Whale oil is oil obtained from the blubber of whales. [1] . Oil from the bowhead whale was sometimes known as train-oil, which comes from the Dutch word traan ("tear drop"). Sperm oil, a special kind of oil used in the cavities of sperm whales, differs chemically from ordinary whale oil: it is composed mostly of liquid wax.

Whale oil, any oil derived from any species of whale, including sperm oil from sperm whales, train oil from baleen whales, and melon oil from small toothed whales. From the 16th century through the 19th century, whale oil was used principally as lamp fuel and for producing soap.

Whale oil is oil that has been extracted from a whales lubber through the process of boiling strips or slabs of the whales blubber and extracting the oil that comes out of it.

2025年3月4日 · In the 19th century, whale oil was a critical resource that fueled industries, homes, and even warfare across the globe. Its versatility stemmed from its unique chemical properties, making it indispensable before the rise of petroleum.

2025年2月2日 · Whale oil’s importance stemmed from a unique confluence of properties and a lack of viable alternatives, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. It wasn’t just one thing; rather, its versatility and unique characteristics made it invaluable for a wide array of applications.

2025年1月10日 · Sperm whale oil held immense value in the 19th century due to a combination of its unique properties and the specific needs of the era. The primary reason for its high worth stemmed from its superior performance compared to other available oils in two critical areas: illumination and machine lubrication.

2018年8月29日 · Whales provided both the best oil and the best candle wax for home illumination. In addition, whale oil was used to lubricate fine machinery. Two kinds of oil came from whales: oil rendered from the blubber, and the higher-grade spermaceti.

The sperm whale was the main whale being sought for its oil when the petroleum industry opened in 1859. The whale fishery, however, was in a declining state and had been so a decade or more before Drake struck petroleum in his drilled well and before general refining of crude oil commenced in Oil Creek Valley and elsewhere.

Between 1768 and 1772—the five-year period for which the records of colonial trade are most complete—whale oil accounted for 53 percent of all sterling earned by direct exports to Great Britain from the northern colonies.

2024年10月15日 · Whale oil, also known as train oil, is derived from the blubber of whales, specifically from the species Globicephala macrorhynchus, commonly known as the short-finned pilot whale. This oil has been historically referred to by various names, including “whale blubber oil” and “cetacean oil.”