A UK-made citrus solvent that has become the studio-safe default for oil painters working at home. Zest-It Limited has been making this in Nottinghamshire since the 1990s, and it does two jobs in one bottle — thins oil paint and cleans brushes — with a fraction of the inhalation risk of traditional turpentine or mineral spirits.
The active ingredient is d-limonene, extracted from orange peel. It dissolves oil paint readily, lifts dried paint from brushes more efficiently than turpentine, and unusually for a non-turpentine, will dissolve dammar resin — making it a genuine turpentine substitute for traditional medium recipes, not just a thinner.
The smell is pleasant orange rather than no smell at all (compare to Winsor & Newton's Sansodor, which is genuinely odourless but a weaker solvent). For studios with limited ventilation, painters who have developed turpentine sensitivity, or homes with children around, this is the practical first choice. Flashpoint is much higher than turpentine, so it is also safer in storage.
One thing worth knowing: d-limonene slowly oxidises in air, and the oxidation products are stronger skin sensitisers than the fresh solvent. Decant what you need for a session rather than leaving the bottle open, and keep the lid on tight between sessions.
- Type: Citrus terpene (d-limonene) solvent
- Made in: UK (Nottinghamshire)
- Odour: Pleasant orange
- Dissolves dammar: Yes
- Doubles as brush cleaner: Yes
- Flammability: Far less flammable than turpentine
- Best for: Studio-safe oil painting, brush cleaning, traditional dammar mediums
- Sizes available: 125ml, 250ml, 500ml, 1 litre
- Brand: Zest-It
A UK-made citrus solvent that has become the studio-safe default for oil painters working at home. Zest-It Limited has been making this in Nottinghamshire since the 1990s, and it does two jobs in one bottle — thins oil paint and cleans brushes — with a fraction of the inhalation risk of traditional turpentine or mineral spirits.
The active ingredient is d-limonene, extracted from orange peel. It dissolves oil paint readily, lifts dried paint from brushes more efficiently than turpentine, and unusually for a non-turpentine, will dissolve dammar resin — making it a genuine turpentine substitute for traditional medium recipes, not just a thinner.
The smell is pleasant orange rather than no smell at all (compare to Winsor & Newton's Sansodor, which is genuinely odourless but a weaker solvent). For studios with limited ventilation, painters who have developed turpentine sensitivity, or homes with children around, this is the practical first choice. Flashpoint is much higher than turpentine, so it is also safer in storage.
One thing worth knowing: d-limonene slowly oxidises in air, and the oxidation products are stronger skin sensitisers than the fresh solvent. Decant what you need for a session rather than leaving the bottle open, and keep the lid on tight between sessions.
- Type: Citrus terpene (d-limonene) solvent
- Made in: UK (Nottinghamshire)
- Odour: Pleasant orange
- Dissolves dammar: Yes
- Doubles as brush cleaner: Yes
- Flammability: Far less flammable than turpentine
- Best for: Studio-safe oil painting, brush cleaning, traditional dammar mediums
- Sizes available: 125ml, 250ml, 500ml, 1 litre
- Brand: Zest-It
Customers' opinions on Zest-It Dilutant & Brush Cleaner | Citrus Solvent for Oil Paint
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