This colorless oily liquid has a bitter almond odor at higher concentration.

The rootstocks are multichambered and contain a yellowish oily liquid which turns reddish brown on exposure to air and emits a characteristic smell of raw parsnip.

They are colourless oily liquids (for smaller carbon numbers) or waxy solids, although impure samples may appear yellow.

The last two compounds (they are very poor explosives) are oily liquids and plasticize the mixture.

Oxygen-free alkaloids, such as nicotine or coniine, are typically volatile, colorless, oily liquids.