Why Did We Stop Using Smelling Salts, And What Are They Made Of?
| Updated: 10 Feb 2026
Why did we stop using smelling salts to revive people who had fainted? And what are they made of? A scientist was on hand to answer.
Question
What are smelling salts made of, and are they still used today?
Cheryl, Narberth
Answer
Name: Tony, Kingsbury
Qualification: Scientist
Answer: They are made of ammonium carbonate which sublimates (turns from a solid to a gas without going through the liquid stage) to release ammonia. You can still buy it from places such as Holland and Barrett.