The term liquid aroma is relatively new to the long history of the use of alkyl nitrites as a recreational drug. When poppers first became available over the counter, the compound was usually amyl nitrite. More recently, poppers users came to prefer butyl nitrite or isobutyl nitrite. Butyl or isobutyl nitrite have the additional property of a strong aroma, which has been likened to a men's locker room, or old gym socks. This aroma was considered an aphrodisiac.

The poppers compound in modern times comes is a plastic bottle. It comes as a volitile liquid, which becomes a gas when it is opened which can be inhaled and has a strong odor as described above. Thus the term liquid aroma.

Since the poppers ban in 1991, liquid aromas have also become a widely used euphemism for companies selling poppers. The pretense is that they are not selling the product as a drug to be inhaled, but rather as a "room odorant". This a particularly popular way of covertly advertising liquid aromas on websites. The poppers product is promoted as a room odorant or liquid aroma, but the page still cleverly contains the word "poppers" in the footer disclaimer which claims that the product is not to be used as poppers.
Liquid incense is also a popular term used to refer to poppers or liquid aroma.