NicoKick Survey Reveals Top Dating Turn-Offs for U.S. Singles Ahead of Valentine’s Day

Bad Personal Hygiene Tops List of Dating “Icks” While Smoking and Tobacco Use Rank High Among Dealbreakers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A YouGov relationship survey commissioned by NicoKick, a leading U.S. online retailer specializing in nicotine pouches, uncovers the biggest dating turnoffs among 1,000 U.S. adult singles over 21. Topping the list is bad personal hygiene (32 percent), followed by rudeness/lack of manners (25 percent), and smoking/tobacco use (14 percent), rounding the top three. The findings shed light on modern dating preferences and the ongoing stigma around smoking in relationships.

Highlights from the survey:

• Being late was the least picked “ick,” with only 3 percent of singles citing it as a turn-off
• More men (35 percent) than women (29 percent) identified bad personal hygiene as their biggest turn-off
• Women (29 percent) were more likely than men (22 percent) to cite lack of manners and rudeness as a major dating deterrent
• Smoking and tobacco use ranked as the biggest “ick” for 14 percent of both men and women

Nicotine Pouches Least Likely to Deter Potential Dates

• Among smoking and tobacco products, nicotine pouches were least likely to be considered a dating dealbreaker, with only 3 percent identifying them as a turn-off, followed by e-cigarettes at 7 percent
• By comparison, chewing tobacco was the most off-putting (39 percent), followed by cigarettes (35 percent)
• Women were more likely than men to consider chewing tobacco a turn-off (47 vs. 33 percent)
• Singles who have never used tobacco were most likely to rank cigarettes as the biggest turn-off, while current users were more accepting of cigarette use in potential partners

"As a smoke-free alternative, it's no surprise that nicotine pouches are viewed as more acceptable compared to traditional combustible tobacco and other nicotine products," noted Markus Lindblad, Head of Legal and External Affairs at Nicokick.com. "This is encouraging news for the tobacco harm reduction movement, as it reflects a growing understanding among adults of how switching from smoking to modern oral nicotine products can positively impact various aspects of life, including personal relationships."

About NicoKick

NicoKick is a leading online retailer in the U.S. specializing in nicotine pouches. With a diverse inventory of over 200 unique products, the platform offers a wide selection of popular and emerging brands that help consumers transition from cigarettes. Products are securely delivered to consumers’ doorsteps or mailboxes, ensuring compliance with a rigorous age verification process. For more information, visit Nicokick.com.