The agency said the products -- also known as ammonia inhalants -- are unapproved drugs and would need to be approved as any other over-the-counter (OTC) product for this particular use.

Conti elaborates, “Furthermore, as the intense smell can cause a reflexive head jerk, they (smelling salts) can cause detrimental effects for athletes who have sustained neck injuries.” ...

said smelling salts are mostly made up of ammonium carbonate. They work by releasing ammonia, which is often used in cleaning products and has a "pretty annoying smell," he said. "The effect is ...

The Surface Deep Anti-Odorant Spray is powered by glycolic acid and ... “Yellow comes from the sebum oil interacting with the aluminum salts in, for example, antiperspirants,” she says.

Alessi has previously cautioned about the potential harms of using smelling salts in patients with head trauma, noting that "the first response to the noxious smell is to suddenly jerk the head ...