An ether, acetone or alcohol smell is entirely normal. Those are solvents that are often used in powder production.
If it has an irritating acidic smell that's a sign of decomposition. Deteriorating smokeless powder can also produce reddish fumes - which is a little different than reddish dust in the can.
This is what Alliant has to say on the issue:
"
How To Check Smokeless Powder For Deterioration
Although modern smokeless powders are basically free from deterioration under proper storage conditions, safe practices require a recognition of the signs of deterioration and its possible effects.
Powder deterioration can be checked by opening the cap on the container and smelling the contents. Powder undergoing deterioration has an irritating acidic odor. (Don't confuse this with common solvent odors such as alcohol, ether and acetone.)
Check to make certain that powder is not exposed to extreme heat as this may cause deterioration. Such exposure produces an acidity which accelerates further reaction and has been known, because of the heat generated by the reaction, to cause spontaneous combustion.
Never salvage powder from old cartridges and do not attempt to blend salvaged powder with new powder. Don't accumulate old powder stocks.
The best way to dispose of deteriorated smokeless powder is to burn it out in the open at an isolated location in small shallow piles (not over 1" deep). The quantity burned in any one pile should never exceed one pound. Use an ignition train of slow burning combustible material so that the person may retreat to a safe distance before powder is ignited."
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You'll note they make no mention of reddish dust. Personally, if it still smells like acetone and does not smell acidic I'll use it. I've never blown myself up yet.
Powder is hard to find !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
