Is Denatured Alcohol the Same As Rubbing Alcohol?

Denatured alcohol and rubbing alcohol have many similar qualities, but they're formulated with very different uses in mind. Though rubbing alcohol can be substituted for denatured alcohol in some applications requiring gentle solvency, denatured alcohol should never be used on the body. It's too often made with ingredients that shouldn't come into contact with the skin, such as gasoline and acetone.

Significance

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.

Function

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).

Considerations

Both denatured alcohol and rubbing alcohol are unsuitable for drinking.

Warning

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.

Fun Fact

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.

Resources

• Laboratory Services, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives