Glycerine is a thick, clear, slightly sweet liquid made from fats and oils. Factories put it in soap, lotion, medicine, and food; it also sits under some explosives, because it is the base of nitroglycerine. It feels slippery, holds water, and does not dry out quickly, which is why it shows up in cough syrup and in skin cream. Glycerine is the older, more everyday spelling, especially in British English; American packets often say glycerin. Chemists usually say glycerol — same substance, stricter name. In a Taiwan pharmacy you will not hear the English first. Though actually, the “sweet” in the old Greek name is a hint, not a promise it is a drink: it is mildly sweet, but it is a thick industrial liquid, not a syrup you pour on pancakes.

甘油