Smelling Salts

Smelling salts had been considered a necessity since at least the 17th century. They are best known for being used to awaken women from faints (allegedly caused by tight corseting, though modern studies suggest poor nutrition and other factors were more likely the cause for this fainting epidemic.) Relief of headaches, covering 'bad odors' before modern sewage systems were in place, and generally offering a bit of pep to a weary person were other uses for the substance.

Not all smelling salts were made from hartshorn or sal ammoniac. Four Thieves Vinegar and other herbal substances were sometimes used instead. One 1915 recipe that falls in the intermediate is the following:

Ammonium carbonate, 2 pounds

Stronger ammonia water, 1 pound

Oil of bergamot, 15 grains

Oil of lavender, 15 grains

Oil of nutmeg, 8 grains

Oil of clove, 8 grains

Oil of rose, 8 grains

Oil of cinnamon, 75 grains

In a large porcelain jar mix the two ammonia derivatives; cover, and set aside. After some days the mixture will have changed into a firm mass of ammonium monocarbonate, which should be reduced to a coarse powder; after which the oils, mixed, are to be rubbed in a mortar with about a tenth of the salt. The perfumed portion is then triturated with the other nine-tenths until the odor is equally distributed.