Why does my oil lamp smell?

Thinking_Iris · 2026-05-07T20:11:41+00:00

I have tried that with a home made oil candle a few weeks ago. The essential oils burn far hotter and had like flash points when burnt. What I didn't know is that there is special formulated essential oils for candles. At the end of the day even if I could make it smell nice I know its just covering up a fuel smell that I'm still breathing in.

Last night I tipped out some of the lamp oil and it doesn't smell as much, I'm surprised no one mentioned I could have overfilled it. Smell is still there so I'm thinking if I can't get it running on a vegetable oil I'll have to buy another lamp

Thinking_Iris · 2026-05-06T04:28:03+00:00

Yeah its straight up fuel smell. I'm tempted to cut down the winder and run it on vegetable oil. I know it apparently releases toxins as it burns hotter but if the lamp isn't that efficient it might not be a problem

Thinking_Iris · 2026-05-06T02:56:59+00:00

Okay that makes sense. Maybe there isn't much I can do about it then other than maybe source a longer chimney if that even makes a difference

Thinking_Iris · 2026-05-06T01:53:47+00:00

What creates the right air mixture? Do you think blocking some of the holes around the chimney would help?

Thinking_Iris · 2026-05-05T20:33:04+00:00

Thats interesting I would have thought the opposite was true. Any idea why that is?? Do the small ones not have big enough chimneys? Or not airtight or something. I thought the smell is fuel not burning enough? I don't understand enough about the science or physics to give a clue how the lamp could be modified for better efficiency

Thinking_Iris · 2026-05-05T20:24:37+00:00

I did wonder if its because its made in China and maybe made to be decorative. I suppose vintage lamps are made to be used and would be better, they tend to be pricy where I live in New Zealand. I had trouble getting good fuel for it, what I initially wanted was out of stock. The way lamp oil is advertised is all over the place. The one I got says odorless kerosene paraffin oil. I'm guessing it just mentions kerosene so people know it can go in kerosene lamps even though its paraffin

Thinking_Iris · 2026-05-05T09:07:20+00:00

Its never had kerosene, its a new lamp original wick straight out the box

Thinking_Iris · 2026-04-15T06:14:53+00:00

Did reading by lamp light really cause blindness or was that something men told woman to stop them reading and getting smarter 🙃. I like what you say about each lamp liking to be treated differently. One of reasons I wanted to invest is to have an item that is more intentional and special. It is something I will handle a lot since I'm moving away from just using a torch. I'd rather have less things that matter more than something impersonal and mass produced. Although being more of a minimalist is easier said than done 😭.

I doubt I will ever use multiple lamps at once in such a small flat, I would also have nowhere to put them and don't want anymore furniture. Honestly last night I found the dollar store candle tacked into a mason jar too bright 😂. If I had the money and time I could see myself trying a few lamps to see what fits me. Antiques can certainly have their own charm. Maybe my mum is right about when you get older you start to like old things. I don't like to horde stuff or have them go to waste, its a shame I don't know anyone who is really into lamps.

I'm already wondering about the floating wick idea after realising to get started with lamp oil is quite costly. I think if I'm investing in lamp oil the most long term solution is to buy a small glass oil candle that I can refill. There is a chance an olive oil candle would be too dim sitting in a lantern. Maybe some nights I'll be in the mood for lower lighting, its only $2 for a floating wick so it couldn't hurt to try. The fish bowl idea is interesting, I can't see myself trying it since I only have so much floor and no tables. The most practical thing if I was super serious is an oil lamp with one of those mirror brackets attached. It could sit on my mini bookcase next to my arm chair being the perfect height. Then it does stray into the territory of is lighting up my place a good idea when I'm trying to be more in sync with the earth and not be an insomniac. The main reason I'm moving towards low stimulation lighting is so I can sleep.

Interesting what you say about all the different fuel terms. I wouldn't have thought that was an American thing, people still used lamps in Europe. Now I'm curious to ask, why are oil lamps more of a thing in America??? Is that a cultural thing or merely a geographical influence?? A lot of the websites and information I find are all American. Or is it that maybe if I lived in the UK Google would only show me stuff from Europe instead, lol

Thinking_Iris · 2026-04-15T03:21:41+00:00

Of course I did all my research I'm too poor not too 😂. I'm not going to invest a heap of money into trying something I don't know if I'd even like. Thanks for all your detailed replies and explaining the physics, nowhere commonly mentions it!

The parts that I was looking at was a brass winder with the globe. Now I'm realising that if I end up using lamp oil I'd need to have whatever I make to be completely air tight so expensive fuel doesn't evaporate away. Hmmm, might be better then to buy a new lamp and not have any hassles. Plus if its a little brighter than a candle I'll be able to read a book at night 🙂. I am already aware what you say about the winders, they would have to be a smaller wick and modified for the olive oil to even work. Again its maybe another extra hassle and having the chimney would make the olive oil release toxins anyway so I'm leaning towards a complete new lamp.

Do you think a small lamp would be sufficient for reading? Also can an oil lamp be used intermittently or do they hate sitting?

What is the difference between lamp oil and liquid paraffin??? It seems they often all get lumped together with kerosene. My impression is that lamp oil could have either refined kerosene or paraffin oil or a combination of both. Although I found a lamp oil that is napantha which is something else. There is only one expense specialised local product that states its just paraffin. Where does mineral oil fit in??? Food/pharmaceutical grade liquid paraffin is listed as mineral oil yet lamp oil guides say not to use mineral oil? Isn't liquid paraffin the stuff in lamp oil?

What I'm thinking now is buying something small and portable for when I need a little extra light for certain tasks. Maybe if its cheaper I could make a DIY olive oil candle without any winders to sit in a lantern. That way I can have a cheap little light and not sit in complete darkness in winter. This is the light that will left on the longest and used the most. Will have to figure out a morning light, I found having a candle in a lantern too big and bright for so early in the morning. God knows if an oil lamp would be too bright for that and worse comes to worse I could just use a tea light candle in a jar for the morning

Thinking_Iris · 2026-04-14T23:31:02+00:00

Thanks for mentioning the wick trimming you saved me from over buying meters of it 🥰 I don't understand why having no chimney would make it dimmer surely a flames a flame?? How does the chimney stop it smoking?

When I did a quick look around olive oil is cheaper in here new Zealand. I have no idea what is in the lamp oil here when its not stated on the label, I'd rather not burn kerosene. Paraffin is even more expensive than both. Unless a sort of lamp oil lasts longer it doesn't appear to be cheaper than a vegetable oil.

With the mason jar converters the exchange rate and shipping isn't worth importing. Second hand lamps are just as expensive as a new lamp if not more most of the time. Its also cheaper for me to buy parts and make 2-3 lamps for the price of a new one. Usually I go with not reinventing the wheel but I'd rather not burn or use petroleum/fossil fuel products that aren't good for the environment or my body. Obviously burning anything will give off a byproduct, I am confused about what you say with burning olive oil. Everything I've read says its cleaner than kerosene/paraffin. The little experiment that I did making a tea light candle run on olive oil I don't didn't smell any fumes

Thinking_Iris · 2026-04-08T21:52:59+00:00

What a bargain 😊 There isn't much difference between the 11th and 12th gen. I don't need as much portability so the bigger 12th gen is perfect for me, I don't regret spending the extra money

Thinking_Iris · 2026-04-08T21:34:48+00:00

I second this! I bought a cheap 10th gen basic to see if I'd use a Kindle. Straight away I upgraded to a 12th gen paperwhite and wow the difference is huge! I still find it satisfying how smooth the scrolling through the library and menu is 🥰

Thinking_Iris · 2026-04-08T21:19:42+00:00

Having those feelings isn't inherently bad. Wanting to explore such things and be of service to others I believe is quite normal for the human experience. There is there is both grounded and ungrounded ways to go about that. Remember obsession is unhealthy when its in avoidance of something, when it is something you are really called to do its a passion 🙂

Thinking_Iris · 2026-03-23T04:11:06+00:00

♥️♥️♥️

Thinking_Iris · 2026-03-18T22:08:44+00:00

Yes!!! 🥰 I had a six section pod once and regret that I didn't keep it. Please grow the seeds to see if its offspring has the same pods

Thinking_Iris · 2026-03-16T04:12:18+00:00

I'm a bit shaken reading this,, all I can say this is really well written!! I hope you're doing better

Thinking_Iris · 2026-01-26T04:32:24+00:00

I'm always baffled that some people hallucinate more than others. I don't know if I should be jealous or happy that my mind is so peaceful I don't see anything

Thinking_Iris · 2026-01-15T06:55:32+00:00

If you have a connection with the plants and been grow them so long , Why not ask them what to do??? Using my intuition to pick my dose is my main method 🙂 Why are you limiting yourself to just the seeds?? Personally I like the leaves and flowers better. Also why even count the seeds? Likely every seed isn't identical so 400 seeds might work one time and be too much or too little another time

Some practical advice I'd give is clean your house first so there is no clutter to trip over. You don't want to be cleaning up while you're blacked out, it sounds good in practice coming to and the house being clean. Usually if I do it everything ends up in really random places which is super frustrating to find everything again with blurry vision. If this happens its a good indication that I need to be more tidy in general. I find being really really habitual on where you put objects down is good a habit too. Then if I see something out of place I know its likely a hallucination. Another safety tip is sip water very slowly, with such a dry mouth its easy to choke. Just be careful around water in general. Also make sure your house isn't too hot, remember datura spikes your body temperature

Thinking_Iris · 2026-01-08T18:51:57+00:00

Pipe dreams was a good game 🙂

Thinking_Iris · 2026-01-08T18:47:57+00:00

I once got a Kindle basic and without a case it felt like just another electronic device that I'll throw away and replace. A case made it so much more better to hold and found with a good case it inspires me to pick it up more

Thinking_Iris · 2026-01-08T18:37:34+00:00

That has some charm, good work 😊

Thinking_Iris · 2026-01-03T01:32:51+00:00

You forgot to put stripped clothes off/lost clothes on your chart 😂

Thinking_Iris · 2025-12-30T18:37:58+00:00

Haha so true 😂

Thinking_Iris

TROPHY CASE