Alexis’s review of Deep Sniff: A History of Poppers and Queer Futures > Likes and Comments

You joke about essential oils being a 90s thing, but they reached cult-like status now. They even have this MLM called "Young Living."

C wrote: "You joke about essential oils being a 90s thing, but they reached cult-like status now. They even have this MLM called "Young Living.""

I ... I had no idea. I assumed they'd been blissfully left in the 90s. Like shell suits.

In the very early 80s, my housemate was deep in the gay culture of our Northern city. He used to leave the bottles lying around - I was always rather worried the cat would take a sniff and have a stroke. I may read this, for nostalgia reasons...

Jackie wrote: "In the very early 80s, my housemate was deep in the gay culture of our Northern city. He used to leave the bottles lying around - I was always rather worried the cat would take a sniff and have a s..."

It is very nostalgia inducing if you've ever had any experiences with poppers. Your cat might enjoy it too ;)

I grew up in Sicily, in the early 00s. I was very into the heavy metal scene which was not a queer space at all. My first encounters with poppers came when I was about 15 and the boy I liked (tall dark and handsome indeed) offered some to me from the famous brown bottle. I refused (ah!), he bought me a beer instead. Good old times. Great review!

Love your review and anecdote, am curious to read this now. I remember a bunch of us tried poppers on Spring Break in the late 80s while riding the big roller coaster, of all things, and did it every night that week. Why?? But I'll never forget those little brown bottles. The thought of putting it in a diffuser cracks me up!

Chiara wrote: "I grew up in Sicily, in the early 00s. I was very into the heavy metal scene which was not a queer space at all. My first encounters with poppers came when I was about 15 and the boy I liked (tall ..."

Probably you are wiser than I not to sniff things that boys offer you, even if the boys are tall, dark and handsome ;)

Monika wrote: "Love your review and anecdote, am curious to read this now. I remember a bunch of us tried poppers on Spring Break in the late 80s while riding the big roller coaster, of all things, and did it eve..."

I mean ... I guess I can see it being a fun rush on a rollercoaster?

This made me sad : " Also gay wasn’t so much an identity so much as a word to applied to something bad or wrong. Y’know, like me."

Jessica wrote: "This made me sad : " Also gay wasn’t so much an identity so much as a word to applied to something bad or wrong. Y’know, like me.""

Eh, long time ago. Water, bridge etc. Besides, it's never been my word. My word is queer.

What made me sad was "Bad or wrong, Y'know, like me".
I believe no 14 yo should feel that way 😔.
For me, Queer is definitely the word.
And any way, Queer vocabulary and it's history is a thing... it's Constantly evolving, I think.

Jessica wrote: "What made me sad was "Bad or wrong, Y'know, like me".
I believe no 14 yo should feel that way 😔.
For me, Queer is definitely the word.
And any way, Queer vocabulary and it's history is a thing... ..."

Oh gosh, I meant it very lightly, not to throw myself a pity party. I am, after all, very old and far from 14 now.

Very old😂

If you are old, I am senescent

Presumably our buttholes relaxed?

*wheezes*

I admit, I googled the buttholese thing.
cant get the image of these people "sitting in the best room, sipping tea, with their arseholes unaccountably receptive" out of my head
#ˈɡiɡ(ə)liNG

Kat, short for Clara wrote: "Presumably our buttholes relaxed?

*wheezes*"

*childish giggle*

Jessica wrote: "I admit, I googled the buttholese thing.
cant get the image of these people "sitting in the best room, sipping tea, with their arseholes unaccountably receptive" out of my head
#ˈɡiɡ(ə)liNG"

Uh. Yeah. Poppers kind of gives you a short head rush and increases bloodflow. Which has the effect you might imagine. Not that I'm some kind of poppers expert. Just impossible to exist, I think, without having been with someone who used them.

And here I didn't even know they were a thing...

SeeElvis wrote: "And here I didn't even know they were a thing..."

Hehehe, you could be the wrong generation.

This line made my day: “And I keep thinking of L and A’s mother’s visitors, sitting in the best room, sipping tea, with their arseholes unaccountably receptive, gently soothed by unearned queer pleasure.” Thank you! ❤️😂🤣

Traci wrote: "This line made my day: “And I keep thinking of L and A’s mother’s visitors, sitting in the best room, sipping tea, with their arseholes unaccountably receptive, gently soothed by unearned queer ple..."

I am delighted I got to write that line. *cackles to self*

What a creative use of an essential oils diffuser!

Poptart19 (ren) wrote: "What a creative use of an essential oils diffuser!"

I'm not sure I'd recommend it! Although I guess it depends what kind of parties you're having?

The headache was fucking terrible, so, one and no more, thank you.

LectoraEstherica wrote: "The headache was fucking terrible, so, one and no more, thank you."

I assume you're not talking about poppers, not books, or this review? ;)

This is why I love you Alexis 🤣🤣🤣

Btw congrats on Mortal Follies, what a delight!!

Rachel wrote: "This is why I love you Alexis 🤣🤣🤣

Btw congrats on Mortal Follies, what a delight!!"

Thank you kindly <3

I love the way you are able to marry the absolutely unhinged with deep, thoughtful analysis. 😂😂😂

I grew up in north East England, was around in the 90s, without an oil burner in sight. I feel like I've missed out.
Poppers were a thing though. Sold them in take away shops

Back in the late 90s, a friend of mine worked at a shop in the US that sold poppers. If I remember correctly, she was told that sniffing them was illegal. Presumably because of the drug-like effect. Her boss used to call her up, pretending to be a customer, and ask if they sold "poppers," then chew her out if she said yes. Apparently, regardless of the packaging, the stuff was officially "videotape head cleaner."

Leslie wrote: "I love the way you are able to marry the absolutely unhinged with deep, thoughtful analysis. 😂😂😂"

Thank you. I'd say it was a skill I'd worked at but apparently unhinged just comes naturally to me.

Charlotte wrote: "I grew up in north East England, was around in the 90s, without an oil burner in sight. I feel like I've missed out.
Poppers were a thing though. Sold them in take away shops"

I mean, the family who had the oil burner were rich by working class standards and posh by working class standards. So, you know, it was a very special item.

Alfred wrote: "Back in the late 90s, a friend of mine worked at a shop in the US that sold poppers. If I remember correctly, she was told that sniffing them was illegal. Presumably because of the drug-like effect..."

Omg, I love this. Getting people talking about poppers always brings out the best stories.

I have spent the last few hours of my life reading your reviews. They are hours I don't want to get back because I enjoyed them so.

Seriously, you are a gift. Your books are gifts and, please don't hate me for saying this, but I think your reviews might be even bigger gifts.

Snort-Laughing has never been so enjoyable. Sincerely, thank you.

Good wrote: "I have spent the last few hours of my life reading your reviews. They are hours I don't want to get back because I enjoyed them so.

Seriously, you are a gift. Your books are gifts and, please don..."

I mean, that is a bit a burn 😂 But I'm glad you enjoyed the reviews.