Smoke/soot is the product of incomplete combustion. It is made visible through the present of small particles of carbon. The fire that causes smoke and soot is non-discriminatory in that it will burn anything that can be burned. Besides the residue that is created through a fire, when there is a structure that has a variety of different flammable materials such as particle board, wood, plastic, laminate, vinyl, etc., the products of these substances can produce very complex odors.