What Is an Upper Decky?

• “Upper decky” is a slang term for placing a nicotine pouch in the upper lip.
• The term originated in the US and has spread via TikTok and online communities.
• It's commonly used alongside “lip pillow” to describe the same product in a playful way.

The phrase “upper decky” (also written upperdecky) refers to a nicotine pouch placed in the upper lip. Short for “upper decky lip pillow”.

It’s a slang term that began circulating in the United States and has spread through TikTok and online communities. It’s often used in a light-hearted way to describe nicotine pouches.

Recently, the term has also gained a broader meaning, as a US caffeine pouch brand adopted “Upper Decky” in its name, leading some to associate it with both caffeine and nicotine pouches.

The nickname comes from where the pouch is placed — the “upper deck”, meaning the upper lip. 

Nicotine pouches are small, soft portions designed to sit there discreetly. They release nicotine gradually through the gum without producing smoke or vapour.

So, when someone says they’ve got an upper decky in, they simply mean they’re using a nicotine pouch under the upper lip.

Online, you might also see the same product described as a “lip pillow”.

Both terms refer to the same thing: a small, white pouch containing nicotine. The choice of nickname usually depends on where the user is from or what community they’re part of.

Nicotine pouches are intended to sit in the upper lip, not the cheek. Some users may prefer to place them in the lower lip, but the upper placement helps the pouch stay in place, reduces saliva production, and allows for a consistent nicotine release.

Everyone’s preference is different, but the upper lip tends to be more discreet and comfortable for most users.

Although “upper decky” started as a US expression, it’s slowly finding its way into British slang. 

UK users familiar with snus or nicotine pouches now use it to describe the same thing — simply putting a pouch under your upper lip.

It’s part of a growing trend of online terminology crossing over into everyday language, especially among younger adult audiences who follow snus and nicotine pouch content online.

Both are used: upper decky is singular, upper deckies is plural.

Example:

• “I’ve got an upper decky in right now.”
• “We grabbed a can of upper deckies before the match.”

An upper decky is simply a slang term for a nicotine pouch placed under the upper lip.

It doesn’t describe a different product, just a new, tongue-in-cheek name for something that’s been around for a while.