Urea is a white crystalline powder or granules with a light ammonia-like odor and is soluble in water.
Urea is a low-cost nitrogen fertilizer. It is used as humectant in cosmetics and personal care creams, lotions, and topical medications. It is also used as a food additive in some food products.
In industrial applications is used in the production of melamine resins and as a reducing agent in exhaust systems (e.g., diesel exhaust fluid).