"Smelling salts are used to arouse consciousness because the release of ammonia (NH3) gas that accompanies their use irritates the membranes of the nose and lungs, and thereby triggers an inhalation reflex. This reflex alters the pattern of breathing, resulting in improved respiratory flow rates and possibly alertness."
The article on Wasabi says smell, smelling salts are not actually olfactory.
The article on Wasabi says smell, smelling salts are not actually olfactory.
The article was a few paragraph press release meant for mainstream news, not a technical description.
Elsewhere you can find more details:
Wasabi has a pungent odor that irritates the nose, and it was this property of the plant that was used for the fire alarm
...
When wasabi has been grated, the allyl isothiocyanate contained in it is broken down by an enzyme and becomes a bitter gas that stimulates the nervous system. Surprisingly, it can wake people up, both hearing-impaired and non-hearing-impaired alike, within a period of 10 seconds to two minutes, according to the experiments
The article on Wasabi says smell, smelling salts are not actually olfactory.