Rams defensive end Kobie Turner takes a sniff of smelling salts during a game against the Packers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood Sunday. It’s unclear when athletes first started using smelling salts, but Boxley compares their use to superstitious practices some athletes adopt. “They are very famous for doing rituals like wearing a lucky shirt or wearing a certain hairdo.”Despite the perceived effects of smelling salts, there is no strong evidence to support the theory that smelling salts enhance athletic performance. Using smelling salts can artificially elevate arousal levels, potentially masking these telltale signs. “At the end of the day, he’s not taking smelling salts to end world hunger, or prevent war.