Most widely sold products include the original isoamyl nitrite or isopentyl nitrite, and isopropyl nitrite. Isobutyl nitrite is also widely used but is banned in the European Union. In some countries, poppers are labeled or packaged as room deodorizers, leather polish, nail polish remover, or VCR head cleaner to evade
anti-drug laws.
Popper use has a relaxation effect on involuntary
smooth muscles, such as those in the throat and anus. It is used for practical purposes to facilitate anal
sex by increasing blood flow and relaxing sphincter muscles.
The drug is also used for recreational drug purposes, typically for the "high" or "rush" that the drug can create.
Poppers were part of club culture from the
mid-1970s disco
scene and returned to popularity in the 1980s and 1990s rave
scene.