" A method of deodorizing kerosene is by using common rubbing alcohol. This is known as isopropyl alcohol, and it is purchased at retail stores. Depending on the uses of the kerosene, you could add the deodorizing components to help minimize the odor. If you are using kerosene for camping lamps or heaters, you may want to add about 1 ounce of the rubbing alcohol to 1 gallon of kerosene
This seems to help when I use it in in a lamp.
Others are "mineral spirits. By using one part of mineral spirits against three parts of kerosene, or...With 20 drops of sassafras oil, they can reduce the odor of 1 gallon of kerosene....or Another method of filtering the odor in kerosene is by adding 1 cup or 330g of powdered limestone to about 1 gallon of kerosene. When you add the limestone, the mixture is then allowed to sit for about three to five days.
The residue of the powder will settle at the bottom and the fuel is strained into a clean container in order to separate it from the dregs of the limestone. What limestone does is to absorb the properties, which cause odor in kerosene, and it this allows the fuel to burn bright with no odor coming out from it. ...Don't know what to use for powdered limestone yet.
I can’t smell anything so it doesn’t bother me.
What about how to trim lamp wicks? Got any tips?
Calcium carbonate would be powdered limestone, and you can find that everywhere.
A search at walmart brings up a 5 lb bag of it.
http://www.walmart.com/search/?query=calcium%20carbonate
If your lamp or heater is in proper shape, the odor should only be an issue when lighting or extinguishing the flame. If your lamp or heater put out constant odor, either the wick is hosed or the kero may have water in it.
Powdered limestone is mainly calcium carbonate, and is used for (among numerous other things) raising the pH of soils, i.e. making them more alkaline. MANY crops/plants, including some of the herbs I grow here in the hills of Panamá, require a soil that is less acid, more alkaline for their good growth and health than is the 'natural' soil that is present in your field/garden.
Don't need much: perhaps a handful or so per square meter. Mix into the soil you want to alter, distribute it well, then give it a good soaking with a hose or something and wait about a week. The pH of the soil that you've treated WILL be higher, I gar-on-tee.
And, calcium carbonate (just called 'cal', in Spanish) is -- excuse the pun -- dirt cheap here. Probably more expensive in the US (regulations and all, which are worthless when it comes to calcium carbonate, btw).
That calcium carbonate is a good de-odoriser for kerosene does not surprise me in the least. You can use the dregs of the limestone, after drying out, just as you would use "un-kerosened" limestone. Thing to remember is that crushed limestone is highly absorbent of many/most liquids, and would also doubtless be good for sucking up any undesirable liquid (say, gasoline) that spilled somewhere you didn't want it.
FReegards!