Did you know smelling salts are still popular?

Smelling salts have been around since the 13th century but their usage and popularity has changed throughout the centuries.

They began as an apothecarial aid to rouse people who have lost consciousness (among other fun uses). It was mostly for medical and religious use. Throughout the Medieval era, they rose in popularity among aristocracy as a status symbol. Their way of saying, "I can afford the best healthcare, so much so that I carry my medication with me on a necklace/bracelet/ring." The medication being smelling salts, of course.

In the Georgian era carrying a fanciful bottle of smelling salts became fashionable, just as fashionable as carrying a snuff box—even if you did not use it, you would never be caught without it! It was quite the thing to showcase the bottle/box and collect them, exchange them, and gift them. We'll get to what the Georgians used the salts for in just a moment, as it was a little different than what we see the Victorians using smelling salts for.

Smelling salts are nothing more or less than ammonia in salt form. There are variations, of course, such as adding a bit of lavender to make the scent more appealing (not that there’s much you can do to help ammonia be appealing. Bleh!). An apothecary would have almost always added something to further aid healing of whatever malady. A priest might have added holy water to use it to keep demonic spirits away. A midwife might have added vinegar for cleansing contaminated air. Home brews might contain aromatic spices to improve the smell without affecting its effect or herbs to address other maladies. Perfumers popularised liquid smelling salts, called vinaigrettes, by using either vinegar or alcohol, as a base—the user could then dab or smear it on their wrist, forehead, beneath the nose, etc. for a constant aid (they must have smelled wonderful at dinner parties).

To work, all it takes is a subtle sniff. Wave the bottle beneath the nose, and woosh! The whiff is enough to do the trick. (And if you’ve ever had the pleasure of getting a whiff of either strong ammonia-based bathroom cleaner or the pungent ammonia of cat pee, you’ll know one whiff is quite enough!) The fumes irritate the blood vessels in the nose, causing a compulsory deep breath, which increases oxygen to the brain, increases blood flow throughout the body, and (re)sets the respiratory pattern. A concentrated enough dose triggers fight or flight mode for quick action and self-preservation.

It’s not until the Victorian era when the smelling salts gained their reputation as a “lady reviver.” Thanks to the Victorian era, we typically have the image of the fainting woman needing to be revived by smelling salts, a fainting spell usually caused by too-tight corsets. This is NOT the case in the Georgian era. The Georgians, especially around and during the Regency, wore stays, and not only can stays not be tightened as a corset—quite impossible—it would not have been fashionable to do so, as the silhouette did not favour the hourglass figure with a slim waist. Our Georgian heroines were emphatically not fainting.

What was fashionable, however, was “delicate sensibilities” and “nerves.” If a woman were to hear something or see something unpleasant or vulgar, the smelling salts would help cleanse her of the unpleasantness and help her refocus. Gentlemen would not be reviving women from fainting, but they certainly would be offering a whiff of the salt bottle if a woman heard gossip about an illegitimate pregnancy—quick; get the smelling salts!

Women were not the only one to use them, which, again, is more associated with the Victorian era. In the Georgian era, anyone and everyone would have a bottle. This could be a fashion statement or an aid to a fellow man—“I feel a headache coming on, Hector.” “Here, Tom. My smelling salts.” “I’m quite revived!”—or as a personal jolt throughout the day. It was used to give focus, keep one awake during those boring dinners with the in-laws, and help with maladies such as a headache (and it really can help prevent a headache because it increases oxygen intake). For health aids, it offered instant relief for vertigo, nervous disorders, epileptic fits, melancholy, hysterics, fright, vomiting, headaches, apoplexy, and more. There were beliefs about it being such a great air cleanser that it could prevent small pox and other infectious diseases. While they were spot on with some of what it could cure instantly, I’ll leave you to discern the credibility of the rest.

Today, you would be hard pressed to find an athlete, especially a strongman or powerlifter, without their handy smelling salts. Yes, it’s the same smelling salts it’s always been, those very same our Georgian heroes and heroines would have carried with them. Athletes will give a quick sniff of their bottle before jumping into action. Boxers, football players, hockey players, marathon runners, you name the athlete, and you’ll find a hefty number with their smelling salts handy. Available for purchase from Amazon, but sadly, the bottles aren't as attractive as those of our Georgian brethren.

There are no known short term or long term side effects of usage. The bottle of smelling salts is just a strong, unpleasant scent that triggers the body to breathe deeply and increase blood flow. In this way, it’s purely a health benefit. The only potential dangers are sniffing too long (as in not taking a quick whiff but standing with the bottle beneath your nose and inhaling, and inhaling, and inhaling), essentially huffing ammonia, which would burn the nostril membranes with frequent use. I can’t imagine anyone willingly huffing ammonia since the body’s immediate reaction is to escape from the scent—usually with an involuntary jerk away from the smell—but hey, you never know! If you’re not huffing, you’re safe. No side effects or negatives to smelling salts.

Other names: hartshorn, spirit of hartshorn, salt of hartshorn, sal volatile, vinaigrette

This post offers some fantastic era quotes, paintings of smelling salt usage, images of decorative smelling salt bottles, uses through the centuries, recipes (make your own!), and more, right down to its use at the Old Bailey and to resurrect the dead! http://eighteenthcenturylit.pbworks.com/w/page/70599154/Smelling%20Salts