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E-Cig UseNCT05932693

Effect of Different E-cigarette Cooling Flavors on Adults' Sensory Experience TCORS 3.0

A study testing E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.05%), E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.1%) and E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.5%) in people with E-Cig Use, run by Yale University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This pilot sensory experiment will examine cooling from comparable concentrations of WS-3 and menthol to determine appropriate concentrations to use in the main study. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
E-Cig Use
What is being tested?
E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.05%), E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.1%) and E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.5%)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
31 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
3 Sep 2024to 9 Jan 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 18 years or older
  • Able to read and write
  • Used e-cigarettes containing nicotine
  • Use e-cigs in past 30 days
  • No strong dislike of the menthol flavor
  • Urine cotinine ≥200ng/ml
  • Willing to abstain from tobacco/nicotine use 2 hrs prior to sessions

Who cannot join

  • Known hypersensitivity to propylene glycol
  • Pregnant or lactating females
  • Uncontrolled asthma
  • Nut/e-liquid flavorant allergy
  • Current marijuana (tetrahydrocannabinol) vaping + E-cigarette or vaping use Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) symptoms
  • Dislike of menthol flavor

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Yale School of Medicine

    New Haven, Connecticut, 06473

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Examine the Effects of Novel E-cigarette Constituents and Determining Appropriate Concentrations Among Adults

This pilot sensory experiment will examine cooling from comparable concentrations of WS-3 and menthol to determine appropriate concentrations to use in the main study.

Read the detailed description

This pilot study will establish low and high concentrations of both WS-3 and menthol concentrations to test in the main study. An anticipated 30 adult e-cigarette users will participate in one laboratory session during which participants will be exposed to e-liquids containing five different concentrations of two different cooling flavors without nicotine (10 e-liquids total). Participants will rate "coolness" using the generalized Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS). Using averages of participant ratings, we will select a low concentration of each constituent that is rated as more than "barely detectable" but less than "moderate" to ensure that cooling is weak but clearly perceptible. For the high concentration of each constituent, we will select a concentration that on average falls between "strong" and "very strong" to identify a strong cooling sensation while avoiding sensations that would also be uncomfortable.

Conditions
E-Cig Use
Being tested
E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.05%), E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.1%), E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.5%), E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 1.0%), E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 2.0%)
Keywords
Cooling components, e-cigarette, menthol, WS-23, WS-3
Medical subject headings
Vaping

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.05%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to five e-liquid coolants WS-3: 0.05%.

  • E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.1%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to five e-liquid coolants WS-3: 0.1%.

  • E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.5%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to five e-liquid coolants WS-3: 0.5%.

  • E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 1.0%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to five e-liquid coolants WS-3: 1.0%.

  • E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 2.0%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to five e-liquid coolants WS-3: 2.0%.

  • E-liquid coolant (menthol, 0.05%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to five e-liquid coolants menthol: 0.05%.

  • E-liquid coolant (menthol, 0.1%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to five e-liquid coolants menthol: 0.1%.

  • E-liquid coolant (menthol, 0.5%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to five e-liquid coolants menthol: 0.5%.

  • E-liquid coolant (menthol, 1.0%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to five e-liquid coolants menthol: 1.0%.

  • E-liquid coolant (menthol, 2.0%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to five e-liquid coolants menthol: 2.0%.

  • E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 0.05%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to six e-liquid coolants WS-23: 0.05%.

  • E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 0.1%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to six e-liquid coolants WS-23: 0.1%.

  • E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 0.5%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to six e-liquid coolants WS-23: 0.5%.

  • E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 1.0%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to six e-liquid coolants WS-23: 1.0%.

  • E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 2.0%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to six e-liquid coolants WS-23: 2.0%.

  • E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 4.0%)Other

    Also called Flavor type

    Adult users of e-cigarette will be exposed to six e-liquid coolants WS-23: 4.0%.

Study groups in NCT05932693
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
WS-3 (1), no nicotineExperimentalWS-3 block: 0.05%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.05%)
WS-3 (2), no nicotineExperimentalWS-3 block: 0.1%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.1%)
WS-3 (3), no nicotineExperimentalWS-3 block: 0.5%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.5%)
WS-3 (4), no nicotineExperimentalWS-3 block: 1.0%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 1.0%)
WS-3 (5), no nicotineExperimentalWS-3 block: 2.0%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 2.0%)
Menthol (1), no nicotineExperimentalMenthol block: 0.05%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (menthol, 0.05%)
Menthol (2), no nicotineExperimentalMenthol block: 0.1%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (menthol, 0.1%)
Menthol (3), no nicotineExperimentalMenthol block: 0.5%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (menthol, 0.5%)
Menthol (4), no nicotineExperimentalMenthol block: 1.0%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (menthol, 1.0%)
Menthol (5), no nicotineExperimentalMenthol block: 2.0%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (menthol, 2.0%)
WS-23 (1), no nicotineExperimentalWS-23 block: 0.05%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 0.05%)
WS-23 (2), no nicotineExperimentalWS-23 block: 0.1%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 0.1%)
WS-23 (3), no nicotineExperimentalWS-23 block: 0.5%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 0.5%)
WS-23 (4), no nicotineExperimentalWS-23 block: 1.0%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 1.0%)
WS-23 (5), no nicotineExperimentalWS-23 block: 2.0%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 2.0%)
WS-23 (6), no nicotineExperimentalWS-23 block: 4.0%
Receives: Other: E-liquid coolant (WS-23, 4.0%)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Coolness: Score Change in Coolness of Each E-cigarette Condition (16 Conditions in Total)

    Difference in overall flavor intensity, coolness, sweetness and harshness/irritation at each e-cigarette condition as measured by the computerized Generalized Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS). Participants will self-report their responses using a computer mouse to indicate where on the scale response falls. The Generalized Labeled Magnitude Scales (gLMS) are category ratio scales with seven semantic labels: "no sensation", "barely detectable", "weak", "moderate", "strong", "very strong", and "strongest imaginable", positioned quasi-logarithmically as per empirically determined semantic magnitudes on a 0-100 scale (strongest imaginable at the 100 end).

    Measured: Following administration of e-cigarette condition 1 (at 10 minutes), then 5 minutes post administration of each e-cigarette condition, up to 85 minutes (condition 16)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Jul 2023
  2. Study start3 Sep 2024
  3. Primary completion9 Jan 2025
  4. Study completion9 Jan 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Model description
Participants are exposed to all study conditions (16 e-liquid samples).
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
31 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05932693
Sponsor's protocol ID
2000035551_a
Other IDs
2U54DA036151-11
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
28 Jun 2023
Last updated
18 Feb 2026
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: We may share information about the IPD and study results with other researchers in the future, but the information will be de-identified.

Publications

  • Lim J, Wood A, Green BG. Derivation and evaluation of a labeled hedonic scale. Chem Senses. 2009 Nov;34(9):739-51. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjp054.

    PubMed 19833660
  • Davis DR, Li W, Wu R, Gueorguieva R, Mellinghoff RA, Zimmerman JB, Erythropel HC, Krishnan-Sarin S. Comparing the sensory effects of menthol and synthetic coolants in e-liquids: A pilot investigation. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2026 Jul 6. doi: 10.1037/pha0000865. Online ahead of print.

    PubMed 42406436

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.05%), E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.1%) and E-liquid coolant (WS-3, 0.5%) in people with E-Cig Use, run by Yale University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 22 Jan 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Coolness: Score Change in Coolness of Each E-cigarette Condition (16 Conditions in Total) (time frame: Following administration of e-cigarette condition 1 (at 10 minutes), then 5 minutes post administration of each e-cigarette condition, up to 85 minutes (condition 16)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05932693, which also lists 2 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Feb 2026.

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