Chelsea Classical Studio Medium Clarified Lavender Lean Medium - for Lean Painting Techniques Increasing Adhesion, Drying Time, and Gloss - [2 oz. Bottle]

I have used lavender spike oil for several years for oil painting and am quite satisfied with it. I like the smell, but it is still strong and will fill a house or studio. I feel it is probably safer than turpentine, but be aware if you have pets, especially cats, that lavender is toxic to them. Keep animals and little children in ventilated areas away from the spike oil, but this is just good practice with any oil painting materials. This is very nice to use when making your own mediums.

What a wonderful non-toxic solvent for use with oil paints and to blend colored pencil! A very little goes a long way. The lavender scent is very, very strong and might pose some challenges for people with allergy sensitivities. However, I cracked open a window and the fragrance dissapated some. You won't want to work very close to the paper or canvas as you might get a headache. I have allergies and can get migraines from too strong odors and perfumes. Again, with proper ventilation, Chelsea Lavender Spike Oil is a wonderful alternative to working with toxic solvents. I love Lavender Spike Oil!

Ahh! This product is amazing. I'm a self taught oil painter and I've learned that I haven't been adding oil to my paints. This oil has made my paints and strokes smoother, while keeping the color quality up. It also smells excellent! It is strong but lovely. I don't get a headache from painting anymore.Tip: Don't use too much! It goes a long way. Maybe use a dropper to help.

I've been looking for a safe alternative solvent to use in my studio. While this product claimed to be safer, I found it to have a much stronger oder to terpinoids, odorless mineral spirits or gamsol. It has a very strong lavender scent that would leave me light headed after a few hours. It worked fairly well thinning my oil paints and clean my brushes but not nearly to the extent other solvents would.

I already wrote a review that I would like to remove but I can't find it. The applied retouch varnish damaged my painting attacking greens, reds and yellow... Well, I communicated with an expert from Jerry's Artarama who explained to me that even a retouch varnish is allowed to apply after the painting had at least 3 months to dry. I had been told by a painter that it's ok to retouch varnish after some days... After a research online, I stand corrected. It was my bad! I applied the varnish 44 days after painting - too early! I want to return the honor to the product - Lavender Retouch Varnish is just gr eat; only the artist (me) had a lack of knowledge. Last but not least, the lavender smell - excellent! I don't know if it is the right place to write about the very friendly and helpful customer service of the company Jerry's Artarama. Since I explained to them that I applied the varnish 44 days after finishing the painting they knew that it was my mistake. Even though the company immediately processed a refund for the purchased product.

Well, I really don’t like leaving bad review, but must be honest. I like the idea of safe solvent. I took this one to paint outdoor to give it a try. Oh gosh. The smell is actually pleasant, in small amount, but when I filled my jars for painting - but it sooo strong. Like a huge bottle of perfume poured on you. Even lot’s of fresh air outside didn’t help. I’m not too sensitive for the smell but this one just too powerful. I did use their citrus solvent indoor, yes, it did smells too, but you can tolerate easily. This one no. Choose something else. And it’s expensive too. little bottle probably for 2-3 plein airs.

I work with acrylics and oils. Once I applied this varnish to my oil paintings, it gave them life. I would definitely purchase this product again.

This stuff smells like pure gasoline. It is difficult for me to believe that this is less toxic than mineral spirits.