turpentine oil

References

turpentine oil

essential oil

Also known as: oil of turpentine, spirit of turpentine

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Turpentine is a resinous extract from coniferous trees, primarily pines. It is a mixture of resins dissolved in a volatile oil, which can be separated into oil of turpentine and rosin through distillation.1

Oil of turpentine is a flammable, colorless liquid with a strong odor. It acts as a solvent for various substances like sulfur, phosphorus, resins, and natural rubber. While historically used as a paint and varnish solvent, its primary use today is in the chemical industry as a raw material for synthesizing resins, insecticides, and synthetic pine oil. It is produced from different pine species and can be obtained through methods like tapping living trees (gum turpentine), steam distillation of wood (wood turpentine), or as a byproduct of papermaking (sulfate turpentine).1

Pine oil, an essential oil also derived from pine trees, shares some solvent properties and is used in disinfectants, odorants, and insecticides.2

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turpentine
…called oil (or spirit) of turpentine and a nonvolatile portion called rosin. Although the term turpentine originally referred to the whole oleoresinous exudate, it now commonly refers to its volatile turpentine fraction only, which has various uses in industry and the visual arts.
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…called oil (or spirit) of turpentine and a nonvolatile portion called rosin. Although the term turpentine originally referred to the whole oleoresinous exudate, it now commonly refers to its volatile turpentine fraction only, which has various uses in industry and the visual arts.
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hydrocarbon
Natural occurrence
Oil of turpentine, obtained by distilling the exudate from pine trees, is a mixture of hydrocarbons rich in α-pinene. α-Pinene is used as a paint thinner as well as a starting material for the preparation of synthetic camphor, drugs, and other chemicals.
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Oil of turpentine, obtained by distilling the exudate from pine trees, is a mixture of hydrocarbons rich in α-pinene. α-Pinene is used as a paint thinner as well as a starting material for the preparation of synthetic camphor, drugs, and other chemicals.
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essential oil
rose, rosemary, spike, incense, turpentine, sage, cinnamon, benzoin, and myrrh. The alchemical theories of the Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus played a role in stimulating physicians and pharmacists to seek essential oils from aromatic leaves, woods, and roots.
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rose, rosemary, spike, incense, turpentine, sage, cinnamon, benzoin, and myrrh. The alchemical theories of the Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus played a role in stimulating physicians and pharmacists to seek essential oils from aromatic leaves, woods, and roots.
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chemical industry
Film materials
…it was normally thinned with turpentine.
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…it was normally thinned with turpentine.
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pinene
…principal source of α-pinene is turpentine obtained in the sulfate process for making paper. The commercial product is 90–95 percent pure. Large amounts of α-pinene are converted to synthetic pine oil or to camphene, which is chlorinated to toxaphene, an insecticide, or treated with acetic acid to form isobornyl acetate,…
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…principal source of α-pinene is turpentine obtained in the sulfate process for making paper. The commercial product is 90–95 percent pure. Large amounts of α-pinene are converted to synthetic pine oil or to camphene, which is chlorinated to toxaphene, an insecticide, or treated with acetic acid to form isobornyl acetate,…
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wood tar
…is the residue after the turpentine has been distilled, usually with the aid of steam. It is widely used in manufacturing tarred ropes and twine and in impregnating hemp fibre for oakum. In pharmacy, it has some slight use as a component of some ointments and antiseptics. Distillates of pine-wood…
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…is the residue after the turpentine has been distilled, usually with the aid of steam. It is widely used in manufacturing tarred ropes and twine and in impregnating hemp fibre for oakum. In pharmacy, it has some slight use as a component of some ointments and antiseptics. Distillates of pine-wood…
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