Tar, or 'gas tar' as we referred to it as 60s kids, had an incredible smell, really pungent. It doesn't smell quite the same these days. We used to get in a right mess when the sun melted it and we used it as Plasticine. Our mothers would remove it with butter, solvents not being common back then.
Creosote is the liquid preservative you put on wooden sheds and fences.