# What \*does\* burning napalm smell like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 29, 2004, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677 "2004-06-29T06:43:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/1 "2004-06-29T06:43:45Z")
It’s all there in the title, I think. And we can all just pretend that someone answered “victory,” right off the bat. So…anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/2 "2004-06-29T06:48:15Z")
Well, I imagine it would have to do with how exactly the napalm has been made. IIRC, it’s mostly petrochemicals, so my WAG is a very oily smell, perhaps like incompletely burned gasoline. But, (thank the powers that be) I’ve never been to war, so perhaps there are some veterans that can clear this up. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/3 "2004-06-29T07:02:54Z")
Is flesh involved? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/4 "2004-06-29T07:08:20Z")
I just filled my Zippo lighter with lighter fluid which is Naptha. I’m wondering— is this the smell of napalm? (smells like Coleman latern fluid-- or “white gasoline”) is that what naptha is? Is that what napalm is??? ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/5 "2004-06-29T07:35:27Z")
Napalm is jellied gasoline. It’s quite sticky, so it can cause fires more easily than regular liquid gasoline - the fire stays stuck to whatever it lands on, so it has a much longer time to catch on. I don’t know what naptha is, but I seriously doubt that you’re filling a lighter with jellied gasoline. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/6 "2004-06-29T13:07:22Z")
“I love the smell of napalm in the morning…that gasoline smell. It smelled like…It smelled like victory.” Another vote for petrochemicals here. Isn’t it made by mixing gasoline & styrofoam? No a whole lot of smells involved there, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/7 "2004-06-29T15:25:05Z")
It smells like vic … damn. Heading everyone off at the pass, huh? But seriously … my friend’s dad was (I believe) a medic in Vietnam. I also remember him telling my friend and me how napalm is some really nasty, vile stuff. He described it as a gasoline smell. He also said that he saw some people that got it on them, and then try to wipe it off, only to spread it around. (This guy would tell tall tales once in a while, though I have no reason to believe this was one of them. However, if someone has first hand experience to the contrary I’ll be listening.) ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/8 "2004-06-29T15:43:43Z")
From[Skippy’s list:](http://www.avalanchetankers.us/archives/000058.html) 1. ‘Napalm sticks to kids’ is _not_ a motivational phrase. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/9 "2004-06-29T16:09:24Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > From[Skippy’s list:](http://www.avalanchetankers.us/archives/000058.html) > > 1. ‘Napalm sticks to kids’ is _not_ a motivational phrase. But it IS a marching cadence. Also a troubling song to the tune of “Jesus loves the little children.” ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/10 "2004-06-29T16:33:53Z")
IIRC, napalm was originally made from a mixture of naptha and palm oil (hence the name). I don’t know what the present day stuff is made from, but have come across references to napalm being stored as a dry powder already in its casing, requiring only the addition of gasoline?/kerosene? to be ready to use. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/11 "2004-06-29T16:50:23Z")
Things may have changed but in the late 60’s napalm was made in the field by adding an oatmeal like product to pretty much any kind of gasoline/diesel product. The result was a somewhat runny paste, or a not quite set up jello, if that helps. It smells like, if 35 year old memories can be trusted, old motor oil when it burns. The smell seems to linger around a good while also. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/12 "2004-06-29T18:05:58Z")
> [@](#): > > napalm was originally made from a mixture of naptha and palm oil Not really - but not too far off. Let me clarify before someone runs off to try it. According to the patent, “napalm” is a condensation of the words “napthenic acid and palmetate” [sic] which are the primary ingredients of the gelling agent only. Gasoline is the actual fuel, and makes up the overwhelming bulk of napalm by weight. It was invented in 1942 by Louis Feiser of Harvard, at Army request. “Naphtha” (CAS #8030-30-6) is different from “nap[h]thenic acid” (CAS #1338-24-5) Both are generic terms, like gasoline or kerosene, for certain processed fractions of petroleum distillates. Both are mixtures that are not precisely defined, and available in a wide range of grades and properties, but while various products called “naphtha” are made at every refinery in the world, most of the world’s Naphthenic acid was made at a refinery in Alabama (it may not generate half the world’s supply anymore, but it’s still the biggest producer) BTW, I’ve generally found that what is sold as “naphtha” in the UK isn’t the same as what is sold under that name in the US. Perhaps that’s because it’s a common word in the UK, and a technical term in the US, and therefore used only for a more refined grade. UK “naphtha” is US “lighter fluid” (cigarette or charcoal) I’ve never heard of “palmetic” acid (and I probably would have), so I assume they mean palmitic acid, a common fatty acid in plant and animal fats. It is found, as you guessed in palm oil (for which it is named, but oleic acid, not palmitic, is the main ingredient of palm oil. Fats are “tri-acyl-glycerols” meaning three large fatty acids tacked onto a tiny (3-carbon) glycerol molcule: think of 3 garden hoses of various lengths, screwed into a three headed spigot and you get the idea. The glycerin “backbone” is tiny, just big enough to connect 3 fatty acids. Palm oil fats are made of three fatty acids ( **L** ineic, **O** leic and **P** almitic) in various combinations. The mixture is typically LOP (24%), OOP (17%), LLP (8%), OLO (5%), and OOO (4%), so no palm fat molecule is more than 1/3 palmitic acid, and many are 0% palmitic acid Palmitic acid is a common constituent of soaps. “Palmolive” was originally a soap made from palm and olive oils, which both contain some palmitic acid (Today’s “Palmolive” is mostly detergent. ) This is why certain brands of dishwashing liquid may work for homemade palm oil, and others won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/13 "2004-06-29T18:09:41Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > “I love the smell of napalm in the morning…that gasoline smell. It smelled like…It smelled like victory.” Err… I love the smell of napalm in the morning - that gasoline smell. It smells like…victory… ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/14 "2004-06-29T18:11:32Z")
D’oh! I meant “homemade napalm”, of course. To make homemade palm oil, you wouldn’t use a dishwashing soap, you’d grow an oil palm plant. Definitely a “Don’t try this at home, kiddies” (that sems to be my theme today) ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/15 "2004-06-29T18:13:11Z")
I love the smell of Napalm in the morning. The smell, you know that gasoline smell. Smells like… victory. [http://funwavs.com/wavfile.php?quote=2862&sound=180](http://funwavs.com/wavfile.php?quote=2862&sound=180) ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/16 "2004-06-29T20:18:45Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > I love the smell of Napalm in the morning. The smell, you know that gasoline smell. Smells like… victory. > > [http://funwavs.com/wavfile.php?quote=2862&sound=180](http://funwavs.com/wavfile.php?quote=2862&sound=180) Tales of Brave Elipses … ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/17 "2004-06-29T20:31:18Z")
And here I thought that naptha was the common name for hexane (C[sub]6[/sub]H[sub]14[/sub]). Was I mistaken, or is hexane one of the chemicals which can be included under the general term “naptha”? ---
**Author:** ![ozonelover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@ozonelover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ozonelover)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/18 "2004-06-29T20:43:51Z")
Ooops, I thought napalm was a soap, the sodium(na) salt of palmitic acid dissolved in gasoline. 'Could be wrong, of course. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/19 "2004-06-29T21:26:58Z")
Sorta. A field-expedient napalm can be made out of materials commonly found around the house. (No, I’m not going to tell you how. You’d only hurt yourself.) But in the main, the descriptions above are correct - think burning petrochemicals, and you have a good idea. Victory. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677/20 "2004-06-29T21:34:55Z")
Actually, the palmitic oil/gasoline is the first formula. Nowadays, it’s 21% benzene, 33% gasoline and 46% polystyrene. I’d imagine that when it’s burning, it smells like a combination of burning gasoline and burning styrofoam. cites: [http://www.efdsw.navfac.navy.mil/Environmental/NapalmInformation.htm](http://www.efdsw.navfac.navy.mil/Environmental/NapalmInformation.htm) [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/incendiary.htm](http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/incendiary.htm) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-burning-napalm-smell-like/252677.md?page=2)