Homemade explosives (HMEs) continue to present challenges to forensic and investigative authorities due to the diversity of precursor materials and clandestine synthesis approaches available. While forensic analysis can routinely identify explosive compounds, there is an increasing interest in developing approaches that provide greater investigative intelligence through source attribution. Our research has explored this concept through the synthesis and characterisation of explosive materials produced from commercially available precursor sources. Such studies have included potassium chlorate synthesised from hypochlorite-based products and safety matches, and explosives produced from commercial sources of 2-butanone (methyl ethyl ketone) such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe primers. Analytical techniques including spectroscopic, chromatographic, and elemental approaches identified source-associated impurity profiles that differentiated precursor materials and synthesis routes. These findings demonstrate that characteristic chemical signatures may persist through synthesis and highlight the potential for analytical source attribution approaches to support forensic investigations and strengthen forensic intelligence capabilities for HME-related incidents.