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I have heard that aromatic hydrocarbons smell fruity and like petrol. However, I understand that there is a class of hydrocarbons called alkane, as for example propane or butane. I wondered if I might identify them by smell or sight in the same way as aromatic hydrocarbons. If so, what would characterise them?

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    $\begingroup$ Methane is odourless. Higher terms are easy to smell and I would define them fuel like, but "less round - more dry" and not very intense. Think of lighter fuel. Note that alkane become non volatile already at n=7. I also suspect that the smell of oil gases is due at least in part to sulphur and other stuff. $\endgroup$
    – Alchimista
    Sep 13, 2020 at 20:20
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    $\begingroup$ Depends on the terroir... speaking crudely, some may be high sulfur (of course, that's only an impurity). $\endgroup$
    – DrMoishe Pippik
    Sep 13, 2020 at 20:47
  • $\begingroup$ Related: chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/23842/…... chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/9278/… $\endgroup$
    – Nilay Ghosh
    Sep 15, 2020 at 10:45
  • $\begingroup$ Usually, some other compounds like thiols are added to natural gas like butane and propane in order to ensure that they have a smell in the event of a gas leakage for safety reasons. Alkanes usually do not have a smell, at least not that I know of. $\endgroup$
    – user85426
    Sep 15, 2020 at 13:40
  • $\begingroup$ Cigarette lighters are typically fueled with butane. I don’t believe there are any odors added, so you can get an idea of the smell from one of those $\endgroup$
    – Andrew
    Sep 15, 2020 at 18:20

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