Petroleum jelly smell when pure. It does not oxidize on exposure to the air and is not readily acted on by chemical reagents. It is insoluble in water. It is soluble in dichloromethane, chloroform, benzene, diethyl ether, carbon disulfide and oil of turpentine. Depending on the specific application of petroleum jelly, it may be USP, B.P., or Ph. Eur. grade. This pertains to the processing and handling of the petroleum jelly so it is suitable for medicinal and personal-care applications. Because they feel similar when applied to human skin, there is a common misconception that petroleum jelly and glycerol (glycerine) are physically
Grass jelly to its plain neutral flavor, it is usually consumed with sugar water, syrup, coconut milk, and ice. Plain grass jelly is mixed in various kinds of desserts, such as "ais kacang" and "cendol". It is also mixed with cold soy milk and served as a refreshing drink/dessert, a drink known as Michael Jackson in South-East Asia (a reference to Michael Jackson's changing skin color and/or the song "Black or White"). Various combinations of grass jelly with rose flavoured syrup added to milk (bandung) are called "bandung cincau" or "bancau" for short. There is also shaved ice with grass jelly toppings.