What does methanol smell like?

Answer 1

Pure methane is odorless.

Pure methane when burned produces carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water, all of which are odorless.

However the methane available is not pure but has odorants added (e.g. methyl mercaptan) which give it a sulfur like smell and may in some cases pass that smell to the products of combustion.

Answer 2

The wood alcohol methanol when pure smells of nothing. It is detectable because it irritates the nostrils when its vapours hit the cells and olfactory nerves in the nostrils.

Answer 3

Like alcohol