Smelling salts, according to wiki, are chemical compounds used to arouse consciousness, that explains why people sit up and take notice when smelling salts are placed beneath their nose. Years ago jogging for just few minutes made a friend so drowsy, let alone the more than 2 hours run in the marathon, minus the athletes’ endurance. One such compound is ammonium carbonate, a colorless-to-white, crystalline solid ((NH4)2CO3.H2O). Ammonium carbonate is mixed with perfume to create a stimulant. The ammonia fumes from the salts irritate the membranes of the nose and lungs, which triggers an inhalation reflex causing the muscles that control breathing to work faster.