Wondering how much liquid paraffin lamp oil to buy for the looming winter, but don't want it to expire before the last snowflake falls? Not to worry - our experience (Firefly Pure Paraffin Lamp Oil) is that the shelf life of paraffin lamp oil will last indefinitely if stored in a sealed container. Be sure to always properly replace the cap on the container to ensure maximum shelf life (not to mention safety). If the cap is not tightly secured on the bottle, the oil's shelf life will be reduced significantly by evaporation, which makes it thicken and become unusable.
What if you find a bottle of candle and lamp oil in your basement - how can you tell if it's still good to use? The clarity of the oil is a big indicator. If it's still clear, it should be safe to use. If the paraffin lamp oil itself looks cloudy and thick, it may be past its prime and should be tossed.
To ensure the best shelf life of Paraffin lamp and candle oil, it should be stored at room temperature. Protect it from freezing - the liquid paraffin will become solid at about 15 degrees F, which will significantly decrease its shelf life once it's thawed. It should still burn after thawing.
When in doubt, properly dispose of your old liquid paraffin oil and purchase a new supply - there's no reason to sacrifice safety and possibly gunk up your precious oil lamps and candles!
