Funny. I don't notice any smell for some reason.

I think the forte of Esbit is as an emergency fuel. It stores well. Takes up very little space. It cannot spill or be punctured. One always knows how much he or she has left (unlike my cannisters). But, for our purposes I feel it might be cost prohibitive on a really long hike. I will know more in a week when I have thoroughly tested it on the trail. I have carried it for a little while now but only as a backup. Never used it on the trail.

Howie