12 Best Lamp Oils for Indoors
Searching for the best lamp oil for indoors?
It can be confusing, we know. Liquid paraffin, kerosene, biodegradable, Aladdin, purity, and so on. It’s almost like learning a new language.
Fortunately, we have made the search easy by compiling a list of the 12 best oils for indoor lamps that covers everything from biodegradable oils, liquid paraffin oils, and even difficult-to-find Aladdin lamp oils.
Again, all the oils we have reviewed are perfectly safe for indoor use. Of course, you can use them outdoors if you really want, but these oils all work great indoors.
Product | Details |
Lamplight Ultra-Pure   | Overall Best
|
Chapel Lane   | Best Budget
|
Firefly Eucalyptus   | Best Scented
|
Firefly Eco-Friendly   | Best Eco-Friendly
|
Hyoola 1-Gallon   | Best Bulk
|
12 Best Lamp Oils for Indoors – Reviews
Here are reviews of the 12 best lamp oils for indoors.
Best Overall Lamp Oil for Indoors
Lamplight Ultra-Pure Lamp Oil
Fuel Type: Liquid Paraffin
Volume: 18 oz or 32 oz
Color: Clear, Red, Blue, Green
Odor: Odorless
First on our list is the Lamplight Ultra-Pure Lamp Oil from Lamplight. This is the best lamp oil for indoor lamps on the list.
The best feature of this lamp oil is that it’s 99% pure liquid paraffin, which is something that you just don’t find on many lamp oils. This purity means that the oil burns cleaner and longer than oil that has other impurities in it.
Lamplight also decided to do something that most lamp oil manufactuers fail to do – make this available in a size smaller than 32 oz. Seriously, 32 oz is a lot of lamp oil, and you will probably not use it all before it goes bad.
Finally, this oil is available in four different colors. Keep in mind that the color of the oil doesn’t change the color of the flame, but red or green oil looks pretty good in a clear container.
Pros:
- Available in two different sized containers.
- Available in four different colors.
- 99% pure liquid paraffin oil, which means no smoke and practically no odor.
Cons:
- More expensive than other paraffin oils. The purity makes up for the additional cost.
Verdict
All things considered, you can’t go wrong with this lamp oil from Lamplight. It’s pure, smokeless, and odor-free. The price isn’t even that bad once you consider all the benefits.
Simply put, you can’t ask for much more from a liquid paraffin oil for indoor use.
Best Oil for Indoor Oil Lamp [BULK]
Hyoola 1-Gallon Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil
Fuel Type: Liquid Paraffin
Volume: 1 gallon (128 oz.)
Color: Clear
Odor: Odorless
Do you use a lot of lamp oil in a relatively short amount of time?
If you answered yes to that question, then you should strongly consider purchasing 1 gallon of Hyoola liquid paraffin lamp oil.
Seriously, one gallon will last you a long time for two reasons: one gallon is a lot of lamp oil and Hyoola is slightly more efficient, due to its purity, than other types of oil.
Anyway, Hyoola didn’t skimp on the features with this oil. It has a high enough purity that it doesn’t produce any smoke or odor, which is a huge positive. The oil is also available in a clear color, which makes it extremely versatile.
Pros:
- Available in a one gallon container.
- Odorless and smokeless.
- Very efficient oil due to its purity.
- Clear color makes it very versatile.
Cons:
- One gallon is a lot of oil. Only buy this if you use a lot of oil.
Verdict
All in all, this lamp oil is great. It performs better than anything that you will find at a department store. Just remember, one gallon of lamp oil is a lot of oil. If you properly store it, then it should last a decent amount of time.
Ner Mitzvah Shabbos Lamp Oil
Fuel Type: Liquid Paraffin
Volume: 1 gallon
Color: Clear
Odor: Odorless
If you’re looking for a bulk amount of liquid paraffin oil, but don’t have the budget for Hyoola oil, then Ner Mitzvah liquid oil is likely the choice for you.
This oil is available in a one gallon container, which should give you about 140 hours of burn time. Pretty good.
Ner Mitzvah is a popular brand in the lamp oil industry. They have a reputation for making oil that doesn’t smell or create too much smoke. That said, it does produce some smoke because that’s just how thermodynamics works.
The purity on this oil is 99%, as expected. And it’s available in a clear color. We also recommend this oil for lighting Shabbat candles.
Pros:
- More affordable bulk option than Hyoola.
- 99% purity.
- The spout makes it very easy to fill your lamp.
- Works great with Shabbat candles.
Cons:
- It does give off a slight smell in rooms without good ventilation.
Verdict
Overall, this is another solid choice for liquid lamp oil. It’s more affordable than the other 1 gallon option (Hyoola), but it does have a slight smell of burnt wax when burning. That problem is easily solved by using this lantern in a well-ventilated area.
Best Small Volume Indoor Lamp Oil
Aura Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil
Fuel Type: Liquid Paraffin
Volume: 16 oz.
Color: 22 different colors
Odor: Odorless
Do you have an oil lamp, but don’t use it often enough to need a whole 32 oz. of oil?
This is actually fairly common. Many people have a lamp that they don’t use frequently enough to warrant purchasing 32 ounces (or more) of oil.
Aura Liquid solved that problem by selling paraffin lamp oil in pint-sized bottles. They didn’t cut corners with purity, either. The oil is 99% pure and doesn’t produce smoke or odor if you properly adjust the wick.
The best feature, in our opinion, is that this oil is available in 22 different colors. You shouldn’t have a problem finding a color that you like with that many options!
Pros:
- Available in a pint-sized container.
- 99% pure.
- Smokeless and odorless.
- Available in 22 different colors.
Cons:
- More expensive on a per ounce basis than other options.
Verdict
This oil really stands out because of its small size. No company really sells small containers of liquid lamp oil, which is a shame because not everyone has the need for 32 ounces of oil.
Aura Liquid solved this problem. The oil is a little more expensive, but it’s still cheaper than throwing out oil that you don’t use.
Best Scented Indoor Lamp Oil
Firefly Eucalyptus
Fuel Type: Liquid Paraffin with Eucalyptus scent
Volume: 32 ounces, 1 gallon, 5 gallons
Color: Clear
Odor: Eucalyptus
Are you looking for a lamp oil with a non-citronella scent that will repel mosquitoes?
This Eucalyptus scented oil by Firefly is definitely the choice for you. First of all, no other manufacturer even makes a eucalyptus scented indoor lamp oil, so this is the only option.
It’s a good option.
One thing to clarify, this oil is not pure eucalyptus oil. That simply wouldn’t work very well.
Rather, this oil is pure liquid paraffin oil with eucalyptus scent. You can’t add eucalyptus to oil on your own without causing problems, so this definitely solves that problem.
As for the performance of the oil, this oil just as well as other pure paraffin oil. There is a little more soot due to the eucalyptus, though.
Pros:
- Eucalyptus scent smells great and repels mosquitoes.
- Available in a 32 ounce, 1 gallon, or 5 gallon container.
- Screw on spout makes refilling a piece of cake.
Cons:
- A little more expensive. The scent is worth the extra cost, though
Verdict
This is one of the few eucalyptus scented lamp oils on the market. That fact alone makes it one of the better ones available.
But really, this particular oil stands out because Firefly uses very pure paraffin oil to ensure that the oil burns very clean.
Best Medallion Indoor Lamp Oil
Lamplight Medallion Lamp Oil
Fuel Type: Medallion Lamp Oil
Volume: 32 ounces
Color: Clear
Odor: Yes – mild.
Do you have a kerosene lamp? A Dietz lamp? An Aladdin lamp?
If you have any of those lamps, then you should strongly consider purchasing Lamplight Medallion Lamp Oil.
First of all, those types of lamps require some form of kerosene oil, and this oil is derived from kerosene. However, it’s very pure kerosene that won’t kill you if you use it indoors.
This makes it great for indoor use.
One thing, this oil does have a slight odor to it, which is normal for a kerosene-based lamp oil. If you can find a purer oil than this, then it should theoretically have less odor.
Pros:
- Kerosene oil that works great in a Dietz lamp or Aladdin lamp.
- Safe for indoor use.
- Burns bright.
- Smoke-free.
Cons:
- Unusable with a liquid candle.
- Has a slight odor when burning.
Verdict
Well, it doesn’t get much better than this when it comes to kerosene-based oil. Sure, it’s a little more expensive than a liquid paraffin oil, but you can’t use a liquid paraffin oil in a Dietz or Aladdin lamp.
Simply put, this is the best kerosene-based oil for indoor use that you will find on Amazon.
Best Citronella Indoor Lamp Oil
Ner Mitzvah Citronella Scented Lamp Oil
Fuel Type: Liquid paraffin with citronella scent
Volume: 32 ounces, 67 ounces, 101 ounces, and 1 gallon.
Color: Clear.
Odor: Citronella
Are you looking for citronella scented indoor lamp oil?
Ner Mitzvah makes an excellent oil if that’s what you are looking for in a lamp oil.
And yes, you can use a citronella scented oil indoors. The citronella scent on this oil is not nearly as strong as that you would find on an oil meant for outdoor use.
Anyway, this oil isn’t a one-trick pony. Ner Mitzvah pretty much uses the same pure oil they use for there other products – they simply add the perfect amount of citronella scent to it.
Now, you will still have some smoke from the burning citronella, so we recommend using this in a well-ventilated place away from any walls to prevent soot from accumulating on the wall.
Pros:
- The light citronella scent does a great job repelling mosquitoes or moths that get indoors.
- Very pure paraffin oil will last a long time.
- Ner Mitzvah has an excellent reputation and great customer service.
Cons:
- Citronella scent isn’t for everyone.
Verdict
Simply put, if you’re looking for a citronella scented oil for indoor use, then this is the choice for you. We can’t find a citronella oil that does not overpower you.
In other words, the only choice is Ner Mitzvah.
Best Aladdin Lamp Oil
Aladdin Lamp Oil
Fuel Type: Extremely pure kerosene
Volume: 64 ounces (half gallon)
Color: Clear
Odor: Absolutely none
Do you have an Aladdin lamp that needs oil?
If you do indeed have an Aladdin lamp, then the only real option is Aladdin Lamp Oil.
Seriously, nothing compares to this stuff. It’s the most odor-free lamp oil you will find on the market. Period.
Sure, the oil itself has a slight odor to it, but you can’t smell it when it burns. This oil will also make your Aladdin lamp perform much better. In fact, it’s the only oil certified for use in Aladdin lamps.
As an added bonus, your wick will last a little longer when using this oil. The only real downside is the cost, but if you have an expensive Aladdin lamp, then you definitely want the best performance from it.
Pros:
- Absolutely no odor.
- Wick lasts longer.
- It can be used in any oil lamp.
Cons:
- Very expensive, but 64 ounces will last a long time. The performance also makes the price worth it.
Verdict
If you have an Aladdin lamp, then there really isn’t any other choice than Aladdin lamp oil. Even if you don’t have an Aladdin lamp, you will still get much better performance with this oil.
We recommend this to anyone that cares more about performance than price. There simply isn’t a better choice when it comes to a kerosene-based oil than Aladdin lamp oil.
Best Indoor Lamp Oil and Indoor Lamp Set
Firefly Modern Transcend
Fuel Type: Kerosene
Volume: 16 oz
Color: Multiple available
Odor: Odorless
Looking for indoor lamp oil and an indoor lamp set?
We know that not everyone already has an indoor lamp. Alternatively, you might want another indoor lamp. Whatever the case, this set by Firefly works great.
A wonderful hand-blown glass indoor lamp with a diameter of 2.75” and a height of 3” will last you about 24 hours.
This list is about oil, though. And the oil on this lamp is the same great oil that Firefly sells independently. It’s a paraffin oil that produces no odor nor smoke. The oil is even available in various colors, and we do recommend purchasing an colored oil. They really do look much better.
Pros:
- Oil and lamp sold together.
- The oil will work with the lamp – guaranteed.
- Affordable combination.
- Odorless and smoke-free oil.
- The lamp burns about one hour of oil per 6 hours.
Cons:
- The oil and lamp are sold as a package.
Verdict
We recommend this oil if you’re looking to purchase a lamp and oil. You may as well save the hassle and purchase the two together. If you don’t want another indoor oil lamp, then better options exist.
Best Eco-Friendly Fuel Indoor Lamp Oil
Firefly Eco-Friendly Safe and Green Lamp Oil
Fuel Type: Natural gas derivative
Volume: 16 oz, 32 oz, 1 gallon, or 5 gallon
Color: Clear
Odor: Odorless
Are you looking for an eco-friendly indoor lamp oil?
They’re actually quite difficult to find. Fortunately, Firefly solved this problem with a proprietary natural gas blend that is 100% biodegradable and non-toxic.
You might think this indoor lamp oil is worse than liquid paraffin, which is only partially true. We do admit that it doesn’t burn as long. However, it does not have any smell and it’s non-toxic.
We consider that a pretty good trade-off.
There is one important note about this fuel. Don’t use it with a wick that has been used with liquid paraffin and don’t mix it with other fuel. Doing either of those will make this fuel rather unpredictable and could result in smoke or a weird odor.
Pros:
- 100% biodegradable.
- Non-toxic.
- Works almost as well as liquid paraffin.
- No odor or smoke.
Cons:
- Slightly more expensive than liquid paraffin.
- Cannot use with a wick that has been used with liquid paraffin or kersosene.
Verdict
There isn’t much more to add. Quite frankly, this is the only 100% biodegradable and non-toxic indoor lamp oil available on the market. If you want an eco-friendly oil, then this is the oil for you.
Fortunately, this oil is comparable to liquid paraffin.
Best Budget Indoor Lamp Oil
Chapel Lane Paraffin Lamp Oil
Fuel Type: Liquid paraffin
Volume: 32 oz
Color: Clear
Odor: Odorless
Are you looking for a budget indoor lamp oil?
You might be now. Simply put, not everyone wants to, or can afford to, spend lots of money on oil that they will burn.
If you’re one of those people, Chapel Lane paraffin lamp oil is for you. This is literally the most affordable oil you will find online.
Does that mean this oil is terrible?
No. In fact, it’s one of the more popular oils on the marketplace. It burns odorless, smokeless, and soot-free.
Ok, it does have a slight odor, but that’s expected at this price.
Still, this oil works great.
Pros:
- Extremely affordable.
- Smoke-free oil.
- 200 hours of light.
Cons:
- It does have a slight odor.
Verdict
This is the choice if you’re looking for a good budget indoor lamp oil. It’s the most affordable lamp oil available online. Period.
The only real downside is that it does have a slight smell, but that can be eliminated by using a short and narrow wick. Not too big of a problem.
Best Soft Light Indoor Lamp Oil
Sterno 30644 Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil
Fuel Type: Liquid paraffin
Volume: 1 gallon
Color: Clear
Odor: Odorless
Sometimes you may want lamp oil that doesn’t burn super bright. A bright flame has a tendency to annoy people in very dark places.
Fair enough.
Fortunately, Sterno took the liberty of making a lamp oil that burns a little dimmer than other oils. Don’t worry, it still doesn’t produce any smoke, soot, or odor.
We’ll also add that this lamp oil is extremely affordable. One gallon costs almost as much as a quart of the budget oil.
It’s a win-win if you want a soft light and an affordable oil.
Pros:
- Affordable.
- Soft light.
- Odorless and smoke-free.
Cons:
- Only available in a one gallon container.
Verdict
We recommend this oil to people looking for a softer flame. In fact, it has the softest light of any oil on this list. And it’s affordable.
The only downside is that it’s only available in a one gallon container, which is annoying. Fortunately, it’s very affordable and one gallon of this oil costs less than a quart of many other oils.
How to Choose the Best Lamp Oil for Indoor Use
There are a few things that you want to consider before purchasing a lamp oil for indoor use. This section will cover some of those things and the different types of oil available for purchase.
Smell
The most important factor in the type of lamp oil you choose for indoor use is smell. The reasoning should be fairly obvious.
A smelly oil just isn’t pleasant to use indoors. Your entire house will smell of oil and the fumes might be toxic. This is why you must properly ventilate an indoor space when using lamp oil that smells.
We don’t really recommend that because, simply put, it’s more work to use it. It’s oftentimes much more work that the relative benefits of a smellier lamp oil don’t make up for the extra effort required to safely burn this oil.
Cost
Another factor to consider before purchasing indoor lamp oil is the cost of the oil. It shouldn’t surprise you that the more expensive, but still affordable, lamp oil generally smells better than the lamp oil that smells bad.
In summary, stick to the most expensive lamp oil that you can purchase. You’ll thank us when your home doesn’t smell like sulfur.
Smoke
Different types of lamp oil have a tendency to release different amounts of smoke. This mostly comes from the amount of oil to kerosene in the blend.
Oils with more oil tend to produce less smoke, though that does vary depending on the exact mixture. A straight kerosene mix will produce a decent amount of smoke, especially at a higher output.
We recommend purchasing an indoor lamp oil that produces a low amount of smoke. Your house will smell better and you won’t have to deal with disgusting smoke buildup on your walls.
Burn Rate
Burn rate is extremely hard to quantify. Even the most efficient oil will not last long on a fast burning or short wick.
That’s just how it works.
With that said, you should try to purchase an indoor oil that burns about 0.5 ounces of oil per hour. There are variations in burn rate between different types of oil, but 0.5 ounces of oil per hour is a good benchmark.
It’s also important to note that the negative effects of a fast burning oil can be somewhat negated by a more efficient wick. Now, the wick won’t make a fast burning oil extremely slow, but it will certainly improve the amount of light that you receive.
Different Types of Oil for Indoor Lamps
There are a few different types of oil safe to use in indoor lamps. This section will briefly cover those different types of oil.
Paraffin
Paraffin is a type of oil used for indoor lamps. It’s a decent oil with a good burn rate.
However, paraffin will always have some small odor, which you will adjust to given enough time.
The bigger problem with paraffin is that the solvent added to paraffin will eventually evaporate when not used. This means you will use oil when the lamp is not even in use unless you seal the container. Another issue is that the oil will often turn to crystal in the wick.
This crystallization means that the wick can sometimes get clogged with crystals. An easy fix to that problem is to clean the wick after every use.
All things considered, paraffin is still a decent indoor lamp oil and the most readily available. Just keep these problems in mind before making your purchase.
Citronella Scented Lamp Oil
Citronella oil is an extract from the lemongrass plant, so it’s 100% natural. It’s mostly used on outdoor lamps in areas that you don’t want mosquitoes because mosquitoes hate the smell of citronella.
It can also be added to liquid paraffin oil.
However, it does have a few issues when used in indoors. The main issue is that citronella lamp oil smells like, well, citronella. And many people don’t want their home to smell like citronella.
The other issue with using citronella lamp oil indoors is that the additive produces a lot of soot. This is fine when outdoors, but for indoor use it could result in soot building up on your home.
Overall, we have included citronella lamp oil as an indoor lamp oil because it does work indoors. There are better options if you don’t have a bug problem in your home, though.
Purified Kerosene
Purified kerosene is a rarer type of oil used in indoor lamps. It’s important to note that purified kerosene is odorless. Other types of unpurified kerosene do exist, but those types have an odor and are not safe for indoor use.
We recommend a purified kerosene for indoor use if you have the budget and can find it. The lack of odor combined with the brightness make it an excellent choice.
However, kerosene does have a tendency to produce some soot. It’s still not a bad oil, but keep in mind that it will produce soot before you go searching for this difficult to find oil.
Other Types
There are other types of oil, usually non-toxic, used for indoor use such as canola oil. However, these oils are often somewhat difficult to find and have been excluded from the list with one exception:
The biodegradable indoor lamp oil available from Firefly.
Anyway, most indoor lamp oil is either a paraffin based oil or a kerosene based oil, which is toxic.
FAQ about Indoor Lamp Oil
Are oil lamps safe to use indoors?
Yes. You can use the right type of lamp oil indoors with absolutely no risk.
We recommend looking for a lamp oil that explicitly states it can be used indoors.
Can an oil lamp heat a room?
Yes, but it depends on the room temperature and size of the room. A kerosene lamp will definitely heat up a room by some amount, though.
If you want to turn your kerosene lamp into a space heater, then place a metal bucket with holes punched out over the lamp. The heat from the lamp will turn the bucket into a crude space heater.
How long will an oil lamp burn?
This depends on the fuel and size of the wick. Most indoor oil lamps will last anywhere from 3-5 hours. If you need a longer time, then you can simply refill the oil or change the wick.
Can you pour lamp oil down the sink?
No. Lamp oil is a fuel, which means it’s considered a hazardous waste.
The only proper way to dispose of lamp oil is at a location equipped to dispose of hazardous waste. Most municipalities have a hazardous waste collection or businesses that will collect your hazardous waste free of charge.
Note: You can pour biodegradable lamp oil down the sink.
What size wick should I use with liquid paraffin oil?
You should use a wick with a diameter less than 0.5” if using liquid paraffin oil.
Conclusion
That about covers it for the best lamp oil for indoor use. In our opinion, you can’t go wrong with an ultra-pure liquid paraffin lamp oil for most lamps. If you want to get fancy (and expensive!), then the kerosene oil available from Aladdin will work great and burn better than liquid paraffin.
Again, most indoor lamp owners will be perfectly happy with a liquid paraffin oil. Just make sure to use a wick with the proper size!
