- Rubbing alcohol is an alcohol that's specifically intended to be applied to the body; denatured alcohol is not necessarily made for topical application, and often has additives that make topical application a very bad idea.
- Whereas rubbing alcohol is regulated for use on human skin, denatured alcohol is a quick-evaporating solvent often used by hobbyists, painters and homemakers as a cleaner, paint stripper and stove fuel (where clearly labeled as such).
- Both denatured alcohol and rubbing alcohol are unsuitable for drinking.
- Denatured alcohol is regulated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to make sure that manufacturers strictly keep their formulas non-consumable by humans.
- Denatured alcohol has been rendered so distasteful to drink (and its alcohol undistillable in drinkable form) in order to secure exemption from taxes applied to potable forms of alcohol.









