David Nebenzahl writes:

But it isn't the same thing as white gas, of that I'm sure, even though
there are plenty of sites out there that say that white gas = naphtha.
For one thing, white gas has a *much* more pungent odor than naphtha,
and evaporates much more quickly.

It's the "same thing" in any ordinary sense.

The odor isn't relevant. If a naphtha product sold as "white gas" has a
strong odor, it's just a blended impurity that isn't worth removing in the
fuel application. The naphtha from the paint store will be essentially the
same stuff, but better purified of high-boiling impurities, because for
painting and clean-up you want a solvent that doesn't leave a residue.
This is the reason for the "VM&P" (varnish maker's and painter's) grade of
naphtha.

The Walmart store brand camp fuel is the cheapest way to buy naphtha by the
gallon. And always very pure of odors and residue in my experience with
using it as a solvent.