Lavender spike oil is a natural, low-toxic substitute for turpentine. It can be used as a solvent for oil painting and in egg-oil emulsion tempera recipes. Spike oil improves the handling of oil-based paints, because it promotes oxidation instead of simply evaporating like most solvents. A small amount goes a long way and it has a pleasant smell unlike other solvents. It evaporates slower than turpentine, mineral spirits (white spirits) and odorless mineral spirits (OMS).Our spike oil is imported from Spain where it is extracted from spike lavender plant (Lavandula latifolia) and steam distilled to high purity.ToxicitySpike oil naturally contains several types of substances, such as linalol (CAS No. 78-70-6), linalyl acetate (CAS No. 115-95-7), eucalyptol (CAS No. 470-82-6), camphor (CAS No. 21368-68-3) and limonene (CAS No. 5989-27-5), that in sufficient amounts can cause acute toxicological reactions. Spike oil has been tested for both oral and skin toxicological effects and found that in relatively large dosages, for example, when 3.8 grams per kilogram of body weight are ingested (for an adult human weighing 180 lbs. that would be 310 grams), will cause an adverse reaction in animals.No studies as far as we know have been performed on the effects of inhaling spike oil and OSHA has not established permissible levels in the workplace. What this means is that the effects of inhaling spike oil are unknown, so artists should take precautions and use this product with adequate ventilation and/or protective gear.