Smelling salts (also known as ammonia inhalants) aren't right for every sport — but for certain athletes they've become a bag staple. Here's who tends to use them, and who probably won't get much out of them.
Best suited to short, explosive sports
The intense sniff of ammonia is brief, so smelling salts fit sports built around short, powerful bursts rather than long endurance. That's why you rarely see them with marathoners, distance swimmers, or long-distance runners — and why they're everywhere in sports like:
- Powerlifting
- Weightlifting
- Strongman
- Football
- Hockey
- Boxing
- Wrestling and combat sports
- CrossFit
And the list keeps growing — we hear from customers using them in sports we'd never have guessed, from competitive arm wrestling to downhill mountain biking.
Pros and amateurs alike
Smelling salts aren't some elite-only secret. They're widely used at every level, from weekend lifters to professional athletes — and not just on game day or meet day. Plenty of people keep them in the gym bag for regular training sessions too.
Especially common in strength sports
Strength athletes are among the most common users. Powerlifters, strongman competitors, and serious gym-goers often work a quick sniff into their routine before a heavy attempt — for many, it's simply part of the ritual before they get under the bar. If you train in a strength sport, you've almost certainly seen someone reach for a bottle.
So, are they for you?
If you compete or train in a short-burst, explosive sport and you're curious about that intense pre-lift or pre-game sniff, smelling salts are worth a look — start with our original, Bottled Insanity. If you're a long-distance endurance athlete, they're probably not the right fit.
Ward smelling salts are made for athletic and recreational use, not for medical purposes. Always follow the directions on the bottle.
