Can I use olive oil in an oil lamp?

Long before there was kerosene (aka paraffin) lamp oil, people used olive oil lamps for lighting their homes. These oil lamps are straightforward to use. They are natural, don’t produce toxic byproducts, and can be used in a pinch during power outages.

It is highly recommended that one use olive oil as fuel in these oil lamps. Commercial oil is a no go. When using olive oil, though, there are different advantages and disadvantages to note. 

Olive oil is definitely the best option for oil lamps, primarily because it does not produce smoke while burning.  Since it is a 99 percent pure renewable fuel, it will not produce smoke or odor. The same cannot be said for other vegetable oils such as canola or corn oil. In addition, a few ounces of oil will burn for several hours, so if you are concerned about the cost, it is much cheaper than most candles.

And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
(Matthew 25:8-9) 

If you can find lampante oil (olive oil not suitable for eating, but for burning), you can save money by buying that instead of culinary olive oil. Olive oil in lamps is also safer than most, especially in the event that the lamp gets knocked over. Olive oil is not flammable and, therefore, will simply stop burning in such an event.