Question

Burning cotton smells like burning paper and burning wool smells like burning hair. Why ????

Answer 1

Cotton is a plant product and paper is also made from plants. So when cotton is burnt, it smells like burning paper. While wool and hair both are from animals, hence on burning they smell similar.

Answer 2

Silk is formed of animal protein secretion of silkworms. Hence , when burnt it smells like hair , which is also composed of animal protein. Cotton is mostly cellulose and when burnt smell like paper which is also made of plant cellulose.