Skip to content
CarCareTruth

Turpentine

  • Terpene solvents
  • CAS 8006-64-2
  • IUPAC: Oil of Turpentine (mixture: α-pinene, β-pinene, Δ3-carene)

Turpentine (CAS 8006-64-2) appears in 2 of the 2,122 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of August 2026). It is classified as a VOC.

Skin and eye irritant; documented sensitizer (H317 in mixtures). Inhalation of vapors causes headache and CNS effects. The α-pinene and β-pinene constituents are reactive — they form ground-level ozone and can act as respiratory irritants in confined spaces.

Turpentine is the steam-distilled oleoresin of pine trees — the original natural solvent used in paints, varnishes, and waxes before petroleum distillates took over in the mid-20th century. It is still common as a minor co-solvent in traditional carnauba paste waxes, where it reinforces the wax-dispersion behavior of the petroleum carrier.

The chemistry is reactive: turpentine is a mixture of monoterpenes (mostly α-pinene and β-pinene, with Δ3-carene), which oxidize on exposure to air to form sensitizing peroxides. Repeated bare-hand contact can cause an allergic skin reaction that worsens with subsequent exposures — this is why turpentine-containing waxes are commonly classified H317 (skin sensitizer Cat 1) at the mixture level. The same oxidation chemistry produces ground-level ozone in air, making turpentine a meaningful VOC contributor.

Environmentally, turpentine biodegrades readily and is not bioaccumulative, but it has documented aquatic toxicity at concentration. The leave-on pathway in paste-wax application reduces the environmental impact compared to rinse-off uses.

Health & environment profile

VOC
yes
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
yes
Biodegradable
yes
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
3/5
Purpose: Terpene co-solvent — wax dispersant, traditional carrier in carnauba paste waxes

Common questions about Turpentine

What is Turpentine used for in car care?
Terpene co-solvent — wax dispersant, traditional carrier in carnauba paste waxes
Is Turpentine a VOC?
Yes. Turpentine is classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Turpentine on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Turpentine is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
Is Turpentine biodegradable?
Yes. Turpentine has a confirmed biodegradable profile.

2 products contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.