The main ingredient in smelling salts can be ammonium carbonate, or diluted ammonia, water, and ethanol. The ammonia ...

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 ...

Joe Schwarcz, a chemistry professor and director of McGill University’s office for science and society, said smelling salts are mostly made up of ammonium carbonate. They work by releasing ...