5 best solvent for oil based paint Reviewed and Ranked 2025

As someone who’s spent countless hours covered in oil paint, I know the struggle of finding the right product to thin my paints or clean my brushes. It’s not just about getting the job done; it’s about preserving my artwork, protecting my health, and making the entire painting process smoother. Choosing the best solvent for oil based paint can seriously impact your results, whether you’re blending, glazing, or simply tidying up. I’ve put several popular options to the test to help you navigate the choices and find what truly works best for your needs.

IMAGE	PRODUCT NAME	AMAZON LINK
	Odorless Paint Thinner for Oil Painting – Oil Painting…	View on Amazon
	Eco Safety SoyThin Odorless Paint Thinner for Oil Painting,…	View on Amazon
	U.S. Art Supply Odorless Mineral Spirits 4.2oz (125ml)…	View on Amazon
	Gamblin Solvent Free Gel Medium Oil 150Ml	View on Amazon
	JOFOOK Refined Linseed Oil Medium for Oil…	View on Amazon

1. Odorless Paint Thinner for Oil Painting – Oil Painting…

This odorless paint thinner has become a staple for many artists, myself included, thanks to its incredibly smooth and refined formula. It effectively thins oil-based paints, stains, and varnishes without altering the paint’s color integrity. What I love most is its odorless mineral oil formulation, making it perfect for indoor studio use where strong fumes are a no-go. It evaporates cleanly, leaving no residue, which is crucial for maintaining the longevity of your artwork.

Key features that stand out:
– Odorless Mineral Oil Formula: Provides a pleasant, fume-free experience.
– Color Preservation: Thins paint without impacting hue or vibrancy.
– Clean Evaporation: Leaves no residue, ensuring paint purity.
– Versatile Use: Ideal for thinning paints, modifying mediums, and minimizing brush strokes.

Pros:
– Truly odorless, great for sensitive users or small spaces.
– Excellent for achieving various paint consistencies.
– Evaporates cleanly with no lingering smell.

Cons:
– May evaporate slower than traditional, more volatile solvents.

Best for: Artists seeking a fume-free, traditional thinner for indoor use, particularly those sensitive to strong odors.

Expert Opinion: This is a solid, reliable choice for anyone wanting the performance of a mineral spirit without the characteristic smell. It’s especially good for artists working on intricate details or glazing where consistent thinning is key.

2. Eco Safety SoyThin Odorless Paint Thinner for Oil Painting,…

The Eco Safety SoyThin is an innovative take on traditional paint thinners, blending soy-based additives with petroleum distillates to offer a less hazardous, truly odorless experience. It’s fantastic for artists looking for an environmentally friendlier alternative that still performs excellently. Not only does it thin oil paints beautifully, ensuring smooth glazes and blends, but it also doubles as an effective brush cleaner and conditioner, helping to maintain your brushes’ softness and extend their life.

Key features that stand out:
– Soy-Based & Odorless: A safer, more pleasant alternative to traditional turpentine.
– Dual-Purpose Formula: Thins paint and cleans/conditions brushes.
– Less Hazardous Vapors: Ideal for indoor painting sessions.
– Enhances Brush Lifespan: Keeps bristles soft and absorbent.

Pros:
– Significantly reduces hazardous vapors, enhancing indoor air quality.
– Acts as both a thinner and a brush conditioner, saving money and hassle.
– Derived from organic soy methyl ester, offering a greener option.

Cons:
– The soy component might feel slightly different to artists accustomed to pure petroleum-based thinners.

Best for: Environmentally conscious artists, those with respiratory sensitivities, and anyone looking for a multi-purpose, low-fume solvent and brush conditioner.

Expert Opinion: I was genuinely impressed by its cleaning power for brushes, a definite bonus. Its odorless nature, combined with its eco-friendly leanings, makes it a top contender for the modern studio.

3. U.S. Art Supply Odorless Mineral Spirits 4.2oz (125ml)…

The U.S. Art Supply Odorless Mineral Spirits offers a highly refined solvent formula that’s incredibly versatile. It’s a workhorse in my studio, not just for thinning oil paint, but also for cleaning brushes, tools, and even for blending colored pencil art. Its odorless mineral spirits formulation means you get all the benefits of a strong solvent without the overwhelming fumes, allowing for comfortable indoor use. It leaves minimal residue, ensuring your tools and surfaces are truly clean.

Key features that stand out:
– Premium Refined Solvent: Effectively thins oil-based paints, stains, and varnishes.
– Excellent Cleaner: Ideal for paint brushes, tools, and equipment.
– Minimal Residue: Ensures clean results on brushes and surfaces.
– Multi-purpose: Also great for blending colored pencil art.

Pros:
– Highly effective for thinning and cleaning.
– Genuinely odorless, making it suitable for indoor use.
– Great value for its versatility and performance.

Cons:
– Its small size might require frequent reordering for heavy users.

Best for: Artists who need a reliable, multi-purpose odorless mineral spirits for both thinning paint and comprehensive clean-up, especially those who work with colored pencils too.

Expert Opinion: This is a fantastic general-purpose odorless mineral spirits. It delivers consistent results whether I’m thinning paint to a watercolor-like consistency or deep-cleaning a stubborn brush.

4. Gamblin Solvent Free Gel Medium Oil 150Ml

While not a traditional “solvent” in the thinning or cleaning sense, the Gamblin Solvent Free Gel Medium is an essential item for any oil painter looking to modify their paint without traditional solvents. This gel medium allows you to increase paint transparency and flow while maintaining a thicker, brushstroke-retaining consistency, all without the need for turpentine or mineral spirits. It effectively extends your paint, speeds drying slightly, and adds a beautiful luminosity to your colors. It’s a game-changer for those sensitive to solvents or who prefer a solvent-free studio.

Key features that stand out:
– Solvent-Free Formulation: Eliminates the need for traditional solvents.
– Increases Transparency & Flow: Modifies paint without losing body.
– Maintains Brushstrokes: Great for impasto or textured work.
– Speeds Drying: A beneficial property for layered paintings.

Pros:
– Completely solvent-free, ideal for a non-toxic studio environment.
– Allows for beautiful glazes and rich textures.
– Extends the volume of your paint.

Cons:
– Not suitable for cleaning brushes or thinning paint for a watery consistency.

Best for: Artists looking to modify their oil paint consistency, add transparency, or create texture without using any traditional solvents, prioritizing a solvent-free painting practice.

Expert Opinion: I use this extensively when I want to extend my paints, add body to glazes, or achieve a luminous finish without reaching for my mineral spirits. It’s an excellent way to reduce your exposure to solvents while achieving professional results.

5. JOFOOK Refined Linseed Oil Medium for Oil…

Just like the Gamblin Gel, JOFOOK Refined Linseed Oil isn’t a “solvent” for cleaning, but it’s a centuries-old medium that thins oil paints and profoundly impacts their characteristics. Extracted from flax seeds, this highly refined oil improves paint flow and workability for smooth, rich brushstrokes. It’s a fantastic choice for enhancing the shine and luminosity of your oil paints, making colors appear more vibrant. It also extends drying time, which can be a huge benefit for artists who blend extensively or work on large pieces. Plus, it creates a tough, elastic, and glossy film, enhancing the longevity of your artwork.

Key features that stand out:
– Pure Refined Linseed Oil: Extracted solely from flax seeds, highly pure.
– Thins & Improves Flow: Achieves smoother brushstrokes and workability.
– Enhances Gloss & Luminosity: Makes colors more vibrant and adds a beautiful sheen.
– Extends Drying Time: Ideal for wet-on-wet techniques and blending.
– Increases Film Durability: Creates a tough, elastic, and water-repellent paint film.

Pros:
– Deepens colors and adds a gorgeous, rich gloss.
– Significantly improves paint handling and blending time.
– A natural, traditional medium for oil painting.

Cons:
– Can lead to yellowing over time, especially if used excessively in whites or blues.

Best for: Traditional oil painters who want to extend drying time, increase gloss, enhance color depth, and improve paint flow using a natural, classic medium, particularly when not concerned about rapid drying or absolute non-yellowing.

Expert Opinion: Linseed oil is an indispensable medium for many oil painters. While it slows drying and can yellow slightly, its ability to enrich colors and create a strong, beautiful paint film is unparalleled. It’s not for cleaning, but it’s one of the best ways to manipulate your paint.

Helpful Comparison Insights

When choosing the best solvent for oil based paint, remember the distinction between true solvents for thinning and cleaning versus mediums that modify paint properties.

For odor-sensitive users and indoor studios, the Odorless Paint Thinner for Oil Painting and Eco Safety SoyThin are top-tier choices. Both offer a pleasant experience, with SoyThin getting extra points for its brush-conditioning capabilities and eco-friendly profile. The U.S. Art Supply Odorless Mineral Spirits provides a classic, reliable thinner and cleaner without the fumes, perfect for general studio work.

If your goal is to modify paint consistency and effects without any traditional solvents, the Gamblin Solvent Free Gel Medium is brilliant for adding transparency, body, and speeding drying slightly. Similarly, JOFOOK Refined Linseed Oil is a traditional medium that thins paint, extends drying, and boosts gloss, offering a rich, classic finish. Neither of these is for brush cleaning, but they are fantastic for painting itself.

Final Verdict

After extensive use and testing, the “best solvent for oil based paint” often comes down to your specific needs and preferences.

If you’re an artist prioritizing a truly odorless experience for thinning and cleaning, the Odorless Paint Thinner for Oil Painting stands out for its purity and consistent performance. It’s a workhorse for many.

For those who want an eco-conscious option that also conditions brushes, the Eco Safety SoyThin is an innovative and highly effective choice, offering more than just thinning power.

If your focus is on modifying your paint without any traditional solvents, the Gamblin Solvent Free Gel Medium Oil is an indispensable tool for achieving varied textures and transparencies safely.

And for artists embracing traditional methods to enhance gloss, extend drying, and enrich colors, JOFOOK Refined Linseed Oil remains a timeless and effective medium.

Ultimately, having a combination of a good odorless thinner (like the Odorless Paint Thinner or U.S. Art Supply Mineral Spirits) for general thinning and cleaning, alongside a modifying medium (like Gamblin Gel or Linseed Oil) for specific painting effects, will equip you best for any oil painting project.

FAQ Section

Q1: What is the best solvent for oil based paint for beginners?
A: For beginners, an odorless mineral spirits or odorless paint thinner like the Odorless Paint Thinner for Oil Painting is usually the best solvent for oil based paint. It’s less toxic, doesn’t have strong fumes, and effectively thins paint and cleans brushes.

Q2: Can I use water as a solvent for oil based paint?
A: No, water is not a solvent for traditional oil based paint. Oil and water don’t mix. You’ll need an oil-based solvent or medium. However, there are water-mixable oil paints that can be thinned with water.

Q3: What’s the difference between paint thinner, mineral spirits, and turpentine when it comes to the best solvent for oil based paint?
A: All three can thin oil paint. Turpentine is a traditional solvent derived from pine trees, known for its strong odor and rapid drying. Mineral spirits (also called white spirits) is a petroleum distillate, less aromatic and slower drying than turpentine. Odorless paint thinner or odorless mineral spirits is a highly refined mineral spirit with most of the aromatic hydrocarbons removed, making it virtually odorless and less irritating. For most modern studios, an odorless paint thinner is the preferred solvent for oil based paint.

Q4: How do solvent-free mediums like Gamblin Gel fit into the “best solvent for oil based paint” discussion?
A: While not traditional “solvents” for cleaning, solvent-free mediums like Gamblin Gel are crucial because they allow artists to modify paint consistency, transparency, and texture without needing any traditional solvents. This is ideal for creating a solvent-free studio and for artists sensitive to fumes, effectively replacing the thinning function of a solvent for painting purposes.

Q5: Is linseed oil a solvent, and how does it compare to other options as the best solvent for oil based paint?
A: Linseed oil is a drying oil and a painting medium, not a solvent for cleaning brushes. It’s used to thin oil paints, improve flow, enhance gloss, and extend drying time. Unlike traditional solvents that evaporate, linseed oil dries by oxidation, forming part of the paint film. It’s considered one of the best mediums to manipulate oil paint’s properties, rather than a solvent for dissolving it.

Q6: What should I use to clean my brushes after using oil based paint?
A: For cleaning brushes, the best solvent for oil based paint is typically odorless mineral spirits or a dedicated brush cleaner like Eco Safety SoyThin. You can also use traditional mineral spirits or turpentine, but odorless options are generally preferred for comfort and safety. Rinse thoroughly with the solvent, then wash with soap and water.

Q7: How do I dispose of used solvent for oil based paint?
A: Never pour used solvent down the drain. Collect used solvent in a sealed, labeled container. Allow the paint solids to settle to the bottom, then decant the cleaner solvent off the top for reuse. The sludge and remaining solvent should be taken to a hazardous waste facility or a local recycling center that accepts chemicals. Proper disposal of the best solvent for oil based paint is crucial for environmental safety.