Legal notice

Are alkyl nitrites legal to buy in the UK?

Alkyl nitrites are not controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and possession is not an offence in the United Kingdom. They are widely sold by established UK retailers as room odourisers.

The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016

The position under this Act is not fully settled, and we would rather set it out accurately than oversimplify it.

When the Act was passed in 2016, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs advised that alkyl nitrites act indirectly rather than directly on the central nervous system. On that basis it was considered unnecessary to add them to the Act's list of exempted substances.

In 2018, in R v Rochester, the Court of Appeal held that a substance need not act directly on the central nervous system to fall within the Act — an indirect effect is sufficient. That judgment reopened the question of whether alkyl nitrites are caught by the legislation.

The Government asked the Advisory Council to consider the matter again. In May 2024 the Council recommended that alkyl nitrites should be formally exempted from the Act in order to settle their legal status. At the time of writing, the Government has not issued a full response to that recommendation.

You may see other retailers state that alkyl nitrites were “explicitly excluded” from the Act. That is not an accurate description of the position.

How our products are sold

Everything we sell is supplied strictly as a room odouriser. Our products are not sold, labelled or intended for human consumption or inhalation. Customers are responsible for using them only as described on the packaging and for complying with all applicable law.

Ingredients

Our products contain alkyl nitrites. The specific compound is printed on each bottle and shown on the relevant product page.

Isobutyl nitrite is restricted from sale under the Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Safety) Regulations 2006, having been classified as a carcinogen. We do not knowingly stock products containing isobutyl nitrite.

Age restriction

We sell only to adults aged 18 or over, and only within the United Kingdom.

Health

Reported health effects associated with alkyl nitrites include, among others, a form of eye damage known as poppers maculopathy. Alkyl nitrites can be dangerous for people with low blood pressure, heart conditions, or a history of stroke, and can interact seriously with erectile dysfunction medication. If you have any health concerns, speak to a doctor or pharmacist.

This page is general information about the legal position, not legal or medical advice.