Why smelling salts are back in the spotlight
Smelling salts have long been a fixture on NHL benches and in other sports, but their use has come under renewed scrutiny after health authorities flagged safety concerns. The NFL, citing a 2024 FDA warning, moved to bar direct distribution of ammonia-based inhalants by teams, citing lack of evidence of safety and concerns about concealing concussions. The NHL has not changed its policy, with deputy commissioner Bill Daly noting that the league is studying the issue but currently allows teams to provide smelling salts.
What players are saying
In interviews during the recent NHL/NHLPA media tour in Las Vegas, players offered mixed takes. One veteran forward, Dubois, welcomed the ritual but stressed it’s just one part of a routine: "It’s waking you up… It’s like, start of the game… then right before the first faceoff, I do the smelling salts, and it’s just like, ‘OK. This is game time.’ I would never do them in a different context than hockey."
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas shared a similar sentiment: "You can feel the oxygen get through your whole body, and bring some excitement to let you think a little clearer… A lot of guys love it."
Carolina Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis added that the boosters are real but exaggerated: "I think people exaggerate a little bit, but they do help… wakes you up, shocks your system a little bit."
Connor Bedard, the Blackhawks’ prized rookie, has tried them but questions a ban: "Startles you a little. I don’t think they need to be banned. We’re adults. We can make our own decisions."
Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers playfully chimed in, admitting he’d support a ban if only to avoid the smell himself: "The only times I smell them is when someone has it beside me… I’d love it if they banned them."
Policy moves and safety concerns
The NHL’s stance contrasts with Hockey Canada’s cautious approach and Hockey Quebec’s ban of smelling salts in youth hockey after a coach was suspended for their use. Other groups, like the Professional Women’s Hockey League, have already discouraged or directed teams not to supply smelling salts since its first season.
The road ahead
As leagues balance competitive edge with health and safety, the conversation about smelling salts remains unsettled. Fans and players alike recognize the ritual’s pairing with adrenaline, but lawmakers and medical groups push for clearer evidence of safety and effectiveness. The NHL, while acknowledging FDA warnings about misinformation, appears reluctant to ban the practice outright, pending further study. Whether the tradition persists may hinge on formal guidance from medical authorities and broader societal attitudes toward stimulant products in sport.
