618. Fragrant and Malodorous Oils
Shabbos 5:10
Pine tar may not be used as fuel for Shabbos lights because it makes an unpleasant odor, which might drive a person from the room and there is an obligation to sit in a room lit by a lamp on Shabbos. Similarly, one may not use balsam oil, which is very fragrant, because one might come to take some of the oil (which was used as a perfume) from the lamp. Additionally, balsam oil is very flammable (and therefore dangerous). This is the same reason one may not light using white naphtha, even on weekdays: it’s so flammable that it poses a hazard.
Shabbos 5:11
One may light using other oils, such as those from radishes, sesame, turnips, etc. It is only prohibited to use those fuels that were named explicitly by the Sages.
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