Not sure about the lavender water, but hartshorn was supposedly used for fainting, because it had a strong, pungent odour.
This is from The new encyclopædia; or, Universal dictionary of arts and sciences, dated 1807:
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SgRijW62m9kC&dq=hartshorn&pg=PA95#v=onepage&q&f=false
Another book, dated from 1850, offers this treatment for fainting:
Smelling Salts are/were a carbonate of ammonia, and harts horn was one source of ammonia. Both words were used before 1815.
:)
This is from The new encyclopædia; or, Universal dictionary of arts and sciences, dated 1807:
Quote
The salt of harts horn is a great sudorifick, and the spirit has all the virtues of volatile alkalies: it is used to bring people out of fainting by its pungency, holding it under the nose and pouring down some drops of it in water.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SgRijW62m9kC&dq=hartshorn&pg=PA95#v=onepage&q&f=false
Another book, dated from 1850, offers this treatment for fainting:
Quote
Removing the patient to a cooler apartment, or exposing him to a current of cold air, sprinkling cold water on the face and hands, rubbing the left side of the chest with eau de cologne, or any other stimulating fluid, and applying hartshorn or aromatic vinegar to the nostrils, are the simple means usually resorted to for the purpose of rousing the individual. Internally a little brandy and water or a tea spoonful of water may be given as soon as he is able to swallow.
Smelling Salts are/were a carbonate of ammonia, and harts horn was one source of ammonia. Both words were used before 1815.
:)