# What's in Tiki Torch Fuel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 29, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650 "2004-06-29T02:36:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bingo\_Plebney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@Bingo\_Plebney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bingo_Plebney)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/1 "2004-06-29T02:36:17Z")
And why do I feel like $5-$6 bucks a gallon is a rip? Is this stuff just glorified kerosene or what? Thanks, BP ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/2 "2004-06-29T03:33:45Z")
What brand is it? It’s probably liquid paraffin, sometimes known as “liquid paraffin lamp oil”, a.k.a. mineral oil, a.k.a. baby oil. [http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=126](http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=126) ---
**Author:** ![Bingo\_Plebney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@Bingo\_Plebney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bingo_Plebney)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/3 "2004-06-29T04:20:25Z")
This batch happens to be the Original Tiki brand torch fuel. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/4 "2004-06-29T05:05:44Z")
I thought Citronella ((Bug rpelling chmical) was in it if not the sole ingriedient?? ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/5 "2004-06-29T05:17:48Z")
It’s actually baby dolphin fat. Which explains the price, and also that vague and inexplicable feeling of guilt you get each time you light a tiki torch. Damn you baby dolphin murderer! ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/6 "2004-06-29T12:17:43Z")
> [@Duck Duck Goose](#): > > It’s probably liquid paraffin, sometimes known as “liquid paraffin lamp oil”, a.k.a. mineral oil, a.k.a. baby oil. > [http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=126](http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=126) Nobody is interested in heavily twisted facts, this is the Straight Dope. You know better. Tikki Lamp Oil burns when lit with a match. According to the cite **you** provided, and I quote from the chart directly, > [@](#): > > Johnsons Soothing Skin Baby Lotion Personal care/use liquid 5-10 . Any reasonable person will not infer that baby oil which is rubbed all over the skin of newborn babies is flammable mineral oil just like Tikki Light Oil is. Therefore, saying it is " aka baby oil " is disingenuous at best and misleading at worst. It is clear from your link that there are shared ingredients, but the percentage of flammable elements present in baby oil is 5-10 %. It also says that Johnsons Original Baby Oil is less than 1% flammable mineral oil. Therefore, baby oil is not liquid paraffin. It’s like saying that Napalm is ChapStick. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/7 "2004-06-29T16:01:05Z")
According to [this](http://www.anotherplanetlighting.com/section.asp?section=Tiki_Torches) site, Original Tiki Torches seem to use electricity as their fuel. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/8 "2004-06-30T03:46:51Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > **[totally egregious and ultimately 100% incorrect slam]** Geez. :rolleyes: From my link: > [@](#): > > Mineral oil USP > > CAS Registry Number: 008012-95-1 > > **Synonyms** : Paraffin oils; Aliphatic petroleum hydrocarbons; Heavy liquid petrolatum; Nujol; Heavy mineral oil; Light mineral oil; **Liquid paraffin** ; Mineral oil; Paraffin oil > **[Mineral Oil](https://www.chemistrystore.com/Chemicals_G-R-Mineral_Oil.html)** > > Mineral Oil is a cosmetic lubricant, protectant, and binder. It is often used in baby oil, lotion, cold cream, makeup, shaving cream, and much more. > [@](#): > > Mineral oil CAS # [8042-47-5] > > Synonyms: Paraffin oil; Heat-treating oil; Hydraulic oil; Cable oil; Lubricating oil; Oil mist, refined mineral; mineral oil mist; oil mist, mineral, severely refined; Uvasol; Paraffin oils; Mineral oil hydrocarbon solvent (petroleum); Mineral oil (saturated parrafin oil); oil, petroleum; Nujol;\*\* liquid paraffin\*\*; white mineral oil; clearteck; drakeol; hevyteck; filtrawhite; frigol; kremol; kaydol; alboline; paroleine; Saxol; adepsine oil; glymol; lignite oil; blandol white mineral oil; carnea 21; Ervol; gloria; hydrocarbon oils; peneteck; primol; triona b; blandlube; crystosol; Molol; protopet; bayol f; crystol 325; fonoline; bayol 55; kondremul; neo-cultol; oil mist; penreco; perfecta; petrogalar; primol 355; primol d; tech pet f; Petroleum hydrocarbons; jute batching oil; paraffin oil (class); petrolatum, liquid; white oil; Mineral oil, aromatic; Mineral oil, paraffinic; Mineral Seal Oil; Electrical Insulating Oil; OIL MIST, MINERAL (MINERAL OIL) [http://buytikitorches.com/Shop/Item.cfm?itm\_id=73](http://buytikitorches.com/Shop/Item.cfm?itm_id=73) > [@](#): > > 128 oz. Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil > > Paraffin Oil is the cleanest burning torch fuel available! This “smoke-free” oil will allow you to enjoy the soft glow of torch lighting just about anywhere. > > There are several less expensive paraffin-based oils on the market. We chose to sell a 100% pure oil that is as smoke free as you can get. It burns CLEAN and lasts longer than the less expensive products. One reason it is more costly is that it is triple refined to obtain 100% purity. The less expensive products are single distilled and will be 90-95% pure. That 5% is where the dirty burning smoke comes from! > > 100% liquid paraffin base fuel is odor-free and smoke-free; safe for indoor or outdoor use in properly ventilated areas. Use a FIBERGLASS WICK for maximum burn times and cleaner operation. > > NOTE: You can use either citronella oil or paraffin oil in all torches. However, you must stay with the same fuel for a wick, for best performance. A wick can’t use different based fuels as it won’t “draw” as efficiently. So, if you decide you want Paraffin fuel then always use Paraffin fuel. The only way to switch is to change to a new wick when switching to a different fuel base. It’s possible that different brands use different kinds of oils, but liquid paraffin/paraffin lamp oil is what kept coming up. Okay now, watch this… Poof! [http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/products/oil/baby-oil;jsessionid=HESLPF01FHVPGCQPCCEC5WYKB2IIWNSC](http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/products/oil/baby-oil;jsessionid=HESLPF01FHVPGCQPCCEC5WYKB2IIWNSC) > [@](#): > > **Ingredients > Mineral Oil and Fragrance** :rolleyes: Mineral oil = liquid paraffin. Baby oil = mineral oil. Therefore… Baby oil = liquid paraffin. Liquid paraffin = tiki torch fuel. Tiki torch fuel = baby oil. Unless of course it’s citronella oil. And hey, if you wanna Google around and find some other kind of oil that it could be, why, you just go ahead and help yourself, I’m sure the Fight Against Ignorance could use some constructive input. I sat here and found out that in some brands at least, it’s mineral oil–why don’t **you** go do some work now? > [@](#): > > \*\*Any reasonable person will not infer that baby oil which is rubbed all over the skin of newborn babies is flammable mineral oil just like Tikki Light Oil is. \*\* A reasonable person doesn’t have to “infer” it–it’s right there in black and white. And… > [@](#): > > \*\*Tikki Lamp Oil burns when lit with a match. \*\* … **now** who’s being disingenuous and misleading? Mineral oil doesn’t “burn when lit with a match”, ex **act** ly–it needs a **wick** to burn. You drop a lit match onto a pool of spilled mineral oil, and the match goes out. People wouldn’t be rubbing mineral oil all over their babies if it was flammable. > **[Avantor®](https://www.avantorsciences.com/site/)** > > Avantor® is a global manufacturer and distributor of high-quality products, services and solutions to professionals in the life sciences and advanced technology industries. > [@](#): > > Flammability Rating: 1 - Slight Mineral oil/lamp oil is technically classified as “combustible”, not “flammable”… [http://www.workplacegroup.net/article-flammable-liquids.htm](http://www.workplacegroup.net/article-flammable-liquids.htm) > [@](#): > > Combustible Liquid: A liquid with a flashpoint at or above 100° F. Combustible liquids are subdivided into Class II or Class III liquids: > > Class II \> 100° F and \< 140° F Diesel fuel, fuel oil, kerosene, motor oil > Class IIIA \> 140° F and \< 200° F Furfural, linseed oil, mineral oil, oil based paints … meaning it’s about as “flammable” as a gallon of paint. It will burn if you treat it right, get it real hot, or give it a wick to supply extra oxygen, but it’s not even as combustible as diesel fuel or motor oil. Junior getting a nice post-diaper baby oil rub is in no danger of igniting from Mommy’s lit cigarette. Which is why people **use** it for that. > [@](#): > > **Therefore, saying it is " aka baby oil " is disingenuous at best and misleading at worst.** No, it isn’t. It’s neither disingenuous nor misleading. It’s correct. > [@](#): > > \*\* It is clear from your link that there are shared ingredients, but the percentage of flammable elements present in baby oil is 5-10 %.\*\* ::: blink ::: Um, what? > [@](#): > > \*\* It also says that Johnsons Original Baby Oil is less than 1% flammable mineral oil. \*\* ::: blink ::: Um, what? It does? Where? Here? Ummm…Looks like it says “\> 99%” to me. [http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=10001059](http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=10001059) Maybe here? Ummm…Looks like it says " \> 99%" here, too. [http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=10001060](http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=10001060) > [@](#): > > \*\* According to the cite you provided, and I quote from the chart directly, > Quote: > Johnsons Soothing Skin Baby Lotion Personal care/use liquid 5-10 \*\* Um, what? ::: blink ::: Helloooo? “Johnson’s Soothing Skin Baby **Lotion** ” is not the same thing as baby “oil”, as anybody who has ever cared for a baby will tell you. Baby “lotion” is basically hand lotion, and sure, it has a lot of other stuff in it besides mineral oil. But we’re not talking about baby “lotion”, we’re talking about baby “oil”. Baby oil is mineral oil. Even Johnson & Johnson says so. Geez. :rolleyes: Take a pill. Save the lecture about “spreading ignorance” for someone who might _possibly_ deserve it. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/9 "2004-07-02T22:05:03Z")
Stick a wick in Baby Oil. It won’t burn. Why? Because the facts presented are skewed at best. Stick a wick in Tikki Lamp Oil. Hey… **IT BURNS**. Baby oil is not Tikki Lamp Oil, just as Chap Stick is not Napalm. I just did a little Straight Dope Scientific Labs home experiment. I happen to own two Tikki Lamps, not citronella, just outside lamps that use a bottle with a fairly thick cotton wick. I also own baby oil. It didn’t burn. Thin wick ( cotton string ) thick wick, nothing. You do the legwork, and stop insulting anyone who dares to disagree with you. Look, I learned the Straight Dope by doing the experiment. You have other issues, I respectfully request that you take them to The Pit where they belong. Baby Oil is not Tikki Lamp Oil. Period. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/10 "2004-07-02T22:35:09Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Stick a wick in Baby Oil. It won’t burn. Why? Because the facts presented are skewed at best. > > Stick a wick in Tikki Lamp Oil. Hey… **IT BURNS**. > > Baby oil is not Tikki Lamp Oil, just as Chap Stick is not Napalm. Yeah, but stick a chapstick up a baby’s ass and see what you get. Chill out, all, it’s Friday…sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/11 "2004-07-02T22:47:44Z")
According to the sales web page at ``` <http://buytikitorches.com/> ``` “All of our torches are beautifully designed and engineered for a lifetime of enjoyment. They will stay lit, even under moderate wind or rainy conditions. All of our fuel torches can be used with either citronella oil for bug-free outdoor use or liquid paraffin oil for smoke-free indoor use.” ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/12 "2004-07-02T23:39:28Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Stick a wick in Tikki Lamp Oil. Hey… **IT BURNS**. Um…How come this sounds dirty to me? As well as dangerous? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/13 "2004-07-02T23:44:14Z")
> [@xgxlx](#): > > It’s actually baby dolphin fat. Which explains the price, and also that vague and inexplicable feeling of guilt you get each time you light a tiki torch. > > Damn you baby dolphin murderer! See you all in a few hours. I’m off to buy a dozen of them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/14 "2004-07-02T23:47:26Z")
_ **PEOPLE!!!** _ Oh, wait, that’s Soylent Tiki. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/15 "2004-07-03T04:04:02Z")
I stayed out of this when I first saw the “Liquid paraffin = baby oil” post, because I thought it would resolve quickly and amicable. Now I wish I’d posted my inital link to the [Tiki](http://www.lamplightfarms.com/tiki/tikiprods.asp?) company’s [product safety](http://www.lamplightfarms.com/tiki/safety.asp?) page > [@](#): > > Lamplight Farms produces two types of lamp oil: Lamplight Farms Ultra-Pure and Lamplight Farms regular lamp oil. > > Both types of lamp oil are HARMFUL OR FATAL IF SWALLOWED. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting. Call a physician immediately. The product should be left to pass through the system normally. The greatest potential danger is that, should the child or individual vomit, some of the oil could aspirate into the lungs and this could quite possibly cause a petroleum pneumonia, a very serious illness. > > Lamplight Farms Ultra-Pure Lamp Oil is a petroleum hydrocarbon consisting of 98% normal paraffin (liquid wax). It consists of high-purity, linear saturated paraffin blends of various molecular weights in the carbon range of C10-C16 and of low viscosity. > > Lamplight Farms regular lamp oil is a petroleum hydrocarbon with a distillation range from an initial boiling point of 370°F to an end point of 518°F. It is similar to kerosene but is much more highly refined. For all practical purposes, all of the aromatics and sulphur have been removed. > > Listed below are the warnings and other safety information that is printed on all of our oil bottles. (The most important warning and safety information we can supply is to KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.) > > DANGER: HARMFUL OR FATAL IF SWALLOWED,. COMBUSTIBLE. > Contains petroleum hydrocarbons. Do not take internally. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting. Call a physician immediately. Use only in a well ventilated area. Avoid frequent or prolonged contact with skin. > > KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. NEVER LEAVE A LIGHTED OIL CANDLE OR LAMP UNATTENDED. > Do not store near heat or open flame. As with all oil candles and lamps an open flame is present; therefore, use with extreme care and at your own risk. > > Lamplight Farms provides these warnings and utilizes child-resistant closures on all our oil bottles. The oil bottles still must be kept out of reach of children and once the oil is poured from the bottle into an oil lamp, the oil lamp must be kept out of reach of children. Lamplight relies on parents as partners in our efforts to prevent accidental ingestion of lamp oil. The phrase “liquid paraffin” is used for different mixtures, with quite different properties. Please look up the CAS numbers **Cartooniverse** provided. **That is why CAS numbers exist – it’s _quite common_ for different mixtures or petroleum distillation fractions to share the same or misleadingly similar “common names”** \*. Some of those names were centuries old, were regional or national, or were simply preferred by different prominent authors. The moderately volatile and fairly flammable (kerosene-like) “liquid paraffin” aka "liquid wax"is NOT the nonvolatile and comparatively nonflammable “liquid paraffin” aka mineral oil aka baby oil (which is rarely if ever used as a fuel, and is often used to safely quench red hot metal in tempering) This is common in daily life. I can’t believe it’s being argued. For example, Willie Horton was called “Slick Willy” after his escape. President Clinton also had that nickname in some sectors of the press. Yet saying “Slick Willy aka President Clinton aka the convicted murderer whose excape from a furlough program in 1988 may have cost Gov. Dukakis a shot at the Democratic nomination” would be as completely untrue as “Bill aka William H. Gates aka William Jefferson Clinton.” You just can’t concatenate “aka” in this fashion. There is no “Bill” who is known as _both_ the Microsoft bigwig and the former US President. I don’t blame Duck Duck Goose for making this error (I’ve seen MSDS safety sheets make the same error, which could have devastating consequences) but it is nonetheless an error based on blind reliance on listings, with no real personal grasp of the subject. Just because two objects share a name doesn’t mean they are “also known as” each other. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/16 "2004-07-03T04:08:13Z")
Thank you, KP. 🙂 For that **constructive** input. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/17 "2004-07-03T21:31:13Z")
Thank you, KP. For proving my point beyond the shadow of a doubt. Cartooniverse, a.k.a. someone capable of apologizing when called out and proven wrong… -cough- ---
**Author:** ![KB63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/258eb7/32.png) [@KB63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KB63)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-tiki-torch-fuel/252650/18 "2011-07-25T14:56:43Z")
Lot’s of opinions in this thread - if you’re like me, and were looking for a simple explanation of what’s in torch fuel, this sums it up: [http://www.fireflyfuel.com/blog/what%e2%80%99s-really-in-tiki-torch-fuel](http://www.fireflyfuel.com/blog/what%e2%80%99s-really-in-tiki-torch-fuel)