clean, warm or cooling). Comparing flavours on these three points makes it easier to build a balanced range.
The three parts of a flavour profile
- Aroma: the intensity and type of scent. A "high aroma" profile is more pronounced; "balanced" sits in the middle.
- Body: how full the flavour feels, from soft or light to medium or full-bodied.
- Finish: the impression after each draw, for example a clean citrus finish or a warm, roasted one.
Reading KOKEN's tobacco stick profiles
| Flavour | Aroma | Body | Signature note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amber | High aroma | Medium bodied | Hint of cocoa |
| Blue | Fresh aroma | Medium bodied | Menthol experience |
| Silver | Balanced aroma | Medium bodied | Hints of spice and vanilla |
| Classic Tobacco | Rounded aroma | Medium bodied | Deep tobacco |
| Blueberry | High aroma | Full bodied | Blueberry aroma |
| Vanilla | Smooth aroma | Soft body | Vanilla direction |
| Menthol | Cool menthol aroma | Clean, balanced body | Refreshing finish |
Flavour families to cover
Most HNB ranges are built from a handful of flavour families. Covering several of them gives retailers something for different preferences without duplicating SKUs.
- Classic tobacco: rounded, familiar tobacco character (Amber, Classic Tobacco, Silver).
- Fresh and cooling: menthol directions (Blue, Menthol).
- Sweet and dessert: vanilla and similar soft profiles (Vanilla).
- Fruit: berry and tropical directions (tobacco Blueberry, herbal Blueberry and Mango).
- Citrus: bright, tangy profiles (herbal Grapeel and Lime).
- Roasted: coffee and similar warm profiles (herbal Coffee).
How to use profiles when choosing SKUs
Shortlist one flavour per family that suits your market, then check each against local flavour rules, since some jurisdictions restrict characterising flavours such as menthol or fruit. Request samples where possible, and plan to review sell-through after launch. Our guide to building an HNB product range walks through this step by step.