A process for the continuous production of a propyl nitrate comprises keeping an aqueous reaction solution containing per 100 parts thereof between 30 and 45 parts nitric acid, at least 3 parts urea, and between 10 and 31.5 parts ammonium nitrate, all by weight, at a temperature between 105 DEG and 112 DEG C. (preferably 107-110 DEG C.) at atmospheric pressure, while maintaining this composition and the bulk by continuously introducing under the surface of the reaction solution nitric acid, the appropriate propyl alcohol, water and urea, at least the continuously added nitric acid and said propyl alcohol being introduced in separate streams, if desired already diluted with at least part of the continuously added water, at rates such that the molar ratio of added nitric acid to said propyl alcohol exceeds unity, and the continuously added urea being introduced in solution in at least one of the liquids streaming into the solution, continuously distilling away and condensing the resulting vapour mixture containing the propyl nitrate formed, continuously bleeding off a portion of the aqueous reaction solution of said composition, and separating the propyl nitrate rich layer of the condensate from the water rich layer. The aqueous reaction solution may be progressively formed by heating a solution containing per 100 parts between 30 and 45 parts nitric acid and at least 9 parts urea or less than 9 parts but greater than 3 parts urea together with between 5.3 and 2.3 parts ammonium nitrate for each part of urea short of 9 parts. Preferred nitric acid, urea and ammonium nitrate concentrations in the aqueous reaction solution are 45 per cent, 3 per cent and 22 per cent at 110 DEG C.; 40 per cent, 3 per cent and 14 per cent at 110 DEG C.; 40 per cent, 4 per cent and 18 per cent at 108 DEG C.; 32 per cent, 6 per cent and 13 per cent at 105 DEG C. The examples describe the preparation of n-propyl and isopropyl nitrate. Specifications 379,312, 540,050, 696,489 and 743,141 are referred to.