We are here to talk about indoor lamp oil. It’s important that we stress that while oils for outdoor lamps can be used indoors in general, it’s always worth checking the details to make sure that it is safe. Furthermore, when burning oil in lamps – indoors or out – and torches, safety is a primary concern. Fire is dangerous, spreads easily – especially where there is a flammable oil involved – and can cause serious damage. So, suffice to say the products we are about to look at are not to be used by children or young persons who are unsupervised.
As oil of this type is intended for a sole purpose – to light a lamp and cause a flame – we believe we are safe in saying that we are about to show you a number of products that are, essentially, very similar indeed. We choose to do so because there are different types on the market, and some are better value than others. So, without further hesitation, here is our run-down of the best indoor lamp oils – and some outdoor versions – that you can buy right now.
Table of Contents
The Top 10
1: Barretine Outdoor Lamp and Torch Oil
Barretine has a wide range of products of this ilk, so it’s a name you can expect to see again on our list of 10 products. This is an oil that is designed for outdoor use – in lamps and in torches – and is here in a 1-litre bottle. It is designed to be low odour, and is a citronella oil so should help in repelling insects. It comes with an insert for pouring that some customers have said is awkward – they removed it and all was fine – and it’s a standard sort of price for a 1-litre bottle. However, we don’t think it’s suitable for indoor use, although customers give it a thumbs up for outdoor.
2: Barretine Purebright Indoor/Outdoor
The second of the Barretine range is this 1-litre bottle of oil, intended for either indoor or outdoor use in lamps and torches. This smoke-free oil is a refined form of paraffin – it’s designed to be odour-free and customers give it positive reviews on that point – and has many satisfied customers who are happy with its performance. What else can we say except it’s in the ballpark where price is concerned, and there are no customer complaints about it.
3: Bird Brand Clear Lamp Oil
Many of the lamp oils on this list, such as this one, are made from very refined paraffin. While this claims to be odourless, we usually find some complaints about a faint smell. This is no exception, but we should say the positive comments far outweigh the negatives, which also include it flaring up unexpectedly and being difficult to pour. It’s another 1-litre bottle and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, and is within the price bracket we expect for this product.
4: Clearcraft Smokeless Lamp Oil
Another 1ltr bottle – that seems to be the standard for this product – is this one from Clearcraft, and it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and promises the highest quality and long burning times. Interestingly, while some come with an insert in the bottle that many customers complain makes it difficult to pour, this one comes with its own funnel – a neat touch. It’s smokeless, claims to be odourless, and is very popular with many good reviews, but also a couple that comment on the smell and some smoke.
5: Supadec Lamp Oil
As you have probably gathered, there’s not a lot to differentiate between these items: one bottle of oil is very similar to another, with the main difference being whether they are suitable for indoor use. This one we believe not to be; customers say that while it burns bright and well, it does give off a notable smell, and unless the wick is kept very low, will also smoke quite a lot. In its favour, it’s very cheap in this company, and that’s possibly why as it’s not as refined as some.
6: HDI Pure Clear Oil
This example comes from HDI and is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, being smokeless, odourless and in an ‘easy pour’ bottle. It’s sensibly priced – cheap, in fact – and is popular with many customers having commented on it, most of them favourably. The usual poor comments include the difficulty in getting it open, it’s hard to pour, and it gives off an odour, all of which we are used to reading with these products. At the price, it’s well worth looking at.
7: Transtools Lamp Oil
Let’s be honest here: the chances are a good number of these – including this example – bottles of oil are the same thing, simply labelled with a different name. This one is a 1-litre bottle, promises all the usual smoke and odour-free features, and comes with a nozzle for pouring (which experience tells us customers tend not to like). It’s similarly priced to the others, is made from ultra-refined paraffin, and that’s about it. It’s suitable for indoor use, as well as outdoor.
8: Ashleigh and Burwood Premium Fragrance
This is something a touch different, for once! It’s from Ashleigh and Burwood, who have a range of such products, and it’s designed for use not on the sort of lamps we’ve been looking at so far, but more delicate designs. With essential oils for fragrance, this is intended for use with the same company’s indoor lamps, and as such is perhaps not what you are looking for if any of the above appeal. If that is what you want – perhaps soothing aromatherapy for bath or bedroom – it comes recommended by quite a number of satisfied customers.
9: Barretine Lamp Oil
Another from the Barretine range is this 1-litre bottle of oil, intended for either indoor or outdoor use in lamps and torches. This smoke-free oil is a refined form of paraffin – it’s designed to be odour-free and customers give it positive reviews on that point – and has many satisfied customers who are happy with its performance. It’s a good price – cheaper than some in fact by quite a way – and is a decent product in every way.
10: Ashleigh and Burwood Fresh Linen Fragrance
Another from the Ashleigh and Burwood range, this one giving ‘fresh linen’ fragrance. It’s designed for use not on the sort of lamps we’ve been looking at so far, but more delicate designs. With essential oils for fragrance, this is intended for use with the same company’s indoor lamps, and as such is perhaps not what you are looking for if any of the above appeal. If that is what you want – perhaps soothing aromatherapy for bath or bedroom – it comes recommended by quite a number of satisfied customers.
That’s our selection of the top 10 indoor (and outdoor) lamp oils, but which is for you? Let’s have a quick chat about buying these before we try and single one out – if, in fact, we can!
Important Features to Consider
There are a couple of important factors to remember here, both concerned with safety. As we said earlier, flammable oils should never be left in charge of youngsters or children. Nor should they be burnt in a room with no or poor ventilation. If you want an oil for using indoors, make sure the manufacturer says it is for that purpose, and also check user comments for complaints about smoke and smell. They may claim to be odourless, but as most are paraffin-based, you will smell a faint odour, it’s inevitable, and there may be a small amount of smoke.
Also, many of these have an internal fitment designed to make them easy to pour. In many cases, customers have complained that this in fact makes it more difficult, so check this aspect too. As for price, there’s nothing in it across the range, so let’s see if we can wrap this up.
Our Choice
If you are looking for indoor lamp oils that are not of the fragrant kind, there is plenty of choice here, but the one we would recommend – simply because it comes with its own funnel and is popular with buyers – is the Clearcraft Smokeless Lamp Oil. The chances are it is the same product as a number of others on the list, but it’s a great price and it does the job.
That’s our verdict then, so enjoy your indoor and outdoor lamps, and please remember to take great care where anything of this type is concerned.
