They range in effectiveness from being used as simple pranks[1] to military grade malodorants or riot control chemical agents.

[4] It is a synthetic stink bomb based upon the chemistry of the spray that is emitted from the anal glands of the skunk.

[4] At the lower end of the spectrum, relatively harmless stink bombs consist of a mixture of ammonium sulfide, vinegar and bicarbonate, which smells strongly of rotten eggs.

At the upper end of the spectrum, the governments of Israel[4] and the United States of America are developing stink bombs for use by their law enforcement agencies and militaries as riot control[4] and area denial weapons.

When the inner one is ruptured by squeezing it, the liquid reacts with the powder, producing hydrogen sulfide, which expands and bursts the outer bag, releasing an unpleasant odor.

Generally, the higher the molecular weight for a given class of compounds, the lower the volatility and initial concentration but the longer the persistence.