My understanding is that whale oil was a superior oil. The flame was very white and very bright and the oil was sweet and pleasant. Of course, they don’t sell it anymore. But I do have some spermaceti candles which are in pristine condition.
When I get some beeswax candles, I blow through them like a
dose of salts. They burn down too fast. I like the fragrance
of beeswax! - Paraffin oil lasts pretty good; but husband
doesn’t like to buy it because it’s high & getting higher!
He sneaks in kerosene in our lamps; and I don’t know it
until I light a lamp and my eyes start burning.