Home > Terms > English, UK (UE) > Methylated spirits

Denatured alcohol or methylated spirits is ethanol that has additives to make it more poisonous or unpalatable and, thus, undrinkable. In some cases it is also dyed. Denatured alcohol is used as a solvent and as fuel for spirit burners and camping stoves. Denaturing alcohol does not chemically alter the ethanol molecule. Rather, the ethanol is mixed with other chemicals.