stored ESBIT “odour”

[Donna C]

I just bought both the 4g and 14g from Amazon at the old prices. I scarfed up quite a few boxes at that price. The smaller ESBIT tabs aren't in any special wrapping and some are crumbled somewhat. The outside of the box doesn't smell, but they do have that slight fish odor inside. I just tore these things with the rest of my cook gear in a plastic bin. Hinestly, I begin to smell after the first day so these things don't really matter to me. Alcohol fuel gives me a wicked headache and I won't use that setup anymore.

[Peter S]

Hi Donna, ok, so you can still smell it in the 4g versions. If you compare them directly to the 14g, don't you find them at least less smelly?

Cherio

[Chad “Stick” Poindexter]

Just for the record, I can't even detect a hint of smell from my 4 g tabs, which is only one reason why I prefer them over the stinky, fish smelling, 14 g tabs. Saying that, I have never shoved them up my nose trying to get a wiff of them either… :)

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

I have noticed the difference but never thought to wonder why until now. When I first got a box of the 4 gram tablets I was struck by the fact that they were packed individually with no extra packaging. I was expecting to see a lot of broken piece but they were fine. When unwrapping a 14 gram tablet the worst smell is when you first open the package.

I am hypothesizing that the 4 gram tablets have been allowed to outgas as they are unsealed. It would be interesting to unpackage and leave open a 14 gram tablet for several weeks to see if 1) the smell goes away and 2) if there is a drop off in performance. Airing out a 14 gram tablet may be the cheapest and easiest way to deal with unwanted odour. My 2 cents

[Donna C]

Yes, less smelly. Collectively in the box, they have their smell. If I take one out and smell one, it is almost odor-free but does smell and is tolerable. Cooking with it….it still has the chemical vapors but nowhere near as bad as the larger cube. I'm liking these little guys! There is also less residue on the bottom of the pot. I tried 1 4g and my 550ml pot almost full was hot enough with bubbles but no boil. I think I could split one in half and add it to the 4g for breakfast. Dinner needs the larger.

I used to open the big ones and take them with me without the wrapping but they got damp and well….not useful. I had them in a baggie. Storing themat home without the wrapping would be ok but the smell will always be there.

No matter what we do, we just have to accept the fact that they have an odor. I like the coffee bag idea and maybe place a small charcoal brick in it to absorb the odors. For me, it doesn't bother me so much. I'm not doing the PCT or any thru hike and a week of ESBIT is fine.

[Dan Yeruski]

My guess is the 4 gram tablets were meant to be used indoors with model steam engines and just might be a different formula. Just thought to mention that ;)

[Peter S]

Chad, Jon and Donna.

I'm very pleased to hear others noticing a smell difference. Now I don't have to try to convince Bob and Millonas anymore.

I believe this should be a breakthrough in Esbit use, as the fishy smell always gets highlighted as a big reason (maybe the biggest) not to use them.

[Bob Gross]

Peter, if you take the time to read this thread, you will see that there is the packaging issue and out-gassing.

–B.G.–

[Peter S]

You are not making any sense Bob. Chill out dude.

[Bob Gross]

Peter, you are the one that isn't making any sense.

There is no reason to expect that the manufacturer would use one mix for the 14 gram tablets and a different mix for the 4 gram tablets. It probably all comes out of the same big chemical vats. I suspect that the difference that you detect in the smell is a result of the difference in packaging. The 4 gram tablets out-gas more, so the smell is reduced. You know it has to be something very subtle like that, because some people detect no difference at all in the smell. It might be more of an age thing. Maybe one type sits on the shelf longer before sale and use.

–B.G.–

[Peter S]

Ha ha Bob, you just don't get it :-)

I only care that there is a smell difference. Not why. Never did care.

It works, it smells less, who cares why, go on and use the 4g tablets and be a happy camper.

End of story.

[Gerald L]

Hey Bob, Based on a logical conclusion, your 'assumption' makes perfect sense to me. Yes, I can understand how the Esbit tablets may smell different and why this is possible. Just as when I fill a 5 gallon container of water and leave the lid open for a day it smells much less like chlorinated water as opposed to when I seal it immediately before the chlorine has the time to ' off-gas' from the liquid. Same base with a different packaging technique.

[Peter S]

If it will make you feel better, I think the "gassing out" theory is plausible.

So is Dan Yeruski's "model steam engine fuel" theory.

Let's hope you are the one who is right, so you can sleep better.

[Anonymous]

"Let's hope you are the one who is right, so you can sleep better."

Bob didn't reach 10,787 posts by sleeping. ;0))

[Dan Yeruski]

I had to do the nose test. I have 2 boxes laying on my test table in the garage waiting to do some tests. One box had been opened last year and had the equivalent of 4-5 tablets, all broken pieces. No fishy smell.

I took the plastic wrap off the unopened box and phew!!!! fishy smell hit my nostrils lickety split. My nose knows smelly esbit ;) The smell can gag a maggot!

The aluminized bags keep the odor "in" but boy oh boy, when the bag is opened…hold your nose ;)It will come up and gag ya…

[Peter S]

Thanks for doing the test Dan :-)

[Dan Yeruski]

It was in the interest of "stove science" They were handy so I jumped right in. Got some testing to do this week with the little esbit holding device from Trail Designs.

[Gerald L]

I'm trying to understand why you seem to be so defensive towards Bob's comments? I don't get it. I thought your initial post was interesting and it did make me ask why there could be a difference in smell. I then considered the off- gassing theory and thought perhaps unwrapping the 14g tablets could help mitigate the pungent odor. So although you have no care as to the why, your observation has merit as it pertains to those who still prefer to use the 14g tablet. Thanks for the informative post that has progressed due to your initial observation.
Peace

[Bob Gross]

On a related note to the odor, I was initially interested in the color. The true Esbit brand tablets are always pure white. The Bleuet brand tablets are always a pink/orange color.

I was watching a You Tube video of some guy extolling the virtues of Esbit tablets, and he was waving around the red Esbit box. Then when the closeup shows him lighting the tablet, it was a colorful Bleuet tablet. I think if I were either the Esbit or Bleuet product manager, I would be upset.

We just need more competition there, and maybe that will drive the prices down.

–B.G.–

[Anonymous]

Personally, i always like to try to understand the "why's" behind things, when possible though i do appreciate that some things will likely always be mysterious because some things are likely beyond my perceptual capacity or the general perceptual capacity of the human brain (which i view more as a filter-perceiver-interpreter, rather than a generator, but that's a long story).

But for many other things, repeated self experience, holistic logic, research, broad spectrum data analysis etc can combine, holistically to help one figure out the why's behind a number of things.

So, thanks to Bob and others for elucidating the why's behind the phenomena. While it's not that important in the grand scheme of things, still has some interest factor.

Heck, all this controversy over Esbit and related solid fuels almost makes me want to try it for the hey of it (i never have previously that i can remember).

[Franco Darioli]

NM

[Peter S]

Hi Gerald. I don't feel like spending more time on that. Hope that's okay :-).

I'm just glad that esbit might have a chance to get more popular with the interest in the less
smelly 4g tablets. I love my caldera cone sidewinder 4g esbit setup!

Cheers

[Donna C]

I agree. I like these little tablets. The box says burn time is 5 min, which, is about true. I burned one with my Lite Trail set and it did last about that long, conditions of course wil vary, but a tab and 1/2 ( or 2 ) will be plenty for breakfast for me. This will lighten my fuel amount to carry in case I want to be a gram weenie. And for a day hike on a cold day, I can just toss in a tab or two for tea.

[Dan Yeruski]

Start watching this video at 5:11 and see the cloud of fish vapor when the flame is blown out. Those of you that that use this method of saving remaining fuel will recognize the smell. You also may have noticed the fragile crystals that form on the cube as it cools. Those crystals are easily distributed on your clothes, cook kit and who knows where else. Be aware of those crystals, heads up ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LoOiXwxzA

Here is what the crystals look like:

[Yoyo]

I don't know if it's just me, or the conditions under which I tested them, but I seem to find the 4 g tablets less fuel efficient than the 14 g variety. On a recent trip, I ended up running short on fuel. I can't put my finger on it, but perhaps increasing the surface area with smaller tablets reduces heat retention and hence efficiency?

I need to do some controlled experiments to test this hypothesis. Measure the temp difference and calculate my Q and then the efficiency using the heat of combustion for esbit. Q = mcT

I get to play scientist since I have access to a chemistry lab as a chemistry teacher.

[Author]

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