The first nitrite compounds were synthesized in the 1940s and 1950s. Their medical use began with amyl nitrite, which was used to relieve chest pain. In the 1970s, the LGBTQ+ scene rediscovered them as a pleasure enhancer and they have been popular in certain circles ever since. The name poppers is derived from the popping sound made when the former glass ampoules were opened.

An inconspicuous term for many, a small bottle with a big effect for others. Anyone who moves in queer circles or is involved in the subcultures of the club scene has hardly come across them. But what exactly is behind these small, often garishly labeled bottles, which circulate under names such as Rush, Jungle Juice or Liquid Gold? And how did an originally medicinal substance make its way through pharmacies, clubs, political debates and social spaces over the decades?

Discovery of the first poppers

The history of poppers and aromas begins in the 19th century with the discovery of amyl nitrite by the French chemist Antoine Balard. His chemical experiments led to the isolation of a substance that caused dizziness when inhaled. The cause was a sudden drop in blood pressure, as was later discovered. It soon emerged that amyl nitrite had a vasodilatory effect. This made the substance highly interesting for medicine, especially for the treatment of angina pectoris. The British physician Sir Thomas Lauder Brunton was one of the first to document the therapeutic benefits: A few drops on a handkerchief could relieve his patients' heart pain.

What was a medical sensation at the time slowly developed into an everyday remedy, but not only in the clinical sense. Amyl nitrite was regularly administered for chest pain as early as the end of the 19th century. It was taken in so-called glass ampoules, which were broken as required. This produced an audible popping sound - the origin of the name poppers.

Use of poppers in the 20th century

With medical progress came new drugs, above all nitroglycerine, which increasingly replaced amyl nitrite in medical practice. But the substance did not disappear. On the contrary, new fields of application were soon discovered: From the 1960s, it circulated as a means of relaxation. At a time when societies were culturally reinventing themselves, living out sexual freedoms and testing psychotropic substances, aromas found an enthusiastic audience, especially in the queer scene.

In the United States, the FDA temporarily approved amyl nitrite without a prescription. Soon, manufacturers like PWD discovered the substance's commercial potential, especially after Vietnam War veterans brought back reports of its relaxing effects. Vials appeared in record stores, sex stores and on the counters of nightclubs. The club became the new place of exchange, the dance floor the tasting room.

In the disco era of the 1970s, at the time of Stonewall, poppers became an indispensable accessory. They were cheap, legal to buy and worked quickly. Above all, however, they supported a form of sexuality that consciously moved outside of social norms. The effect of muscle relaxation, euphoria and heightened sensitivity fitted the context perfectly: uninhibited dancing, intense sex, collective ecstasy.

The AIDS crisis of the 1980s brought a profound change. Suddenly, everything associated with queer pleasure came under general suspicion. One study linked it to HIV infections, even though this hypothesis later proved to be scientifically untenable. Nevertheless, a mistrust remained, a shadow over the colorful bottle. Aromas became a symbol not only of lust, but also of stigma.

Regulation and sale of poppers in the 21st century

In the 2000s, they returned to the clubs with the rave and techno movement. And with the rise of the internet, they experienced a new heyday: online stores, such as our Poppers-Shop.de, offered them under all kinds of imaginative names, testimonials circulated in forums and videos appeared on porn platforms.

At the same time, countries repeatedly tried to regulate their sale. Canada banned it completely. In the UK, a ban failed in 2016 due to massive protests and the courageous outing of a Conservative MP who openly admitted to its use. This created a legal gray area, as in many countries they were neither completely legal nor actually banned.

In the past, they were classified by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) as so-called functional medicinal products due to their specific physiological effects. However, this assessment was fundamentally called into question by a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2014. In this decision, the ECJ ruled that products such as poppers, whose main use is not the cure, alleviation or prevention of disease, should not be classified as functional medicinal products across the board. The previous legal classification was thus abolished and has since been considered obsolete, making aromas a legal product throughout the EU and Switzerland.

Aromas of the modern age, the scent of lived freedom 

Today, aromas stand for desire and freedom. They tell a story of chemistry and desire, of control and rebellion, of intimate moments and collective experiences. And perhaps that is precisely their secret: that there is more in a small bottle than just a kick for relaxation, namely a piece of lived history and sexual revolution.

In our store, you have the opportunity to become part of this exciting scene yourself. Discover legendary classics from the wild 70s such as Rush, Ram and Amsterdam, which have long since achieved cult status. At the same time, we offer you modern novelties with particularly intense, stimulating ingredients, such as our Highrise Ultra Strong, Jungle Juice Ultra Strong or Delirium Poppers. At Poppers-Shop.de you will find the perfect mix of nostalgia and exciting innovation.